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Toronto man diagnosed with COVID-19 used local transit for three days – The Globe and Mail

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4 years ago

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Kirt Browne, left, and Calvin Langille, clean the subway touch points with disinfectant during a visual demo of the enhanced cleaning measures being used by the TTC at the Wilson Yard in North York on March 3, 2020. Passengers who don’t show symptoms and are not contacted by health authorities have no need to seek medical attention, officials said.

Tijana Martin/The Globe and Mail

A man diagnosed with COVID-19 used Toronto’s local transit system on three days this week after returning from a trip to Las Vegas, sparking an internal effort to identify the specific vehicles he rode.

The case was announced Friday and is the first known instance of someone carrying the novel coronavirus being on the Toronto Transit Commission, which transports about 1.7 million riders daily. His travels Monday through Wednesday also included rides on GO Transit buses and coincides with transit workers agitating for the right to wear masks on the job.

Public health officials said the risk to other transit riders and to staff remains low and that no extra precautions have been ordered. The city’s chief medical officer of health said her family would continue to use transit.

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“This information is being provided out of an abundance of caution. We’re talking about low-risk situations,” said Eileen de Villa, Toronto’s top public health doctor, in a briefing.

The man boarded the subway at Bathurst station each morning around 8:50. He travelled westbound to Islington station before transferring to a 108N Mississauga Way express bus, which he took to his workplace. The man got back on transit around 6:10 each evening, taking the 27 Milton GO bus to Yorkdale station. He continued from Yorkdale to St. George station followed by Bathurst station. On March 4, the man also rode the 511 Bathurst streetcar. Dr. de Villa said more details would be provided once they are available.

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Passengers who don’t show symptoms and are not contacted by health authorities have no need to seek medical attention, officials said.

“The TTC takes the health and safety of its employees and customers very seriously and is in daily communication with Toronto Public Health,” the transit agency said in a statement. “At this time, the direction is that no additional measures are required. The TTC continues to be a safe method of travel.”

On Friday, Ontario’s chief medical officer of health confirmed four new positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the province to 26. The virus is not circulating locally, officials said.

Also Friday, Royal Bank of Canada was investigating a “possible presumptive case” of COVID-19 at its Meadowvale office building in Mississauga. The investigation is focused on an RBC employee, who the bank has not identified. There is no evidence at this time that the cases are linked.

“We have taken a number of steps to protect the health and safety of our employees, and are working with Ontario Public Health to understand the case and the next steps,” said RBC spokeswoman Gillian McArdle.

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The bank declined to detail the steps it has taken, but contingency plans to continue serving clients “are already in progress,” Ms. McArdle said. The Meadowvale building has not been evacuated, and work continues at the offices.

“We are committed to providing a healthy and safe workplace, and to following the guidance provided by local, federal and international public health and government authorities,” she said.

Cities around the world are rushing to protect public confidence in the safety of their transit systems, implementing cleaning regimes as frequent as every four hours.

One study suggests, though, that transit, in spite of its inherent crowding, may have a modest role in the spread of infectious disease. A 2011 paper in the Journal of Urban Health that modelled an influenza epidemic in New York City found that just 4.4 per cent of infections would occur on the subway. Close to one-third of infections would occur in other community spaces, such as bars and restaurants, 30 per cent would occur in the household and about one-quarter would occur at work.

Metrolinx, the regional transit agency that oversees GO Transit, reported its first COVID-19 case nearly a week ago, saying it was a passenger who took the bus from the airport. Both agencies have stepped up their cleaning efforts, but both prohibit their employees wearing masks, arguing they are ineffective and might alarm the public.

Union leaders representing employees at both Metrolinx and the TTC are pushing for the option of masks, saying that they should be allowed if they provide even a small amount of protection.

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The TTC and Metrolinx say they are being much more aggressive at cleaning their vehicles and facilities. The TTC has moved from a once-weekly cleaning of stair rails, grab poles and other touch points to doing it every day. Metrolinx has been distributing hand sanitizer throughout GO stations and buses and is applying a long-acting, anti-microbial agent to surfaces across its fleet.

With files from Carly Weeks

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April 22nd to 30th is Immunization Awareness Week – Oldies 107.7

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April 24, 2024

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<!–April 22nd to 30th is Immunization Awareness Week | Oldies 107.7

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AHS confirms case of measles in Edmonton – CityNews Edmonton

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April 24, 2024

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Alberta Health Services (AHS) has confirmed a case of measles in Edmonton, and is advising the public that the individual was out in public while infectious.

Measles is an extremely contagious disease that is spread easily through the air, and can only be prevented through immunization.

AHS says individuals who were in the following locations during the specified dates and times, may have been exposed to measles.

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  • April 16
    • Edmonton International Airport, international arrivals and baggage claim area — between 3:20 p.m. and 6 p.m.
  • April 20
    • Stollery Children’s Hospital Emergency Department — between 5 a.m. to 3 p.m.
  • April 22
    • 66th Medical Clinic (13635 66 St NW Edmonton) — between 12:15 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
    • Pharmacy 66 (13637 66 St NW Edmonton) — between 12:15 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
  • April 23
    • Stollery Children’s Hospital Emergency Department — between 4:40 a.m. to 9:33 a.m.

AHS says anyone who attended those locations during those times is at risk of developing measles if they’ve not had two documented doses of measles-containing vaccine.

Those who have not had two doses, who are pregnant, under one year of age, or have a weakened immune system are at greatest risk of getting measles and should contact Health Link at 1-877-720-0707.

Symptoms

Symptoms of measles include a fever of 38.3° C or higher, cough, runny nose, and/or red eyes, a red blotchy rash that appears three to seven days after fever starts, beginning behind the ears and on the face and spreading down the body and then to the arms and legs.

If you have any of these symptoms stay home and call Health Link.

In Alberta, measles vaccine is offered, free of charge, through Alberta’s publicly funded immunization program. Children in Alberta typically receive their first dose of measles vaccine at 12 months of age, and their second dose at 18 months of age.

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U.S. tightens rules for dairy cows a day after bird flu virus fragments found in pasteurized milk samples – Toronto Star

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5 hours ago

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April 24, 2024

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Infected cows were already prohibited from being transported out of state, but that was based on the physical characteristics of the milk, which looks curdled when a cow is infected, or a cow has decreased lactation or low appetite, both symptoms of infection.

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