Long-term-care homes get boost for virus prevention

Long-term-care homes in the Peterborough-Kawartha riding will be receiving additional funding from the Ontario government to boost COVID-19 prevention and containment efforts, MPP Dave Smith announced Monday.

About $613,300 in funding is being provided to help prevent the virus from entering longterm-care homes by setting up several procedures and measures to safeguard against it, Smith said.

Eligible expenses for the funding include immediate 24-7 screening checkpoints for staff and essential caregivers entering facilities to screen for COVID-19 symptoms and potential exposure.

It will also fund “additional prevention and containment activities such as hiring new staff to carry-out the added workload for essential services and to replace workers who are sick or in isolation,” Smith said.

The funding is also for infection control measures based on evidence and advice from health-care professionals such as physicians or other regulated health practitioners with expertise in infection control.

Five long-term care homes in the riding qualify for the funding for containment and prevention support, Smith said, including Extendicare Lakefield which will receive $98,200, bringing its total to $667,200. Extendicare Peterborough will receive $56,800 additionally, bringing its total to $519,400. The municipally run 256-bed Fairhaven long-term care home will get $166,600 in additional funding, bringing its total to $944,400. Riverview Manor Nursing Home on Water Street $94,000 bringing its total to $814,600 and St. Joseph’s at Fleming on Fleming Drive an additional $200,700 bringing its total to $1,109,700.