Over the past two weeks CATIE has delivered two important webinars on COVID-19. The most recent webinar provided an interactive forum for people from across the country who are involved in HIV clinical, community and research work to discuss how we might manage an effective response to HIV during a period of profound disruption to society, the health system and the economy. That webinar was recorded and is available to view here. The previous webinar provided some important insights into COVID-19 from the perspective of those working on the frontlines of HIV, HCV and harm reduction. That webinar is available to

The Gay Men’s Sexual Health Alliance (GMSH) has launched a series of thirteen infographics reviewing information on COVID-19, including transmission, prevention and taking care of yourself and others while practising physical distancing. These infographics are available in English and French and can be found here. Pay close attention to GMSH Social Channels as they continue to add new resources, host live streaming events on 2GBTQ Men’s Health and COVID-19, and work to ensure that our communities have the information they need to protect their health. You may even see a Drag Queen or two!

The Ontario HIV Treatment Network (OHTN) has curated a list of resources for people in Ontario who are living with HIV that includes information about the  impact of COVID-19 on health and on going care. The page provides links to vetted sources of up-to-date information, and will be continuously updated as new information is made available. Go here to access these resources. In addition to the resources above, the OHTN is sharing news, information and resources on their social media channels on a daily basis. Please make sure to check their social media feeds for the latest information.

With the deepening of the COVID-19 crisis has come some important updates about access to HIV medications, both for treatment and prevention. Recently, the Ministry of Health issued new guidance to pharmacists about dispensing medications, including HIV medications, during the COVID-19 emergency. To lessen the risk of drug shortages that could result from increased demand due to the pandemic and to ensure that sufficient medication will be available, the Ministry is recommending that pharmacists dispense no more than a 30-day supply of Ontario Drug Benefit(ODB)-eligible medications, including HIV medications. This means that those who have traditionally refilled their HIV and

The COVID-19 pandemic poses unique challenges to HIV/AIDS service organizations and the sector as a whole. To support front line agencies, HIV Resources Ontario (HRO) has compiled a list of resources for service providers and the people they serve. Go here to learn more. HRO is a network of capacity building organizations whose mandate includes offering free training, assistance, and information dissemination to community-based AIDS Service Organizations across the province.  HRO network partners help organizations like yours implement and sustain a high-impact approach to HIV prevention and support.

It’s clear that we’re facing a unique and complicated public health crisis in Ontario and we need to ensure that people in Ontario’s HIV sector are informed and prepared to respond. We are committed to sharing information and resources as they become available and would like to share some important updates. As we navigate the Coronavirus crisis, many agencies have had to close their doors to help protect staff, clients and their stakeholders.  Public forums and activities have also been cancelled or rescheduled across the sector and many organizations are doing their best to provide remote support, so feel free

CATIE recently published an article on what you need to know about Coronavirus, HIV and Hepatitis C.  Below is an excerpt. An HIV-positive person on effective treatment is not expected to be at higher risk of becoming seriously ill with COVID-19 A person with untreated HIV or a low CD4+ cell count may be at higher risk of becoming seriously ill with COVID-19 People with HIV or hepatitis C are more likely to have other conditions that carry a greater risk of becoming seriously ill with COVID-19 It is very important that people at increased risk for serious illness with

COVID-19 is a serious disease and all people living with HIV should take all recommended preventive measures to minimize exposure to, and prevent infection by, the virus that causes COVID-19. As in the general population, older people living with HIV or people living with HIV with heart or lung problems may be at a higher risk of becoming infected with the virus and of suffering more serious symptoms. UNAIDS has created a brochure and Info-graphic for more detailed information. Learn more here!

There has been a lot of talk about how Social Distancing can help curtail the COVID-19 crisis, but we may want to consider using the term Physical Distancing instead.   The thought behind this is that while we should maintain physical boundaries and distance to reduce transmission of coronavirus, we need to promote social connections in order to help support and enhance relationships. Being isolated can have an unhealthy impact on individuals and society, so it’s important to find creative ways to be connected with each other – especially for the folks in our community who are more likely to face isolation. Psychology

In their March 17 newsletter, Tech Soup Canada published a great resource to help Nonprofit Organizations work effectively during this COVID-19 crisis.  Please take the time to read the full article which provides useful tips to help create balance and effective remote habits.