Health officials in the Canadian city of Toronto have warned that as many as 550 people may have been exposed to the coronavirus at a downtown strip club after an employee tested positive for the virus.
The potential exposure took place just days after the Brass Rail Tavern, one of the city's best-known strip clubs, was allowed to re-open. The employee worked four shifts in early August, the city said in a statement, without detailing the capacity in which the employee worked.
"You know how long it's going to take them to chase down 550 guys, half of which probably gave fake ID or information," Andrew Morris, a professor of infectious diseases at the University of Toronto told the Associated Press.
Ontario's premier weighed in on Friday. "There are 500 people – you've got to practice social distancing, you've got to put on a mask – I know it sounds ironic talking about that – you have to," Doug Ford told reporters.
"I feel sorry for people when they go to their house and tell them that they were at the Brass Rail," he quipped. "That's who I feel sorry for. Sorry for the spouse, seriously. Man, I wouldn't want to be on the end of that one."
Others questioned the decision to allow such establishments to open as the province grapples with a pandemic that has seen more than 40,000 people test positive to-date. "Why are strip clubs open before schools can safely open? Are these the right priorities?" Ontario doctor Jennifer Kwan wrote on Twitter.
The Brass Rail did not respond to a request for comment. But the Toronto Star noted that the club had posted a message on its front door. "During this time, we are continuing operations while upholding the highest possible hygiene standards with our staff," it read. "This is our main priority while we provide our guests with the hospitality and customer service that they have become accustomed to."
Canada: 550 people exposed to Covid-19 at Toronto strip club
Potential exposure took place just days after the Brass Rail Tavern, one of the city’s best-known strip clubs, was allowed to reopen
www.theguardian.com
550 people in 1 day by 1 person?