The City of Pickering passed a unanimous motion at yesterday’s Special Council meeting, tasking the federal and provincial governments to conduct an investigation into the outbreaks and deaths at Orchard Villa.
Thirty-one people died in the Covid-19 outbreak in the long term care home (LTCH)
The motion, introduced by Councillor Pickles and seconded by Councillor Cumming, asked that in addition to Orchard Villa, other affected long-term care homes, retirement homes, and other congregate facilities be part of the investigation. In addition, the motion asks that opportunities be provided for the impacted families to participate, said a city statement.
Flags lowered
It said, in the interim, the city will be lowering flags at all of its facilities for the remainder of the week. Also, it will plan for a memorial event that will encourage the community to come together, remember, and pay their respects to all of Pickering’s Covid-19 victims once the provincial emergency order is lifted.
“Our community has paid far too great of a toll in the number of lives we lost to Covid-19. We must commit to ensuring that a tragedy of this magnitude never occurs again. That is why we are asking the senior levels of government to conduct a thorough and transparent investigation into what has transpired at Orchard Villa and across the nation. Hopefully, the findings will lead to real and meaningful changes in how we care for and protect the residents of long-term care facilities,” said Kevin Ashe, Deputy Mayor.
Deputy Mayor Ashe, whose daughter works at Orchard Villa, has tested positive for Covid-19.
CLICK FOR MORE NEWS ABOUT COVID-19
ALSO READ: