At the time of the booking (online or over the phone), patients are screened for

and the standard recommendations for self-isolation are followed if the client can be classified as high-risk.

• Recommendations from the CDC can be found here

Send notifications via email or text, prior to the patients appointment, of the measures that have been implemented to ensure their comfort during their appointment. This will also be available on your website or social media.

Before arriving to the Opticians office, all individuals will complete a self screen by answering the questions mentioned here.

• The standard recommendations for self-isolation are followed if the patient can be classified as high-risk. For example, such measures are taken if a patient has returned from an international trip less than 14 days prior to their appointment or if they have been in recent contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19.

  • Recommendations from the CDC can be found here

• It is important to note that self-reporting provides limited assurance, as some individuals can be asymptomatic.

Wellness screening at the Opticians entrance

• Provide disposable masks to patient upon entry wherever possible and treatments allow

• Conduct a contactless temperature check

• Provide sanitization wipes and hand sanitizer - this is located next to the door with clear signage, to ensure that all visitors properly sanitize their hands.

• Screening questions to ask visitors:

  1. Are you feeling sick or experiencing any of the symptoms mentioned here. (Examples include a new cough, headache, weakness, fever, difficulty breathing, etc.)

  2. Have you travelled outside Canada in the past 14 days?

  3. Did you provide care or have close contact with a person with COVID-19 (probable or confirmed) while they were ill?

If possible, online consultations are provided via video conferencing to assess the required treatment and if necessary, discuss the upcoming appointment.

• Online content is created to demonstrate steps that patients can follow for any at-home recommendations.

• This is a good opportunity to discuss any risks or concerns from the patient, as well as put them at ease of steps that have been taken to ensure their comfort when undergoing treatments.

Fitting, adapting and delivering the eyeglasses to the patient

• Opticians will use their judgement to determine whether it is appropriate to deliver eyeglasses prior to fitting and adapting them to the patient. (Source: Canadian College of Opticians).

• "In light of the current pandemic, Opticians are encouraged to strongly consider whether it is necessary to fit and adapt the eyeglasses at this time. All efforts will be made to avoid close physical contact with patients." (Source: Canadian College of Opticians).

  • Opticians will make best efforts to deliver eyeglasses in a manner that is “contactless” or maintains physical distance, such as:

    • Remote delivery (e.g. mail, courier)

    • Creating a drop off/pick up tray that is sanitized after each use and positioned away from other individuals.

Physical distancing measures:

• Create at least 6 feet of distance between each other and within shared areas.

  • Spaces are clearly labelled by visual markings for any areas where patients and visitors may be in line.

  • Managing the flow of patients arrivals and providing a virtual waiting room are a few suggested solutions.

• Limit the number of occupants in an elevator at the same time (depending on where the 6 foot mark is in the elevator).

• Ensure that employees standing in the designated smoking area must also be at least 6 feet apart.

• Installing plexiglass barriers in front of the receptionist area is an efficient way to achieve proper physical distancing measures. Their material also allows them to be easily sanitized with disinfectant.

Workplace sanitation

• Enforce hand washing guidelines to be posted in all washrooms (See recommended hand washing protocols for further resources).

  • Provide a hand washing or sanitization facility near the entrance of the facility.

• Clear signage near the entrance, washrooms, waiting areas, break rooms and treatment areas regarding hand hygiene, donning and doffing of PPE (Personal Protective Equipment), use of break rooms and where and when food and beverages are consumed. More info on general guidelines here.

• Thoroughly sanitize all commonly used equipment between each appointment and use. This may include:

  • Gurneys or massage tables

  • Chairs

  • Bottles and other frequently handled equipment

Employee zoned areas and breakout rooms:

• Provide fully-sterilized areas or zones designated for staff only intended for food, beverages and removing any personal protective equipment.

• Provide a hand washing or hand sanitization facility closest to the entrance of this break room.

• Prohibit access to patients and visitors.

• Clear instructions on how to remove and/or discard staff related PPE. See here for more general guidelines.

  • Provide garbage bins at all facility entrance, exits and staff break rooms to properly discard one time use PPE.

• Ensure there is limited sharing of utensils, as well as that any shared utensils are thoroughly cleaned between each use.

Provide PPE to be readily available for all staff to cover nose, mouth and eyes.

• Ensure all staff know how to properly use their PPE.

Provide education, training and awareness to staff. See more details here.

• Hand hygiene

• Donning and doffing of PPE

• Use of break rooms

• Proper handling and cleaning of shared equipment and tools

Group employees in cohorts for all shifts.

• If one employee tests positive for COVID-19, the entire group may need to be tested (depending on your local Public Health Authority).

• Breaks should be staggered throughout the day to encourage physical distancing.

Prepare an outbreak management plan including communication protocol in the event that your staff has tested positive for Covid-19. This should include but not be limited to the following:

• Training and certification for IPAC: https://www.publichealthontario.ca/en/education-and-events/online-learning/ipac-courses (Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) – Online Learning)

• Communication to Public Health (notify accordingly if any of your staff has tested positive).

• Measures taken for increased cleaning.

• Tracing staff exposure by placing employees into cohorts to determine other potential exclusions.

Create policies to be set up to prevent employees from working if they have

or have had symptoms in the last 48 hours (including temperature screening).

• Contactless methods of temperature screening are recommended where possible, with the use of digital thermometers for accuracy. These are available for all employees pre-shift.

• Any new symptoms, including but not limited to: fever, cough, shortness of breath, muscle aches, fatigue, sore throat, conjunctivitis (red eyes), loss of appetite, increased spit up, dizziness, headache, runny nose, chest pain, coughing up blood, diarrhea, nausea/vomiting, abdominal pain, stuffy nose, lost of taste or smell.

• In the case that any unusual or suspicious symptoms are present, employees should refrain from coming into work and follow local public health protocol regarding testing.

• Encourage remote working where possible to reduce in office traffic for employees who do not provide treatments directly.

Follow hand washing guidelines posted in all washrooms.

Use PPE provided by employer to cover nose, mouth and eyes (eg. non-surgical masks, plus face shields or safety glasses).

• If plexiglass face screens are used, these will be sanitized between each appointment.

Self-monitor for symptoms and do not report to work if the symptoms are present.

• If these symptoms are developed at the workplace, employees will inform their employer promptly to be temporarily relieved of their duties.

Enable contactless payment solutions to be the default method of payment to limit any physical contact with the employees and reception area.

Conduct post-treatment consultations over video conferencing and phone tools. These can be scheduled prior to or post-appointment using online booking systems.

Send satisfaction surveys around service and adherence to COVIDsafe measures to the patient following the meeting to ensure standards were properly met.

For any contactless prescription/lenses pick-up, appointments are arranged ahead of time, where prescriptions can be dropped into a designated area for patients to pick-up in person — all while maintaining the recommended 6 foot distance.

• There is a designated area in the optician's office where patients can confirm their prescription pick-up once they arrive at the optician's office.

• Patients can then confirm their ID and pick-up in person with the clinic in the most efficient way.

Ensure there is enhanced cleaning of all office areas, treatment rooms and waiting areas — this includes high-touch surfaces, resident rooms and washrooms, which are cleaned at least twice a day.

Establish a separate washroom for staff and Opticians visitors (recommended)

• Signs are printed to ensure that the toilet lid is closed before flushing the toilet, as COVID has been found in both urine and stool.

Use EPA approved disinfectants for the appropriate length of time (each disinfectant has its own guideline on contact length of time to kill the virus).

According to the general guidelines posted by the Canadian College of Opticians, Opticians will decline services where they determine:

• The service is not essential

• The optician does not have enough information in order to dispense an appropriate device to the patient

• The optician is unable to ensure that the product can be dispensed in a manner that will be safe and in the patient’s best interest

If the optician deems the service to be essential, efforts toward limiting or avoiding close patient content are considered. See more details here.

For detailed guidelines to Standards of Practice, see here.