TORONTO – Covid-19 outbreaks more than doubled in Ontario’s long-term care homes (LTCH) in the first week of July, according to Public Health Ontario. In the latest weekly report, 42 new outbreaks were recorded in the sector during the week from 3 July to 9 July. This is a 110% increase over the 20 new outbreaks reported the previous week. According to ministerial data, there are 757 active cases among residents and 383 among LTCH personnel. 

A long-term care spokesperson said homes should include support for protective vaccinations, timely access to antiviral treatments, visitor screening, and the use of devices by individuals. “The safety and security measures remain in place to help facilities at risk when it later greets Covid-19 outbreaks,” said Mark Nesbitt, who stressed the benefits of vaccination in protecting residents. More than 96% received the third dose as of July 12, and more than 80% of those eligible received the fourth week (which everyone ages 18 and older can now receive, as decided by the Ontario government last week).

In addition to the 42 new outbreaks in long-term care homes, 39 outbreaks in nursing homes and 28 in hospitals were also reported in the period from 3 to 9 July. Shelters reported 10 new outbreaks, group homes 25.

While case rates are on the rise in most age groups, Public Health Ontario said the over 80 group had the highest increase in the week of July 3: 37%. The case rate for that age group was “3 to 13 times higher than for other age groups,” the report said. In addition, in the span of two weeks (until 9 July), 44 people aged 80 and over have died from Covid-19: the province in that period recorded, in total, 65 deaths associated with the coronavirus.

Long-term care homes have been particularly affected by the Covid-19 outbreaks, although vaccinations have mitigated the deadly impact of the virus since residents began receiving doses in late 2020. Dr Samir Sinha, director of geriatrics at Sinai Health in Toronto, said the long-term care population remains vulnerable. Although there was initially a big push to get long-term care residents vaccinated, Sinha said there is now a delay in vaccinations and many people’s immunity may be waning. And the Province, for its part, has suspended the rules that required the vaccination of visitors to the facilities. “When we relax the restrictions, we must remember that the vulnerability of these residents has not actually decreased: my only concern – concludes Sinha – is that we have begun to normalize this problem: this will result in thousands of further deaths that would be truly avoidable, given that we actually have the tools to protect people. “

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