Today, Dr. David Williams, Chief Medical Officer of Health, confirmed that the wife of the province’s first case of Wuhan novel coronavirus has tested positive for the virus at Ontario’s public health laboratory.
Since arriving in Toronto with her husband, this individual has been in self-isolation, provincial officials stated.
“We are working alongside Toronto Public Health, who has been in regular contact with the individual during their self-isolation period,” stated Dr. Williams, in a media release.
“Given the fact that she has been in self-isolation, the risk to Ontarians remains low.”
Dr. Williams, joined by Dr. Barbara Yaffe, Associate Chief Medical Officer of Health, and Dr. Eileen de Villa, Medical Officer of Health for the City of Toronto, will provide an update on the emerging situation at 11:30 a.m. at Queen’s Park.
Watch for more details.
On Sunday, Christine Elliott, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health, and Stephen Lecce, Minister of Education, issued a statement in response to the first presumptive case of the Wuhan novel coronavirus in Ontario and following a briefing of the province’s directors of education
“The health and well-being of Ontarians, including and especially our students and school staff, is our number one priority,” the Ministers stated.
“To that end, earlier today Dr. David Williams, Chief Medical Officer of Health, and Dr. Barbara Yaffe, Associate Chief Medical Officer of Health, briefed Ontario’s directors of education on the province’s extensive protocols to monitor, detect and contain any cases of the Wuhan novel coronavirus.”
Elliott and Lecce said Ontario continues to work directly alongside our partners at the Public Health Agency of Canada and local public health units to monitor the situation closely.
“Newly strengthened protocols for identification and control are working to keep the public safe,” the Ministers said in their joint statement.
“We want to assure students, parents and school communities that officials at the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education are working together in close cooperation with our partners in both the education and health care sectors to ensure the continued safety and well-being of students and staff.”
To help educate Ontarians about Wuhan novel coronavirus, how they can protect themselves and what to do if they suspect they may be at risk, the province has launched a dedicated webpage, here.
