In Ontario nursing homes seniors are dying again. A resident of The Village of Tansley Woods Long-Term Care Home who had contracted Covid-19, the Delta variant to be precise, did not make it. In addition to a staff member, there are now 15 infections among the elderly in the Burlington nursing home. Although 96% of LTC residents are fully vaccinated, the virus has managed to make its way into the facility.

“With great pain, Tansley Woods staff are facing the loss of a longtime community resident – said Schlegel Villages, the company that runs the nursing home – this resident had tested positive for Covid-19 and public health officials indicated that the Delta variant is a cause for concern in this outbreak. We are grateful that his family members have been able to stay close to him, the thoughts of our entire organization are with them at this painful time”.

Ontario has begun easing restrictions on long-term nursing homes thanks to high vaccination rates among residents, allowing indoor meetings with up to two visitors and two caregivers. However, the spread of the Delta variant first detected in India, has fueled some concerns since research suggests that vaccines are not as effective against this strain.

Schlegel Villages tried to soothe tempers by pointing out that the symptoms of the infected facility residents, at the moment are mild but are constantly being monitored.

Meanwhile, Tansley Woods has organized, in collaboration with local public health officials, a vaccination clinic in the nursing home. “85% of our staff have already received the first dose and we are sure that given the availability of vaccines they are willing to get the second dose” said the long term care management, which is 47 kilometers from Toronto.

There are currently three long-term nursing homes in Ontario with Covid-19 outbreaks: in addition to Tansley Woods, cases have been recorded at Afton Park Place Long Term Care Community in Sarnia and The Village of Winston Park in Kitchener. In total, there are 22 active cases among residents in the three LTC and six among the staff.

Meanwhile, following the outbreak in Tansley Woods, Ontario Premier Doug Ford urged all personal support workers (PSW) to get vaccinated against Covid-19. The only way the virus is entering nursing homes, he said, is through people outside the facility. “I love PSW, we need to see more vaccinated PSW – Ford said – we didn’t make it mandatory, I don’t agree with the imposition of vaccines on everyone – but think about the people you care about, think about their families, think about your families. Please, please, please get vaccinated.”

And while Premier Ford launches an appeal calling on PSW and nurses to get immunized, in Italy the suspensions for unvaccinated health workers have been in place for months. The obligation for the category was introduced by the decree of the Council of Ministers of last April: several unvaccinated health workers were exempted from tasks involving interpersonal contacts or operations at risk of infection.

Pictured is The Village of Tansley Woods Long-Term Home in Burlington (CHCH)