17 total cases of COVID-19 in Kingston region, 3 with no close-contacts, recent travel history

KFL&A Public Health says there are now 17 cases of COVID-19 in the Kingston region.

One new case was announced Friday morning. On Thursday, municipalities in the region declared states of emergency due to evidence of community spread in the region.

Dr. Kieran Moore, medical officer of health for KFL&A Public Health, said yesterday that  three of the latest confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus in the region show no recent travel history, and no close-contact relationships.

“We cannot tie any of these individuals to a travel history, nor contacts of our current cases, and as a result, …. there is evidence now of community spread,” Moore said.

One case identified in the last two days was contracted after recent travel history to Ireland, Moore said.

Moore said he’s confident now to say that there is most likely community spread of the virus in the region.

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He says now is a critical time to slow the spread of the disease in the region, and he hopes residents take the emergency declarations in their municipalities seriously.

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“We are at a very crucial time in this threat from COVID-19 in Kingston Frontenac Lennox and Addington,” Moore said.

Moore said some individuals who contracted the virus previously attended social gatherings like a birthday party. Now that states of emergencies have been called in the region, Moore is hoping any and all gatherings will cease for the next few weeks.

“This is a potential turning point for our community, (it’s important) that we all adhere to social, physical distancing, that we can’t have birthday parties and social parties.”