From going to downtown bars and a night club to sharing a drink and an e-cigarette, public health officials have outlined just how easily COVID-19 spread among a group of Western University students.
The Middlesex London Health Unit released a contact tracing map on Thursday that pinpoints how 15 people contracted and spread the virus since last week.
Nearly all of the infected 15 are members of three households. The map shows how they interacted over the course of five days starting on September 9 and ending on September 13 when a community outbreak was declared.
Contact tracing shows on the first day one went to a meeting on campus, while others went to the gym, ate at downtown restaurants, before going to nightclub Lost Love. At that time two shared a drink, while another two shared an e-cigarette. The following day five spent the day together. Seven went to an outdoor basketball game, after which two shared a ride home.
Contact tracing map courtesy of the Middlesex London Health Unit.
On September 11, five gathered inside a home to watch another basketball game. Others hung out at a house on September 12 and 13.
Two workers at Lost Love shared rides and one went shopping with a friend at multiple locations. However, the health unit noted the risk of exposure was low as the infected individual was wearing a mask.
"Within the cases that have been reported, we have now identified two outbreaks associated with Western students and anticipate more cases associated with these outbreaks in the coming days. We will continue to work diligently with Western to ensure that students are supported," Medical Officer of Health for Middlesex London Dr. Chris Mackie said in a statement.
So far, 28 Western students have tested positive for COVID-19.
The university was quick to respond to the threat of the virus and has halted all sports and most on-campus non-academic activities. The post secondary institution plans to use the "full force" of the code of student conduct should students continue to ignore public health measures and engage in high-risk behaviour.
"I’m angry and I’m frustrated," Mayor Ed Holder said during Thursday's COVID-19 update which saw 11 new cases reported. That is the region's biggest daily increase in the area since August 15 when a dozen new cases were confirmed.
"Should daily case counts remain this high for a sustained period, community spread is a near certainty and it’s a matter of when not if somebody dies,” said Holder.
He went onto stress the jump in new cases is the result of the actions of a few, noting the "vast majority of Western students are doing the right things."
If you missed it, my statement delivered earlier today on the COVID-19 outbreak involving at least 28 Western University students. I am absolutely determined that we do everything within our collective powers to ensure this trend is reversed. https://t.co/YjzGuR0Rs5 #ldnont
— Ed Holder (@ldnontmayor) September 17, 2020
