As the number of residents infected with COVID-19 by a member of their own households continues to grow, a voluntary isolation centre has opened in an undisclosed location in York Region.
“Anyone who feels they cannot safely isolate in their home setting … can get in touch with the isolation centre,” York Region medical officer of health Dr. Karim Kurji said.
While close contact transmission among members of smaller households has driven the infection rate throughout the pandemic, Kurji said the pattern changed several weeks ago with increasing members of larger households becoming infected.
He suggested it may be difficult to isolate with children in a household.
A comfortable, private hotel room is available free of charge for residents needing to safely self-isolate, rest and recover from COVID-19, for up to 14 days.
The isolation centre, which has up to 280 beds, is available to residents with confirmed COVID cases, those who are likely positive or have been exposed to a positive case, and those waiting for test results.
There is no cost for eligible residents to stay at the centre, which is funded by the provincial government and operated by the Canadian Red Cross.
The COVID-19 isolation centres provide a range of additional supports and services, including meals, security, transportation, and links to health and social services.
Call Access York at 1-877-464-9675, ext. 72500 (TTY 1-866-512-6228), or email [email protected] to find out if you are eligible to self-isolate at the centre and receive additional supports.
The York Region centre is one several that the province has opened in COVID-19 hotspots, including in Toronto, Oshawa, Brampton, Ottawa and Waterloo.
The more than 1,500 beds are funded through the $42-million high priority communities strategy to help people in some of the hardest hit neighborhoods self-isolate and keep their families and communities safe, according to an Ontario government news release.
All new and expanded centres are expected to be open by the end of this month.
