The Ministry of Long-Term Care announced today that it has issued a mandatory management order appointing Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre (RVH) to temporarily manage Simcoe Manor in Beeton on behalf of the County of Simcoe.
RVH has been managing Simcoe Manor since Friday, Oct. 9 after the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit issued an order under the Health Protection and Promotion Act.
RVH will manage Simcoe Manor for 90 days from the date that the mandatory management order was issued.
"Our government's top priority is to keep Ontarians safe, especially our long-term care home residents who are most vulnerable," Minister of Long-Term Care Dr. Merrilee Fullerton said in a release. "I thank the dedicated staff at the Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre and Simcoe Manor for working together to end the COVID-19 outbreaks."
Simcoe Manor has 124 residents, 35 of whom have tested positive for COVID-19. Additionally, 19 staff members have also tested positive at the facility, according to new figures presented this morning at Simcoe County council.
Four residents have died, including an 88-year-old man, a 92-year-old woman, a 98-year-old man, and an 82-year-old woman.
"During these unprecedented times, the province is using every tool available to keep Ontarians safe," the province said in its release. "Management orders are one example of the measures Ontario has utilized on behalf of long-term care residents and staff.
"Ongoing measures include emergency funding, regulatory flexibility, staffing support, expanded testing, along with direction and guidance on outbreak management, and infection prevention and control."
The province says it will continue to make decisions based on case-by-case assessments, and in partnership with the local hospitals, as to which long-term care homes may require additional interim hospital support.
To date, the Ministry of Long-Term Care has previously issued three mandatory management orders and facilitated 11 voluntary management contracts between Ontario hospitals and long-term care homes.
More to come
