A COVID-19 outbreak at one of Ontario’s worst hit nursing homes has come to an end.

A statement issued by Lakeridge Health yesterday afternoon, says a two month long outbreak of the novel coronavirus at Orchard Villa in Pickering has been declared over.

More than 70 residents of Orchard Villa Long Term Care Home died after contracting COVID-19.

The facility was one of five Ontario nursing homes that were the focus of a Canadian Armed Forces report outlining gut-wrenching conditions during COVID-19 outbreaks.

Long term care minister, Dr. Merrilee Fullerton, says the military won’t be leaving the homes anytime soon.

“This is something that is ongoing in discussion,” Fullerton explained, “and we have active discussions to make sure that we can keep the military for as long as necessary.”

Military members have since gone into help at Woodbridge Vista Care Community, which has also been taken over by William Osler Health System in Brampton during a COVID-19 outbreak.