Mark Twain once said reports of his death were greatly exaggerated.
In the health-care sector, many echo that sentiment as it relates to the feeling among many that the pandemic is over.
Even as public health mandates drop, the number of people getting COVID-19 is rising. Just ask Linda Goodall, the executive director of the Lighthouse shelter and community services hub.
On March 30, the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit (SMDHU) declared an outbreak at the Queen Street facility.
In less than 10 days, the outbreak has ballooned to 12 positive cases involving “mostly participants”, but also including staff and one volunteer.
As of Monday afternoon, eight shelter participants were in isolation at the Lighthouse, alongside three of their close contacts.
“It’s tough,” said Goodall of the outbreak. “It impacts everything.”
A previous outbreak, that stretched for 47 days from mid December of 2021 to late January of 2022, saw 14 positive cases spread between staff and participants.
This outbreak is, in some ways, worse.
“This time, in this outbreak, mental health and addictions issues are much more extreme,” said Goodall, noting some of the people who have tested positive are “quite ill,’ while others have “relatively minor” symptoms.
"When you’re in a congregate living area and don't have a home, your mental health can be stressed as are addictions when you’re isolated,” she explained, noting staff are employing harm reduction strategies and working closely with participants.
The outbreak is also taxing on staff, said Goodall. On top of extra cleaning, staff are working overtime due to the number of people in isolation at the facility.
“Once again we have had to use our youth wing to have people in … but because we have so many (in isolation), we’ve actually had to move over to our regular wing as well,” explained Goodall.
That means “double staffing” is required in the upstairs area, “so staffing is being stretched over-capacity as well.”
For Goodall, what’s perhaps even worse is that being in an outbreak means the shelter cannot welcome any new participants. That means some people are forced to live on the streets.
“There are people, absolutely in Orillia and in Simcoe County, at this time, that we’re unable to accommodate,” said Goodall, noting the health unit requires all intakes to be on hold during an outbreak.
She said “it’s really a difficult situation” juggling a potentially unsafe living environment versus the dangers of contracting COVID at the shelter.
The outbreak also impacts the shelter’s finances. She said she has asked for a meeting with the County of Simcoe to petition for extra funding to help deal with the escalating costs associated with the extra cleaning and staff time required.
The Lighthouse has re-started its Meal Train program while others have begun to create ‘isolation packages’ for those in isolation. For more information, visit the website or call 705-329-2265, extension 1.
The Lighthouse has also set up a COVID Relief Fund under 'Donate Now' on their website, orillialighthouse.ca
