Superspreader event in Kingsville, Ont. investigated for 'breaches' in public health guidance
The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit is investigating a major COVID-19 outbreak at a Kingsville restaurant to see if there were any breaches in protocols.
The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit issued a 'high risk' exposure alert for Elite Restaurant from Nov. 18 to Dec. 2 after 42 people tested positive for COVID-19 following a birthday party. The health unit will not release the exact date of the party, but multiple people who say they were in attendance tell CTV News it was on Nov. 20.
“Forty-two of approximately 75 of that one social gathering tested positive,” said Dr. Shanker Nesathurai. “It is my understanding that part of the health district has lower vaccination rates as well.”
Under the Reopening Ontario Act, all indoor dining guests at restaurants must be fully vaccinated. The health unit is conducting an assessment of the outbreak and vaccination status of guests.
“Like in every outbreak assessment, without speaking specifically to this individual restaurant, we look and see what the level of people who are vaccinated and unvaccinated are and if there were any breaches in adherence to public health guidance and from that we’ll learn a little bit more,” said Nesathurai.
He expects to have more information as the investigation progresses.
“Given that we’re very concerned about larger spread related to that one social gathering, hence why we put in some of the measures in this letter of instruction,” he said.
The Letter of Instruction, which includes a capacity for restaurants at 50 per cent and recommendations for workplaces, starts on Dec. 10.
“We know that some of the attendees are associated with employers in the health district and there may also be some association with the residences of migrant farm workers,” said Nesathurai.
A co-owner for Elite Restaurant told CTV News Windsor that staff followed public health guidelines during the party, such as ensuring all patrons provided proof of vaccination.
The health unit has also asked all of the family members of those who attended the event to get tested. WECHU says it is still waiting for those results.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Spring allergy season has begun. Where is it worse in Canada?
The spring allergy season has started early in many parts of Canada, with high levels of pollen in some cities already. Experts weigh in on which areas have it worse so far this season.
'Nonsense:' Doug Ford slams lawsuits filed by Ontario school boards against social media platforms
Premier Doug Ford says that lawsuits launched by four Ontario school boards against a trio of social media platforms are “nonsense” and risk becoming a distraction to the work that really matters.
Several flight attendants from Pakistan have gone missing after landing in Canada
Multiple flight attendants from Pakistan International Airlines have abandoned their jobs and are believed to have sought asylum in Canada in the past year and a half, a spokesperson for the government-owned airline says.
Record-breaking N.B. lottery winner kept winning ticket on dresser for nearly a year
A New Brunswicker will go to bed Thursday night much richer than he was Wednesday after collecting on a winning lottery ticket he let sit on his bedroom dresser for nearly a year.
Multiple bridges in Calgary shut down for police incident
Calgary police have shut down a number of bridges into and out of the downtown core as officers deal with a distraught individual.
King Charles calls for acts of friendship in first public remarks since Kate's cancer diagnosis
King Charles III gave public remarks for Maundy Thursday, addressing the importance of acts of friendship, following his and Catherine, Princess of Wales’ cancer diagnoses.
Fallen crypto mogul Sam Bankman-Fried sentenced to 25 years in prison
Crypto entrepreneur Sam Bankman-Fried was sentenced Thursday to 25 years in prison for a massive fraud that unravelled with the collapse of FTX, once one of the world's most popular platforms for exchanging digital currency.
A dog and a bird formed an unlikely friendship. Their separation has infuriated followers
Peggy is a stout and muscular Staffordshire bull terrier, and Molly is a magpie, an Australian bird best known for swooping on humans during breeding season, not for befriending dogs. But in an emotional video posted online, Peggy’s owners announced that the animals had been separated.
Tipping is off the table at this Toronto restaurant
A Toronto restaurant introduced a surprising new rule that reduced the cost of a meal and raised the salaries of staff.