Surging Numbers at LTC Homes Bring Calls for Military Help
TORONTO – Ontario reported 3,363 new COVID-19 cases today. This is a new record high in the number of daily cases. There were an addition 2,476 cases of COVID-19 reported on January 1, 2021.
COVID-19 numbers were not released on January 1, 2020, due to the statutory holiday.
The bulk of the new COVID-19 cases reported on January 2, 2020 were in order, 713 cases in the Peel Region, 700 cases reported in Toronto, and 395 cases in the York Region.
The surging numbers, combined with a growing number of deaths in Long-Term Care Homes in the province have the Ontario Health Coalition calling for the Canadian Military to take over.
Ontario Health Coalition’s says that bringing in the military is not the first choice the group would make, but with the surging number, the options for the Ontario Government at this point, according to Natalie Mehra are scarce.
Mehra says “The issue is that we’re in such an emergency. There are so many homes with outbreaks that are growing extremely quickly, the death counts are mounting, and the hospitals are overstretched now.”
Ontario Premier Doug Ford called for an “Iron Ring” around long-term care homes at one point last year.
In Thunder Bay there have been 19 deaths, the bulk of the COVID-19 deaths at the Southbridge Roseview Long-Term Care facility.
