Annex LTC home dealing with province’s largest COVID-19 outbreak
Posted January 4, 2021 7:18 am.
Last Updated January 5, 2021 6:14 am.
The University Health Network has temporarily taken over management of a long-term care home in the Annex that is struggling under the weight of a COVID-19 outbreak.
St. George Care Community, near Avenue Road and Bloor Street, currently has the most number of active cases of the infection in long-term care settings across the province.
“By taking this step, the dedicated staff at University Health Network and St. George Care Community will work together to stop the COVID-19 outbreak in this long-term care home,” Minister of Long-Term Care Dr. Merrilee Fullerton said in a release.
According to the province’s website, 94 residents have tested positive and six people have died. An additional 59 staff have also tested positive for the virus.
“We can confirm there are 84 active resident cases and 51 active team member cases of COVID-19 and we continue to see the number of resolved cases increase daily; this includes 66 resolved resident cases and 27 team member cases,” Sienna Senior Living, which owns the long-term care home, said in a statement.
A spokesperson with Sienna Senior Living also said the vaccine was administered to negative or cleared and asymptomatic residents last week.
RELATED: One third of Ontario’s long term care homes experiencing outbreaks of COVID-19
Two more people have died of COVID-19 at Tendercare Living Centre in Scarborough, bringing the total number of resident deaths at that facility to 64. It is the deadliest outbreak in the province.
In a news release on Monday, the facility said it was dealing with 59 active cases.
A third of Ontario’s long-term care homes are reporting COVID-19 outbreaks, marking a new record for the province, as advocates say spread among staff has forced some facilities to seek new sources of support to care for residents.
According to provincial data, 207 of the 626 long-term care homes in Ontario are currently experiencing outbreaks of the virus, including 19 new ones reported Sunday.
The CEO of the Ontario Long-Term Care Association, which represents nearly 70 per cent of homes in the province, says the rising number of outbreaks is pushing the system to its limits.
