Major COVID outbreak at Forest Hill long-term care facility
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A COVID-19 outbreak at Forest Hill Place retirement residence, confirmed by Toronto Public Health on Nov. 4, has killed two residents and infected 53 others — 29 residents and 24 care providers.
Six residents and one staff case have been resolved, the facility said in an emailed statement on Friday.
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“We regret to inform that we’ve had two residents pass away with COVID-19 since the outbreak was declared. The team at Forest Hill Place offers its most sincere condolences to the families and friends of the residents who passed away during the pandemic,” said Dr. Rhonda Collins, chief medical officer for Revera, the parent company of FHP.
“With the support of Sunnybrook Health Services, all residents and staff are being re-swabbed. We continue to work closely with Toronto Public Health officials and are following our pandemic outbreak protocols and infection control practices. Residents are isolated in their rooms and monitored for symptoms twice daily,” she said.
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Donna Rubinstein’s 84-year-old mother, Rodica Rubinstein, lives at the residence and tested positive for COVID-19 on Nov. 30.
“In October, prior to the outbreak, we were advised that Forest Hill Place was in a high alert area and that the residents could leave the building only for essential reasons,” she said. “During this period the residents left the building frequently for outings to the local mall, hairdressers, pedicures. That wasn’t the case in other places.”
“I knew my mother wasn’t safe, but I couldn’t think how or where to move her, but I knew she was in a dangerous facility,” Rubinstein added.
She accuses the residence of controlling the flow of information to families.
“They refuse to post how many people test positive or how many died. They just want to massage the information. There is a problem with the corporate culture,” Rubinstein alleges.
Forest Hill Place says all staff members are screened prior to their shifts, required to wear a surgical mask and eye protection at all times, and disinfecting of high-touch surfaces has been increased.
The residence says families will be informed when non-essential visits can resume.
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