COVID-19 Updates

Like many international companies, Ross Video has watched the emergence and spread of the Covid-19 virus with great concern, and has implemented a variety of different measures to protect the health and safety of our employees, our customers and their respective families. We’ll be updating this page regularly to keep you informed of how we’re dealing with this difficult situation. If you have any questions, please contact us at covid19questions@rossvideo.com.

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Early this morning, Ross management were informed that an employee tested positive for Covid-19. In an abundance of caution Ross made the decision to close its Iroquois manufacturing facility until Friday June 5, to provide time for any potential virus in the building to degrade.

Jeff Poapst, Senior VP of Manufacturing and Services commented “While we’re confident that the physical distancing protocols implemented in mid March are effective, we’ve advised all crew on the same shift, as the individual, to get tested before reporting back for work. Further we are working with both local Public Health units on contact tracing”.

Ross believes the information provided to staff has helped limit any potential risk, and will continue to ensure its staff, their families and others in the community are kept safe. We expect that we’ll be back in the facility Friday. Our twice daily cleaning continues as will our other precautions to ensure appropriate safety while our staff are on site. Given the short duration of closure the impact to customers is expected to be minimal.

We wish to protect the privacy of our employee and will not be divulging any  personal details at this time.

Please return to this site for further updates.

In keeping with Ross Video’s Code of Ethics, we have prided ourselves of late by going above and beyond to ensure that our customers’ best interests are prioritized during these challenging times. Similarly, Ross has placed prominence upon working with and supporting our global suppliers, staff and their respective families.

Our timely efforts to both secure component supply and PPE equipment have proved exceedingly effective whereby we are not constrained by material supply at this time and do anticipate the continued availability of all products, subject to demand.

Also proven very effective are the steps that were taken early on in our captive factory environment: restricting access, ensuring physical distancing and supporting those on our team who experience any risk of contagion. The factory remains fully operational and continues to deliver to our usualexemplary standards of quality and service.

Much of the company continue to work from home; remote work has been so effective that we shall continue with this policy for the foreseeable future as we continue to monitor pandemic developments. Ross Video’s Business Recovery Plan has been instrumental in delivering seamless core operations despite a largely remote workforce.

Needless to say, we shall continue to dutifully adhere to local and national guidance from the appropriate authorities. As examples, both Australia and China have now implemented more relaxed operating levels under which we act accordingly.

Please also expect seamless technical support, tireless R&D, new product initiatives, and numerous demo opportunities. As per our Code of Ethics once more, we at Ross will strive to be great to work with and we thank you for your continued support.

Social distancing measures are approaches taken to minimize close contact with others in the community and include: quarantine and self-isolation at the individual level as well as other community based approaches (e.g. avoiding crowding, school measures and closures, workplace measures and closures, public/mass gathering cancellations) which are further described in the section titled community-based measures below.

Social distancing measures are likely to have secondary consequences for individuals, families and communities, such as loss of income, an elevated need for support services, and potentially reduced availability of certain services. Some measures require extensive preparation and engagement across sectors. During a pandemic of lesser severity, the infection control benefits of implementing some community measures (e.g., proactive school closures) may not be offset by the cost and societal disruption caused by these measures.

Whenever public health authorities impose restrictions on individual freedoms, the intervention should be proportional to the magnitude of the threat. This principle of ‘least restrictive means’ should always be a consideration when enacting social distancing measures. The CPIP Public Health Measures Annex outlines the ethical considerations with respect to the selection and use of PHMs in a pandemic.

It is crucial that individuals follow quarantine and self-isolation recommendations properly to prevent transmission of COVID-19 to others in the home setting or in the community. It is recommended that all individuals in the community plan ahead by maintaining a supply of essential medications, home supplies and extra non-perishable food in the event they require voluntary quarantine or self-isolation.

• Isolation is recommended for a symptomatic individual that is suspected of having, or known to have, COVID-19. They are directed by PHA to isolate themselves in the home-setting and avoid contact with others until PHA has advised that they are no longer considered contagious. Isolation includes:
  • Not going out of the home setting. This includes school, work, or other public areas
  • Not using public transportation (e.g. buses, subways, taxis)
  • Identifying a “buddy” to check on and do errands for each another, especially for those who live alone or at high risk for developing complications.
  • Having supplies delivered home instead of running errands (supplies should be left on the front door or at least a 2 metre distance maintained between people)
  • If leaving the home setting cannot be avoided (e.g. to go to a medical appointment), wear a mask (if not available, cover mouth and nose with tissues) and maintain a 2 metre distance from others. The health care facility should be informed in advance that the person may be infectious.
• Voluntary home quarantine (“self-isolation”) is recommended for an asymptomatic person, when they have a high risk of exposure to the virus that causes COVID-19, (i.e., through close contact with a symptomatic person or their body fluids). They are asked to self- isolate in the home-setting to avoid contact with others in order to prevent transmission of the virus at the earliest stage of illness (i.e., should they develop COVID-19).
• Protective self-separation is recommended for a person who is at high-risk for severe illness from COVID-19 (e.g., older adults, those with chronic underlying medical conditions or immunocompromised) when the virus is circulating in their community.
• Voluntary avoidance of crowded places is recommended for a person who is asymptomatic and who is considered to have had a medium risk of exposure to the virus that causes COVID-19. This involves avoiding crowded public spaces and places where rapid self-isolation upon onset of symptoms may not be feasible. Examples of these settings include mass gatherings, such as concerts and sporting events; not including hospitals (for HCWs) and schools.
• Mandatory quarantine is the imposed separation or restriction of movement of individuals, groups or communities, for a defined period of time and in a location determined by the PHA. As local circumstances will vary across Canada and within regions, quarantine may be used to contain, delay or mitigate COVID-19, although its effectiveness once there is widespread community transmission is unknown. An individual in mandatory quarantine is asymptomatic but may have been exposed to the virus causing COVID-19. A decision to implement mandatory quarantine requires careful consideration of the safety of the individual/group/community, the anticipated effectiveness, feasibility and implications.