3 new cases of COVID-19 in Kingston, Ont., area
CBC News | Posted: March 17, 2020 5:36 PM | Last Updated: March 17, 2020
All had recently returned to Canada from Europe or Barbados
Two women and a man who had recently returned to the Kingston, Ont., area have tested positive for COVID-19.
Kingston, Frontenac and Lennox & Addington (KFL&A) Public Health said in a news release Tuesday they had travelled to the U.K., Spain and Barbados.
Two had been tested at Kingston's Hotel Dieu Hospital, while the third was tested at a different hospital.
All are in self-isolation at home, said KFL&A medical officer of health Dr. Kieran Moore in the release.
"Given the spread of this virus globally, over the last few weeks, a case in KFL&A was anticipated and pre-emptive measures were in place for exactly this type of situation," Moore said.
"In this case, the health-care system worked as intended and through coordinated efforts with our partners, the risk to KFL&A residents remains low."
The three cases were also mentioned in the Ontario Ministry of Health's Tuesday afternoon update, which identified them as a man in his 40s, a woman in her 40s and a woman in her 60s.
Changes at municipal facilities, police HQ
Following the health unit's announcement, the City of Kingston announced it was ramping up cleaning efforts at municipal facilities and urging city staff to work from home.
The city had previously announced all recreation facilities would be closed until at least April 5, as would all branches of the Kingston Frontenac Public Library.
Kingston's police department also issued a release Tuesday urging people to not visit their 705 Divison St. headquarters "unless absolutely necessary."
Non-emergency police reports and requests for background checks could still be filed online, police said.
As of late Tuesday afternoon, there were 183 active confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ontario.