University of Ottawa Journal of Medicine (Aug 2021)
The Disproportionate Impact of COVID-19 on Residents of Long-Term Care Homes
Abstract
The first reported case of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in Canada was identified on January 25th of 2020.[1] By March 11th, 2020 the World Health Organization had declared a pandemic, and many countries, including Canada, had implemented stay-at-home orders.[2] At that time in March 2020, it was hard to imagine the tremendous impact this virus would have on Canadian citizens. With over 20,000 deaths to date, and millions of jobs lost, individuals all across Canada have been affected.[3] One population of individuals in particular that have been disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic are the residents of Long-Term Care (LTC). In Canada, during the first wave, more than 840 outbreaks were declared in LTC homes, and deaths in these homes accounted for 81% of the total deaths due to COVID-19.[4] An article published in the Lancet on January 16th, 2021 highlighted that even now, well into the second wave of this tragic pandemic, the situation has not changed in that residents in LTC remain particularly vulnerable.[5] This commentary will explore the reasons why this population has been so significantly and negatively impacted by this pandemic.
