A London university student who tested positive for the coronavirus late last month has now been given the all-clear from health officials.
Ontario Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. David Williams announced on Wednesday the woman in her 20s is no longer infected with the virus that has killed more than 1,000 people in China.
"Additional testing has been conducted by both the Public Health Ontario Laboratory and the National Microbiology Lab [Winnipeg]," Williams said in a statement. "The case has had two negative tests at least 24 hours apart and is therefore considered to be resolved."
The Western University student was confirmed as Ontario's third case and Canada's fourth case of 2019 novel coronavirus on January 31. She had arrived back in Canada from Wuhan, China, the epicentre of the outbreak, on January 23 and was not symptomatic. However, the woman developed symptoms the next day and was assessed at the London Health Sciences Centre.
At the time, health officials reassured the public that the woman had worn a mask throughout her entire flight home and had isolated herself upon her return to Canada.
The woman recovered from her mild symptoms within three days. Despite that she remained in self-isolation within her home, waiting for provincial health officials to give her a clean bill of health.
"I want to reassure everyone that the risk from 2019 novel coronavirus to Ontarians remains low," said Williams. "I'd like to thank our partners across the health care system for their continued efforts in containing the virus and protecting the health and well-being of individuals and families across the province."
Several hundred Canadians evacuated from China aboard two separate flights chartered by the Canadian government remain under quarantine at CFB Trenton.
The World Health Organization said 24 countries have reported cases of the virus they are now calling COVID-19. Only one death has been recorded outside of China.
