Massive outbreak at long-term care home `negligence': Union
The outbreak of dozens of COVID-19 cases at The Village at St. Clair in Windsor is an example of the ongoing problems in the profit-driven long-term care industry, Unifor national president Jerry Dias says.
“The simple reality is that people are going to die because of negligence,” Dias said. “I'm just disgusted.”
Containment efforts continue at The Village at St. Clair — a privately-owned long-term care facility under the Schlegel Villages corporation — where the novel coronavirus has spread at an alarming rate.
There are 54 residents in three of the facility's “neighbourhoods” who have COVID-19, along with 34 team members, according to an update on the Schlegel Villages website on Wednesday.
One resident who recently tested positive has died, Schlegel Villages stated. The company extended “our deepest condolences” to family, friends and staff.
The Windsor-essex County Health Unit has not issued any orders.
“The facility itself has the ultimate responsibility to manage this outbreak from a staffing perspective, from an IPAC (Infection Prevention and Control) perspective,” Dr. Wajid Ahmed, the region's Medical Officer of Health, said on Wednesday. “Every facility should have a contingency plan.”
About 200 workers at The Village at St. Clair are represented by Unifor Local 2458.
Local 2458 President Tullio DiPonti has criticized the site's management on the issue of personal protective equipment for staff.
On Wednesday, Diponti said his members finally are being equipped with N95 masks after months of asking for them.
The union's next concern relates to the labour force: With 34 team members self-isolating, The Village at St. Clair is understaffed, Diponti said: “They were short to begin with. The shortage has gotten more severe.”
Schlegel Villages said they are “mobilizing additional support” until staff who are self-isolating can safely return.
To Unifor's national office, the situation is inexcusable, Dias said.
“(Schlegel Villages) dropped the ball right from the beginning,” Dias said on Wednesday, describing the company as “completely unprepared” for an outbreak.
“I'm frustrated that we can be in December, and the most basic of personal protective equipment hasn't been provided,” Dias said. “Why are we arguing about this today?”