Vaccines have saved Ontario’s 626 nursing homes from the pandemic for now, however, residents remain vulnerable because of poor infection prevention, crowding, inadequate staffing and inspections.

That from Auditor-General Bonnie Lysyk in her just released report, in which she says mistakes early on in the pandemic included moving elderly, non-acute patients in hospitals to nursing homes at higher than usual rates.

She also says restrictions on visitors such as family members, eliminated a valuable source of resident care providers.

”With the arrival of vaccines, the number of COVID-19 outbreaks and deaths have been significantly reduced in the long-term care homes, but the long-standing systemic issues that place residents at risk remain to be addressed,” according to Lysyk.

The auditor general makes 16 recommendations including more speedy renovations to eliminate three and four-bedroom wards where the virus spread so quickly.

Meanwhile, a report on the impact of COVID-19 in long-term care homes is expected Friday from the commission appointed by the province last summer.