When home is too crowded: York Region calls for COVID-19 isolation centre

Rooms could provide safe space for multi-generational homes or those living in tight quarters

Yorkregion.com
Dec. 24
Kim Zarzour

An isolation centre for COVID-19-positive people living in cramped quarters could be coming to York Region.

The region’s public health department is exploring ways to provide space for local residents whose living situation doesn’t allow for effective self-isolation, said Patrick Casey, director of the region’s corporate communications.

The risk of COVID-19 transmission is high in residential settings, Casey said, and the risk increases further when a large number of people occupy a shared home space.

Dr. Karim Kurji, York’s medical officer of health, told regional council members on Dec. 22 that the region is beginning to see more large households impacted by the coronavirus.

In one recent cluster where 12 people were living under the same roof, nine tested positive for COVID-19, he said.

“This is different from what we were seeing earlier, where we had large numbers of smaller households.”

Multi-generational homes, homes with multiple residents or people living together in small spaces can be challenging to effectively self-isolate, Casey said.

A voluntary isolation centre can provide a safe, comfortable place to self-isolate for those who test positive, without putting others in the household at risk, he said.

It also helps prevent the spread of the virus to others in the home who could spread it in the community, he said.

The facilities would be open to individuals with COVID-19 or those at significant risk of COVID-19 infection from someone living in their home.

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At this point in time, the region is investigating the possibility of using the isolation facility in Toronto, which appears to have space available, Kurji said.

The City of Toronto received $13.9 million in federal funding in September 2020 to establish the first voluntary self-isolation facility in Canada as part of a pilot project.

The centre, located in a previously unoccupied hotel on the outskirts of the city, provides accommodation for up to 140 people, providing a quiet and private setting for the 14-day quarantine.

On Nov. 26, Patty Hajdu, minister of health, announced an additional $6.5 million in funding over 16 months for Peel Public Health to establish a second location with 40 units and the capacity to grow to 80 units if needed.

Public health is also exploring solutions locally and there may be funding available, he said.

Health Canada spokesperson André Gagnon said the federal government is providing $100 million for municipalities to establish voluntary isolation sites under the Safe Voluntary Isolation Sites Program.

The Public Health Agency of Canada is working with the provinces and territories to identify other densely populated neighbourhoods and municipal regions that would benefit from the funding offered through this program.

The Region of York is eligible to submit a proposal, Gagnon said.

A self-isolation centre was also established in March for COVID-19-positive York Region residents experiencing homelessness.

Leeder Place, a family shelter in East Gwillimbury, was retrofitted to provide 15 self-contained units.