Brampton workplaces where large COVID outbreaks occur will soon be identified, mayor says

Brampton | Ontario | COVID | Latest News |

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Published January 8, 2021 at 5:16 pm

Peel Region is moving towards identifying workplaces where large outbreaks of COVID-19 occur.

That is the belief of Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown who spoke with inbrampton.com today (January 8).

The move would follow in the footsteps of Toronto which last week decided to start naming workplaces where more than 20 people have been infected by the virus.

Up until now, local health officials have been reluctant to name these workplaces citing concerns over privacy. However, politicians and members of the public have been demanding more transparency, particularly in Brampton, where unofficial reports say some warehouses have had up to 400 people infected.

Simply, people want to avoid the major spreaders and to do that they want to know where the spreaders work.

“I know we aren’t supposed to gather but realistically, people still are. That’s why the numbers keep growing. I’m no genius, but at least I got that figured out,” a local warehouse worker told inbrampton.com. “But if I find out that somebody I know works at a place where there is a major outbreak then you can be sure I will stay away from that person or anybody else that works there. If it is kept a secret how can we make an informed decision?”

Today, Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown said all of these concerns are contributing to the change in philosophy in Peel Region and he expects an announcement soon from Dr. Lawrence Loh, Peel’s Medical Officer of Health.

“Dr. Loh has said he is looking at what Toronto has announced and he will likely adopt the provisions they have put into place,” said Brown. “And that is a step in the right direction. Detailing to the public where there is an outbreak beyond 20 people is positive. I just wish it was even broader than that.”

Brown has been advocating for a full disclosure of all workplace outbreaks since the beginning of the second wave of the pandemic, believing the public has the right to know.

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