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The Ottawa Hospital has reportedly been ordered to take over two long-term care homes struggling with a second coronavirus outbreak.
The Ottawa Citizen reports that the Medical Officer and Health took the action under Ontario’s Health Protection and Promotion Act. The Hospital reportedly supports the move, along with the long-term care homes. They, along with the provincial government, reportedly hope that the move will combat the disease currently spreading in the homes.
“I asked The Ottawa Hospital to assist Extendicare in managing the homes so that the level of medical expertise and care would be strengthened to they could look at all the other aspects that make it possible to control an outbreak,” Medical Officer Dr. Vera Etches reportedly said of her order.
According to Ottawa Matters, Etches said she took the unprecedented step to expedite support for the long-term care homes, rather than going through regular procedures.
Severe COVID-19 Outbreaks Inside Long-Term Care Homes
Two Ontario long-term care homes are affected by the order, West End Villa and Laurier Manor.
According to the Citizen, 92 residents and staff members have tested positive for the virus at the West End Villa. Sadly, 11 residents have died, making it the most severe outbreak in Ontario.
Laurier Manor suffered 25 residential deaths during their first COVID-19 outbreak. Currently, 18 staff and residents have tested positive for the virus, reports the Citizen.
According to Ottawa Matters, there are currently 25 facilities experiencing coronavirus outbreaks in the city.
Uncontrolled Outbreak A Concern
According to one anonymous staff member who talked to the Ottawa Citizen, they are not sure why the virus is spreading a second time. Reportedly, no one is moving from floor to floor in the long-term care home. Staff who test positive for coronavirus are isolating at home or even in hotel rooms to protect their families.
Another concern, according to the Citizen, is staffing shortfalls. The anonymous staff member told reporters that they are struggling with shortages between staff who are working elsewhere and limits on the number of long-term care homes where each staff member can work.
Protective Equipment an Issue
The Ottawa Citizen reports that staff and union representatives for long term care workers voiced concern about the availability of personal protective equipment in the midst of a second COVID-19 outbreak.
“A lot of people are getting sick really fast,” one unnamed staff member told Citizen reporters. “Residents are getting sick. Staff are getting sick. We really think that we are not given proper personal protective equipment in order to help and to feel safe in our jobs.”
“All our residents around us are dying,” the staff member also said. “They are really sick. It has taken a toll on the mental health of our workers. The ones working right now are away from their families. They are fighting a battle with Extendicare (for N95 masks). They feel they are not getting the proper PPE to do their jobs.”
Ontario Long-Term Care Homes Under Additional Scrutiny
In addition to the hospital takeover of long-term care homes, the province has also established an independent Long-Term Care COVID-19 Commission. The Commission is tasked with investigating how COVID-19 spreads in the facilities, along with the impact it has on residents, families, and staff.
Provincial actions taken in the face of the ongoing pandemic will also be reviewed by the Commission. The Commission will reportedly make recommendations based on their investigation.
Additionally, Street Insider says that the Ontario Health Commission has recently released a report on COVID-19 outbreaks in medical facilities. According to the report, there are currently 35 coronavirus outbreaks active in the province’s long-term care homes. Additionally, the rate of COVID-19 infections is rising, says the report, and has, in fact, doubled in just the last three weeks.
Indeed, long-term care homes have faced criticism in their response to the coronavirus outbreak. One expert called Canada’s long-term care system “the poor orphan of the healthcare system.” The expert went on to blame the deadly coronavirus outbreaks in Ontario’s long-term care homes on staff shortages, poor infrastructure, and bad regulatory management.
In fact, several class action lawsuits have been launched against Ontario’s long-term care homes, as well as the government, over how COVID-19 was handled.
Have you or a loved one been affected by coronavirus outbreaks while in an Ottawa long-term care home? What do you think about the hospital taking over the long-term care homes in Ottawa? We want to hear from you. Please share your story in the comment section below.
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