3 new positive coronavirus cases in Ontario, including first in Peel Region

The first positive case of COVID-19 in Peel Region has been confirmed.

Peel Public Health says a Mississauga man in his 60s tested positive for the coronavirus upon returning to Canada on Feb. 28 after being on the Grand Princess Cruise Ship out of San Francisco the previous week.

“The individual was seen and assessed at Trillium Health Partners – Mississauga Hospital where all Infection Protection and Control (IPAC) protocol were followed,” said Dr. Dante Morra, Chief of Staff, Trillium Health Partners. “The individual is recovering at home and has been put on self-isolation.”

Peel Public Health says it is attempting to identify potential sites of exposure within the community and any individuals who may have come in close contact with the man during his period of communicability.

“This case contracted the illness outside of our Region and there remains no community spread to date of COVID-19,” said Dr. Jessica Hopkins, Medical Officer of Health for the Region of Peel. “The risk to Peel citizens remains low.”

Earlier in the day, Ontario confirmed two new cases of coronavirus, both travel-related, bringing the total to 23 in the province.

The first case is a woman in her 50s in Kitchener who returned from Italy on March 3. She went to the Grand River Hospital emergency room where she was assessed and discharged on the same day.

She is experiencing mild symptoms and Waterloo Public Health is actively monitoring the situation.

“It has been determined that she had mild symptoms on flights from Milan to Lisbon, and then Lisbon to Toronto,” said Dr. Hsiu-Li Wang, the acting medical officer of health for the Region of Waterloo.

The second case is a man in his 60s who returned from Iran to Toronto on Feb. 29. He went to Sunnybrook Hospital’s emergency department on March 3 and was discharged the same day.

Both are in self-isolation at home.

Ontario’s chief medical officer of health, Dr. David Williams cautioned against fears that people should stock their homes with supplies in the event they are required to self-isolate, saying there is a “middle ground” to be found.

“Back in the time of SARS, we had well over 20,000 people that went into self-isolation,” he said. “During that time, people did not run out of things in the household. Neighbours helped out because that is the Canadian way.”

Williams said Ontario will not experience a situation like that which in occurred in Wuhan, China, where the entire area was locked down with little access to transportation or supplies for weeks on end.

“That would not be our approach here,” he said. “If you’re in isolation and there’s something you need, let us know. We can help you out in that situation. You’re not on your own.”

Williams said Ontario’s first four cases of the coronavirus have all been resolved, with those patients twice testing negative for the virus at least 24 hours apart.

Files from The Canadian Press were used in this report