The City of Toronto is providing assurances that its recreation and leisure programs are safe following reports that some staff members have not been vaccinated.
Dr. Erika Farkas, the medical officer of health for Toronto, says “staff are having to take about 20-minute breaks at a time because they do not feel like they can exercise without having significant pain.”
Some city recreation facilities have been “pausing” programs temporarily due to the staff shortage, Farkas added.
Dr. Farkas had earlier said, “We do know that the number of people that have not gotten the measles vaccine is increasing and we know that the number of cases is increasing at an alarming rate.”
Measles is an airborne infection that can lead to serious medical problems. Last week the health department confirmed its third measles case of the year and an additional case was recorded Thursday in Toronto.
The city’s chief medical officer, Dr. Theresa Tam, added that the chances of someone contracting measles from the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine is very low.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.