Six residents have now died and there have been 39 positive cases of COVID-19 at Owen Hill Care Community in downtown Barrie. 

The most recent death is a man in his 80s, who died Monday. 

On a conference call with local media Tuesday, Dr. Charles Gardner, medical officer of health for the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit, said the positive cases include 15 staff members and 24 residents. 

Owen Hill is a 57-bed facility, according to the Ministry of Health and Long-term Care.

Gardner said the virus can “fairly easily” get into a long-term care facility and be extremely dangerous to residents. He said the mortality rate is between 20 and 30 per cent in such facilities. 

COVID-19 can be infectitous up to 48 hours before a person shows any symptoms. 

Sienna Senior Living, which operates Owen Hill Care Community, has issued a statement on the situation at the Owen Street facility. 

“Our highest priority is protecting the safety of our residents and team,” the statement said. “We continue to implement stringent infection prevention and control protocols and have appropriate supplies of personal protective equipment (PPE) to safeguard our team, in accordance with provincial directives.”

As of Monday, one resident has recovered and is now considered clear of COVID-19, the statement added. 

Around one-quarter of all COVID-19 cases in Simcoe-Muskoka region are related to outbreaks in long-term care facilities. 

The statement from Sienna Senior Living says staff at Owen Hill are working closely with public health officials. Workers are wearing surgical face masks and having their temperature taken twice per shift. Isolation protocols are also in place in all home areas.

Residents are also having their temperatures checked twice daily and there is frequent cleaning and disinfecting of all surfaces.