I think several factors feed into that. There's been chronic, long-standing underfunding of long-term care across the country, I'd say, at all levels. That certainly created a circumstance where we see an overall weakness.
At the very beginning of the pandemic, homes initially had very limited access to PPE. That was a key challenge at the start.
There was also a delay in receiving specific guidance from the Public Health Agency of Canada for long-term care home operations with the pandemic. A tremendous amount of information was moving from multiple sources. Having timely, scientific-based evidence and information was critical.
There are also the more big-picture questions about the age of the infrastructure we have in long-term care homes across the country. There are many examples of infrastructure that was built decades ago. They were designed for a different generation and a different time. Trying to implement modern infection control and prevention practices became an incredible challenge for some, with the size of hallways, shared dining spaces and even ventilation systems. A number of critical factors played into all of those circumstances.
Certainly the vaccine has been a tremendous advantage and a game-changer for many across the country. Homes are still experiencing outbreaks, but the severity is less. We certainly appreciate the government's efforts in getting vaccines to long-term care residents as quickly as possible.