Ontario orders Niagara Health to temporarily take over Millennium Trail Manor amid outbreak

Ontario's Ministry of Long-Term Care has ordered Niagara Health to take over control of Millennium Trail Manor in Niagara Falls, which has been the site of a month-long COVID-19 outbreak.

The 90-day mandatory management order was issued as the virus continues to infect more people, though it's unclear how many cases the manor currently has. Niagara Region Public Health lists outbreaks online but leaves it up to the individual facilities to confirm the number of cases and whether they're staff or residents.

The province said the outbreak on Oakwood Drive was severe enough that it required "enhanced management."

"We are grateful to the Niagara Health System and Millennium Trail Manor for working together to stabilize the home and stop the COVID-19 outbreak," read a quote from Long-Term Care Minister Dr. Merrilee Fullerton in a release.

Niagara Health stated in its own release the hospital response team will begin its work immediately to develop and implement an action plan to bring a safe end to the outbreak.

Millennium Trail Manor did not immediately respond to request for comment.

Niagara

Statistics for Niagara show the region has 109 active cases of COVID-19 as of Thursday. There have been 1,384 infections reported by public health to date, including 1,206 people who have recovered. There are nine outbreaks.

One person has died since Monday, increasing the total amount of deaths to 69. 

Hamilton

Thirteen more cases of COVID-19 were reported in Hamilton Thursday as the number of people infected by an outbreak at a nursing home grew to 20.

Eight residents and 12 staff members at Chartwell Willowgrove Long Term Care Residence have the virus, according to the city's website.

Two new outbreaks were declared in the city Wednesday, bringing the current number to nine.

Public health says three staff members at SkyLift Rentals have contracted COVID-19. An outbreak was also announced at St. Marguerite d'Youville Catholic Elementary School after two students tested positive.

A student at Ray Lewis Elementary School also has COVID-9. The school said they were last in the building on Oct. 23. Students and staff connected to the student are self-isolating for 14 days.

There are 161 active cases of the virus in Hamilton as of Thursday.

Forty-eight people have died, and 1,538 people have recovered.

Haldimand-Norfolk

Six people associated to Cayuga's Sunday Morning Hockey League (SMHL) have tested positive for COVID-19. 

Steve Gauld, an organizer with the league, said Thursday that those people are in self-isolation.

SMHL has also suspended play. It's unclear when it will resume.

"The league is working with Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit to effectuate a public health management plan," he said in an email.

Haldimand and Norfolk counties have seen a total of 537 cases, according to public health data. Of those, 32 were active on Thursday and 468 recovered.

Thirty-two deaths in the counties are considered COVID-19-related.

Brant

Brant County Public Health reported 35 active COVID-19 cases Thursday. The county has seen 253 confirmed cases, and 213 people have recovered. Three people are in hospital.

Five people with COVID-19 have died.

Halton

Public health officials in Halton reported 236 active cases in the region on Thursday. There have been 2,119 since the pandemic began. 

Of those cases, 1,849 people have recovered and 34 have died.

There are five open outbreaks.

In Burlington, there are 68 active cases, 13 deaths and 517 recovered cases.

Six Nations

There were 24 active cases of the virus on Six Nations territory as of Wednesday and two new cases.

The First Nation has had a total of 90 cases, 69 of which are resolved. One person with the virus has died.