Toronto’s top doctor says she will wait to see the results of a public health investigation before shutting down a quarantine hotel over a possible COVID-19 outbreak.
Dr. Eileen De Villa says her office is aware of cases linked to workers at the Crowne Plaza Hotel near Pearson International Airport, and investigators have been assigned to the workplace.
The Crowne Plaza is listed as one of the designated quarantine hotels for air travellers arriving in Canada through Toronto.
The federal government requires anyone flying into the country to isolate in a hotel for three nights to help reduce the risk of spreading the virus.
De Villa says Toronto Public Health will investigate how the outbreak began and work with the Crowne Plaza to ensure there are no further infections.
She also reiterated that no further details of the cases would be provided due to privacy concerns.
Public health authorities in Toronto and neighbouring Peel Region both issued orders on April 23 allowing them to partially or fully close any workplace that has had five of more cases of COVID-19 over a 14-day span.
On Monday, De Villa would not speculate if the Crowne Plaza will have to shut down.
“I would suggest we let the investigation take place, understand the circumstances, and make decisions around what steps are required in keeping with the assessment of the investigation and in keeping with the best available evidence,” said De Villa.
“As we do in all these cases, we’re working with the facility to identify those who are impacted, to review and advise on all of the appropriate infection prevention and control measures.”