ST. PAUL - 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."
In an emailed response to Lakeland Today, MLA David Hanson said his office had no recent correspondence from residents or staff regarding COVID-19 at the Extendicare long-term care facility in St. Paul.
"I know that the staff at this facility and others in rural Alberta have been working exceptionally hard, especially over the last few years taking care of our elderly and ill patients; they are doing their best in a difficult situation, and I thank them all for their hard work and dedication," said Hanson.
The UCP MLA said he was disappointed that the NDP was continuing to politicize COVID-19
"I am in contact with the ministry on a weekly basis regarding the state of healthcare in rural Alberta and will continue to do so. In the meantime, I would like to thank all of the staff that continue to work to support our residents," said Hanson.
*This story was updated at 8:45 p.m. on Aug. 31 to reflect MLA David Hanson's comments
