COVID-19
Coronavirus situation is very disruptive to business from several perspectives. As your association, we continue to investigate and prepare info and provide this to you and update this page as required:
-
Covid Self-Isolation Control file, compliments of Kinnikinnick Foods.
-
Canada’s COVID-19 vaccine campaign. Available here, and will be updated and revised regularly.
- First Defence Face Masks - members save 20% Code AFPA20
- COVID-19 Awareness Toolkit – Public Health Agency of Canada - here
A GREAT RESOURCE: The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) COVID-19 Health and Safety Resources page. This online hub includes a customizable tool kit resource and access to more than 40 free resources, including a COVID-19: Workplace Health and Safety Guide, and Tip Sheets specific to Agriculture and Food Processing. The Tool Kit option allows you to download the guide on its own or bundle other industry and workplace-specific tip sheets, infographics, and posters to create a customized and comprehensive COVID-19 tool kit.
- Main Pandemic Portal and Hub
- Pandemic Info Share
- COVID-19 and Re-Opening Requirements across Canada
- Pandemic Tip sheets
- COVID-19 Health & Safety Resources/Tool Kit
E-Courses:
- Pandemic Awareness (updated)
- Pandemic Planning: Reopening for Business new)
- Additional e-learning courses
Printable Posters/Stickers:
- Take the Time to Wash Your Hands
- How to Use Hand Sanitizer
- Handwashing sticker – available for sale
- Controlling COVID-19 in the Workplace Infographic
- Get the Facts of Masks
- Respirators, Surgical Masks, and Non-Medical Masks
Answers related to handwashing, colds, flus, business continuity, sanitation, good hygiene practices
-
Government of Canada new PPE supply hub
-
Canada’s response – Info and implications - Ag Agri-Food
-
Update On PPE Equipment availability
-
Workplace Guidance for Business Owners
- COVID-19 Tips for Food Processors
The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) has a number of tip sheets for COVID19 best practice recommendations Upload and share best practices pandemic portal
CFIA preventing & responding to COVID-19 in meat slaughter & processing establishments. Steps that meat establishments are required to take to address exposure risks for both establishment and CFIA employees.
- CFIA information on COVID-19
- Coronavirus disease (COVID-19): PHAC Outbreak update
- AHS Assessment Tool
Federal support: New info added as the situation evolves, so refer back regularly.
Canada’s COVID-19 Economic Response Plan https://www.canada.ca/en/department-finance/economic-response-plan.html under “Support to Businesses”.
BDC https://www.bdc.ca/en/pages/home.aspx, and EDC https://www.edc.ca/ Both the Canada Emergency Business Account and SME Loan and Guarantee program will be administered by private-sector financial institutions.
handy poster and general info regarding protection in the workplace.
How coronavirus infections spread: Health Canada identifies that it spreads through the air by:
-
coughing & sneezing; close personal contact like touching or shaking hands; touching something with the virus on it then touching your mouth, nose, or eyes before washing your hands.
Preventing coronavirus infections: There are no vaccinations currently available. The WHO recommends:
-
Frequently clean hands by using alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water.
-
When coughing/sneezing cover mouth and nose with flexed elbow or tissue – throw tissue away immediately and wash hands.
-
Avoid close contact with anyone who has fever and cough.
-
If you have fever, cough and difficulty breathing seek medical care early and share previous travel history with your health care provider.
- Information for employers AHS Coronavirus page and the CFIA page
- In terms of food safety we believe that regular preventive controls such as employee screening; hand washing and food handling controls are the recommendations at this time. Same as during other times; don’t come to work when sick.
- Sop the demo/sampling.
- All GFSI schemes are launching communication to address the situation each one is quite specific so please check each that apply..
Emergency preparedness and continuity plan resources: Calgary Chamber of Commerce;
https://www.calgarychamber.com/resources/blog/covid-19-guidance-resources/
https://www.alberta.ca/assets/documents/health-self-isolation-information-sheet.pdf
Where You Can get regular updates?
- The Government of Canada’s Public Health Agency Infection Prevention and Control Canada (ipac)
- For the latest information on Government of Canada support - Support for Canadian Businesses
- The Canadian Government through its BuyandSell website is looking for manufacturing suppliers that can easily pivot to provide essential products and services needed during this time.
- Business Link was designated to provide free advice, coaching and information on COVID-19 resources and supports.
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada developed a guidance for the sector, summarizing important info based on questions received. The information is at “Workplace guidance for sector employers and employees and will be updated as new guidance is available.
- Business Development Bank of Canada Financing available as part of the Business Credit Availability Program
- Business Development Bank of Canada Advice for Businesses: COVID-19: 7 steps to sustain your business through the disruption
- Canadian Chamber of Commerce: Business resilience resources
- Cosmetics Alliance Canada have set up a Hand- Sanitizers Manufacturing Exchange to help ease challenges in the supply chain.
- Farm Credit Canada has received an enhancement to its capital base that will allow for an additional $5 billion in lending capacity: COVID-19 Support Program Innovation Canada portal now includes a special tab for COVID-19 relevant information.
- Regional Relief and Recovery Fund from WED will provide businesses with relief from the economic impact of COVID-19 and prepare for recovery. Through the existing Community Futures Program, the new fund will provide struggling small businesses with financial support, offer technical aid and, resources, and support local economic diversification initiatives
- Temporary suspension of certain labelling requirements for foodservice products. The CFIA has suspended certain labelling requirements due to COVID-19. The temporary changes apply to the labelling of Canadian foodservice products for retail sale and those re-imported from the United States. See the notice to industry for more info.
- Update on the Safe Food for Canadian Regulations requirements for the manufactured food sector. Given these extraordinary circumstances, until further notice CFIA will not prioritize compliance activities associated with July 15, 2020 coming into force of SFCR. CFIA will announce any changes to prioritization of compliance with adequate lead-time once the situation allows.
- Agriculture Job Connector to link employers and Albertans to jobs.
- Info for Albertans: alberta.ca/covid19
- Info on Alberta government supports for affected businesses: alberta.ca/covid-19-financial-support-for- businesses-and-organizations
- Alberta’s list of essential services online questions: bizconnect@gov.ab.ca.
- If you have a product or service to offer to support Alberta’s response to the pandemic, submit at Alberta Bits and Pieces Program.
- Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA)
- CFIA expectations on the prevention of and response to suspected and confirmed cases of COVID-19 by operators.CFIA posted a guidance document that outlines steps that meat establishments are required to take to address exposure risks for both establishment and CFIA employees. A new document that outlines steps for non-meat operators has been posted recently.
- Guide on Health Canada’s interim expedited licensing approach for the production and distribution of alcohol-based hand sanitizers - interim expedited licensing approach to companies that intend to use their facilities to manufacture, package, and/or label alcohol-based hand sanitizers.
- Interim Guide on the Production of Ethanol for Use in Alcohol-Based Hand Sanitizers
- Distribution of Natural Health Products as Samples. Natural Health Products Regulations have been amended to allow the distribution as Samples.
We encourage everyone to explore and make use of our free workstation setup checklist, break reminder, stretching guide, office ergonomics app, remote work guidelines, and other resources.