Outbreak declared at Toronto emergency child care centre after 3 staff test positive for coronavirus

Apr 29 2020, 1:15 pm

A COVID-19 outbreak has been confirmed at one of Toronto’s seven emergency child care centres, as three staff have tested positive for the virus.

On Tuesday, the Jesse Ketchum Early Learning and Child Care Centre confirmed that three staff tested positive for the virus, with two other staff and two children awaiting test results.

The Child Care Centre has suspended child care services for a period of 14 days and will undergo a deep cleaning, only reopening once approval is granted by Toronto Public Health.

An outbreak is declared when two or more individuals contract the virus.

According to the city, families who have children attending the child care centre are being notified.

For the staff and the 58 children who attended the child care centre from April 21 to April 28, they will be asked to remain at home for two weeks from their last day at the child care centre and will be excluded from all Toronto emergency child care centres as a precautionary measure for this same period.

Since opening on March 31, Toronto Children’s Services has been implementing enhanced infection prevention and control procedures that meet public health guidelines, according to the city.

This includes small group sizes for rooms, daily screening, including temperature checks of children and staff, as well as the development of enhanced infection prevention policies and procedures approved by Toronto Public Health and Ontario.

The city’s remaining six emergency child care centres will continue to operate.

Children’s Services, in conjunction with Toronto Public Health, will be reviewing any other procedures that may be put in place to ensure the health and safety of families.

As of April 28, there are 5,128 total coronavirus cases and 305 reported deaths in Toronto.

Clarrie FeinsteinClarrie Feinstein

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