COVID-19: Interim Recommendations on Preventive Workplace Measures for Pregnant and Nursing Workers in Community transmission context

The recommendations presented in this document are to be implemented when the Québec national public health director declares that there has been sustained community transmission of COVID-19 in the Québec population. Community transmission may be declared locally, regionally or province-wide.

In the current context, the underlying premises for these recommendations are those issued by the public health authorities for the entire Québec population, who are required to postpone non-urgent appointments, remain at home except for essential trips (groceries, pharmacy, urgent healthcare), observe social distancing, and follow the established procedures when they present symptoms.

Since there is no effective vaccine or specific treatment for COVID-19 at the time of drafting of these recommendations, public health measures remain the best available tools to mitigate the incidence of the disease. The implementation of the “Pour une maternité sans danger” program is one such workplace measure intended to protect pregnant workers, their unborn child and children who are being breastfed.

The Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux (MSSS) has mandated the Institut national de santé publique du Québec (INSPQ) to establish a working group to develop interim recommendations for workplaces in the context of the application of preventive withdrawal and reassignment of workers who are pregnant or breastfeeding.