13 May 2020 – Mandatory management orders for long-term care homes allowed

Type of Intervention: Regulation
Sectors Involved: Health
Intervention Categories: Planning and strategy; Creation of or release of plans
Level of Jurisdiction: Ontario
Lead People/Agency: Premier of Ontario, Minister of Long-Term Care

Overview: The Ontario government has announced an emergency order that allows the province to issue a mandatory management order for a long-term care home that is struggling to deal with COVID-19. The order supports the use of immediate and effective management alternatives with the aim to protect residents and staff of a specific long-term care home. Long-term care homes may require management assistance if they have challenges like a high number of cases amongst residents/staff, a high number of deaths, an uncontrolled outbreak, or significant staffing issues. In addition, Canadian Armed Forces personnel have also been deployed to five long-term care homes to provide staffing assistance in the instance of staff shortages.
Full details here: https://news.ontario.ca/opo/en/2020/05/ontario-takes-steps-to-better-protect-long-term-care-residents-and-staff-during-the-covid-19-outbrea.html

Type of Justification: Providing support
Evidence/Justification: The justification for this order is to strengthen action to support and protect long-term care residents and staff. This action will better prepare the province if immediate action is needed for a home struggling to contain COVID-19. There are no evidence sources provided that support this decision.