Record number of Ontario long-term-care facilities hit in COVID-19 outbreak
Ontario is reporting COVID-19 outbreaks in 12 more long-term-care homes for a total of 219 LTC facilities with outbreaks, a record total for the pandemic.
In the province's latest data released Monday morning, 14 more residents have died compared to the previous day for a total of 2,795 since the pandemic began.
Ontario associate chief medical officer of health Dr. Barbara Yaffe said residents in long-term care are in a setting where transmission can occur, especially those in older facilities where there are quad rooms and shared washrooms.
When you have communities where there is a lot of transmission which is happening in Ontario . . . , the chances of it getting into a facility are increased unfortunately," Yaffe told reporters at her briefing Monday.
She added that there is ongoing screening of staff at facilities across the province, more help for infection prevention and control, and ongoing work to help staffing.
According to the latest report, there are 20 more active cases of positive residents for a total of 1,160.
Additionally, 10 more staff members have tested positive, taking that total up to 1,140.
More than one-third of long-term-care homes in the province are in outbreak. During the pandemic's first wave, the record number of LTC homes in outbreak was 190 on May 18.
The mark was first broken on Sunday when 207 facilities were on outbreak, and a record was established Monday.
An active COVID-19 outbreak indicates that the home has at least one lab confirmed case (in resident or staff) and the local public health unit or the home has declared an outbreak, according to the province.
Since January, eight staff members in Ontario's long-term care homes have died due to the virus, according to the province.
According to the Ministry of Health, the hardest-hit facility in the province in terms of active positive cases is St. George Care Community, on St. George Street south of Dupont Street, in Toronto.
The University of Health Network has stepped in to provide enhanced support to St. George Care Community."
Nadia Daniell-Colarossi, media relations and communication manager for Sienna Senior Living which operates the facility, said Monday there are 84 active resident cases, six deaths and 51 active staff cases.
She added that last week, a COVID-19 vaccine was administered to negative or cleared and asymptomatic residents.
Daniell-Colarossi said officials at the 238-bed facility is in constant communication with family members.
We are connecting with them via virtual town halls and making daily phone calls to family of COVID positive residents," Daniell-Colarossi said in a statement. We appreciate all our dedicated team members, who are committed to caring for residents and ensuring families can stay connected to their loved ones."
Daniell-Colarossi also said that about 10 residents are being moved temporarily to the Ontario government's specialized care centre to help the facility manage the outbreak.
Tendercare Living Centre in Scarborough is the hardest hit in terms of resident deaths with 62, according to North York General Hospital.
Families at Tendercare have set up a Facebook group for residents to join to keep up with news and further updates.
Zena Salem is a breaking news reporter, working out of the Star's radio room in Toronto. Reach her via email: zsalem@thestar.ca