Another six positive cases of the deadly novel coronavirus (COVID-19) have been confirmed in Ontario, bringing the province’s total number of confirmed cases to 28.
Ontario Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. David Williams said on Friday that a married couple in their 60s returned to Canada on February 28 after taking a Grand Princess cruise ship out of San Francisco, California, to Mexico between February 11-21. The pair tested positive for COVID-19 at a Mississauga where all infection control protocols were followed.
A man in his 50s returned from Iran on February 27 and tested positive for the virus at North York General Hospital's emergency department in Toronto on March 3. Another man in his 40s returned from Las Vegas, Nevada on February 28 and tested positive at Toronto Western Hospital in Toronto.
The fifth case announced on Friday was a man in his 20s who returned from Italy on March 3 and tested positive at Mount Sinai Hospital's emergency department in Toronto.
As well a woman in her 60s tested positive at Mackenzie Richmond Hill Hospital's emergency department after returning from Iran on March 2.
All six patients have since been discharged from the respective hospitals and remain in self-isolation at home.
Dr. Williams noted that with the six news cases, another four older cases have since been resolved with the patients having two consecutive negative tests at least 24 hours apart.
"At this time, the virus is not circulating locally," the Ministry of Health said in a statement. "However, given the global circumstances, Ontario is actively working with city and health partners to plan for the potential of local spread. The province continues to carefully monitor this situation and encourage residents to stay informed by regularly reviewing credible information sources."
Despite the increasing number of cases of COVID-19, public health officials continue to reassure the risk to Ontarians remains low.