Isolation to stabilization: A Housing First approach to address homelessness in Kingston, Ontario.

SETTING: Homelessness is a significant and growing public health concern across Canada. In Kingston, Ontario, the number of people experiencing chronic homelessness has more than doubled from 136 people in 2020 to 296 in 2023. INTERVENTION: An emergency shelter-in-place hotel program was established in April 2020 to provide non-congregate shelter to people experiencing homelessness and vulnerable to SARS-CoV-2 infections. Beyond preventing COVID transmission, the unintentional consequence was that a population that experienced chronic homelessness reduced drug consumption and became stable. In 2022, with increased funding from the Ministry of Health and the City of Kingston, a new Housing First program was implemented to transition individuals from homelessness to long-term stable housing. OUTCOMES: Between November 2022 and June 2023, a total of 34 clients initiated the program. Of these clients, 10 completed the program and were successfully housed, 10 remained active participants, and 14 were discharged before completion. Strengths and challenges were identified. Diverse services provided to meet the population's needs and strong collaborations with various community partners were facilitating factors. Inadequate external resources, a lack of evening and prosocial activities, and outside peers (not part of the program) who influenced recovery plans were identified as challenges. IMPLICATIONS: This program illustrates that simultaneously integrating housing, community building, mental health, and addiction services is possible and provides an innovative way to stabilize this vulnerable population of people experiencing homelessness. Results from this program and the knowledge generated through implementation are being used to further scale up the program.

RéSUMé: LIEU: Le sans-abrisme est un problème de santé publique important et en croissance au Canada. À Kingston, en Ontario, le nombre de personnes aux prises avec le sans-abrisme chronique a plus que doublé entre 2020 et 2023, passant de 136 à 296 personnes. INTERVENTION: Un programme d'abri d'urgence à l'hôtel mis en place en avril 2020 fournit un abri non collectif aux personnes aux prises avec le sans-abrisme vulnérables aux infections par le SRAS-CoV-2. En plus de prévenir la transmission de la COVID, ce programme a eu un effet inattendu : la population aux prises avec le sans-abrisme chronique a réduit sa consommation de drogue et s'est stabilisée. En 2022, grâce à un financement accru du ministère de la Santé et de la Ville de Kingston, un nouveau programme (Logement d'abord) a été mis en œuvre pour faciliter la transition des personnes sans abri vers un logement stable à long terme. RéSULTATS: Entre novembre 2022 et juin 2023, 34 personnes se sont inscrites à Logement d'abord. Dix d'entre elles ont terminé le programme et ont été logées avec succès, 10 y participent encore activement, et 14 en sont sorties avant la fin. Nous avons cerné les forces et les limites du programme. Les facteurs favorables ont été la gamme de services fournis en réponse aux besoins de la population et les liens de collaboration solides avec divers partenaires associatifs. Les limites du programme ont été le manque de ressources externes, l'absence d'activités prosociales et en soirée et l'influence des pairs de l'extérieur (non inscrits au programme) sur les plans de rétablissement des usagères et des usagers. CONSéQUENCES: Ce programme montre qu'il est possible d'intégrer simultanément le logement, la solidarité sociale, la santé mentale et les services en toxicomanie, et que c'est un moyen novateur de stabiliser cette population vulnérable aux prises avec le sans-abrisme. Les résultats du programme et les connaissances apportées par sa réalisation serviront à le reproduire à plus grande échelle.

Moving on income as a social determinant of health: free transit for social assistance recipients in Kingston, Ontario.

SETTING: The public health intervention setting is the City of Kingston, Ontario, Canada. The authors were involved in various stages of development of the intervention, including advocacy, design, implementation, and evaluation. INTERVENTION: In early 2017, the City of Kingston launched a pilot program to offer all recipients of social assistance a pass that would provide unlimited access to transit. The 1-year pilot program showed promise in terms of the objectives of the two departments involved, Housing and Social Services and Kingston Transit, as it reduced barriers to transportation and increased ridership in the city. The pilot was adopted as an ongoing program, The Ontario Works Universal Transit Pass, upon completion of the pilot. The program was funded by redirecting provincial means-tested and discretionary employment benefits from the Housing and Social Services budget to the Kingston Transit budget in order to purchase transit in bulk for Ontario Works (OW) recipients. OUTCOMES: The program provided greater access to essential services, increased household budgets, reduced stigma, and increased ridership. The improved social and economic opportunities that the program facilitated demonstrate the potential of addressing social determinants of health through transportation. IMPLICATIONS: The program illustrates an effective model for addressing income as a social determinant of health through transportation policy. Moreover, it demonstrates the potential for creative, cooperative approaches to inter/intra-government operations-like the transfer of funds from Housing and Social Services to Kingston Transit-which simultaneously promotes both greater efficacy of public services and health equity.

RéSUMé: CADRE: Le cadre de l'intervention en santé publique est la ville de Kingston, Ontario, Canada. Les auteurs étaient impliqués pendant les étapes variées d'intervention, y compris faire la promotion, la conception, la mise en œuvre, et l'évaluation. L'INTERVENTION: Au début de 2017, la ville de Kingston a lancé un projet pilote pour offrir à tous les bénéficiaires de l'aide sociale un laissez-passer qui fournirait l'accès illimité aux transports en commun. Le projet pilote dura un an et se montrait prometteur en termes des objectifs des deux services impliqués­Housing and Social Services (logement et services sociaux) et Kingston Transit (transports Kingston)­parce qu'il réduisait les barrières au transport et augmentait le nombre d'usagers de transports en commun en ville. Le projet a été adopté comme un projet continu, appelé le laissez-passer universel de transport en commun de L'Ontario au travail, dès l'achèvement du projet pilote. Le programme était financé en redirigeant les bénéfices d'emploi provincial disponibles avec l'évaluation des revenus, qui font parties du budget pour le service logement et services sociaux, vers le budget du service de transports au Kingston. Les finances étaient utilisées pour acheter les laissez-passer de transport en gros pour les bénéficiaires de L'Ontario au travail. RéSULTATS: Le programme fournissait un meilleur accès au services essentiels, augmentait les budgets famille, réduisait la stigmatisation, et augmentait le nombre d'usagers de transports en commun. Les opportunités économiques et sociales améliorées que le programme avait facilitées illustre le potentiel de s'occuper des facteurs déterminants sociaux de la santé à travers les transports en commun. CONSéQUENCES: Le programme démontre un modèle efficace pour s'occuper de revenu comme un facteur déterminant social de la santé à travers la politique des transports. En outre, il illustre le potentiel pour les approches créatives et coopératives aux opérations entre les niveaux gouvernementaux­comme le transfert des finances du service de logement et services sociaux vers le budget du service de transport au Kingston­qui provoque simultanément une efficacité plus grande des services publics ainsi que l'équité de la santé.

COVID-19 Vaccine Uptake in Southeastern Ontario, Canada: Monitoring and Addressing Health Inequities.

CONTEXT: Implementation of a population-based COVID-19 vaccine strategy, with a tailored approach to reduce inequities in 2-dose coverage, by a mid-sized local public health agency in southeastern Ontario, Canada. PROGRAM: Coverage maps and crude and age-standardized coverage rates by material and social deprivation, urban/rural status, and sex were calculated biweekly and reviewed by local public health planners. In collaboration with community partners, the results guided targeted strategies to enhance uptake for marginalized populations. EVALUATION: The largest gaps in vaccine coverage were for those living in more materially deprived areas and rural residents-coverage was lower by 10.9% (95% confidence interval: -11.8 to -10.0) and 9.3% (95% confidence interval: -10.4 to -8.1) for these groups compared with living in less deprived areas and urban residents, respectively. The gaps for all health equity indicators decreased statistically significantly over time. Targeted strategies included expanding clinic operating hours and availability of walk-in appointments, mobile clinics targeted to marginalized populations, leveraging primary care partners to provide pop-up clinics in rural and materially and socially deprived areas, and collaborating with multiple partners to coordinate communication efforts, especially in rural areas. DISCUSSION: The scale and scope of monitoring and improving local vaccine uptake are unprecedented. Regular review of health equity indicators provided critical situational awareness for decision makers, allowing partners to align and tailor strategies locally and in collaboration with one another. Health care providers and pharmacies/pharmacists are key partners who require innovative support to increase uptake in marginalized groups. Continued engagement of other community partners such as schools, municipalities, and local service groups is also crucial. A "hyper local" approach is needed along with commitment from partners in all sectors and at all levels to reduce barriers to vaccination that lie further upstream for marginalized groups.

Assessment of an enhanced COVID-19 case and contact management protocol in controlling a SARS-CoV-2 Alpha (B.1.1.7) variant outbreak on a construction site.

BACKGROUND: To control the spread of SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOCs), Kingston, Frontenac, and Lennox & Addington (KFL&A) Public Health implemented a more stringent COVID-19 case and contact management (CCM) protocol than what was used across Ontario at the time. We describe epidemiological data and public health measures employed during one of the largest COVID-19 outbreaks in the KFL&A region at the time, caused by the SARS-CoV-2 Alpha (B.1.1.7) VOC, to assess this enhanced protocol. METHODS: We obtained line lists of workers associated with the construction site outbreak, and subsequent cases and contacts from case investigators. Case testing, mutation status, and whole genome sequencing were conducted by Public Health Ontario Laboratories. RESULTS: From 409 high-risk contacts of the outbreak, 109 (27%) developed COVID-19. Three generations of spread were associated with the outbreak, affecting seven public health regions across three provinces. Using an enhanced approach to the CCM, KFL&A Public Health caught 15 cases that could have been missed by standard provincial protocols. CONCLUSIONS: Rapid initial spread within the construction site produced a relatively high attack rate among workers (26%) and their immediate contacts (34%). KFL&A Public Health's implementation of stringent CCM protocols and fast testing turn-around time effectively curbed the spread of the disease in subsequent generations - illustrated by the large reduction in attack rate (34%-14%) and cases (50-10) between the second and third generations. Lessons learned from this analysis may inform guidance on the CCM for future SARS-CoV-2 VOCs as well as other highly transmissible communicable diseases.

HISTORIQUE: Pour contrôler la propagation des variants inquiétants (VOC) du SRAS-CoV-2, la région sociosanitaire de Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox et Addington (KFL&A) a adopté un protocole plus rigoureux de gestion des cas et des contacts (GCC) qui était utilisé partout en Ontario à l'époque. Les auteurs décrivent les données épidémiologiques et les mesures sanitaires employées pendant l'une des plus grosses éclosions de COVID-19 de la région sociosanitaire de KFL&A, causée par le VOC Alpha (B.1.1.7) du SRAS-CoV-2, afin d'évaluer ce protocole amélioré. MÉTHODOLOGIE: Les auteurs ont obtenu les listes des lignes des travailleurs associés à l'éclosion sur le chantier de construction, ainsi que des cas et des contacts subséquents des enquêteurs de cas. Les Laboratoires de Santé publique Ontario ont procédé au dépistage des cas et ont vérifié l'état mutationnel et le séquençage du génome entier. RÉSULTATS: Des 409 contacts à haut risque de l'éclosion, 109 (27%) ont contracté la COVID-19. Trois générations de propagation étaient associées à l'éclosion et touchaient sept régions sociosanitaires réparties dans trois provinces. Au moyen d'une approche améliorée de la GCC, la région sociosanitaire de KFL&A a dépisté 15 cas qui auraient pu être omis par les protocoles provinciaux standards. CONCLUSIONS: Une propagation initiale rapide sur le chantier de construction a produit un taux d'attaque relativement élevé chez les travailleurs (26%) et leurs contacts immédiats (34%). Ladoption de protocoles rigoureux de GCC dans la région sociosanitaire de KFL&A et l'obtention rapide des résultats du dépistage ont enrayé la propagation de la maladie avec efficacité dans les générations suivantes, ce qui est démontré par une forte réduction du taux d'attaque (de 34% à 14%) et de cas (de 50 à 10) entre la deuxiéme génération et la troisiéme. Les leçons tirées de cette analyse pourraient éclairer les conseils sur la GCC des futurs VOC du SRAS-COV-2 et des autres maladies contagieuses hautement transmissibles.

Limited Propagation of SARS-CoV-2 among Children in a Childcare Center, Canada, 2021.

An outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 with no definitive source and potential exposure to variants of concern was declared at a childcare center in Ontario, Canada, in March 2021. We developed a robust outbreak management approach to detect, contain, and interrupt this outbreak and limit propagation among children.

Implementation of a neonatal hepatitis B immunization program in rural Karenni State, Myanmar: A mixed-methods study.

BACKGROUND: Hepatitis B infection is a major health concern in Myanmar. Hepatitis B birth dose vaccination to prevent mother-to-child transmission is not universal, especially in births outside of health care facilities. Little is documented about delivery of immunization programs in rural Myanmar or in conflict-affected regions. To address this gap, this study describes the implementation of a novel community delivered neonatal hepatitis B immunization program in rural Karenni State, Myanmar. METHODS: A mixed-methods study assessed the effectiveness and feasibility of hepatitis B birth dose immunization program. 1000 pregnant women were screened for hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection using point of care testing. Neonates of HBV positive mothers were immunized with a three dose HBV vaccine schedule at birth, 1, and 6 months of age. HBV testing was completed for children at 9 months to assess for infection. Descriptive statistics were collected including demographic data of mothers, neonatal vaccination schedule completion, and child HBV positivity at 9 months. Qualitative data examining barriers to implementation were collected through semi-structured interviews, participant-observation, and analysis of program documents. Themes were codified and mapped onto the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research. RESULTS: 46 pregnant women tested HBV positive leading to 40 live births. 39 women-child dyads were followed until the 9-month age mark. With the exception of two neonates who received their birth dose past 24 hours, all children received their vaccines on time. None of the 39 children tested positive for HBV at nine months. Themes regarding barriers included adaptability of the program to the rural setting, friction with other stakeholders and not meeting all needs of the community. Identified strengths included good communication and leadership within the implementing ethnic health organization. CONCLUSION: A community delivered neonatal HBV vaccination program by ethnic health organizations is feasible and effective in rural Myanmar.

COVID-19 outbreak in a personal service setting in Kingston, Ontario, 2020.

BACKGROUND: During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, Ontario created a three-phase reopening framework for the economy. Outbreaks were expected at each phase. One week after Phase Two of reopening in the provincial public health administration region of Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox and Addington (KFL&A), a positive case was reported after three weeks of zero new COVID-19 cases. The objective of this report is to describe this COVID-19 outbreak, linked to a personal service setting (PSS), and the public health response to contain the outbreak. METHODS: The outbreak investigation included all COVID-19 cases in KFL&A between June 20, 2020 and July 3, 2020. Public health inspectors and nurses were rapidly deployed to inspect the PSS. A multimodal approach to high-volume testing involved fixed assessment centres, drive-through testing capacity and targeted testing at the outbreak site. Testing was conducted through a real-time polymerase chain reaction assay at the local Public Health Ontario laboratory. RESULTS: Thirty-seven cases were associated with the outbreak: 38% through direct PSS exposure; 32% through household contact; and 30% through social and workplace contact. A superspreading event contributed to 38% of total cases. The majority of cases were in the low to mid-quintiles when analyzed for material deprivation. Testing rates increased four-fold compared to the prior baseline weeks in response to media attention and public health messaging, resulting in a low percent positivity. CONCLUSION: The interplay of aggressive accessible testing, quick lab turnaround time, contact tracing within 24 hours of positive laboratory results as per provincial standards, frequent public communication, rapid inspections, mandatory self-isolation and face coverings were measures successful in halting the outbreak. Inspections or self-audits should be required at all PSSs prior to reopening and outbreak management must work with PSSs to reduce the possibility of superspreading events.

Phylogenomics reveals viral sources, transmission, and potential superinfection in early-stage COVID-19 patients in Ontario, Canada.

The emergence and rapid global spread of SARS-CoV-2 demonstrates the importance of infectious disease surveillance, particularly during the early stages. Viral genomes can provide key insights into transmission chains and pathogenicity. Nasopharyngeal swabs were obtained from thirty-two of the first SARS-CoV-2 positive cases (March 18-30) in Kingston Ontario, Canada. Viral genomes were sequenced using Ion Torrent (n = 24) and MinION (n = 27) sequencing platforms. SARS-CoV-2 genomes carried forty-six polymorphic sites including two missense and three synonymous variants in the spike protein gene. The D614G point mutation was the predominate viral strain in our cohort (92.6%). A heterozygous variant (C9994A) was detected by both sequencing platforms but filtered by the ARTIC network bioinformatic pipeline suggesting that heterozygous variants may be underreported in the SARS-CoV-2 literature. Phylogenetic analysis with 87,738 genomes in the GISAID database identified global origins and transmission events including multiple, international introductions as well as community spread. Reported travel history validated viral introduction and transmission inferred by phylogenetic analysis. Molecular epidemiology and evolutionary phylogenetics may complement contact tracing and help reconstruct transmission chains of emerging diseases. Earlier detection and screening in this way could improve the effectiveness of regional public health interventions to limit future pandemics.