Staff and students at an elementary school in Rosedale are being warned that they may have been exposed to an individual that has since tested positive for COVID-19.

Toronto’s Medical Officer of Health Dr. Eileen de Villa sent a letter to members of the Whitney Junior Public School community over the weekend, informing them that an individual with a confirmed case of the virus visited the building on March 4.

The TDSB has said that the individual was not a staff member or student at the school, though their reason for being there has not been released.

In her letter, De Villa said that the individual was not symptomatic on the day they visited the school and therefore the risk to staff and students is considered low.

Nonetheless, members of the school community are being urged to monitor for symptoms and to call ahead if they need to seek medical treatment.

In a statement provided to CP24 on Monday, Toronto Public Health said that it routinely follows up directly with people who may have been exposed to an individual with COVID-19 after “doing a careful risk assessment for each individual situation.”

It said that for individuals believed to be at a “lower risk,” it asks them to “self-monitor for signs and symptoms” of the virus, as it did with the Whitney Junior Public School community.

“As we are notified of cases of COVID-19, we carefully evaluate them individually and follow up immediately with these people to connect directly with them and to identify their close contacts. We use current evidence to assess potential health risk, provide education, further instructions and to reduce the potential of virus spread,” the statement reads. “Following an evidence-based assessment, we notify only those direct contacts of individuals who are infected with COVID-19 who may have been exposed and will give them advice on self-isolation and self-monitoring based on the evidence-based risk assessment.”

TDSB spokesperson Ryan Bird says that caretaking staff have been doing “enhanced cleaning” on handrails, door knobs and push plates at all schools, given the emerging threat from COVID-19.

He said that no additional precautions have been taken specific to Whitney Junior Public School, however.

“We take our lead from Toronto Public Health and they have not recommended any additional precautions outside of what was outlined for the community in the letter,” Bird told CP24.

Synagogue closed after leader tests positive for virus

The warning that went out to staff and parents of students at Whitney Junior Public School is just the latest example of precautions being taken amid a rise in cases of COVID-19 locally.

On Monday, a Toronto synagogue also announced that it would close for the day to allow for a “thorough sanitizing of the building.”

The Beth Sholom Synagogue, which is located near Eglinton Avenue and Allen Road, said in a statement that it made the decision in the wake of learning that one of its lay leaders was found to have the virus.

“Last week one of Beth Sholom Synagogue’s lay leadership exhibited flu-like symptoms. He had himself tested and it showed positive for COVID-19,” the statement notes. “As a result, he was placed into a 14 day quarantine where he currently remains at home and is showing signs of recovery. This member has not been to the synagogue since his diagnosis.”

Another synagogue, Beth Torah Congregation near Dufferin Street and Glenbrook Avenue, said that it is also undertaking a through cleansing of its building, as it shares a daily prayer service with Beth Sholom and some of its members were in contact with the congregant who tested positive for COVID-19.

The news comes as Jews prepare to celebrate the festival of Purim, which begins Monday night. Beth Torah said that it would provide a live stream of the services Monday night so that people can take part remotely if they wish.

There have been 34 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ontario so far.

Toronto city councillor in 'self-isolation'

Ward 12 Coun. Josh Matlow sent out a news release Monday, confirming that he is going into self-isolation until March 20 "out of an abundance of caution."

Matlow said last week he came into contact with a person who tested positive for the virus after travelling to a conference in Washington, DC.

"It is very important to note that I have been informed by Dr. de Villa that because I am asymptomatic, no one, including my family, is at an elevated risk of having contracted the virus due to contact with me," Matlow wrote. "During my isolation period, I will unfortunately have to cancel all public events."

Liberal MP Anthony Housefather also confirmed that he too is in self-isolation after a Toronto attendee of the AIPAC policy conference in Washington tested positive for the virus.

"Out of an abundance of caution, I am self-isolating at home awaiting further instruction from Toronto public health officials. I feel absolutely fine and it has already been a week since I left the conference," the Montreal-area MP wrote in an email to CTV News.