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Caring for clients at a supervised injection site doesn't become any less up-close-and-personal during a pandemic.

But workers at the harm-reduction services like the one at Hamilton Urban Core Community Health Centre are short protective equipment.

"That's a big problem because they're right there on the front line," Denise Brooks, executive director of the 71 Rebecca St. agency, said Monday.

Urban Core and other consumption and treatment services in Ontario wrote Health Minister Christine Elliott to ask the province to solve the supply-chain delay of masks, face shields and gloves amid the COVID-19 outbreak.

"Right now, these essential service providers cannot provide care to populations accessing their centres because of shortages in personal protective equipment (PPE)," the joint letter said.

"These centres must remain accessible for the people who need them and PPE must be made accessible to them with the same urgency given to other front-facing providers."

On March 16, Street Health in Toronto closed its doors because it was short supplies, the letter said. "This is unacceptable in the midst of a crisis; it will lead to preventable deaths and devastate communities."

In 2018, Urban Core opened the city's sole site where people can use drugs like heroin, fentanyl or crystal meth under the supervision of health professionals to prevent overdoses. The consumption and treatment service also aims to prevent the spread of disease like hepatitis and be a point of contact to other health and addiction initiatives.

Staff must be present at all times in Urban Core's small room where people use drugs, Brooks said. Workers also must be hands-on while trying to use naloxone to revive someone from an overdose.

"You can't stand back and sort of give instructions from afar," she said, noting workers can be exposed to blood, vomit and other bodily fluids.

Brooks said Urban Core's biggest concern are people experiencing homeless amid the outbreak, noting many spaces for them to seek respite from the street during the day — such as libraries and shopping malls — have closed, while shelters are bursting at the seams.

"The food becomes a problem, then so does going to the washroom, and all of those things."

Anyone who wishes to donate supplies to Urban Core can call 905-522-3233.

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tmoro@thespec.com

905-526-3264 | @TeviahMoro