Ontario’s most vulnerable residents are the latest to face stringent restrictions in the wake of COVID -19.

The Ministry of Health is ordering all nursing homes into lockdown. That means residents won’t be able to have any visitors unless they are dying.

Jane Joris, general manager of long-term care in Lambton says the local nursing homes were closed to visitors Friday night. Middlesex County started shutting down its homes Saturday.

The only people coming into the homes from outside will be staff. Joris says they are being screened as they enter.

The elderly are the most vulnerable to the flu-like virus which is a world-wide pandemic.

Italy has been hard hit by the virus. It has the second oldest population in the world. The National Health Institute looked at the 105 patients who had died by March 4. The average age was 81.

In the epicentre of the outbreak, Lombardy, physicians report only two deaths under the age of 50.

Canadians are facing restrictions to stop the spread of the virus. Schools and all public gatherings over 250 people have been cancelled until April 5. Recreation and children’s programs across the province have also been suspended.

It’s not clear at this time how long the lockdown at nursing homes will last.