Advertisement

Coronavirus: Feds approve Ontario’s request for military help at long-term care homes

Click to play video: 'Coronavirus outbreak: Trudeau calls COVID-19 deaths in long-term care homes ‘unacceptable’'
Coronavirus outbreak: Trudeau calls COVID-19 deaths in long-term care homes ‘unacceptable’
WATCH ABOVE: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called the number of COVID-19 deaths in long-term care homes "unacceptable," and said the requests for assistance by Ontario and Quebec from the Canadian Armed Forces would be fulfilled – Apr 23, 2020

The federal government has approved Ontario’s request for military assistance at long-term care homes amid the coronavirus pandemic, the country’s public safety minister has announced.

“Long-term care is a unique vulnerability in this pandemic,” Bill Blair said in a tweet.

“We will continue working together as team Canada to defeat #COVID19.”

On Wednesday, Premier Doug Ford said his government would formally request assistance from the Public Health Agency of Canada and the Canadian Armed Forces to help with coronavirus outbreaks in long-term care homes.

Ford said they would first be deployed to five “priority homes.”

The additional personnel will provide staffing relief, as well as “[assistance] with operations, co-ordination, or medical care, logistics and general assistance to support the day-to-day operations,” Ford said.
Story continues below advertisement

In a press conference Thursday, Long Term Care Minister Merrilee Fullerton said the decision to call in the military came “despite our best efforts.”

Receive the latest medical news and health information delivered to you every Sunday.

Get weekly health news

Receive the latest medical news and health information delivered to you every Sunday.
By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.

“Allowing the acute care sector with hospital staff to come in, along with home care staff, along with the portals that we had created, along with the federal portals and the nursing volunteers, it still was not enough,” Fullerton said.

As of Thursday, there have been a total of 516 COVID-19-related deaths in long-term care homes in the province, with 2,189 confirmed cases among residents.

Ford previously opened the door to systemic changes in Ontario’s long-term care system once a review is conducted into how the system handled the COVID-19 pandemic.

In his daily press conference Thursday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the federal government would approve requests for military assistance for provinces, but said, “We shouldn’t have soldiers taking care of seniors.”

Trudeau said there will be an examination of how the country got to this point.

Story continues below advertisement

Quebec has also asked for military help in caring for those in long-term care homes.

Click to play video: 'Ontario government requests military to assist long-term care homes'
Ontario government requests military to assist long-term care homes

Sponsored content

AdChoices