Two residents die after COVID-19 outbreak at Oshawa long-term care home
Two residents at Hillsdale Estates, a long-term care home in Oshawa, have died after an outbreak of COVID-19.
“We extend our deepest condolences to the families during this difficult time,” a spokesperson with the Regional Municipality of Durham told CTV News Toronto in an e-mailed statement.
The residents “tested positive for COVID-19 this past weekend.”
An outbreak was first declared at the home on Aug. 26. The first positive test was a staff member and was discovered through daily screening.
As of Wednesday afternoon, the region of Durham said there were 21 active cases of the virus, including 13 residents and eight staff.
“We have more outbreaks now than any point of the fourth wave; it’s steadily rising and they’re primarily staff-driven outbreaks,” said Dr. Vivian Stamatopoulos, a long-term care advocate.
“We know that this is being driven primarily by unvaccinated staff and the fact that we don’t have a mandate yet in long-term care for vaccinations is pretty ludicrous,” she said.
Sharon Montgomery is an essential caregiver and visits her 95-year-old mother in the home often.
Montgomery has received both doses, but said she was surprised to learn not all caregivers had.
“They’re still letting us in, all the caregivers, but they only have something like 65 per cent vaccination rate,” she said.
Personal vaccination statuses cannot be released without consent the region said, but it confirmed 95 per cent of residents at the home are vaccinated, as well as 83 per cent of staff.
For health-care workers in Quebec, starting Oct. 15 unvaccinated medical staff will be suspended without pay.
Dr. Stamatopoulos is pleading with the Ontario government to implement a similar mandate.
The region of Durham says it’s following infection control protocols and has the necessary staffing levels in place.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Western University researchers unlock potential 'cure' for ALS
New research out of London, Ont.'s Western University is shedding light on a potential cure for ALS, in which the targeting of the interaction between two proteins can halt or fully reverse the disease's progression.
Police release 3D images of young child found in an Ontario river two years ago
Police have released a three-dimensional image of a young child whose remains were discovered in the Grand River in Dunnville, Ont. almost two years ago.
B.C. brings in law on name changes on day that child killer's new identity revealed
The BC NDP have tabled legislation aimed at stopping people who have committed certain heinous acts from changing their names.
Kamala Harris drops F-bomb during White House live-stream
U.S. Vice-President Kamala Harris used a profanity on Monday while offering advice to young Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders about how to break through barriers.
B.C. man fighting for refund after finding someone living at Whistler vacation rental
Edwin Mostered spent thousands of dollars booking a vacation home in Whistler, B.C., for a group skiing trip earlier this year – or so he thought.
Avs forward Valeri Nichushkin suspended at least six months
Colorado Avalanche forward Valeri Nichushkin was suspended for at least six months without pay and placed in Stage 3 of the league's player assistance program.
Collapsed Baltimore bridge span comes down with a boom after crews set off chain of explosives
Crews conducted a controlled demolition Monday to break down the largest remaining span of the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore.
Security video caught admitted serial killer disposing of bodies in Winnipeg garbage bins
Security video caught admitted serial killer Jeremy Skibicki on multiple late-night outings, disposing of body parts in nearby garbage bins and dumpsters in the middle of the night.
Mortgage companies could intensify the next recession, U.S. officials warn
U.S. officials worry the next recession could be intensified by a cascading series of failures in the mortgage industry caused by crashing home prices, frozen financial markets and soaring delinquencies.