Tuesday, May 26, 2020

NATIONALIZE LONG TERM CARE IN CANADA UNDER MEDICARE
Ontario Hospitals To Take Over 2 Long-Term Care Homes
The government says the homes have been unable to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus.

The Canadian Press
05/25/2020 14:09 EDT | Updated 16 hours ago


ANDREW FRANCIS WALLACE/TORONTO STAR VIA GETTY IMAGESDownsview Long Term Care Centre, where 52 people have died from COVID-19, will be taken over by Humber River Hospital, the Ontario government announced Monday

TORONTO — Ontario says it has appointed hospitals to take over the management of two long-term care homes that have been unable to contain COVID-19.

The province says Humber River Hospital will manage Downsview Long Term Care Centre, which has reported 52 deaths, up from 40 just a week ago.

Southlake Regional Health Centre will manage River Glen Haven Nursing Home in Sutton, a 119-bed facility where there have been 20 deaths and 54 confirmed cases.

The orders last for 90 days, but the government says they can be extended, if necessary.

Earlier:

The government says that the homes have been receiving supports from the hospitals for weeks, but have still been unable to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus.

The Ministry of Long-Term Care reports more than 1,500 resident deaths and six staff deaths from facilities across the province, and there are currently 159 active outbreaks, down from 189 a week ago.
400 new cases

Meanwhile, Ontario reported more than 400 new COVID-19 cases Monday for a fifth straight day, along with persistently low levels of tests.

That brings the total in the province to 25,904 cases, including 2,102 deaths — an increase of 29 over the previous day.

The total also includes 19,698 resolved cases, which represents 76 per cent of all cases, a third straight day of that percentage declining, as the amount of active cases increases.

The 404 new cases represent an increase of 1.6 per cent over Sunday’s total. Ontario has now seen growth rates of between 1.5 and 1.9 per cent for 16 of the past 17 days, and the chief medical officer of health has said the province’s curve appears to be in a plateau.

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Just 8,170 tests were completed in the previous day — the eighth straight day Ontario has fallen short of its goal of doing 16,000 a day, and far short of its capacity of over 21,000.

Ontario has struggled to boost its testing numbers after completing a blitz of testing nearly every resident and staff member of long-term care.

Premier Doug Ford announced Sunday that anyone concerned they may have been exposed to COVID-19 can now get tested, whether or not they have symptoms, the latest move in the province’s attempts to boost low testing numbers.

The premier has said mass testing is the province’s best defence against the virus. He said a new detailed testing strategy targeting specific sectors will be unveiled this week.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 25, 2020.

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