COVID cases soaring in Canada’s LTC homes as country enters 7th wave. What can be done?

As a seventh wave of COVID-19 creeps across the country, long-term care facilities in some provinces are seeing a major spike in outbreaks.

As a seventh wave of COVID-19 makes its way in Canada, long-term care facilities in some provinces are seeing a major spike in infections.

In Ontario, COVID-19 outbreaks in long-term care homes more than doubled in the first week of July, according to the province’s public health unit.

A total of 42 outbreaks were reported in the long-term care sector during the week of July 3 to 9, according to the province’s latest data.

That’s a 110 per cent increase from the previous week’s 20 reported outbreaks.

Ontario, like other provinces, is no longer reporting daily COVID cases. However, according to Dr. Kieran Moore, the province’s chief medical officer of health, the seventh wave of the novel coronavirus could peak in Ontario within the next two weeks.

Following direction from the province’s Minister of Long-Term Care, Paul Calandra, MPP for Markham-Stouffville, Ontario previously had a COVID-19 immunization policy in place for people working in, volunteering at, or visiting long-term care homes.

But, the policy was revoked in March, meaning this requirement no longer applies.