The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is spreading globally and there have been growing instances of COVID-19 spreading in communities in British Columbia and across Canada. As a result, Canadian public health authorities have escalated measures to slow the spread of the COVID-19.

According to the federal government, coronaviruses are a large family of viruses. They can cause diseases ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV). Some transmit easily from person to person while others do not. COVID-19 is a new disease that has not been previously identified in humans. Those with COVID-19 may have few to no symptoms. You may not know you have symptoms of COVID-19 because they are similar to a cold or flu. Symptoms may take up to 14 days to appear after exposure to COVID-19; they include fever, cough, difficulty breathing, and pneumonia in both lungs. In severe cases, infection can lead to death.

For the latest information about COVID-19

• Updates from the Community Safety and Crime Prevention Branch (March 26, 2020) – MPSSG
• Update re: COVID-19 and Service Provision (March 24, 2020) – MPSSG
• Advice for Essential Business (March 13, 2020) – Public Health Officer
• Letter to Social Service Sectors (March 18, 2020) – Public Health Officer
• Coronavirus disease (COVID-19): Outbreak update – Public Health Agency of Canada
• The latest information about COVID-19 in BC – BC Centre for Disease Control
• Joint statement on B.C.’s COVID-19 response and latest updates – BC Gov News
• BC COVID-19 Self-Assessment Tool – BC Government
• COVID19 Financial Government Support

COVID19 Resources for Housing Providers & Anti-Violence Workers

• BC Housing
• Women Shelters Canada
• Homelessness Services Association of BC
• BC Non Profit Housing Association
• Canadian Network for the Health and Housing of People Experiencing Homelessness
• National Network to End Domestic Violence 
• Police Victim Services of BC
• BC First Responder’s Mental Health
• Interim Guidance to Social Service Providers for the Prevention and Control of COVID-19 in their Facilities (April 4, 2020) – BC Ministry of Health NEW!
• Access to Childcare for Essential Service Workers During COVID19 NEW!
• Using Shared Laundry Facilities During the COVID-19 Pandemic – National Collaborating Centres for Environmental Health NEW!
• COVID-19 Precautions for Multi-unit Residential Buildings – National Collaborating Centres for Environmental Health NEW!
• Promising Practices for Transitional Housing Programs Responding to a Pandemic – BC Society of Transition Houses
• Guidance for providers of services for people experiencing homelessness (in the context of COVID-19) – Government of Canada
• Infection Prevention & Control Resources for Homelessness Service Settings – City of Toronto
• Privacy Emergency Kit Sharing information during an emergency – Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada
• Interim COVID-19 Guidance for Congregate Settings – NYC Health
• Staying Safe During COVID-19 – National Domestic Violence Hotline
• Using Technology to Communicate with Survivors During a Public Health Crisis – Technology Safety
• How to Make Hand Sanitizer – Healthline
• Feminist Resources on the Pandemic – Centre for Feminist Foreign Policy

French Resources

• Plan en cas de pandémie
• Plan de continuité des services en cas de pandémie des maisons d’aide et d’hébergement lavalloises
• Plan de continuité des services des maisons en cas de sinistre

Resources for Children & Youth

• Talking to Children & Youth about Coronavirus NEW!
• Mental Health Resources for Children and Youth NEW!
• Information and Resources to Support Parents NEW!
• Information and Resources to Support PEACE Counsellors NEW!
• Maintaining Connections and Facilitating Access for Children, Youth and Families – MCFD NEW!
• PEACE Program Home Package [Word Doc]

Resources for Indigenous Communities

Webinars

• Recorded on Mar 18 COVID19 and Indigenous Communities – Indigenous Climate Action & Idle No More
• Recorded on Mar 18 Preparing homelessness services for coronavirus – Canadian Network for the Health and Housing of People Experiencing Homelessness
• Recorded on Mar 19 Coronavirus Outbreak Health and Safety in the Shelter Context – HSABC
• Recorded on Mar 24 Tackling Your Top Concerns About Coronavirus – HRDownloads
• Recorded on Mar 25 Coronavirus and Women’s Shelters: Planning, preparation and response to the COVID-19 pandemic – The Global Network of Women’s Shelters (GNWS) and the Asian Network of Women’s Shelters (ANWS)
• Recorded on Mar 26 Privacy Matters: Working Remotely – NNEDV
• Recorded on Apr 1 Coronavirus and Women’s Shelters: Policy perspectives on protection of victims of domestic violence during the outbreak – GNWS
• Apr 7 10:30AM COVID-19 response and emerging practices for the housing sector – ECHO
• Apr 8 6:00AM PST Using Technology to Support Victims During a Public Health Crisis – GNWS
• Apr 15 3:00PM PST COVID-19 Response – GNWS
• Apr 22 8:00AM PST Serving survivors with COVID-19 — Sharing success stories and challenges from around the world – GNWS NEW!
• Apr 29 3:00PM PST Supporting women at a distance during COVID-19: Updates from Australia and New Zealand – GNWS NEW!
• May 6 3:00PM PST Fundraising to Keep Shelter Services Going During a Public Health Crisis – GNWS NEW!