Impact of COVID-19 on Environmental Public Health Professionals
Ken Diplock and Cathy Egan
Conestoga College
The COVID-19 pandemic has tested the resilience of all aspects of health care, including public health. Environmental Public Health Professionals (EPHPs) have had unique experiences related to case and contact management, infection prevention and control monitoring, outbreak control, public education, logistics for emergency response and enforcement of regulations and standards. Faculty of the Bachelor of Environmental Public Health (BEPH) program at Conestoga College conducted a study to gather the experiences of EPHPs in Ontario. The study invited practicing EPHPs in Ontario to share stories and photographs and to participate in focus groups organized around four themes: impact of misinformation on EPHP work, case and contact management and outbreak management, enforcement of COVIC-19 regulations and pivoting roles and impact on regular work.
