Peel Public Health says people who visited Peel Tim Hortons location not at heightened risk of COVID-19 exposure

The Region of Peel is attempting to reassure those who recently visited a specific Tim Hortons location in Brampton in the wake of an alarming tweet from Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown.  

“Contrary to reports on media and social media today, customers at a Tim Horton’s/Petro Canada location in north Brampton are not considered to be at risk of COVID-19,” the region said in a statement. 

The cafe and gas station identified as high-risk by Brown is located at 11980 Highway 10. 

Peel Public Health says they were notified of a positive COVID-19 case at that location and that following a thorough investigation, close contacts of that individual were called and directed to self-isolate. 

The investigation also determined that none of these close contacts were customers and that no public exposure had occurred, Peel Public Health says. 

“Our Public Health team was able to identify and contact all individuals impacted. This meant that broad public notification was not needed to identify anyone else who may have been exposed to COVID-19,” said Dr. Lawrence Loh, Interim Medical Officer of Health. 

“Unfortunately, this situation has caused considerable concern in the community.”

To protect themselves, Peel residents are reminded to stay close to home and practice social distancing if they must go out. 

“We are now seeing community transmission of COVID-19 in the GTA, including Peel,” continued Loh. “Peel residents should take appropriate protective steps whenever they go out because the virus is here.”

Peel residents are encouraged to avoid crowds and places where people are close together, cancel group gatherings, avoiding handshaking, work from home if possible, wash hands frequently and thoroughly and self-isolate if asked to do so. 

As of Sunday, March 22, there are 37 confirmed COVID-19 cases in the region. There are currently 16 cases in Brampton, two in Caledon and 18 in Mississauga. One possible case is under investigation.

Tim Hortons, in response to Brown’s tweet, said they’ve closed and sanitized the location in question.