Outbreak declared in long-term home
New confirmed case of COVID-19 and declaration of COVID-19 outbreak at long-term home
An outbreak has been declared at the F. J. Davey Home in Sault Ste. Marie reports Algoma Public Health.
The health unit says the outbreak had to be declared because it is the second case of the virus within the last three days.
The agency says Case #31 involves a staff member who is now self-isolating.
Algoma Health says people with possible close contact exposure have been notified.
A look at the numbers
After a slight dip on Sunday, the number of new coronavirus cases is back above the 400 mark.
Provincial health officials reported 425 new diagnoses yesterday, the highest number since June 2nd.
More than half were in people between the ages of 20 and 39.
Almost 33-hundred cases are now considered active, the most we’ve seen since June 10th.
Ontario’s associate chief medical officer of health, Doctor Barbara Yaffe (YAH-fee) says the numbers are increasing because people are “letting their guard down” by not wearing masks, and by going out with people outside their social circles.
The recent surge in diagnoses, with more than 400 daily on three of the last four days, comes two weeks after the Labour Day long weekend.
The Winter Plan – twindemic?
Premier Doug Ford says he’ll begin releasing more details today, on the government’s plans to deal with the twin threats of COVID-19 and influenza this fall and winter.
Health Minister Christine Elliott says they’re already trying to ramp up testing in busy urban centres, where waiting times have been hours’ long.
Elliott says the program will involve “hundreds of millions” of dollars in spending and include proposals to eliminate the backlog of surgeries to open up more hospital beds over the next several months.
Is long-term ready?
Three unions representing workers in long term care homes in Ontario say the industry is not ready for the second wave of the coronavirus.
They want the government to mandate higher employee-to-resident ratios and increase pay levels for attracting more nurses and personal care workers.
Otherwise, they warn there will be a “repeat of death and destruction” across the province.
Two-thirds of the 28-hundred and 29 people who have died of COVID-19 have been residents or employees of long-term care homes.
How popular are our premiers?
Most premiers have seen their popularity levels decline, as the COVID-19 pandemic stretches into the fall.
A survey taken by market research firm Maru-Blue, shows B-C Premier John Horgan continues to lead the way, with 69 percent approval, down two points.
Yesterday, Horgan called a provincial election for late October.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s approval rating sits at 56 percent, down from 61 percent in late May.
Alberta Premier Jason Kenny sits at the bottom of the list.
Only 47 percent of his province’s residents approve of his actions, a drop in support of seven percent over the summer.