ST. PAUL, Alta. - The official opposition is calling on the provincial government to act as more than 30 cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in the St. Paul Extendicare long-term care facility.
In a letter sent to Minister of Heath Jason Copping on Aug. 31, the NDP Seniors and Housing Critic Lori Sigurdson, and NDP Health Critic David Shepherd state they were writing the letter "with a matter of urgent importance about the dangerous situation in the St. Paul Extendicare Long-Term Care Centre."
The letter further states, "Family members have brought to our attention that 26 residents and six staff have tested positive for COVID-19. Residents without COVID-19 are being forced to share rooms with residents who are positive because there is no room for people to isolate."
The letter also notes that family members have reportedly reached out to local MLA David Hanson. Lakeland Today is in the process of contacting further sources regarding the outbreak at Extendicare.
The letter from the NDP says the acute staffing shortage now means residents are not receiving the care they need.
"Family members say that their loved ones are only being bathed once a week. This collapse of staffing levels and care is a completely unacceptable situation, especially for a national private company as large and profitable as Extendicare," according to the letter.
The NDP representatives asked the provincial government to provide information about what they are doing to address the needs at St. Paul Extendicare.
"These Albertans deserve immediate action."
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