Toronto 
Credit: WestJet
Two passengers who flew from Phoenix to Toronto on February 28 on WestJet flight 1199 have tested positive for COVID-19.
According to Peel Public Health’s investigation, it is possible that the two cases may have been able to pass the virus to others during their return. The cases concern a married couple, both in their 60s, who were aboard the Grand Princess cruise ship out of San Francisco, California, which travelled to Mexico. They returned to Canada on February 28. They were assessed at Trillium Health Partners – Mississauga Hospital. They are well and currently recovering at home in self-isolation.
Passengers who were seated in rows 18-22 of WestJet flight 1199, returning to Toronto Pearson Airport from the Sky Harbor Airport in Phoenix on February 28, are directed to self-isolate and call Peel Public Health immediately at 905-799-7700 (or at 905-584-2216 if in Caledon).
All those who were on flight 1199 are also being advised to self-monitor for signs of cough, fever or respiratory issues and call Peel Public Health if symptoms arise within the next 14 days.
Peel Public Health is actively investigating and following up with close contacts. The public will be notified should a broader community risk be identified.
“Given the global scale of the COVID-19 outbreak, we were prepared for cases in Peel and a coordinated system is in place to manage and contain cases, like these ones, to prevent community transmission,” said Dr. Jessica Hopkins, Medical Officer of Health for the Region of Peel. “The contraction of illness in these cases occurred outside of Canada and there has been no community spread of COVID-19 within Peel or Ontario. The risk to Peel citizens is still low.”
Dr. David Williams, Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health also confirmed two more new positive cases of COVID-19 in a man in his 20s who returned from Italy on March 3 and in a woman in her 60s who travelled from Iran on March 2. They were treated at Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto and Mackenzie Richmond Hill Hospital respectively. With these two cases, the current tally of COVID-19 cases stand at 28 in Ontario.
Toronto Public Health also announced that a man in his 40s who returned from Las Vegas and was symptomatic while he took TTC and MiWay (Mississauga Transit) while he was experiencing symptoms on Mon., Mar. 2, Tues., Mar. 3 and Wed., Mar. 4.
Current Scenario in Canada
Currently in Canada, the total positive COVID-19 cases stand at 54, with 21 cases in British Columbia, 2 in Alberta, 28 in Ontario and 3 in Quebec. Of these 54, 8 cases, 4 each in B.C. and Ontario were fully resolved, with each of those patients having two consecutive negative tests at least 24 hours apart.
