Ottawa's 2nd case of COVID-19 confirmed

A woman in her 40swho travelled to Italy is Ottawa's second confirmed case of COVID-19, the province confirmed Thursday.

The woman, who isself-isolating after travelling to an unspecified region of Italy, also visitedthe Queensway Carleton Hospital, the Ministry of Health said.

The city's first case, a man in his 40s who had vacationed in Austria,was confirmed Wednesday.

He worked at technology company Ciena, which closed its offices in Kanata Wednesday for the rest of the week.

Ottawa Public Health said the two cases are not related.

"These are cases that are identified by travel," said Dr. Vera Etches, the city's medical officer of health.

Etches said the woman had no symptoms when she returned to Canada March 9 but nevertheless went into self-isolation. Shecame down with a cough and a fever the next day, Etchessaid.

Mild symptoms

Because of that prompt action, health officials have not been able to identify any people thewoman would have come into contact with, Etches said. She did not ride public transit upon returning to Ottawa, Etches said.

In a tweet, the Queensway Carleton Hospital said "full precautions" were taken when thewoman visitedtheir emergency department, and that there was no risk to either staff or other patients.

Etches said both Ottawa patients were experiencing "mild symptoms at home."

There are now 54confirmed cases in Ontario, with five resolved, and 13 in Quebec.

• What you need to know about COVID-19 in Ottawa

According to the latest report from the World Health Organization, thereare 10,150 confirmed cases of the respiratory illness in Italy.

The Canadian government currently advises against non-essential travel there.