COVID-19 roundup: Government offers mixed messages on responsibility for long-term care crisis

By David Hains and Sneh Duggal

As Ontario continues to be hammered by the mounting death toll in long-term care homes, the government offered mixed messages on accepting responsibility for the crisis.

Asked if the results so far — including over 500 fatalities in long-term care homes — mean that the province failed on the issue, the premier didn't directly say so, but indicated there needs to be improvement. "I think the system needs to be changed, and we're changing the system," Premier Doug Ford said in his daily press availability.

Pressed on the question a few more times, he eventually conceded, "I recognize the system is broken and we're going to fix the system."

But Minister of Long-term Care Merrilee Fullerton was unwilling to go that far. She defended the government's record in responding to long-term care homes, detailing the various steps it has taken so far. "We have used every tool we had, and we're creating new tools."

As she was pressed on the issue she said she was busy working on building a vision for a "modern 21st century care system" before the pandemic hit, and directed some blame towards "society."

"I think as a society we have to understand why there was no interest in that process we had begun," she said. She proceeded to say that Ontario has to prioritize the care of its elderly and vulnerable population.

"We have to take a look at our society and understand that we have a moral imperative to improve our long-term care system and allow our residents and staff to be treated with respect and dignity."

Ford was visibly moved when asked what he would say to families who have been affected by COVID-19 who have loved ones in long-term care homes. "I relate to it in our own family with my wife Karla," he said, as he tried to maintain his composure although his lips trembled.

Later, an explanation for his response emerged. The premier's mother-in-law, who is 95 and lives in long-term care, has tested positive for COVID-19, according to spokesperson Ivana Yelich from the premier's office. The news was first reported by the Toronto Star.

The federal government assented to the provincial government's request to send military aid to help at five long-term care homes, with the premier touting that "the calvary is coming."

That is accompanied by a host of new measures that the government hopes will improve the dire situation in long-term care homes.

Congregate settings like group homes and shelters will start to see more screening and testing in the next two days, Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services Todd Smith said on Thursday.

"We know there are immediate pressures facing congregated residential settings outside of long-term care," said Smith, referencing homes for people with developmental disabilities, shelters for those who have experienced domestic violence and homes for youth.

He said these settings are "at higher risk for COVID-19 transmission" and announced the government's COVID-19 action plan for "protecting vulnerable Ontarians."

"Over the next 48 hours, a combo of enhanced screening and reduced exposure measures will stabilize outbreaks in many of these settings," said Smith.

The plan includes only allowing essential visitors into homes or shelters. There will also be increased screening of visitors to reduce exposure and of staff and residents to help in "early identification" of possible infections.

Smith said the government would "make the use of masks mandatory in high risk settings" and provide workers with more guidance and training on how to properly use personal protective equipment.

The government's plan outlined that there would be restrictions on worksites and that staff would be limited to working at "a single location in cases of an outbreak to reduce the spread of the virus to multiple sites."

When it comes to testing, the government has indicated that symptomatic staff and clients should be tested and that work would be done with public health units to decide whether asymptomatic testing "in facilities with medically fragile people" should occur for those who have been in contact with a person with COVID-19.

The government said it would also provide more training on how homes, shelters and other congregate settings should deal with an outbreak.

Many of these moves are similar to steps the government has taken in the long-term care sector, which has been hit hardest by COVID-19. But several other residential settings have been devastated by COVID-19. CTV reported Thursday of a third death at Participation House, a home for people with developmental and physical disabilities where most residents have contracted COVID-19.

Following the announcement on the action plan, Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner said the government needs to do more to help low-income and vulnerable Ontarians.

"I am disappointed that the social services minister has not given us more confidence that people living beneath the poverty line are being supported through this pandemic," Schreiner said in a statement. "There are people falling through the cracks of the federal relief program and the province should be there to catch them."

He called on Smith to "end the clawback" of the federal government's Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) and to "provide a top-up to those who do not qualify for CERB."

Premier Ford was asked at his daily press availability about when garden centres like Canadian Tire could expect to open, given that they provide agricultural goods that are important to the supply chain.

Ford acknowledged that it's an issue and hinted at some potential good news. "You'll be hearing about that over the next day or two," he shared, without elaborating much on the details.

The list of essential businesses is limited right now, and includes the likes of grocery stores, pharmacies, vet clinics, hardware stores and various health facilities.

Schreiner supported the government decision, but added that community gardens should be opened too. "I’m glad to see some movement on allowing people to grow food and plant their gardens, while still ensuring safe physical distancing. I hope today’s comments from the premier mean that community gardens, which many people depend on for fruits and vegetables, will also be allowed to operate."