Suspected case of Omicron variant being investigated at Toronto restaurant
Posted December 3, 2021 1:09 pm.
Last Updated December 3, 2021 7:23 pm.
Toronto Public Health (TPH) says some people who went to a downtown restaurant last week may have been exposed to the Omicron variant of COVID-19.
Officials said an employee at Piccolo Caffe E Vino, located at 111 John St. near Adelaide Street West, tested positive for COVID-19, and given their recent travel history, it is suspected to be the new variant.
“The case linked to this establishment is under investigation by TPH as a suspected case of the Omicron variant, due to the individual’s recent travel history to South Africa,” the public health agency said in a release.
The employee who tested positive was at the restaurant Nov. 26-27 from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m.
“TPH began investigating this setting on November 29 after a notification of a possible COVID-19 exposure,” officials said.
TPH said it has followed up with all known close contacts and asked them to self-isolate for 10 days and get tested.
Health officials are also asking customers who were at the restaurant during those dates and times to get tested immediately, monitor for symptoms, and if they do develop symptoms to self-isolate while they wait for test results.
Officials said there is no risk to anyone who was there outside of those dates and times.
On Thursday, two public health units in the GTA reported cases of the variant. The Durham Region Health Department said a close contact of someone who was recently in southern Africa tested positive.
As well, Halton Public Health said one person was confirmed to have the variant, and two others had probable cases. It said the three people were close contacts, and one of the people with a suspected case had recently been in Nigeria.
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With files from The Canadian Press
