Fourth booster shots coming to long-term residents’ populations
Local area long-term facilities are preparing for another round of boosters.
Preparations are underway for the application process for a fourth booster for residents in local long-term care to increase their immunity to COVID-19.
The move comes with the increase in Omicron cases throughout the country.
At this time, residents are not allowed to leave their residences and only essential caregivers are able to access the facilities, as another layer of protection for seniors in care.
Long-term care homes running short of staff
Long-term care homes across the province are running so short of staff, they’re trying to recruit laid-off restaurant workers to help out.
Long-Term Care Minister Rod Phillips says some facilities are already reporting staff absences as high as 30 percent due to COVID-19 infections and exposures, and the government is keeping a close eye on the situation.
Almost 200 homes across the province, almost one-third of the total, are now experiencing outbreaks among staff and residents.
Sharleen Stewart, president of the Service Employees International Union, says the Ford government has failed to plan for staff shortages, leaving long-term care homes to try to recruit food service employees to work in their kitchens.
Vaccinations update
The Ford government is opening up more vaccination clinics specifically for teachers, education staff, and child care workers.
The first will open today for those eligible in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton region.
Officials say discussions are underway with other health units for similar clinics.
It will also be making available the more-protective N-95 masks to daycare employees, who work with children too young to be vaccinated.
Testing in Ontario
Ontario’s chief medical officer of health says testing for COVID-19 has become a “luxury.”
Doctor Kieran Moore says anyone who has symptoms of the coronavirus should automatically assume they’re infected and go into self-isolation.
The province has announced that rapid testing kits will be limited to specific groups, including those working in medical services and retirement homes, starting next week.
The province is hoping to expand the availability of rapid tests to the public, but that will depend on supply.
