All Protocols Followed and Risk to Ontarians Remains Low
On February 29, 2020, Dr. David Williams, Chief Medical Officer of Health, confirmed three new positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the number of confirmed cases to 11. Of these, the first three cases are all resolved, with each of those patients having two consecutive negative tests at least 24 hours apart.
After arriving in Toronto on February 26, 2020, a 34-year-old female presented herself to Mackenzie Health on February 27, 2020, with a travel history to Iran. York Region Public Health connected with Mackenzie Health and coordinated an arrival time for the patient. The patient was wearing a mask on arrival.
The patient arrived at Mackenzie Health with a dry cough, runny nose, shortness of breath and headache and was put on airborne/droplet/contact precautions. Due to the low severity of symptoms and the condition of the patient, the patient was not admitted to hospital. The patient is in self-isolation, per protocols, where she remains.
Two patients have also tested positive for COVID-19 at Lakeridge Health Ajax Pickering.
A 51-year-old woman returned to Toronto from Iran on February 22, 2020. On February 28, 2020, she went to an Ajax clinic with symptoms of a cough, body aches and chills. The patient was masked and isolated. Durham Region Health Department contacted Lakeridge Health Ajax Pickering and coordinated an arrival time for the patient. The patient arrived at the hospital wearing a mask where she was tested for COVID-19. She was discharged home and put in self-isolation, per protocols, where she remains.
The husband of the woman who returned from Iran on February 22, 2020, also tested positive for COVID-19 on February 28, 2020. The 69-year-old man experienced a cough but does not have a recent travel history to Iran. He accompanied his wife to the Ajax Clinic and Lakeridge Health Ajax Pickering, where he was masked and isolated. He was tested for COVID-19 and discharged home. He has also been put in self-isolation, where he remains.
At this time the virus is not circulating locally. However, given the global circumstances, Ontario is actively working with city and health partners to plan for the potential of local spread. The province continues to carefully monitor this situation and encourage residents to stay informed by regularly reviewing credible information sources.
Dr. Williams will provide an update on the situation at the regularly scheduled media briefing on Monday, March 2, 2020, at 3:00 p.m. at the Queen’s Park media studio.
Visit Ontario’s website to learn more about how the province continues to protect Ontarians from COVID-19.
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
