Forty-one people have now died amid a coronavirus outbreak at a Scarborough long-term care home.
A statement from North York General Hospital said Tendercare Living Centre, located in the area of Victoria Park and McNicoll avenues, also had 128 residents and 69 staff members who were positive for coronavirus as of Sunday.
Sunday’s update marks an increase of two deaths at the home since Saturday and 12 more resident cases. The number of workers who are positive decreased by two, and officials said eight employees are considered to have resolved cases and have been cleared to return to work.
On Saturday, North York General Hospital said it was continuing to work with employees at the home to resolve the outbreak and added that while additional physicians have been brought in, there was an “intensive effort underway” to recruit more nurses, personal support workers and other staff.
On Sunday, the hospital said finding more staff continues to be challenging.
The statement said that while both physician and personal support worker staffing levels are now sufficient, there is an “immediate need” for more nurses.
“With the entire Ontario health-care system under major strain as cases of COVID climb, and the very high demand for health professionals across the system, finding additional staff is very difficult for all organizations at this time,” the statement read.
The statement added that resources are being dedicated to call families of residents and answer questions.
Officials on Saturday said there is a sufficient amount of personal protective equipment and said infection prevention and control education is “well underway” for staff at the home.
North York General Hospital began working with the home earlier in the week as the COVID-19 outbreak there intensified.
An additional cleaning team has also been brought in, officials said.