In less than 24 hours since health officials confirmed Ontario's seventh case of novel coronavirus (COVID-19), another person in the province has tested positive for the virus.
Ontario's eighth case of COVID-19 was announced by public health officials Friday evening.
Health officials said a man in his 80s attended Scarborough Health Network's General Hospital's emergency department on Thursday, after arriving in Toronto on February 20. The man, who has a travel history to Egypt, was isolated and ultimately tested positive for the virus.
Health officials said all appropriate precautions were taken, and the man was later discharged the same day feeling well. As per health protocols, he remains at home in self-isolation.
Throughout his travels, the man wore a mask. Toronto Public Health is currently working to trace where the man may have contracted the virus.
This is the second case of the novel coronavirus to be confirmed in Ontario on Friday and the fourth case confirmed in Toronto within the last three days. Health officials previously advised Ontarians on Wednesday and Thursday of the province’s fifth and sixth cases – a husband and wife in their 60s.
Despite the new cases, Dr. David Williams, Ontario's chief medical officer of health, has repeatedly stated the risk of being infected with COVID-19 in Ontario remains very low.
To date, there have been more than 83,000 cases reported throughout nearly 60 nations worldwide. The World Health Organization has raised the global risk assessment for the illness to “very high.”
-With files from Miranda Chant