Stumbles in city's COVID-19 shelter rollout an exception, Cressy insists
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Measures will be introduced to ensure the homeless are not being put at risk of contracting COVID-19 at shelters, say city officials.
Councillor Joe Cressy told the Toronto Sun that photos showing close quarters inside a city shelter don’t meet city guidelines and will be addressed.
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Photos shared on social media this week from inside a men’s shelter at 354 George St. shows occupied cots located close together — far less than the 1.8 metres mandated by the city’s top doc, Eileen de Villa.
“Bottom line, it doesn’t meet the city’s guidelines,” Cressy said.
“If it hasn’t been fixed already, it better be.”
City spokesman Brad Ross confirmed immediate action on the issue.
“This site was established before the (1.8-metre) guideline came into play and should have been adjusted accordingly,” he said.
Last week, the city commissioned 10 new shelter locations in a bid to ensure proper distancing.
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Cressy also said corrective steps were taken after reports emerged of homeless people being sent back into shelters after undergoing coronavirus testing.
“We did hear in recent days of some cases where that took place, thus the escalation from our medical officer of health and at the political level with our mayor,” he said.
“It’s not the protocol, nor is it a regular occurrence.”
Shelter clients tested for coronavirus are housed in isolation facilities while awaiting results.
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Like medical and emergency workers, the homeless have access to prioritized testing as they’re at increased risk of both contracting the disease and passing it on to others.
While results usually take five days, prioritized tests return in 24 to 48 hours.
Homeless who test positive are cared for in a new city/province recovery centre that opened on Wednesday.
While the 400-person centre’s location is confidential, Cressy described it as a 24-hour health-care facility in a city-acquired hotel.
The centre’s only occupants are currently two unrelated positive cases announced Tuesday.
While the number of refugees entering Toronto have dropped off sharply since Ottawa sealed the borders this week, Cressy said the city’s is maintaining quarantine facilities for them.
bpassifiume@postmedia.com
On Twitter: @bryanpassifiume
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