COVID-19 outbreak in Ontario long-term care home results in over 100 residents and 50 staff testing positive

A COVID-19 outbreak at a long-term care home in Etobicoke, Ontario last month resulted in over 100 residents and 50 staff testing positive for the virus, CP24 reports.

The operator of the home, Riviera, said that the outbreak was confirmed on November 12. There has since been a total of 117 infections confirmed among residents and 57 among staff. Riviera confirmed that 12 of its residents have died from the virus.

As of now, there are 84 active cases in the home among residents, and 49 among staff. In a statement, Riviera said that “The staff members are in self-isolation at home.”

“We offer our most sincere condolences to the families and friends of the people we have lost to the pandemic. We are working very closely with public health officials and are following pandemic outbreak protocols and infection control practices.”

Riviera said that all its staff are screened at the beginning and wend of their shits, and that they monitor the residents twice daily for symptoms.

“Enhanced cleaning is being done at Westside. We are frequently disinfecting high touch surfaces like handrails and doors, resident rooms, common areas and staff rooms,” the statement continued.

“One on one recreation activities will be continued to maintain social engagement during this period of isolation. We are keeping the residents, their families and the staff up to date on the status of the outbreak.”

The majority of Ontario's COVID-19 deaths come from long-term care homes. 2,378 long-term care residents have died after contracting COVID-19, out of the province’s 3,757 virus-related deaths.

The Ontario government has said that once a vaccine is made available, Long-Term Care residents will be the first to get it.