Canadian military to help 5 GTA long-term care homes battling coronavirus

Provincial health officials confirmed that three-quarters of all COVID-19 related deaths in Ontario are happening in long-term care homes. Cynthia Mulligan with the sobering statistics and Ontario's plan to protect its most vulnerable citizens.

By The Canadian Press and News staff

The Ford government announced Friday that the Canadian Armed Forces will be providing support to five long-term care homes in the GTA that are battling the coronavirus.

They include Orchard Villa in Pickering, Altamont Care in Scarborough, Eatonville Care Centre in Etobicoke, Hawthorne Place in North York, and Holland Christian Homes’ Grace Manor in Brampton.

Premier Doug Ford’s office said military support may be redeployed to other sites, as the situations at various homes change.

“Our top priority is ensuring the staff at these long-term care homes can focus on providing care and have the resources they need to combat the spread of this virus,” the office said in a statement.

A number of long-term care homes across Ontario have been particularly hard hit, including Eatonville with 36 deaths, Orchard Villa with 31 deaths, Pinecrest Nursing Home in Bobcaygeon with 29 deaths, and Altamont Care with 24 deaths. A personal support worker who worked at that facility also died.

Earlier this week, Ford asked the federal government for the military’s help at the province’s beleaguered care homes.

Ford’s 95-year-old mother-in-law lives at West Park Long-Term Care home in Etobicoke that has had 13 coronavirus-related deaths.

He choked back tears during his daily briefing on Thursday and thanked federal government for granting the province’s request.

 

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