Death toll at Orlans care home battling COVID-19 rises to 29

Twenty-nine residents of Madonna Care Community inOrlans have now died of COVID-19, says theoperator of the long-term care home.

In a Sunday statement to CBCNews, Sienna Senior Living said another 45 residents have tested positive for the respiratory disease and are currently in isolation.

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"We are sadly grieving the loss of the 29 residents who have succumbed to the virus since the outbreak began and extend our deepest condolences to these families for their loss," the statement said.

Thenumber of deaths at the facilityis almost double the 15 reported by Ottawa Public Health on Apr. 29, the last day for which data is available.

There are currently 18 outbreaks at long-term care and retirement homes in Ottawa.

Hospital staff helping fight outbreak

Madonna Care Home is one of several long-term care facilities in Ontariothat have received additional staffing help from local hospitals as part of a provincial plan tocontain outbreaks of COVID-19 incare homes.

Staff fromthe Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario, the Royal Ottawa and The Ottawa Hospital have been deployed to the Orlansfacility, Sienna said.

Long-term care residents make up over two-thirds of all people who have died of COVID-19 in Ontario, according to provincial data.