The province is suspending all admissions at a Woodstock nursing home where a former nurse is accused of murder in the deaths of a number of residents.
In a directive posted to a government website on Wednesday, the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care has ordered that all admissions to Caressant Care Woodstock nursing home be ceased starting Thursday until further notice.
Elizabeth Wettlaufer, who was formerly employed at Caressant Care, is accused of murdering seven residents who resided there.
"The ceasing of admissions has been directed based on my belief that there is a risk of harm to the health or wellbeing of residents in the home or persons who might be admitted as residents," states Karen Simpson, the head of Ontario's long-term care inspections, in the directive.
However, Simpson does not explain why residents may be at risk.
Officials with the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care and Caressant Care could not be reached for comment Thursday evening.
Wettlaufer, 49, currently faces eight counts of first degree murder in the deaths of the seven residents of Caressant Care in Woodstock, and another resident from Meadow Park nursing home in London. The residents died between 2007 and 2014.
Wettlaufer is also charged with four counts of attempted murder and two counts of aggravated assault, in relation to offences that were allegedly committed at Caressant Care, Telfer Place in Paris, and a private residence in Oxford County.
Her next court appearance is scheduled for February 15.
-With files from Scott Kitching and Miranda Chant