Disturbing transcripts of Cdn Air Force testimony before Long Term Care Commission have been released. They realized immediately homes were in “crisis.” They found “a clear rapid decline in staffing” with approx just 20% of original staff. Temp staff were hired but untrained.
Lack of communication is discussed in the LTC homes and the CAF found there was no oversight to ensure “people weren’t conducting themselves in an unethical manner.” No one was being held to account.
Major Karoline Martin says what CAF saw in long term care homes was so bad it was going to have a serious emotional impact: “we very very quickly recognized this had a high risk for either mental health struggles or long-term impacts on our clinicians...it was very traumatic.”
Mental heath teams were brought in to support military staff. (Imagine then how bad it must have been in those Ontario LTC homes)
At the end of the 61 page report the commission thanks men and women in military who went into ON Long Term Care homes, saying “it would have spun out of control if it hadn’t been for your arrival” Interesting bc CAF initial report indicated things were very much out of control
CAF found long term care residents crying for help for hours with no one coming to their aid, residents force fed to the point of choking and lying in their own feces. I would say that was out of control.
As this transcript looking at what went wrong in long term care during the first wave is released keep in mind 2,041 vulnerable residents have died. 683 residents are currently positive and there have been 10 new outbreaks since yesterday. #covid19
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Premier Doug Ford begins his news conference. This one promises to be interesting. #covid19
"it's concerning, it's alarming." Premier notes #covid19 numbers are going in the wrong direction. He says virus spreads when people don't follow public health advice.
Q and A now, 1st to Ford is about Andrea Horwath's "circuit breaker" proposal to go into lockdown for 2 weeks. Ford says he's listens to his Chief Medical Officer but says have to take into account mental health toll.
Premier Ford says Ontario's #covid19 numbers are going in the wrong direction, says the situation is changing rapidly and steps need to be taken to keep people safe. (the province's positivity rate has more than doubled in the last month)
Premier has definitely changed his messaging since last week when he introduced the new colour coded framework - today he is emphasizing it is just a "baseline" and regional medical officers of health can add further restrictions #covid19
Premier Ford says he can't rule out a lockdown and if numbers get totally out of control he won't hesitate to do what he has to. Manitoba is essentially moving to lockdown. #covid19
Breaking: Peel Region is moving into the "red zone." it means indoor dining and gyms can resume tomorrow under strict guidelines. #covid19
There has been a lot of criticism threshold for red zone is too high - 100 cases per100k. 10% positivity.
Brampton has 170 per 100k and 11% positivity - so even though its markers are higher it is still going into red zone where indoor dining can resume and gyms open #covid19
Government source told me this morning cabinet was going to consider allowing Peel to move to red zone and keep Brampton under modified stage 2 - it appears they shot that down #covi19
NEW: Premier Doug Ford in Huntsville today for his daily update - he's at a Shoppers Drug Mart - perhaps about to announce #covid19 testing in pharmacies
Premier says testing needs to be expanded earlier and as easy as getting a flu shot. Starting Friday up to 60 pharmacies will offer #Covi19 testing (he has said in the past about 2-thousand would take part)
Premier also says Mt Sinai, Women's College, UHN will offer saliva testing (he said this yesterday as well) and promises more will be released on testing strategy tomorrow #covid19
"With the number of cases it is clear second wave will be harder than the first." Premier Ford begins his daily update, says key focus is to not have to shut down surgeries again. #covid19
Premier Ford says this is first phase of releasing fall pandemic plan (opposition has widely criticized them for not doing sooner)
1st pillar-have hospitals maintain capacity w use of flu shot - investing $70 million flu shot campaign. 5.1 milion doses ordered, ordering more
Premier stresses everyone will be able to get a flu shot. High dose shots will be available to seniors for the first time in pharmacies. #covid19