ARTHUR – Perth-Wellington MPP Randy Pettapiece is urging the province to help control outbreaks at Caressant Care Arthur that have grown to 107 cases and resulted in eight deaths.
Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health (WDGPH) officials confirmed the sixth death was a 94-year-old female Caressant Care Arthur long-term care resident who died on Jan. 20.
The seventh and eight deaths were a man, 94, and woman, 73, both also long-term care residents.
The Caressant Care deaths – five this week alone – are linked to two COVID-19 outbreaks at the facility and bring Wellington County’s COVID-related death toll to 14.
Long-term care and retirement homes are again being hit hard during this wave of the pandemic.
The province has reported 148 COVID-related deaths in long-term care facilities in four days (Jan. 19 to 22).
The Jan. 22 WDGPH update included the following numbers related to two outbreaks at the Arthur facility:
- long-term care: 39 resident cases, including seven deaths, and 31 staff cases; and
- retirement home: 25 resident cases, including one death, and 12 staff cases.
Perth-Wellington MPP Randy Pettapiece is urging the minister of seniors and minister of long-term care to make “every necessary resource” available to address the outbreaks at Caresssant Care Arthur, as well as at Caressant Care Listowel, which as of Jan. 21 had 65 resident cases, including three deaths, and 27 staff cases.
Some residents at the Listowel facility were being moved to area hospitals in an effort to combat the outbreak there.
“The outbreaks … are very concerning. I was very sad to hear about the loss of life,” said Pettapiece in a Jan. 21 statement.
“I am also thinking of the residents and staff who are sick and their families,”
Pettapiece said he has spoked with officials from both facilities, as well as relatives of residents.
“I have offered to do whatever I can to support them and the response underway,” the MPP added.
Pettapiece said WDGPH and Huron Perth Public Health are providing “outstanding leadership,” leadership through the crisis.
Hospital officials and staff, as well as Caressant Care staff, “continue to do exceptional work under difficult circumstances,” he pointed out.
“I will continue to do everything I can to support these homes and all homes in Perth-Wellington.”
