COVID19 variant found in more Toronto homeless shelters and an encampment

By Canadian Press

Published: February 24, 2021 at 10:19 PM

Toronto, ON. 12/27/2019: Scene of homeless person gratitude sign next to makeshift campsite along a sidewalk in Parkdale. A pedestrian waits for a streetcar in background.iStock.com/Everett Atlas

Variants of COVID19 have now been found in five Toronto shelters and one homeless encampment in the city.

Variants of COVID-19 have now been found in five Toronto shelters and one homeless encampment in the city.

Toronto Public Health says nine people at four shelters, and four people from an encampment have screened positive for a COVID-19 variant.

Earlier this month, the health unit said a variant had been found at the Maxwell Meighen Centre for the homeless, where 29 people have tested positive for COVID-19.

The city says those who have tested positive have been moved to an isolation centre.

Meanwhile, the city and the Unity Health hospital network have resumed a vaccination pilot program at several homeless shelters in Toronto.

But they say they're seeking clarity from the province on where homeless people fall on the government's priority list for Ontario's wider vaccine rollout.