A Message for CDA Corporate Member Provincial Dental Associations

Below is a snapshot of the Canadian Dental Association’s (CDA) pandemic-related work for the week ending February 19, 2021. CDA’s next update is slated for March 19, 2021.

Fast Facts: Current COVID-19 Situational Report

CDA’s COVID-19 Team Lead, Dr. Aaron Burry, Deputy CEO - Professional Affairs, provides a video update on trends and case growth related to COVID-19 across Canada and other parts of the world. Dr. Burry discusses the highly contagious new variant of the COVID-19 virus that is spreading across 86 countries, including Canada. Click on the image below to view the complete video discussion. Highlights include:

What is known about the new variant:

• Every province has positive tests for this new variant. The spread of this variant is due to travel.
• The new variant spreads more rapidly. It can spread from a single case to community transmission in record time, often leaving facilities/communities unprepared to react quickly enough to contain the situation.

Assumptions about the new variant:

Because not a lot of data is yet available on this new variant, assumptions can be made for Canada based on the United Kingdom’s experiences, including:

• The current public health measures of wearing cloth masks and maintaining a 2-metre social distance indoors may be insufficient to prevent the spread of infection of this new variant.
• Women may be equally susceptible to contracting the virus as men.
• Individuals between age 50 to 60 may be more susceptible to contracting the virus.
• It is unknown whether this new variant may trigger a third wave for Canada.
• More hospitalizations and deaths could be expected.
• Canada may see Public Health Officers implement different approaches to prevent community spread. For example, if an individual tested positive for a new variant, all individuals who have been in contact with the infected person during a certain period may be directed to self-isolate for 14 days. This can have serious implications for the business operations of dental offices.

Important! Considerations for dentistry based on current patterns of infections related to the assumptions of the new variant:

• Eye protection should be worn by all staff, at all times, while in the dental office.
• Surgical masks should be worn by all staff, at all times, while in the dental office.
• Cloth masks should be avoided outside of the operatory since it may not be as effective against the spread of infection.
• Dental office staff must remain hyper vigilant both in their personal lives, when presenting to the office for work, and when in non-clinical/common areas inside the office.

Video Length: Approximately 9 minutes. Recorded: February 16, 2021.

New! Resources added to “Be Vigilant Inside and Outside the Op!” series:

Due to more contagious variants of the COVID virus emerging in other countries and in Canada, CDA has added two new posters to the “Be Vigilant Inside and Outside the Op!” series.

The posters provide information about new variants and how to continue exercising caution. The package of materials also includes a set of speaking points that dentists can use with their teams to facilitate discussions around the importance of not letting one’s guard down.

To date, the protocols used in dental offices have been very successful in preventing the transmission of COVID between dental professionals and patients (and vice versa). However, continued vigilance of all dental staff, both in break rooms and in our personal lives, is necessary to prevent any staff-to-staff transmission of COVID.

All materials are available in English and French, and have been distributed through CDA’s Dental Communications Group. Corporate Members may adapt the materials for member dentists, as deemed appropriate.

A preview of one poster in the Be Vigilant Inside and Outside the Op! series. Colours and text may vary as PDAs may adapt the materials for use by their member dentists.

CDA Advocacy and Federal Government Announcements

New! Government of Canada proposes increase to number of weeks for recovery benefits and EI regular benefits to ensure continued support for Canadians who have been hardest hit. The proposed changes would:

• Increase the number of weeks available under the Canada Recovery Benefit (CRB) and the Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit (CRCB) by 12 weeks extending the maximum duration of the benefits through regulation from 26 weeks to up to 38 weeks;
• Increase the number of weeks available under the Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit (CRSB) through regulation from the current 2 weeks to 4 weeks; and
• Increase the number of weeks of EI regular benefits available by up to 24 weeks to a maximum of 50 weeks through legislation, for claims that are made between September 27, 2020 and September 25, 2021.

Reminder: Highly Affected Sectors Credit Availability Program (HASCAP):
On January 26, 2021 the Federal government released details for the Highly Affected Sectors Credit Availability Program (HASCAP). Canadian businesses that need additional cash flow to cover operational costs may be eligible for the HASCAP Guarantee through their financial institution.

Eligibility: HASCAP is available to businesses across the country, in all sectors, that have been hit hard by the pandemic. This includes restaurants, businesses in the tourism and hospitality sectors, and those that rely on in-person service.

To be eligible for HASCAP, businesses need to show a year-over-year revenue decline of at least 50% in three months, within the eight months prior to their application. They must also be able to show their financial institutions that they have previously applied for either the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy or the Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy. The primary financial institution of a business will determine whether it qualifies for this program, based on the eligibility criteria established by the Government of Canada.

How to Apply: Business owners can contact their primary financial institution to find out more. Important: Individuals can apply at one financial institution only.

More Information: For Frequently Asked Questions, please visit: HASCAP Overview. CDA has also updated its federal funding program website pages with the latest information available.

New! CDA Submission to Department of Finance Canada as part of 2021 Pre-budget Consultation. CDA’s submission includes five recommendations:

• Recommendation 1: A long-term approach to fund public oral health programs provided at the provincial and territorial level through a dedicated funding envelope of $3 Billion in the Canada Health Transfer.
• Recommendation 2: An expansion of the Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA) to $80,000, with up to half of that amount being forgivable.
• Recommendation 3: Provide accelerated capital cost allowances to help defray the capital costs associated with greater safety requirements for workspaces and patient care areas in light of COVID-19.
• Recommendation 4: Continued, active and dynamic support for access to personal protective equipment (PPE), particularly N95 respirators, that recognizes the specific challenges of dental offices.
• Recommendation 5: Support to help more Canadian businesses provide Extended Health Care benefits.

Note – This was a departmental call for submissions from Finance Canada. CDA’s submission echoed the recommendations that were made to the Standing Committee on Finance this past summer. Stakeholders will not be asked to appear at any committee as a result of this submission.

Other Key Federal Details:

Upcoming: CDA Monitoring Federal Budget Announcements: The Federal Government is expected to table a federal budget towards the end of March. This will be the first federal budget tabled in almost two years. In preparation of the budget, the House of Commons’ Standing Committee on Finance tabled a report of recommendations to present to the Government. The report reflected recommendations from stakeholders during the consultation phase

None of the 133 recommendations include specific mention of dental care specifically. However, on page 125, the report mentions CDA’s appearance before the Committee this past summer, which can be found here.

The 133 recommendations are divided in the following categories, with the following of interest to CDA and Corporate Members:

• People
• Communities
• Businesses
• Fiscal Policy, Regulatory Framework and Trade
• Environment and Climate Change

Recommendation 3: Rejuvenate the National Emergency Strategic Stockpile and collaborate with provincial, territorial and regional authorities on asset management.

Recommendation 4: Set national standards for long-term care facilities and make investments in both long-term care and in-home, including home, community, and institutional settings, that will allow provinces to achieve a standard of care that will provide dignity for seniors requiring such care in Canada, with proper accountability measures.

Recommendation 6: Implement strategies that increase the resiliency and address inequalities of the health-care system to safeguard Canada’s social and economic security.

Recommendation 11: Move forward on its commitment to implement an equitable, national and universal pharmacare program, beginning with the development of a preliminary common formulary of essential medicines by January 2022 that would be comprehensively expanded by 2027.

Note: Given the number of opposition members on the committee, it is difficult to gauge how many of the recommendations will be actualized in the upcoming budget, which we expect to be tabled later in March. CDA continues to monitor the situation and will report key updates, as new information becomes available.

Update: National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI): On February 5, 2021, NACI voted on and approved revised recommendations for the equitable, ethical, and efficient allocation of authorized COVID-19 vaccines in the context of staggered arrival of vaccine supply. On February 15, 2021, this updated figure was published and updates the foundational framework from NACI’s Preliminary guidance on key populations for early COVID-19 immunization with current evidence on COVID-19 and COVID-19 vaccines.

Update: House of Commons Activity: On February 17 and February 18, 2021, NDP member Peter Julian’s Private Member’s bill C-213 (An Act to Amend the Pharmacare Act) was debated in the House of Commons. It has not passed Second Reading or been referred to committee and it is not expected to.

Update: Committee Activity: The Standing Committee on Health is currently undertaking a new study: Emergency Situation Facing Canadians in Light of the Second Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic. Committee members will be hearing from representatives of the NACI, as well as the Public Health Agency of Canada on Friday, February 19, 2021.

Update: NDP Motion on Dental Care: CDA has drafted letters outlining its position on how the Federal Government should proceed on addressing public oral health in Canada. Letters will be sent to key MP’s from each of the political parties, as well as the Minister of Health.

Update: Election Speculation: Given the current party positions in the polls and the mounting frustration over Prime Minister Trudeau’s handling of vaccine distribution, it is unlikely that Canadians will be heading to the polls this Spring after the 2021 Federal Budget is tabled. Political analysts are now speculating that an election is more likely to occur in June 2021 or later this Fall.

COVID-19 Practice Recovery Task Force (“The Task Force”):

Formerly known as the Return to Practice Task Force, this group includes representatives from all Corporate Member provincial dental associations (PDAs). The Task Force continues to work together to discuss deliverables for:

1. information exchange on return-to-practice status across the country;
2. strategies for obtaining and securing PPEs; and
3. communications to the public on dentists returning to practice.

Ongoing: Mental Health in the Workplace. Safeguarding your mental health and overall wellness is important - especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Task Force continues to coordinate the evaluation of a short course on mental health in the workplace from the Mental Health Commission of Canada to see if there would be value in adapting this for dentistry. More information to follow as this work progresses.

Reminder: The Task Force continues to review and prioritize its list of deliverables. Any specific expectations or special requests of the Task Force should be fed forward by Corporate Member PDAs to their PDA member Task Force representative.

CDA’s Infection Control Working Group (“The Working Group”):

This Working Group is responsible for collecting and assessing information on infection protection and control to support the COVID-19 Practice Recovery Task Force. The Working Group meets regularly until its tasks are completed. The Working Group has organized their work into four key areas, including:

• minimizing the emission of infectant particles;
• controlling infectant particles’ dispersion to other surrounding areas;
• protecting staff and patients in the dental office, including PPE requirements; and
• contamination and disinfection protocols.

Coming Soon: Resource on Vaccine Hesitancy. It is anticipated that more vaccines will be made available to Canadians throughout 2021. In preparation for this milestone, CDA is working on producing a package of resources to help dentists facilitate the discussion with their teams around the importance of immunization. The suite of materials will be made available to Corporate Members, via the Dental Communications Group, to use and adapt, as deemed appropriate.

Reminder: Medical Gown Use in Dentistry Resource. In collaboration with CDA’s Practice Recovery Task Force, the Working Group finalized this resource and CDA has distributed it to Corporate Members via the Dental Communications Group to co-brand and/or adapt, as deemed appropriate.

Beware: Potential Fraudulent Outreach on COVID-19 Vaccine Supply

CDA has received a message from Public Safety Canada regarding the fraudulent outreach on COVID-19 vaccine supply. Corporate Members are encouraged to share this information with member dentists, as deemed appropriate. CDA is also promoting this message on its corporate social media channels.

Please take note of the important information below regarding fraudulent outreach on COVID-19 vaccine supply:

The RCMP Federal Policing Joint Intelligence Group (JIG) has prepared a Bulletin to address the continued unsolicited offers of COVID-19 vaccine for sale. The Bulletin has been shared with law enforcement partners and government agencies in all provinces and territories, including their procurement and departmental security officials.

Please note that, to date, two coronavirus vaccines have been approved for use in Canada — the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, and the Moderna vaccine. The only way to access these COVID-19 vaccines is through clinics organized or endorsed by local public health authority in collaboration with Canada's federal, provincial and territorial governments.

If you wish to report having received potentially fraudulent correspondence on COVID-19 vaccines, please contact Health Canada at https://healthycanadians.gc.ca/apps/radar/MD-IM-0005.08.html

Sample CDA social media graphic and post to create awareness: Do not buy or use #COVID19vaccines sold on the internet or from unauthorized sources. These may be counterfeit, can pose risks to your health & are ineffective at protecting you from the COVID-19 virus. Learn more: https://healthycanadians.gc.ca/recall-alert-rappel-avis/hc-sc/2020/74579a-eng.php

Knowledge and Information Broker:

CDA Oasis is CDA’s primary channel of communication for delivering urgent information to the dental community during the COVID-19 pandemic. The following discussions, including on the topic of wellness, have been recorded since CDA’s last COVID-19 update. Be sure to check these out:

• What Are the Dangers of Sitting Too Much?:
  Dr. Uche Odiatu talks about the consequences of sitting too much in the workplace. The general dentist and certified fitness instructor highlights the key risk factors and offers practical tips for dentists on how they can stay mobile in the dental office. (February 16, 2020)
• The Dentist Baker – Following Your Passion on the Path to Wellness:
  Dr. Sachin Seth talks about the value of pursuing a passion outside of dentistry. He highlights the benefits of a broader perspective, of avoiding burnout, and the importance of not being defined by what you do in your working life. (February 9, 2021)
• What is Intermittent Fasting?:
  Dr. Uche Odiatu talks about the benefits and practicalities of intermittent fasting. Dr. Odiatu outlines the physiological benefits of fasting, and also discusses the different types of intermittent fasting. (February 8, 2021)
• The Impact of COVID-19 on Access to Oral Care for Black Canadians:
  In this short conversation, U of T dental students Rouzbeh Ostadsharif Memar and Lis Grinfeld walk through the basis of their study and highlight their key findings. They also introduce a promising student-led initiative designed to assist prospective candidates from minority communities in their journey to become dental students. (February 4, 2021)
• Airborne Contamination Caused by Dental Handpieces:
  Dr. Andrei Ionescu introduces his work as the first such study to use a biological tracer, Streptococcus mutans. He outlines his somewhat surprising results and, subject to further study, proposes an innovative solution to the aerosol dilemma. (January 25, 2021)

This week’s CDA Oasis Bulletin collated relevant and timely “news that you can use” related to COVID-19.

New! CDA Essentials, Issue 1 is available online. Here are some of the edition’s highlights pertaining to the pandemic:

• President’s Column, A Reason for Hope
• Your COVID-19 Questions Answered
• Finding Positivity in a time of COVID-19

CDA Help Desk:

CDA’s Help Desk continues to assist dentists and dental office employees on how to navigate and access federal government support programs.

The latest federal funding program information has been updated on CDA’s website as of January 26, 2021. For assistance on how to navigate these support programs for Canadians and businesses, please call 1-866-232-0385, M-F, 7:30 A.M. – 8:00 p.m. EDT.

Mental Health and Wellness:

It is more important than ever to safeguard your mental health and wellness. Individuals can access mental health and wellness support by calling CDSPI’s Members’ Assistance Program (MAP) at 1.844.578.4040 or visiting www.workhealthlife.com

MAP provides a variety of resources to help individuals deal with life's challenges. It is a confidential counselling, referral and information service for individuals who are dealing with mental health challenges or need advice on topics such as physical fitness, nutrition or parenting. MAP services and resources are offered through Shepell, Canada’s largest provider of Employee and Family Assistance Programs.

New! Issue 1 of CDA Essentials offers the following articles related to mental health and wellness. Be sure to check these out:

• How Canadian Dentists are Dealing with Stress and Uncertainty
• Would You Recognize Mental Illness?

CDA COVID-19 Repository at a Glance:

CDA serves as a COVID-19 Repository for Corporate Member PDAs by collecting advice and available COVID-19 resources from external organizations and any sources that PDAs wish to share. The information is placed in the Repository and is exclusively available for use by the PDAs, for onward transmission to their respective dentist members, as deemed appropriate.

For quick reference, the following materials have been added to the Repository since CDA’s last COVID-19 update. As of November 2020, resources listed below and posted in the repository appear in the language it was created in. For the complete resource listing, please log in to view them all. Login details on how to access the Repository are below.

Dental Schools, Research, Journal Articles and Continuing Education Resources

American Dental Association

• HPI webinar: How COVID-19 Continues to Impact the Dental Care Sector (February 3, 2021)
• HPI Research on Pricing in Commercial Dental Insurance and Provider Market (February 3, 2021)

International Dental Journal

• COVID-19 and Saliva: A Primer for Dental Health Care Professionals (February 2021)
• COVID-19 Dentistry-Related Aspects: A Literature Review (February 2021)
• Emergency management in a dental clinic during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic in Beijing (February 2021)
• Impact of COVID-19 on Oral Emergency Service (February 2021)

McGill University

• Report: Evidence to support safe return to clinical practice by oral health professionals in Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic: A report prepared for the Office of the Chief Dental Officer of Canada (November 2020)

Sage Journals

• Public Health Report: Using Dental Health Care Personnel During a Crisis: COVID-19 Pandemic in the Bronx, New York (February 18, 2021)

International Resources

International Coalition of Medicines Regulatory Authorities (ICMRA)

• ICMRA statement for healthcare professionals: How COVID-19 vaccines will be regulated for safety and effectiveness (January 27, 2021)

U.S. Food & Drug Administration

• Decontamination Systems for Personal Protective Equipment EUAs (February 2, 2021)

Wolters Kluwer

• Access COVID-19 resources from Wolters Kluwer Clinical Effectiveness (February 11, 2021)

Mental Health and Wellness Resources

The Conference Board of Canada

• Article: U.S. Outlook to 2025 - Government support and vaccine rollout provide hope (January 20, 2021)

National Resources:

Canadian Dental Association

• What Are the Dangers of Sitting Too Much?:
  Dr. Uche Odiatu talks about the consequences of sitting too much in the workplace. The general dentist and certified fitness instructor highlights the key risk factors and offers practical tips for dentists on how they can stay mobile in the dental office. (February 16, 2020)
• The Dentist Baker – Following Your Passion on the Path to Wellness:
  Dr. Sachin Seth talks about the value of pursuing a passion outside of dentistry. He highlights the benefits of a broader perspective, of avoiding burnout, and the importance of not being defined by what you do in your working life. (February 9, 2021)
• What is Intermittent Fasting?:
  Dr. Uche Odiatu talks about the benefits and practicalities of intermittent fasting. Dr. Odiatu outlines the physiological benefits of fasting, and also discusses the different types of intermittent fasting. (February 8, 2021)
• The Impact of COVID-19 on Access to Oral Care for Black Canadians:
  In this short conversation, U of T dental students Rouzbeh Ostadsharif Memar and Lis Grinfeld walk through the basis of their study and highlight their key findings. They also introduce a promising student-led initiative designed to assist prospective candidates from minority communities in their journey to become dental students. (February 4, 2021)
• Airborne Contamination Caused by Dental Handpieces:
  Dr. Andrei Ionescu introduces his work as the first such study to use a biological tracer, Streptococcus mutans. He outlines his somewhat surprising results and, subject to further study, proposes an innovative solution to the aerosol dilemma. (January 25, 2021)

Canadian Public Health Association

• Report: Canada's Initial Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic (February 16, 2021)

Public Health Agency of Canada

COVID-19 (General)

• COVID-19: Improving indoor ventilation (January 28, 2021)

COVID-19 Outbreak update

• COVID-19 Variants (January 28, 2021)

For businesses

• Advice for essential retailers during COVID-19 pandemic (January 28, 2021)

For Health Professionals

• Tool Kit for Health Care Providers: COVID-19 Vaccination Information Resources (February 12, 2021)

COVID-19 Vaccines: (January 22, 2021)

• Groups that will get the vaccine first (Updated)
• Webinars on immunization clinic planning, and vaccine planning and administration
• Statement from the Council of Chief Medical Officers of Health: Implementing COVID-19 Vaccination in Canada — Vaccine Dose Interval
• Vaccine Rollout: Vaccine Forecasted Allocation Tables
• Vaccines and treatments for COVID-19: Vaccine rollout (vaccine allocation)
• Vaccine safety, concerns and possible side effects

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19): Awareness resources

• Updated: For travellers without symptoms of COVID-19 returning to Canada (January 28, 2021)
• Updated: For travellers with COVID-19 symptoms returning to Canada (January 28, 2021)
• Updated: For persons exempt from mandatory quarantine due to COVID-19 (January 28, 2021)

Provincial Dental Association / Regulatory Body Resources:

British Columbia Dental Association

• Member Update: New Office Posters – Be Vigilant of COVID-19 Variants (February 18, 2021)
• Member Update: WorkSafeBC Workplace Investigations, Call for Nominations for BCDA Board (February 16, 2021)
• Member Update: Dental Professionals' Vaccine Priority, Systemic Racism in BC Healthcare (February 11, 2021)
• Member Update: Negative COVID-19 Test Required at Borders, Scotiabank Webinar Slides Available (February 9, 2021)
• Member Update: WorkSafeBC Increasing Workplace Investigations, BCDA’s Monthly Member Surveys (February 4, 2021)
• Member Update: Register for Thursday’s Webinar, Baby Teeth Matter Brochure (February 2, 2021)
• Member Update: Print Version Fee Guide Shipping Update (January 29, 2021)
• Member Update: Updated COVID-19 Patient Handout, Share Your Digital Suggested Fee Guide (January 28, 2021)
• Member Update: BCDA’s Response to Vaccine Rollout, Upcoming Webinars (January 26, 2021)
• COVID-19 Issue Alert: BCDA Voices Dismay over BC Vaccination Rollout Plan (January 22, 2021)

New Brunswick Dental Society

• President's Message: Vaccine, NBDS Hub Supply, Office Posters, Gowns for Sale, and more. (February 18, 2021)
• NBDS Update: Stewart McKelvey Webinar; Henry Schein Virtual Job Fair (February 9, 2021)
• GNB White Paper: Striving for Dependable Public Health Care A discussion paper on the future of health care in New Brunswick (February 2, 2021)
• Bi-Weekly Update: COVID-19 Vaccine; Atlantic Provinces Dental Association Employee Benefits Plan; Healthy Professional Worker Study; and more. (January 28, 2021)

Nova Scotia Dental Association:

• Dispatch: Henry Schein Virtual Job Fair – This Thursday, Feb. 11, Changing how you receive and access the NSDA Dispatch . . . And More (February 9, 2021)
• Dispatch: NS Government News Release: Update on Nova Scotia’s COVID-19 Immunization Plan, Dentists eager to help deliver COVID-19 vaccines...And More (February 3, 2021)
• President's Letter #20 - COVID-19 Update (January 28, 2021)

Ontario Dental Association

• ASM21: A Bigger, Better Virtual Experience (February 19, 2021)
• Weekly COVID-19 Update: COVID-19 Vaccinations Update: Ministry of Health Guidance Revised; New Resource: Mandating COVID-19 Vaccinations in the Workplace; ODA Advocacy Update: Action on Small Business Support; Expanding Your Options for Fit Testing, N95 Respirators; and more (February 17, 2021)
• Weekly COVID-19 Update: New! N95 Respirators and Fit Testing Options for ODA Members; Ontario Extending Stay-at-Home Order across Most of the Province; Pandemic Recovery Toolkit Updated; and more (February 10, 2021)
• Updated Toolkit Available! (February 8, 2021)
• Weekly COVID-19 Update: COVID-19 Vaccine Update; Updates for Hospital-Based Dentists; PPE Offers; Highly Affected Sectors Credit Availability Program Guarantee; Save the Dates for Virtual ASM21; Patient Communication Resources: Share our Campaign! (February 3, 2021)
• Weekly COVID-19 Update: New Employment Resource; Update: Vaccination Access; Patient Communication Resources: Share our Campaign!; Clarification on Office Capacity Requirements; PPE Offers; CDA update (January 27, 2021)

Access to COVID-19 Repository: PDA Executive Directors, Corporate Member Presidents and select staff, and CDA Board Members have access to the CDA COVID-19 Repository via the CDA Board Resource Website.

The link to access the CDA COVID-19 Repository: https://boardresources.ca/covid/.

Log-in: Please use your existing CDA Board Resources login credentials to access the COVID-19 Repository.

If you have trouble logging in, or require a login for someone in your organization who would like access, please email Dean Smith, CDA Manager of Information Technology, dsmith@cda-adc.ca.

Share: To include your organization’s resources in the COVID-19 Repository, please email Zelda Burt, CDA Communications Manager, zburt@cda-adc.ca.

The CDA COVID-19 Response Team works diligently on a range of fronts to help minimize and mitigate the impacts of COVID-19 on the dental profession. CDA is working to address scientific, clinical, economic and business-related matters impacting dentistry, including efforts to increase awareness about the mental health and wellness of dentists, their families and dental office employees during these challenging times. CDA will communicate regular updates as new information becomes available.