ST. JOHN'S — In light of a scathing report Tuesday about conditions in long-term care homes in Ontario, Newfoundland and Labrador Health Minister Dr. John Haggie on Wednesday assured families in this province they have nothing to fear.
The Canadian Forces, whose soldiers have been stationed around Ontario to help long-term care facilities cope with COVID-19, released a 15-page report that detailed dire concerns ranging from widespread lack of physical distancing and hygiene to residents being left in their own filth or falling asleep with food still in their mouths.
Both Premier Doug Ford and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau immediately registered their disgust with the findings and promised action.
Haggie said both private and public facilities in this province have much more stringent standards.
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“I want people to draw some comfort from that, given the news that’s come out,” he said during the thrice-weekly video briefing on COVID-19 measures. “It certainly is an eye-opener for all of us, and it certainly is one of those moments where we will pause and see what lessons we need to learn from that.”
Haggie said long-term care homes in this province are run by regional health authorities, and have to meet the same standards required in hospitals.
“The level of oversight there is no different than what you’d see in an acute surgical ward or an intensive care unit.”
In addition to nursing care, authorities have ensured that allied health professionals and recreational therapy staff are on site during the shutdown.
“That, I think, has taken some of the sting out for the residents in terms of social interaction.”
Even private personal care homes are strictly monitored, he said.
They are licensed and inspected by health authorities. Over the six-month period ending March 31, inspectors have paid 1,400 visits to these homes, some of them unannounced.
Without giving specifics, Haggie said they may even loosen restrictions on long-term care visits as early as June. He said officials here will have the opportunity to monitor what happens as other provinces do so.
Sense of pride
Testing continues to turn up no new cases of COVID-19 in this province. Wednesday was the 20th day without a sign of the coronavirus. Only two people, one in hospital and one at home, are still designated as active cases.
The cumulative total remains at 260. Three people in the province have died from the disease.
“I am proud of the magnitude of what we have accomplished together during this very difficult time, and I hope you are as well,” Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Janice Fitzgerald said Wednesday. “We know that this virus will be with us for a while and that there will be challenges ahead, but I am confident by the actions we have shown to date that we will do what it takes to persevere and adapt when necessary to reach the end of this pandemic together.”
Asked whether this province would adopt Ontario’s offer to test anyone who asks, Fitzgerald dismissed it as “foolhardy.”
“You cannot just apply one blanket testing strategy across the country when you have some areas that have had no cases for many days and other areas that are seeing hundreds of new cases every day,” she said.
The continued lack of cases has spurred officials to make some changes that were previously not on the radar. Campgrounds will be allowed to open for limited use — but not for tenting — and Fitzgerald has reversed her stance on some recreational activities such as tennis.
On Wednesday, the province also announced that in-person family visits with children and youth in protective care can resume.
“We recognize the importance of nurturing and supporting relationships, facilitating the bonding and attachment between parents and their children,” Premier Dwight Ball said.
Plans are still being developed in consultation with public health, and visits will be considered on a case-by-case basis. More information is available by calling the Department of Children, Seniors and Social Development at 1-833-552-2368.
Rahman reversal
In the past two weeks, the panel has brushed off questions as to whether clinical scientist Dr. Proton Rahman will rejoin the panel to discuss COVID-19 projections, as he has twice in the past.
A week ago, Haggie said he saw no need for it.
“Looking more than a month or two out is really speculation,” he said.
However, Rahman will join the panel again on Friday.
“We’ve always said he could be available to the panel. There is no change here,” Ball said Wednesday. “It’s something we’ve been thinking about for a while now. As we move closer to Alert Level 3, I think it’s great just to get the update from people like Dr. Rahman at this table so he can speak directly to Newfoundlanders and Labradorians.”
In other developments Wednesday:
- Guidelines are now posted on the government website (gov.nl.ca/covid19) for businesses that hope to open when Alert Level 3 comes into effect on June 8.
- The premier acknowledged the tragic news of three bodies recovered and one man still missing after a crab boat from St. Lawrence sank at sea.
- Ball also played a video collage created by the Premier’s Youth Council, and announced that a youth page has been added to the province’s COVID-19 website.
Peter Jackson is a Local Journalism Initiative reporter covering health for The Telegram.
