Over 100 high-risk contacts identified following COVID-19 exposure at Vaughan restaurant

Toronto.Citynews.ca
April 14, 2021
Lucas Casaletto

York Region Public Health has identified approximately 105 high-risk contacts that may have been exposed to COVID-19 following an outbreak at a restaurant in Vaughan.

The public health unit issued a notice on Tuesday hoping to inform patrons that attended Avenue Cibi e Vini at 10519 Islington from March 30 to April 1.

York Region Public Health says it’s having difficulty identifying the contacts due to incomplete contact information.

Anyone who dined at the restaurant between the aforementioned dates is asked to self-isolate for 14 days after their visit and to closely monitor for signs and symptoms of the virus.

If symptoms develop, patrons are being asked to be tested.

The restaurant closed on April 1st.

Last week, York Region Public Health issued a similar notice identifying at least 84 patrons as high-risk after seven staff tested positive as a result of a COVID-19 outbreak at a nail salon in Vaughan.

York Region’s COVID-19 case incidence per 100,000 has risen of late with the public health unit’s reproduction rate (Rt) at 1.22 as of Tuesday. Its percent positivity also remains high at 6.42 percent.

The Ford government announced on February 19 that York would be placed under “Red-Control,” thus allowing restaurants to reopen.

On March 5, the province said that certain hotspots, such as Toronto and Peel, would move to “Grey-Lockdown” and opted to keep York Region under Red Zone restrictions.

Then on March 19, the Ford government decided to further loosen restrictions under its COVID-19 framework, announcing that restaurants operating in “Red-Control” and “Orange-Restrict” would open with 50 percent capacity and a maximum of 50 and 100 people indoors.

The province reversed its course a few weeks later, announcing a stay-at-home order and state of emergency that went into effect on April 8th.