Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound MPP Bill Walker has announced the Ontario government is investing additional money to increase prevention and containment efforts in local long-term care homes during the second wave of COVID-19.  Although this announcement includes money to hire staff to replace sick or isolated staff, the Province is not answering the call from the Opposition and many representatives of LTC staff to provide sick pay for those same workers.

The new funding is intended to reduce the risk of the virus from entering long-term care homes from the community by covering eligible expenses related to:

• An immediate 24/7 health checkpoint to confirm staff and essential caregivers entering the building are properly screened for COVID-19 symptoms and potential exposure, and to continue screening residents on an ongoing basis to support early detection and containment of any new infections;
• Additional prevention and containment activities, such as hiring new staff to carry-out the added workload for essential services and/or to replace workers who are sick or in isolation;  (One PSW wage for 3 shifts a day, 7 days a week, at $20/hr. would be approx. $3360 gross, just to understand what the funding below will provide in staffing).
• Cleaning, equipment, and operating supplies beyond typical levels for the home; and
• Implementing infection control measures based on clinical evidence, advice from a physician or other regulated health practitioners with expertise in infection control.

Homes in Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound receiving additional funding during the second wave include:

• Country Lane Long Term Care Residence is receiving an additional $52,600, bringing the total prevention and containment support since the start of the pandemic to $364,200
• Elgin Abbey Nursing Home is receiving an additional $50,500, since the start of the pandemic to $442,800
• Gateway Haven Long Term Care Home is receiving an additional $145,600, since the start of the pandemic to $444,600
• Georgian Heights is receiving an additional $35,000, since the start of the pandemic to $355,000
• Golden Dawn Nursing Home is receiving an additional $60,000, since the start of the pandemic to $531,200
• Grey Gables Home for the Aged is receiving an additional $178,600,  since the start of the pandemic to $432,800
• Hanover Care Centre is receiving an additional $35,400, since the start of the pandemic to $358,200
• Lee Manor Home is receiving an additional $394,900,  since the start of the pandemic to $765,300
• Maple View is receiving an additional $146,000, since the start of the pandemic to $578,600
• Meaford Long Term Care is receiving an additional $267,800,  since the start of the pandemic to $639,600
• Parkview Manor Health Care Centre is receiving an additional $67,800,  since the start of the pandemic to $500,600
• Rockwood Terrace Home for the Aged is receiving an additional $182,500, since the start of the pandemic to $554,300
• Summit Place is receiving an additional $46,000, since the start of the pandemic to $443,000
• The Village Seniors Community is receiving an additional $149,900,  since the start of the pandemic to $511,900.

source: media release, Bill Walker MPP