Deaths at city’s nursing homes behind sharp increase
City health chief worried about infection explosion if protocols are ignored
COVID-19’s death toll in Toronto is growing, spurred by a series of deadly outbreaks at nursing homes across the city.
Toronto Public Health reported Wednesday that the deadly pandemic sweeping much of the world has now claimed the lives of 19 Torontonians, up from 11 reported Tuesday night.
The number of people with confirmed or probable cases of COVID-19 jumped to 818, with 75 of them in hospital and 35 in intensive care. That’s up from 793 confirmed or probable cases, with 65 in hospital and 33 in intensive care.
At Seven Oaks, a City of Toronto nursing home in Scarborough, eight people have now died, up from four Tuesday night. The home has a total of 77 confirmed and probable cases.
Dessie Ann Fanfair, whose mother, Alvena Chance, is a Seven Oaks resident, said families have largely been kept in the dark about the outbreak. She has no idea if her mother has been infected or not.
“We don’t even know if she’s been tested. We’re getting no information at all,” Fanfair said. “We turn on the TV and see that there’s an outbreak. She’s 93 years old. This is a nightmare.”
Fanfair said she last saw her mother March 14, before visitors were kept away. Last Sunday, the family chatted with her mother via Zoom. It was, Fanfair said, a joy to see her mother smiling. But she worries about her mother’s health and mood.
“At her age, we’ve been worried about losing her before. But now, the worst fear is that she’ll die alone,” Fanfair said, crying softly.
COVID-19 has broken out at18 long-term care homes, Toronto Public Health said: Seven Oaks, St. Clair O’Connor, Extendicare Bayview (Southwest), West Park Healthcare Centre, Chartwell Gibson, Rekai Centre at Sherbourne Place, Elm Grove, West Side, Eatonville, Cedarville Terrace, Vermont Square, Rockcliffe, Altamont, Kensington Gardens, Sunnybrooke Veterans, McCall Centre, Baycrest Apotex and House of Providence.
There are two active outbreaks in retirement home settings: Terrace Gardens and Village of Humber Heights.
Toronto Public Health is aware of five COVID-19 cases among homeless Torontonians, a figure that has not changed since Friday.
Noting a jump in community infections not readily connected to travel, Dr. Eileen de Villa, the city’s public health chief, said she is concerned that Toronto risks an explosion of cases and mass deaths like those seen in New York City unless people stay home and away from each other.
“This is not a favourable trajectory,” she said of the surge in local cases over the past month. “And as your medical officer of health responsible for protecting the city’s health — your health — I am deeply concerned.”