The Manitoba Veterinary Medical Association supports and recommends the continued use of masks in Manitoba veterinary practices. Current literature and Health Canada[1] recommend the beneficial use of masks when members of the public engage in close and indoor interaction.

The Manitoba Veterinary Medical Association no longer offers recommendations as to whether clients should be permitted to enter the clinic. Each clinic is in the best position to assess the risk to staff, physical environment, and resources to best prevent the spread of COVID-19. The Manitoba Veterinary Medical Association supports veterinary clinics as they strive to provide veterinary care in a safe manner.

[1] https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/2019-novel-coronavirus-infection/prevention-risks.html#p (accessed April 19, 2022)

A PDF version of this statement is available here.

The MVMA has been advised by the Manitoba School Boards Association that veterinary medicine (including veterinarians, veterinary technologist and clinic staff) are included in the definition of Tier 1 Critical Service Workers, for purposes of prioritizing access to in-person classroom based learning next week during the province-wide shift to remote learning for the K-12 education system.

Under the Tier 1 accommodation protocol, priority is first extended to households where both parents/guardians or single parent/guardians are critical service workers and have no alternative or access to childcare or partners who can provide care to the children in their household.

The critical roles and responsibilities played by veterinary medicine practitioners, particularly given transmissibility of COVID-19 to select large and small animal species, along with general animal health and welfare certainly needs, informed the need to clarify the inclusion of veterinary doctors among provincial healthcare and health services workers.

The MVMA supports clinics as they protect themselves, their staff as well as the public and their animals while obtaining veterinary care. The MVMA Council suggests that clinics review the CVMA Townhall events held by Dr. Scott Weese, available on the CVMA website.
The MVMA Council encourages clinics to ensure proper ventilation. Current research indicates the beneficial use of HEPA filters in the current pandemic.

Manitoba Public Health is the authority and regulator regarding positive COVID-19 cases, close contacts, and contact tracing within clinics. The MVMA will not close clinics in the case of possible COVID-19 contacts, that is under the authority of Manitoba Public Health.

Veterinary staff are not considered frontline workers, therefore tests for these individuals are not expedited. It is important to stay home if you are sick or suspect that you have been in contact with a possible COVID-19 positive individual, even if you are only feeling a little unwell. Please stay home in accordance with Manitoba Public Health recommendations.

The MVMA strongly recommends the use of protective eyewear (this does not include eyeglasses). Medical masks or masks with a minimum of three layers are recommended when in clinic.

The MVMA is not currently recommending restrictions on the provision of veterinary services (ie. essential vs non-essential services). Do what makes sense for your practice. If you are busy, limit non-essential procedures or use telemedicine. When considering telemedicine the veterinarian must have a valid VCPR in order to provide veterinary services in Manitoba (Section 4-6-2 of the MVMA General By-Law No. 1). For more information about VCPR and telemedicine see the drop-down menu below.

Please be thoughtful when referring non-urgent (non-critical) cases to an emergency clinic. If you do suggest a client with a non-urgent case go to an emergency clinic, please advise them that they may have to wait/expect delays (this could be for several hours) while more critical cases are being treated.

Tips for reducing contact within clinics
– Clinics should implement a locked door policy with a curbside pick up. Please review on a case-by-case basis (compassionate situations, etc).
– Retail purchases should be made via telephone or online store with curbside pick up.
– Stagger lunch/snack breaks so that only one person is on break (ie. removing their mask and eating) or have individual staff eat (and then sanitize) in separate rooms.
– Members who work at multiple clinics should limit their movement between clinics.
– Do your best to limit house calls as much as possible. When doing house calls be sure to follow the fundamentals.

For more tips about recommended PPE
OVMA COVID-19: A Guide to Reopening Veterinary Medicine

Helpful Worms & Germs blog links
Veterinary Clinic Access and COVID-19 Risks
SARS-CoV-2, Masks and Fomites

Please note that Materials Distribution Agency (MDA) is beginning to sell Rapid COVID 19 Testing Kits to business.

Accounts

Prior to accepting orders, MDA will need an account set up to begin processing.

Any location interested in accessing this product should  complete the attached account application.

Send by email to the Accounting Department mdaaccounting@gov.mb.ca as indicated on the form.

This program is treated as a separate entity, new accounts are required for our system. This is separate from any PPE program.

We have different ways of setting up accounts based on your organization’s  desired process:

• One site can set up an account and order for other sites, that’s fine.
• Sites can set up their own account and order directly as well.
• Sites could bulk order and distribute themselves as required.
• Please state your needs accordingly on the order form.

Rapid Test are sold at cost and freight charges are applicable for all  customers  (Exception is Core Government Departments) Terms are 30 days.

Product & Pricing

Right now we are distributing the Abbot PanBio product.

• A package of 25 tests is 163.75.
• In addition, it will come with swabs that are 18.75 per package

We do have BD Vertitor as well if preferred

• A package of 30 tests is 450.00

As this product is depleted, we have other product coming in and price and product type will vary. We expect the focus to be on Abbott PanBio and BD Veritor.

MDA will confirm product type and price and send customer instructions when we confirm orders with customers.

Our normal turnaround time depending on volume is 3-5 business days.

Customer inquiries and orders may be directed to our general email box:

+WPG1290 – Materials Distribution Agency (FIN) mda@gov.mb.ca

Phone calls may be directed to:

431-338-2330 Kathleen

204-945-0570  Chris

204-945-1614  Rose

204-945-5908 Carolyn

On December 9, 2020 the Government of Manitoba declared that veterinarians and veterinary technologists are eligible to administer the COVID 19 Vaccine.

• Click here to see the full order

As per the Order, the following members will be eligible to apply to administer the COVID 19 vaccine:

Interested in Administering the COVID19 Vaccine?

• Ensure that you are in an eligible registration category with the MVMA
• Obtain employment by a regional health authority, Shared Health Inc. or a pandemic response service provider
• Successfully complete the COVID-19 vaccine administration training program offered by Red River College

More Information
The MVMA will provide more information as it becomes available.

For the most accurate and up-to-date information please see visit the Government of Manitoba’s COVID-19 webpage

Current Job Postings
https://careers.wrha.mb.ca/job/Flexible-in-Manitoba-COVID-Immunization-Clinic-Manager-MB/543640217/

https://careers.wrha.mb.ca/job/Flexible-in-Manitoba-COVID-Immunization-Clinical-Lead-MB/543527817/

https://careers.wrha.mb.ca/job/Flexible-in-Manitoba-COVID-Immunization-Clinic-Immunizer-MB/543640017/

https://careers.wrha.mb.ca/job/Flexible-in-Manitoba-COVID-Immunization-Clinic-Post-Immunization-Observer-MB/543640117/

https://careers.wrha.mb.ca/job/Flexible-in-Manitoba-COVID-Immunization-Clinic-Client-Navigator-MB/543639917/

Update: Provision of Veterinary Services

The MVMA Council shares the following with members to guide them in deciding what veterinary services to provide during the pandemic.

The primary consideration when determining what veterinary services to provide should be safeguarding the health of staff, clients and yourself. Another factor is the use of PPE that is in short supply.

• Government physical (social) distancing methods must be implemented at veterinary clinics.
• Continue to utilize tactics that will support physical distancing, such as curbside pick-up/ delivery (of products and pets) and locked-door (no walk-ins) policies.
• Prioritize urgent and essential care.
• Continue to use telemedicine when appropriate. (See more information in the MVMA’s VCPR & Telemedicine drop-down below)
• Clinics may consider allowing one client per animal to attend the animal’s appointment. The client must use sanitizer upon entry. Clinics can determine if the client must wear a mask while in the clinic. It is suggested that the client leave the clinic while diagnostics are preformed or when medications are being prepared.
• The provision of surgical services should focus on urgent and essential surgeries. For elective surgeries, consider the use and availability of PPE. Delay elective surgeries if access to PPE is a limited.
• Reduce appointment volumes to support fewer interactions between staff and clients. Clinics need to continue to follow physical distancing methods.
• Clients should be screened before attending a veterinary clinic.
• Staff who are symptomatic or who have symptomatic family members should stay home.
• See the Helpful Tips to Minimize Disease Spread in a Veterinary Setting drop-down menu below.

Provincial Guidelines for Therapeutic and Health Care Businesses
Below are the Provincial Guidelines for Therapeutic and Health Care Businesses. It would be ideal if veterinary clinics implemented these strategies in their clinics when applicable. It would show that the veterinary community is taking its role in the prevention of COVID transmission very seriously.

From the Province of Manitoba:

Service providers must continue to implement measures to ensure that members of the public are reasonably able to maintain a separation of at least two metres from others, except for brief exchanges.

In addition to general public health guidance for businesses, other important considerations for these businesses include:

• Practitioners should see customers by appointment only and keep logs of appointments for possible contact tracing for a minimum of 21 days.
• Customers and people who may attend with customers may be screened (screening questions) by telephone before an appointment is booked and should not be given an appointment if they have COVID-19 symptoms.
• People should be screened when they arrive for an appointment. People identified as symptomatic should not be allowed into the building and should be instructed to call Health Links – Info Santé.
• Waiting room management strategies must be in place. Strategies should include waiting in car if possible, or practice physical distancing if waiting in the business.

Additional Guidelines:

• Staff, patients or people attending with patients must use the self-screening tool before booking an appointment. https://sharedhealthmb.ca/covid19/screening-tool/
• Employees must stay home when ill with COVID-19 symptoms.
• Staff are given information about physical distancing.
• Entry into the business, including lines, are regulated to prevent congestion.
• Businesses must post external signs indicating COVID-19 physical distancing protocols, along with floor markings where service is provided or lines form.
• Businesses must maintain a single point of entry.
• Hand sanitizer is available at the entrance/exit for patient and staff use.
• Patients and people attending with patients must sanitize hands upon entry to facility.
• Work/service areas are sanitized after each patient.
• Washrooms have frequent sanitization and a regime for business sanitization is in place.
• Magazine racks and toys are removed and play areas in waiting rooms are closed.
• Patients may wear masks when receiving services, where possible.
• Cashless or no-contact payment should be used to the greatest extent possible.

The MVMA does not have specific by-laws or rules that speak directly to the issue of telemedicine. In this sense, the same rules apply when providing veterinary service either in person or through a telemedicine modality (telephone, email, text, video call, etc.). With this said, members may want to review the following MVMA rules that many times touch on issues related to telemedicine within Manitoba:

• The veterinarian must have a valid VCPR in order to provide veterinary service in Manitoba (Section 4-6-2 of the MVMA General By-Law No. 1).

This raises three key issues:

1. The veterinarian must have sufficient knowledge of the animal(s) to initiate at least general or preliminary diagnosis of the medical condition.

2. The veterinarian cannot establish a VCPR through telemedicine alone.

3. The veterinarian must be confident that the telemedicine modality that they are using (telephone, email, text, video call, etc.) is suitable and appropriate to provide the veterinarian with sufficient knowledge of the animal(s) to initiate at least general or preliminary diagnosis of the medical condition. The individual veterinarian is responsible for assessing each situation and determining if telemedicine and the specific telemedicine modality is appropriate on a case by case basis.

As per the MVMA General By-Law No. 1 and the PIPS By-Law the veterinarian must keep compliant medical records for each patient. This includes patients that receive service via telemedicine.

For guidance about when telemedicine may be appropriate, please review the MVMA’s Evaluation Tool: Essential vs Non-Essential Veterinary Procedures.

What is Telemedicine

The MVMA does not have any regulatory rules that define telemedicine. Generally, when veterinary professionals discuss telemedicine, they are referring to any technological mechanism that assists a veterinary professional in the provision of specific veterinary medical advice and veterinary treatment of an animal(s) based on the remote diagnosis of disease and injury by means of telecommunications technology where no physical examination of the animal(s) by the veterinarian takes place.

Telemedicine can include any technology that serves this purpose but has historically involved technologies like the telephone, email, text, video call.

• Share the clinic’s protocol to protect the clients and staff. Advise what the clinic’s plan is for at-risk staff (usually a requirement to remain at home).
• Pre-screen clients before direct interactions with them; ask about recent travel, self-isolation and illness. If a client is unwell, ask them to arrange for someone (who is not exposed and healthy) to bring their pet to the clinic. Or, ask them to reschedule the appointment if is not urgent.
• Exercise social distancing: maintain 1-2 metres between yourself and others. Limit face-to-face interactions to work-related tasks.  This may include a closed exam rooms, extended time between clients and/or locked door policy.
• Establish protocols to minimize person-to-person contact and maintain social distancing.  Offer hand sanitizer or opportunity for handwashing to each client as they come into the practice.
• Minimize waiting room occupancy by increasing appointment times or staggering appointments as individual clinic staff complement can tolerate. Reconfigure waiting areas to ensure 1-2 metres distance between waiting clients and clients and hospital staff. Alternatively, have clients call the office once they have arrived and advise them when it is best to enter. (Increase social distancing by reducing the number of people in the waiting room.)
• Restrict client access to practice by conducting a low/no contact appointment can be facilitated by asking the owner to remain in the vehicle. Practice staff can collect the patient from the vehicle for examination. Veterinarians and staff can then communicate with client by electronic means including text, face time, skype, etc. Medications and food may also be delivered to the vehicle in the same method.
• Do not accept walk in traffic. Announce via signage, website, social media that the practice is not accepting walk-in traffic in an effort to reduce the spread of COVID-19.
• Triage clients to discourage COVID+ clients from attending the practice. If you are allowing clients to attend in-person, use Owner Contact Guidelines to determine if the client should safely be permitted to enter the practice.
• Limit payment methods. Practices should limit payment to an online payment system, or by point of service terminal (POS), with increased sanitation practices. Practices should avoid accepting cash.
• Limit client purchases: set limits (i.e. two-month supply of food and medication) in case of shortages.
• Institute enhanced triage system for patients. Consider limiting treatment to emergencies, urgent and sick cases only as well as important population medicine cases (immunization of puppies and kittens). Postpone/reschedule routine visits, including wellness exams, vaccinations, elective surgeries, etc. Consider employing telemedicine in your triage process.
• Consider having employees work in teams. By separating your employees by shift and into teams reduces close contact between larger groups of employees. Sanitize the practice between shifts.
• Review infection prevention and control protocol for the practice: http://oahn.ca/resources/ipc-best-practices/, https://www.aaha.org/aaha-guidelines/infection-control-configuration/aaha-infection-control-prevention-and-biosecurity-guidelines/
• Increase sanitation practices. Ensure commonly touched surfaces (door knobs, counters, tables, seating areas, keyboards, telephones and point of service terminals) are cleaned after each client visit.
• Remove unnecessary items from the practice that may act as fomites such as magazines, candy dishes, kids’ toys and practice leashes.
• Ensure staff use human hospital safety hand-washing protocols after every client contact.
• Reduce the need for signatures. A veterinarian or veterinary technologist may document in the medical record that verbal informed client consent has been received to reduce the requirement for client signatures.
• Encourage sick staff to stay home. Create a culture where staff respect that they should stay home if sick, and self-isolate if necessary.
• HR policies. Practices should implement and discuss HR policies, including sick time, contingency plans for reduced childcare and other factors with employees.
• Inform staff that the Canadian government will waive the one-week waiting period for forced isolation based on symptomology where eligible for Employment Insurance. Consider offering pay advances/loans to staff who must be away from work due to isolation measures. https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/corporate/notices/coronavirus.html
• Use disposable dishes or personal cups and dishware for coffee and lunches. Staff should not be sharing clinic dishes/food until otherwise notified.

To protect the staff of veterinary clinics and following updated guidance for public health authorities, the MVMA advises that clinic staff may want to wear cloth masks during client and staff interactions as described below:

Due to limited supply, with some exceptions, it is suggested that surgical face masks be reserved for veterinarian use during surgery.

1. Wear a cloth face mask when interacting with clients, whether in the parking lot or clinic. Face masks primarily serve to protect others from the wearer, though they do provide a barrier that could shield incoming secretions and may deter the wearer from touching his or her face. Face masks are by no means a substitute for social distancing or strict disinfecting protocols; these must still be rigorously followed. At the very least, the wearing of face masks signals to the public that we take this situation seriously and are doing all we can to reduce spread.
2. Wear a cloth face mask when working closely together with your colleagues.  Examples include during dental surgery, blood draws, x-rays, ultrasounds, or prolonged jostling in the pharmacy. Examples of times when it is optional include times when you’re working at a desk, in the lab, or cleaning a room by yourself.

More information from Scott Weese “Routine mask use in vet clinics?”. 

Information on COVID-19 and Animals in Canada can be found on the Government of Canada’s website. Please consult this website frequently as information will be updated as it becomes available.

Pets can contribute to our overall happiness and well-being, especially in times of stress. If you are feeling well (no symptoms of COVID-19) and are not self-isolating because of COVID-19 illness, you can continue to take walks with your dog or spend time with your pet. This can contribute to keeping both you and your pet healthy.

As a precautionary measure, if you have COVID-19 symptoms or are self-isolating due to contact with a COVID-19 case, you should follow similar recommendations around animals, as you would around people in these circumstances:

• avoid close contact with animals during your illness
  • practise good handwashing and avoid coughing and sneezing on your animals
  • do not visit farms or have contact with livestock
• if possible, have another member of your household care for your animals
  • if this is not possible, always wash your hands before and after touching animals, their food and supplies and practise good cough and sneezing etiquette
• limit your animal’s contact with other people and animals outside the household until your illness is resolved

These measures are recommended as a precaution, and are basic practices to prevent transmission of diseases between humans and animals. If you have concerns, seek professional advice from your veterinarian or a public health professional who can help to answer your questions.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency website has more information about animals and COVID-19.

Worms & Germs Blog (Dr. Scott Weese) – COVID-19 tag

Below are information and links that members may find beneficial as they respond to questions and concerns about Covid-19.

Government of Canada links

Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19)

• Include information on COVID-19 Update; Travel advice; Preparedness; Symptoms & treatment; Prevention & risk; Canada’s response

Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19): Prevention and Risks

Government of Manitoba links
Information about Coronavirus.

Below are information and links that members may find beneficial as they respond to questions and concerns about Covid-19.

CCVO
Council of Chief Veterinary Officers Position Statement: Testing of Animals for SARS-CoV-2

CFIA
INTERIM GUIDANCE FOR LABORATORIES TESTING ANIMALS FOR SARS-CoV-2 

CVMA
CVMA Coronavirus (COVID-19) Page

CVMA COVID-19 and Animals FAQ

Featuring relevant information and documents to keep you up-to-date on the current situation.  Please visit the page regularly for updates.

Topics on this page include:

• Essential Services
• Personal Protective Equipment
• Animals in Canada
• Additonal resources (links to trusted resources)
• CVMA Articles and Bulletins

AVMA

COVID-19: What veterinarians need to know

• Includes general information as well as information about the origin and spread; COVID-19 in humans; SARS-CoV-2 and domestic animals; keeping veterinary teams healthy; potential supply chain effects; other resources

FQAs about Coronavirus Disease 2019 (March 11, 2020)

Worms & Germs Blog (Scott Weese)

The MVMA encourages members to read the Worms and Germs Blog, prepared by Dr. Scott Weese. The blog contains helpful information regarding COVID-19 for members, clinic staff and clients.

Ontario Veterinary Medical Association

Patient Screening Pathways

Ontario Veterinary College

OVC Protocol for Client/ Patient arriving with perceived risk of COVID-19 Virus

WSAVA

The New Coronavirus and Companion Animals (March 7, 2020)

Below are information and links that members may find beneficial as they respond to questions and concerns about Covid-19.

Manitoba Chamber of Commerce & Other Business Links

Covid-19 Tools & Resources for Individuals/ Employees

Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Employment & Social Development Canada