On Wednesday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau confirmed that Ottawa is currently engaged in discussions with Ontario and Quebec to extend military deployment in long-term care homes.
A military report on Quebec long-term care homes was released Wednesday, which described problems with distribution of personal protective equipment, disappearing medical supplies and residents circulating within facilities without protective equipment.
"These are serious issues that deserve to be brought to the attention of Quebec, and we passed on the report to them last evening," Trudeau said. "I also spoke to Premier Legault earlier this morning, and I reiterated our support."
The release of the report follows another scathing report from military regarding substandard conditions in five long-term care homes in Ontario, which Premier Doug Ford called 'horrific.'
In provincial news, Ontario will take over management of five additional long-term care facilities in southern Ontario as the province plans on turning the results of its investigation of high-risk facilities over to police.
On Wednesday, Premier Doug Ford said the province is also deploying six teams to conduct "rigorous" inspections of nearly 20 long-term care homes in Ontario, along with random spot checks of high-risk facilities.
"What we saw yesterday is the worst of the worst, and let me be clear - we're looking at all options," Ford said. "We're fully prepared to take over more homes if necessary. We are fully prepared to pull licences, shut down facilities if necessary."
Ford says an independent commission will be established in July, and that he will appear as a witness if called.
"The commission will be in dependent of the government. It will be open and transparent," Ford said. "There will be public hearings. They will call witnesses. The reports will be made public and we'll get answers, because our seniors deserve nothing less. Their families deserve nothing less."
Ontario has extended COVID-19 emergency orders until June 9.
Public Health Ontario reported 292 new cases of COVID-19 Wednesday, along with 32 deaths. Testing is also up by about 50 per cent with the province reporting 15,133 tests processed since the last report
Here are the latest COVID-19 numbers from Algoma Public Health:
- 6,631 tested
- 21 positive
- 6,204 negative
- 406 pending
- 0 deceased
- 17 resolved
Total confirmed cases by area of residence:
- 17 in Sault Ste. Marie and area, with evidence of community spread
- 1 in central and east Algoma
- 3 in Elliot Lake and area
- 0 in north Algoma
