Tests not needed for LTC visits

Families visiting loved ones in nursing homes don’t have to show proof they have tested negative for COVID-19, health officials say.

A clarification came Wednesday from Ontario’s chief coroner, Dr. Dirk Huyer, who has taken on responsibilities for the provincial testing regime that requires anyone visiting a longterm-care resident to have been checked and cleared in the previous two weeks.

There has been a misunderstanding at some long-termcare facilities because the provincial policy requires an “attestation” of a negative test.

“It does not require the documents,” Huyer said Wednesday as the number of nursing homes with outbreaks of the highly contagious virus fell by four to 62, according to figures released Wednesday by the Ministry of Health.

Visits are not allowed at homes with outbreaks, which can be cases in residents or a staff member recovering at home in self-isolation.

Nursing-home employees are continuing to catch COVID-19, with the number of active cases in staff rising by 22 to 368. It is not known whether they caught the virus in the community or on the job.

About 1,800 nursing-home residents have died in the pandemic, which has seen 5,400 infected with COVID-19. Of those cases, 205 remain active.

Overall, Ontario has declined to 2,049 active cases of the virus.

As of 6 p.m. Wednesday, there were 203 confirmed and probable cases and 14 deaths in the previous 24 hours.