Ontario has announced that it will be the first province to mandate immunization policies for long-term care homes. The requirement, set out in a minister’s directive under the Long-Term Care Homes Act, requires homes to have COVID-19 immunization policies for staff as of July 1. The directive requires that staff members in LTC homes must do one of three things: provide proof of each dose of vaccination; provide a documented reason for not being.
TORONTO All of Ontario’s long-term care homes now have air conditioning in some capacity, but advocates say that it isn’t enough to help seniors beat the heat. The government announced Thursday that 626, or 100 per cent, of long-term care homes have designated cooling areas served by air conditioning. Speaking to reporters virtually, Minister of Long-Term Care Merrilee Fullerton said that last year 13 per cent of homes had no air conditioning at all. “I’m pleased to say that residents and staff in long-term care will be comfortable and cool this summer,” Fullerton said. “Long-term care homes without proper air conditioning in the summer is not only uncomfortable, but it is a health risk. That’s why, in April of this year, we updated regulations under the long-term care act to require that all designated cooling areas in Ontario long-term care homes have air conditioning by May 15, 2021.
All of Ontario’s long-term care homes now have air conditioning in some capacity, but advocates say that it isn’t enough to help seniors beat the heat.