7 cases of COVID-19 linked to Toronto strip club

Toronto Public Health says seven people who tested positive for COVID-19 went toa Toronto strip club within the last two weeks.

Of the seven, six are staff members and one is a patron. AllattendedClub Paradise, 1313 Bloor St. W., nearLansdowne Avenue, between Aug. 29 and Sept. 10.

TPH says it is notifying patrons and employees who visited the strip club about a potential exposure to COVID-19. It said the positive tests occurred since Sept. 4 and it has confirmed that the seven attended the establishment in the time period.

However, there are some 300 people who attended the strip club during these dates public health officialsarehaving a hard time reaching, TPHspokesperson Dr. Vinita Dubey said in a statement to CBC News.

Club Paradise is now voluntarily closed for two weeks, it added.

TPHsaid"the risk to patrons is considered low" becauseonly one infected person was a patron.

The agency saidit has followed up with known close contacts of those infected based on contact tracing logs gathered by the club.

Close contactshave been told to go into isolationfor 14 days and get tested for the coronavirus.

TPH is asking anyone who went to Club Paradise during the exposure dates to monitor themselves for symptoms for 14 days after his or herlast visit.

People who went to the club in this time periodshould also take particularcare to keep six feet apart from other people, wear amask and wash their hands.

After an investigation conducted by TPH, the agency found the establishment was in compliance with all reopening protocols.