Clark care home employee dies of COVID-19

City flags will fly at half-mast, as officials say safety at facilities is ‘top priority’

An employee at the city-run Peter D. Clark long-term care home has died of COVID-19.

The death was announced Wednesday afternoon by the care home’s administrator, Shelley Kuiack.

“Regrettably, today we are sharing the news that an employee at Peter D. Clark Home has passed away. The individual had tested positive for COVID-19,” Kuiack said in a media release. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the individual’s family for the loss of their loved one and with our colleagues who are grieving.”

The worker’s name was not released.

“We recognize that this news will be particularly difficult given the situation in long-term care homes across the country,” Kuiack said, including a list of local social service agencies that provide counselling.

“Lastly, we would like to assure you that our long-term care teams remain committed to providing outstanding care and attention to the residents in the city homes during this difficult period.”

Mayor Jim Watson said that flags will fly at half-mast at the facility on Meridian Place, near Centrepointe, until the worker’s funeral.

The city’s general manager of community and social services, Donna Gray, informed city councillors of the death “with a heavy heart.”

“We recognize that this news is very difficult given the current situation at long-term care homes here and across the country. Our management team is working with our support team in Human Resources and Organizational Health to co-ordinate supports for the employee’s family and the staff at the Peter D. Clark,” Gray said.

“The safety of residents and staff continues to be our top priority. The homes are following operational protocols in accordance with Ottawa Public Health, the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Long-Term Care.”

As of Wednesday afternoon, there were 16 active cases among residents in the 216-bed facility and nine more among staff. Ottawa Public Health lists “fewer than five” deaths among Peter D. Clark residents.

This is the second death of an Ottawa health care worker during the COVID-19 pandemic. On May 7, a male personal support worker at Madonna Community Care Centre died of the disease.

There have been 210 COVID-19 deaths in Ottawa, as of Tuesday, with more than 80 per cent of them occurring in long-term care or retirement homes.

We recognize that this news is very difficult given the current situation at long-term care homes.