TORONTO – There are reports that an individual who was at the PDAC Conference for Prospecting and Mining in Toronto has been confirmed with COVID-19. There were 23.000 people at that event.
Statement from Dr. Eileen de Villa, Medical Officer of Health, on COVID-19 situation in Toronto
Late yesterday, we learned of a person who has COVID-19 with an exposure setting in Toronto. For this situation, we have been in direct contact with our colleagues at Public Health Sudbury and District and we are actively engaged in investigating this person’s potential exposures in Toronto, which includes a large gathering. When we are notified of cases and contacts of infectious diseases both locally and from other jurisdictions, we use current evidence to carefully assess the potential health risk of people and their individual situations. We then provide education, further instructions and to reduce the potential of virus spread. We also do this work for measles, mumps, and hepatitis A, and not just for COVID-19.
Toronto Public Health is conducting a detailed investigation of this person’s activities while they were in Toronto. As we do for all investigations, we actively identify people who may have been directly exposed to COVID-19 and actively follow up with them. 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.
Given the global circumstances, it is not surprising that this case has been identified. Individuals who attend events and large gatherings are reminded to monitor their health for signs and symptoms of COVID-19 which includes: fever (greater than 38 degrees Celsius), new onset of cough and difficulty breathing. Being in close contact with someone who does not have COVID-19, though was exposed to someone with COVID-19, does not require public health follow up. If symptoms including a cough, fever or difficulty breathing develop, then you should contact your local public health department. Otherwise, we recommend continuing with your regular routines and activities.
