Clinic Response to COVID 19
DON VALLEY COMMUNITY LEGAL SERVICES
RE: March 11, 2020: World Health Organization declares the Coronavirus outbreak a global pandemic
The novel-coronavirus, COVID 19, has been declared a global pandemic. The Health Agency of Canada, working closely with the Ontario Ministry of Health and Toronto Public Health, has provided public health measures (PHM) to minimize serious illness and overall deaths in Canada and to minimize societal disruption among Canadians. Given the evolving nature of the epidemiology of novel coronavirus COVID 19, the intent of guidelines provided by Health Authorities is to delay and mitigate community transmission of the virus to allow health care facilities to best cope with the crises and to prepare Canadians in the event of a community-based spread of the virus.
Based on these protocols, DVCLS and working collaboratively with our Community Partner and co-tenant, TNO, we will implement the following clinic client protocol:
Effective immediately, Don Valley Community Legal Services access to the public are modified as follows:
- Walk In Legal Advice will not be provided. Appointments must be arranged if an emergency. New Legal Advice and Inquiries and Intakes will be received by telephone only. Please call (416) 441-1764, ext 36 and leave a message. Please clearly state your name, telephone number and your concern or question and language required. Please speak slowly and distinctly so that we may return the call within one business day.
- All persons who attend at any office of DVCLS will be asked to complete a visitor log-in. This is for the protection of all persons and staff present in our offices. It will enable us and/or the appropriate persons to reach people promptly should there be a need. Staff interaction and communication with clients and the general public for the purpose of DVCLS business is to be conducted on a remote services basis.
- Remote services basis means that interactions between staff and members of the public, including existing clients of DVCLS are not to be in-person. Appointments, meetings, and any other interactions are to be conducted through the communication interface that best suits the situation, including, but not limited to, telephone, Skype, email, faxes, Google Hangouts, etc
- If there are court documents or letters we need to see, we would ask one to take pictures or scan the documents if possible and the Intake Worker or Case Worker will provide information and an email account to forward the documents. If a person does not have access to a data or internet plan, alternate arrangements will be made to conform to the protocols in place.
- All In Person Document Services are cancelled. As a community partner if you require these documents, please contact our Executive Director, Stewart Cruikshank cruikshs@lao.on.ca for further information.
In addition, staff will be working from home where possible.
Our office is not closed. Our hope is to continue to provide effective legal services in a different way.
Stewart Cruikshank
Executive Director
- If a person walks into the office without an appointment, a questionnaire will be completed. If you have answered yes to any of the screening questions, please return to your home and call either your health care provider, Health Access Thorncliffe Park (416-421-6369), Toronto Public Health (416-338-7600) or Michael Garron Hospital Assessment Centre COVID 19 (416) 469-6858 (“fever, new or worsening cough, sore throat, headache, muscle aches, fatigue, runny nose and joint aches”) for further information.
Approved by the DVCLS Executive Committee: March 12, 2020