OCLA received the following letter from a long-term care home worker in Ontario who was injured by a swab test. Ontario has ordered that support workers must undergo two tests per week, in a directive dated March 15, 2021.
To whom this may concern,
I am a Personal Support Worker, at a Long Term Care home in a small town in Ontario. I have been working there for approximately 5 years, and I recently had to stop going to work due to the invasive PCR testing. My workplace requires staff to get tested twice a week, once with the rapid test. I received my last swabbing on the night of March 29, 2021, when I nearly jumped out of my chair and cried. It felt like a knife was going into my nose, among other symptoms. The next day, I called my Doctor, who then agreed to see me the day after. When I went in for my appointment, my Doctor examined my nose and noticed there was redness, irritation and inflammation. She suggested to me that day, to only be tested once every two weeks, regardless, nothing should be going in my nose until it was fully healed. She gave me a prescription, and wrote me a note to my workplace suggesting that I am only to be tested once every two weeks. That day I also filled out an injury report for WSIB, with my Doctor.
After giving my Doctors note to my workplace, I was told I was not to return until I can receive regular testing, or a different kind of swab that only enters the edge of the nasal area. I had a discussion on the phone with management, and when I was basically told that my medical issue was not of priority, and that the residents’ safety mattered more, I had an emotional reaction and decided to quit on the phone. I told the management I would be writing a letter, which she would be sending to the HR department. I did not feel as if I was being properly accommodated. I felt that what the Ministry of Health, as well as the Public Health, are doing by not allowing me to work, unless I continue to be swabbed, going against the Doctors orders, is just completely wrong.
The next day, after I had quit on the phone, I received an email from management, stating they were able to find these spit test kits, and that they would look into ordering them for me, if that was something I would be interested in. Of course I had agreed, because I love my job, and I need my job as well. Ever since then, I have been told they are unable to order them in from the Ministry of Health. Also, I found out today that I will be receiving 14 days of compensation from WSIB for my time off work, and they sent me my ROE to apply for EI, because of my “injury”, but I may not be guaranteed to get it.
This is what I know now, and I have no idea what my rights are, or if I have any at this point. This is my story, and I am looking for any kind of help or advice if it is possible. Thank you for taking the time to read my letter.
