Ottawa Public Health (OPH) is alerting residents to several possible measles exposure locations in connection with two confirmed infections in the city.
In a news release on Thursday, OPH said the two residents were exposed to measles outside Ontario. The agency says that at this time, the risk to the general population remains low.
Locations named so far
Two of the locations on the alert are confirmed in the reporting we have reviewed:
- Ruby's Restaurant, 10 York St.: Friday, Oct. 2, between 6:30 and 9:30 p.m.
- Tim Hortons, 2800 Lancaster Rd.: Saturday, Oct. 3, between 5:30 and 8 p.m.
OPH's alert refers to several possible exposure locations, and this article lists only the two above. Anyone who was out in Ottawa on those dates should check the full notice from Ottawa Public Health rather than rely on this shortlist.
What OPH is asking people to do
People who were at the listed locations during the times above are advised to monitor their symptoms for 21 days from the date of exposure, even if they are vaccinated.
Health workers are already reaching out directly to people who might have been exposed. The public notice exists for a different reason: it is meant to reach individuals who may have been exposed but could not be contacted directly, or whose contact information was incomplete or unavailable. If you were at one of these places and have not heard from OPH, the notice is how the agency is trying to find you.
What we do not yet know
The sources reviewed do not say where outside Ontario the two residents were exposed, and they do not describe the residents' ages or condition. They also do not say whether any further cases are linked to these two infections. OPH describes the general risk as low, and there is nothing in the reporting so far to suggest otherwise.
What this means for Ottawa readers
The exposures at the two named sites date back to the weekend of Oct. 2 and 3, several days before the public alert went out on Oct. 8. That gap is why the 21-day monitoring window matters: it runs from the date of exposure, not from the date of the announcement.
If you were at Ruby's Restaurant on York Street on Friday evening or the Tim Hortons on Lancaster Road on Saturday evening, watch for symptoms, including if you are vaccinated, and follow OPH's guidance. We will update this story if the agency adds locations or reports new cases.
Sources: CP24, Yahoo News Canada
