National Post (National Edition)
29 dead in Toronto rest-home outbreak
30 active cases, 32 recoveries, company says
TORONTO • A long-term care operator says 29 residents have died in a COVID-19 outbreak at an east Toronto facility that began last month.
Revera, which owns and operates a range of homes, says public health officials have confirmed 92 residents of its Kennedy Lodge home have tested positive since the outbreak began on Oct. 2.
The company says 30 of them remain active cases and 32 have recovered.
It says public health officials also confirmed 35 staff members tested positive for COVID-19, with 17 considered resolved and the rest isolating at home.
Revera says it continues to do everything it can to ensure the safety of residents and staff, including monitoring residents for symptoms twice daily and asking them to self-isolate in their rooms.
It says all staff are screened for symptoms at the beginning and end of their shifts, and are required to wear a mask and eye protection inside the facility.
Visits to the home are limited to essential visitors, as directed by public health officials, the company says.
“The team at Kennedy Lodge offers its most sincere condolences to the families and friends of the residents who passed away during the pandemic,” the company says in a statement.
The operator says public health authorities and the Scarborough Health Network are helping to manage the outbreak, particularly when it comes to enhanced cleaning and infection control education.
Ontario is reported a new daily record of 1,426 COVID-19 cases Wednesday as well as 15 more deaths attributed to the novel coronavirus.
Health Minister Christine Elliott said there are 468 new cases in Peel Region, 384 in Toronto, 180 in York Region, 63 in Durham and 62 in Hamilton.
On Tuesday, Toronto announced the extension of several restrictions including a ban on indoor restaurant dining and indoor fitness classes.
The city's top doctor, Eileen de Villa, said the restrictions — which also include a continued shutdown of casinos, bingo halls and event spaces — will remain in place for another 28 days after they were to expire on Saturday.
De Villa also issued “strong recommendations” for residents to limit their close contact to those in
their household and one or two “essential supports,” and stay home except for necessary activities such as shopping for groceries. She urged people to work from home whenever possible.
“The spread of COVID-19 has never been greater in Toronto,” and residents should behave as if the virus is everywhere, she said.
She pointed to recent data that shows 5.9 per cent of the city's COVID-19 tests came back positive in the first week of November, and “alarming” case counts in recent days.
The measures being extended were first enacted last month by the Ontario government at the request of Toronto health officials.