TORONTO — A coronavirus outbreak has surged among Toronto’s homeless in the last 10 days with at least 135 cases, the majority of which come from one shelter that houses refugees.
Ten days ago, there were 30 cases of COVID-19 among the city’s homeless. But now there are 88 residents at the Willowdale Welcome Centre alone who have tested positive for the disease, according to recently released data from Toronto Public Health.
Officials say the majority of the cases at the shelter are asymptomatic or have mild symptoms of the disease. Nimeh Al-Banna, who came to Canada from Jordan via Iraq, lives at the shelter and found out two days ago she tested positive for the disease. “I have no symptoms.