Parent fined for sending child with COVID symptoms to Vaughan daycare

Torontosun.com
Aug. 17, 2021
Liz Braun

A parent in Vaughan has been fined $880 for allegedly sending a child with COVID symptoms to daycare.

Now, officials say, 15 children and one staff member have tested positive for COVID-19.

York Region Public Health claims the parent violated the region’s Section 22, which directs people to isolate if they have tested positive for COVID-19, have the symptoms of it, or are in close contact with someone in that situation. Section 22 is an isolation order put into effect in March 2021.

There have been 129 related inspections undertaken by public health officials and 18 charges have been laid for non-compliance.

Patrick Casey, York Region director of corporate communications, said of the daycare-related fine that an individual “sent their child to a child-care centre while the child was experiencing symptoms and would not have passed the daily COVID-19 screening tool.”

The daycare incident dates back to Aug. 3.

Although York Region did not identify the daycare, it is believed to be the Tiny Treasures Child Care Centre on Major Mackenzie Dr., identified on York Region’s website as having an outbreak that affects 15 children.

The licensed facility offers daycare to kids aged 16 months to four years.

A person who answered the phone at Tiny Treasures on Monday said there was no comment on the situation.

“If you or anyone in your household is experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, you must stay home until a negative test is received and symptoms are improving for at least 24 hours,” Casey said.

If no test is done, people with symptoms must isolate for 10 days regardless.

“It is more critical than ever we continue following all public health guidelines, including self-isolating when you or a member of your household is sick.”