1. SARS - Spring 2003 The York Region Experience
Siobhan Kearns
Manager, Environment & Health Protection Division
City of Ottawa
September 29, 2007

2. York Region Second largest epicentre in Canada Population of 900,000
Hundreds of people fell sick
Thousands quarantined

3. The Role of the Environmental Health Division (Public Health Inspectors)  in York Region throughout SARS

4. Role Management role in the Emergency Operations Centre (EOC).
PHIs followed up with quarantines.
Managed Infection Control issues at the SARS triage clinic and at all Institutional settings.
Inspected York Central Hospital to facilitate its' reopening.

5. EOC Staffing of the EOC 24/7 Physicians, PHIs, Paramedics, PHNs
Management of quarantined individuals
Delivery of Orders issued by MOH
Coordination of hospital/long term care transfers
Dissemination of information from MOHLTC

6. Quarantines PHNs followed up with case management
PHIs would check on individuals not answering the telephone

7. Infection Control
PHIs developed guidelines for infection control practices and inspected:
SARS triage facility
Long term care facilities
Retirement homes
Hospitals

8. York Central Hospital
PHIs were involved in the inspection of York Central Hospital to facilitate it’s reopening