Ontario to call in military help to fight coronavirus in long-term care homes

Doug Ford is calling in the military to help battle COVID-19 in Ontario’s long-term care homes. Cynthia Mulligan with why the premier is expressing frustration with his health experts.

By Allison Jones, The Canadian Press

Ontario Premier Doug Ford is calling in military assistance as the province battles COVID-19 in long-term care homes.

Ford says he will formally request extra resources from the federal government today, including from the Public Health Agency of Canada and Canadian Forces personnel.

He says the additional personnel will be deployed to five priority homes.

Ford says they will provide operational and logistical assistance so long-term care staff can focus on the care of residents.

As of today, there have been at least 448 deaths in long-term care amid outbreaks at 127 facilities – 49 more deaths since the previous day. Long-term care homes have seen 1985 cases in residents, 957 cases in staff.

Ontario is also expanding COVID-19 testing to every resident and worker in long-term care homes.

Provincial health officials have previously resisted calls for such widespread testing of asymptomatic people, but a new memo from the deputy ministers of health and long-term care, as well as the chief medical officer of health, tells public health units (PHUs) to immediately develop plans for the broad testing.

“This point-in-time testing will enable homes, PHUs, and the province to better understand the prevalence of COVID-19 in long-term care homes and inform future planning,” the officials write.

“Testing is an important component of a comprehensive response plan being implemented to address COVID-19 in this vulnerable population in order to ensure that these facilities have every resource needed to stop the spread of COVID-19.”

Homes with current outbreaks should be prioritized, as should the testing of residents, but it’s also important to understand the prevalence among staff, the memo said.

Expanded testing guidance earlier this month told public health units to test any asymptomatic contacts of a confirmed positive case in a home, including residents in adjacent rooms, but stopped short of directing that all residents and staff be tested.

The premier spoke out two weeks ago about a testing shortfall in the province, and said he wanted to see every long-term care resident and worker tested. He said Wednesday that he was frustrated it took so long to come to fruition.

“There’s many people, I was one of them, sitting there beating the drums two weeks ago saying we need everyone tested,” Ford said.

“As much as people may think I can jump in there and overturn what the chief medical officer says, I can’t.”

Chief Medical Officer Dr. David Williams responded to Ford in his press conference Wednesday, adding was feeling frustrated too.

“I give him the best advice I can, but we need the power and authority of the Minister, the Ministry and the Premier to back up those with resources and materials so we can get on and get the task done.”

Provincewide, Ontario reported 510 new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday and 37 more deaths. That data is taken from a different system than the specific long-term care data and the two are often out of sync.

The new cases bring the provincial total to 12,245 _ a 4.3 per cent increase over Tuesday, which is the lowest growth rate in weeks.

The total also includes 659 deaths and 6,221 cases that have been resolved, which puts the proportion of those cases over 50 per cent for the first time.

While health officials have said community spread appears to be peaking, cases in long-term care continue to rise.

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