A Vaughan, Ontario, daycare has a COVID outbreak after a child came in with symptoms. Stock photo via Getty
Fifteen children and a staff member have tested positive for COVID-19 after a parent sent their kid to day care in Ontario with symptoms. York Region Public Health told VICE World News a parent in Vaughan, about 45 minutes north of Toronto, has been fined $880 for violating an isolation order by sending their child to day care with symptoms.York Region spokesman Patrick Casey said the child “would not have passed the daily COVID-19 screening tool.” The screening tool, issued by the Ontario government, asks a series of questions including if kids are showing COVID symptoms such as fever/chills, cough, congestion, and shortness of breath. The incident, which took place on Aug. 3, led to an outbreak at the day care. York Region has an isolation order which states that people must isolate for 10-14 days depending on the circumstances. Casey said 18 non-compliance charges laid so far. The region’s website states that there is currently one open outbreak at Tiny Treasures Learning and Child Care Centre Inc. Reached by VICE World News, a daycare employee said staff were not allowed to disclose any information. The outbreak comes as Canada is entering a fourth wave of COVID-19, largely sparked by the Delta variant. Canada reported more than 11,000 COVID cases for the seven-day period ending Aug. 15, up about 71 percent from 7,900 new cases the week prior. The majority of cases are affecting unvaccinated people, though there are breakthrough cases. In Ontario, 113 of 526 cases announced Monday were fully vaccinated people. There were no new deaths. As back to school nears, Health Canada has not yet approved COVID-19 vaccines for kids under 12. High school students do not need proof of vaccination to attend school. Follow Manisha Krishnan on Twitter.
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