A Bradford West Gwillimbury woman in her 40s is among three cases of COVID-19 confirmed by Simcoe Muskoka public health unit.
The woman is in self-isolation at home after checking in at Southlake Regional Hospital on Friday, March 13, Dr. Charles Gardner, the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit medical officer of health, said at a Sunday afternoon media conference.
A second case was also confirmed, an Alberta man visiting the province who was tested at Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre (RVH) in Barrie on Wednesday, March 11 and is being treated at the facility. He is in serious but stable condition.
“The RVH is with us in investigating potential contacts among staff related to this particular case,” said Gardner. “This individual did have close contact with another individual who recently passed away at RVH and so we are investigating that situation as well.”
The Alberta man stayed at the Hampton Inn in Barrie between March 5 to 11. Anyone who stayed at or worked there during that time is asked to self-monitor for symptoms for 14 days, starting from March 11.
The first case in Simcoe-Muskoka was announced at a news conference last Thursday after a Barrie man who had visited Germany and Spain became ill and checked into RVH, where he was tested on Monday, March 9.
The region’s three positive tests are likely just the beginning, predicted Gardner.
“We are in the early days of this pandemic and, in particular, in this part of the world, in Canada, in Ontario, in Barrie and Simcoe-Muskoka, we’ve only just had our first cases this week,” said Gardner. “I fully expect there will be community transmission in the near future.
"For that reason, we are advising people to take the protective measures they have been hearing about," he warned.
