A Delta Outbreak At An Ontario Gym Last Month Led To Over 400 'High-Risk Contacts'

An Oakville gym called Muscle HQ has been temporarily shut down due to a COVID-19 outbreak involving a variant of concern.

The gym has remained open throughout the pandemic under the Accessibility for Ontarians and Disabilities Act, allowing individuals with written notes of instruction from healthcare professionals to use their facilities.

Muscle HQ's founder, Ali Siddiqui, told Narcity in an email that the gym found out about its first positive case on June 25. Two members tested positive the following day, at which point the business immediately shut down for deep cleaning and fogging. The gym reopened on June 29, only admitting those who could present a negative test result or proof of vaccination.

"On July 2, however, Public Health notified us that due to the number of cases linked to the gym, they would be identifying all members that were in the gym the previous week as close contact/high risk, and required that we shut down the gym for 14 days to help control the spread," wrote Sadiqqui, adding that they are working with public health on the investigation.

"As of July 6, Halton Region Public Health is aware of 15 cases and can confirm that the outbreak does involve the Delta variant," said Halton top doctor Dr. Hamidah Meghani during a public health update on Wednesday.

"More than 400 high-risk contacts have been identified to date," said Meghani. "Public health has instructed contacts to isolate for 14 days from their date of last exposure unless they're considered fully vaccinated."