My letter to the Minister of Long-Term Care

May 8, 2020
Ministry of Long-Term Care
Minister Merrilee Fullerton
400 University Avenue, 6th Floor Toronto, ON M7A 1A1

Dear Minister Fullerton,

I am writing to you today to voice great concerns regardingthe recent report of number of COVID-19 cases in residences in my riding. Threelong-term care residences have been most affected by many confirmed cases andmany deaths. The numbers below shows the numbers from January 15^thto May 6^th in three of these:

1. LaurierManor, 31 confirmed infected residents, 20 deaths and 37 confirmed infected staff
2. ManoirMarochel, 29 confirmed infected residents, 7 deaths and 15 confirmed infected staff
3. MontfortLong-Term Care, 54 confirmed infected residents, 19 deaths and 18 confirmedinfected staff.

People working within the residences described theconditions, policies and procedure as absolutely abhorrent. Examples include:inconsistent PPE practices; PPE not being changed frequently enough to stopcontamination from one wing or floor to another; insufficient PPE supply;insufficient staff, tension between staff; cockroach infestation.

I urge you to take immediate action, directing the Ministryof Long-Term Care to provide management oversight inside the homes while it isin outbreak. The following three main concerns need to be addressed to rectifythe situation:

1. Theongoing severe shortage of staff to support residents
2. PPEprotocols not being followed
3. Insufficientsupply of PPE

Thank you for your attention to this. I know you care aboutthe health and safety of all Ontarians and it is my duty to report and requesthelp for the deeply affected and vulnerable constituents in Ottawa-Vanier.

Sincerely,

Lucille Collard

MPP for Ottawa-Vanier