City employee among 13 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ottawa

A City of Ottawa employee is in self-isolation after coming down withCOVID-19, the city's manager says.

Steve Kanellakossaid Monday afternoon that a staff member who works at the Mary Pitt Centre at 100 Constellation Dr.tested positive for the novelcoronavirus Sunday.

The building is home to Ottawa Public Health, among other offices.

"Ottawa Public Health was able to intervene immediately and have since assured us that city employees throughout the Mary Pitt Centre are not at risk," saidKanellakos in a statement.

"Ottawa Public Health has reached out to close contacts of the individual to provide further recommendations."

Kanellakossaid maintenance staff have "thoroughly disinfected" the office area and have increased cleaning measures throughout the building.

There were three new confirmed casesof COVID-19 Monday, bringing thetotal number of infected people in the city to 13.

Ontario is up to 172 active cases and five people whose cases are "resolved" andaren't contagious any longer.

Dr. David Williams, Ontario's chief medical officer of health, recommendedMonday all events with 50 or more people be cancelled and that bars,restaurants except those that offer takeout and delivery options daycares and churches in the province close for the time being to containthe spread of COVID-19.

The City of Ottawa is also recommendingall nightclubs, after-hours bars, movie theatres andconcert venues close.

Ottawa's medical officer of health has asked people to limit "non-essential" travel outside homes and to avoid crowds if they go to the store, park or on a walk.

Dr.Vera Etches said there could be 200 to 1,000 cases in Ottawa, given that many are likely undetected.

There are a total of 41 confirmed cases in Quebec of the respiratory illness with cold- or flu-like symptoms.

Not counted in these numbers arethe four people in quarantine at CFB Trenton who returned from the Grand Princess cruise ship and have not been in contact with the public.

The Public Health Agency of Canada says the risk to the general public remains low.