TORONTO – There are many people who are not taking the risks of coronavirus seriously. On Tuesday, the City of Toronto reported that two City of Toronto Parks, Forestry & Recreation workers have tested positive for COVID-19
The City of Toronto was made aware Tuesday afternoon that the two employees, with the Parks, Forestry & Recreation Division (PFR), tested positive for COVID-19. Exposure to the virus occurred between July 6 and 10 and did not occur in the workplace.
One employee who tested positive has had brief contact with a part-time worker at the Ellesmere Community Centre CampTO program. The program will not be required to close. There are 11 campers at this camp. The other employee works in sanitation for PFR and does not come into contact with children or families at CampTO.
No children taking part in CampTO programs, which began yesterday, July 13, have been directly exposed to the employees who have tested positive. The City, however, is in the process now of advising families, employees, the union, and the public and of these cases as a matter of public transparency. Toronto Public Health advises that the risk of contracting COVID-19 for children and families at this CampTO program is very low.
The employees who have tested positive have been advised to self-isolate for 14 days by Toronto Public Health. Contact tracing has identified a further 23 employees who have been in contact with the two employees. None of these employees have been in contact with children or families at the centre or any other City program, such as aquatics. All those who have had contact with the employees have been advised to get tested and to self-isolate for 14 days.
To help reduce the spread of COVID-19, all CampTO programs meet health guidelines designed in consultation with Toronto Public Health and in alignment with provincial health guidelines for day camps. Guidelines include an enhanced ratio of staff to campers and reduced group sizes, use of masks indoors, physical distancing, mandatory health screening, and enhanced facility cleaning. Each camp group stays together for the entire week, and do not interact with other campers. Caregivers received a phone call prior to camp start to review procedures and do a pre-camp health check.
