Hamilton physician among 5 new cases of coronavirus, bringing province’s total to 42

The province is promising millions to help fight the COVID-19 pandemic. Cynthia Mulligan with what the Ford government says they are doing to ease the burden on hospitals as they try to contain the spread of the virus.

By News Staff

Health officials in Ontario have reported five new cases of coronavirus, pushing the provincial total to 42.

Among the cases reported Wednesday is a 32-year-old woman who is a physician from the Juravinski Cancer Centre in Hamilton who recently returned from a trip to the United States on March 9. Officials with Hamilton Health Sciences says the woman was working at the centre on the afternoon she returned and saw patients and interacted with colleagues and staff.

“When she began to show symptoms, infection control protocol as swiftly initiated and she was tested in a safe environment,” said Dr. Wes Stephen, Executive Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer at Hamilton Health Sciences. “She is now in self-isolation protocol.”

The Medical Officer of Health for Halton Region said they are working to identify all known contacts who may have been potentially exposed to the virus to assess if there is a potential health risk.

“The risk to Halton residents remains low,” said Dr. Hamidah Meghani.

Another new case is a man in his 30s who lives in Toronto and who also returned from a trip to the United States.

Another confirmed case is in a woman in her 30s in York Region who recently travelled to Egypt.

A man in his 40s in Ottawa who recently travelled to Austria has also been confirmed to have the virus.

Late Wednesday, health officials confirmed a woman from Toronto in her 40s is the latest case having gone to St. Joseph’s Health Centre after recently returning from the United States.

On Tuesday night, a man from Sudbury, who attended a recent conference in Toronto, was also confirmed to have contracted the virus. A spokeswoman for Health Minister Christine Elliott says public health officials are investigating the case, but can’t confirm at this point if he contracted the virus through community spread.

Dr. Eileen de Villa, Toronto’s medical officer of health, said in a statement that Toronto Public Health is conducting a “detailed investigation” of the man’s activities while he was in Toronto.

“In general, large gatherings with transient interactions including walking by a person who may be infected COVID-19 or briefly being in the same room with that person are considered a low risk,” de Villa said in a statement.

All of the new cases are in self-isolation.

Of the 42 cases, five have been resolved.

Meanwhile, Laurentian University has become the first in Ontario to suspend classes over COVID-19 concerns.

“The university has been monitoring the coronavirus outbreak and as a precaution, we have determined that all classes as of 12:00 PM today, March 11 will be suspended,” the university tweeted. “As of tomorrow March 12, all classes will now be moved to online delivery until further notice.”

The university added that events scheduled to take place on campus up to March 13 have been cancelled with a decision to be made on future events.

Ontario Education Minister Stephen Lecce is scheduled to speak with education ministers from across Canada after New Brunswick announced it would be mandatory for all students who have left the country during March break to stay away from schools for two weeks.

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