Ontario taking over another long-term care home: Your daily COVID-19 roundup

Province takes over Woodbridge Vista

The government has taken over its ninth long-term care home, appointing William Osler Health System as interim manager at Woodbridge Vista Care Community long-term care home in Vaughan. Woodbridge has seen 17 COVID-19 deaths and 65 positive cases among residents, with another 20 among staff.

The facility's union had been calling for a provincial takeover since last week.

"During these unprecedented times, it's important to use every tool available to keep Ontarians safe," Long-Tern Care Minister Merrilee Fullerton said. "I am pleased to see the dedicated staff at William Osler Health System and Woodbridge Vista Care Community working together to contain COVID-19 and keep residents and staff safe."

Health Minister Christine Elliott again refused to release the province's list of high-risk "red" long-term care homes, despite calls from critics who say families should know the status of the homes their loved ones are in. The government has maintained that doing so would tip off those homes to incoming inspections, which are supposed to be unannounced.

A Radio-Canada reporter noted that Quebec has been releasing its lists of high-risk homes since April, while maintaining inspections.

"We don't want to give any advance notice because changes can then be made, which might not be reflective of what the actual situation is," Elliott said, adding that homes can move in and out of a "red," "yellow" or "orange" designation "on any given day."

Has Ontario really peaked?

Despite the government's insistence that Ontario has turned the corner on COVID-19, the number of new cases per day has not been trending downward as strongly as it was in late April and early May.

BREAKING: Yet anther day with more than 300 new cases of #COVID19 in Ontario. Today's number: 356. https://t.co/FblxpElTaz #COVID19Ontario pic.twitter.com/fCR8iG5w0o

— Mike Crawley (@CBCQueensPark) June 4, 2020

"Well, I know that everyone wants to look at the exact numbers, and there's more areas that we focus on," Premier Doug Ford said before handing over the question to Elliott. "Overall, things are looking more positive."

Elliott admitted the number of new cases has "gone back and forth over the last week or so, or 10 days, but the numbers are gradually going down. We're going to need to see that continue."

The number of tests per day must also continue to increase, as well as follow-ups and case management — and hospitals need to have enough capacity to handle a surge, she said.

"So all of those things need to come together on the when issue," she said, referring to when Ontario will be able to move to the next stage of reopening.

Short-term rentals to reopen tomorrow... maybe

Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade Minister Vic Fedeli tweeted on Thursday that short-term rentals — including cottages, homes and B&Bs — will be allowed to resume operations in Ontario starting Friday.

NEW! Short term rentals including lodges, cabins, cottages, homes, condominiums and B&Bs will be allowed to resume operations in Ontario starting June 5 at 12:01 a.m. pic.twitter.com/wIRVGpMPNE

— Victor Fedeli (@VictorFedeli) June 4, 2020

“I know there’s a lot of people that need that income, and there's a lot of people who want to rent the place," Ford said — though he said the rollout will be "hopefully by next week."