Ontario has confirmed two new cases of COVID-19, bringing the total in the province to 28.

A man in his 20s returned from Italy on March 3 and went to Mount Sinai Hospital's emergency department, health officials announced in a press release Friday evening.

And a woman in her 60s returned from Iran on March 2, and went to Mackenzie Richmond Hill Hospital's emergency department.

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Officials said proper procedures were followed at both hospitals and both patients are at home in self-isolation.

The cases come as Toronto health officials brace for locally transmitted COVID-19 infections.

They also provided, as a precaution, the transit routes used by a man who was diagnosed with the new coronavirus after he returned from a Las Vegas conference.

Dr. Eileen de Villa, the city’s medical officer of health, told reporters at city hall Friday that, after watching the coronavirus epidemic spread in Canada and globally they “anticipate and … are prepared for local transmission” of COVID-19 in Toronto.

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That means Torontonians who have not travelled from affected regions or had close contact with people who have, are expected to soon be infecting each other and spreading it wider in the community.

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City officials are gearing up while cautioning the public that the risk remains low.

Fire Chief Matthew Pegg gathered together members of the city’s pandemic planning committee on Thursday. Meanwhile, city departments and agencies are preparing their own plans in co-ordination with provincial and federal health officials.

As of Friday afternoon, 15 Torontonians had tested positive for COVID-19. Three recovered, while 12 were at home in self-isolation, “actively monitored” by public health officials.

Of two new cases reported Thursday night, one was a man, in his 40s, who travelled to Las Vegas and arrived back in Toronto on Feb. 28. He went to Toronto Western Hospital on March 3 and is now in self-isolation, she said.

That man used public transit in Toronto and Mississauga to travel to and from work March 2, 3 and 4.

De Villa provided the routes he took:

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Around 8:50 a.m. each day, he rode the subway from Bathurst station to Islington station, and took the 108 MiWay express bus to his workplace.

He travelled home around 6:10 p.m. on the 27 Milton GO bus from his workplace to Yorkdale subway station and rode to St. George station and then to Bathurst station.

In a news release Friday, the Region of Peel and the City of Mississauga gave a detailed itinerary for the affected traveller:

March 2, 9:13 a.m.: Islington Station, he boarded 108N Meadowvale Business Express and exited at Financial Drive

6:12 p.m.: Syntex Court at Financial Drive, he boarded 27 Milton GO Bus and exited at Yorkdale Station

March 3, 9:25 a.m.: Islington Station, he boarded 108N Meadowvale Business Express and exited at Financial Drive

6:12 p.m.: Syntex Court at Financial Drive, he boarded 27 Milton GO Bus and exited at Yorkdale Station

March 4, 9:13 a.m.: Islington Station, he boarded 108N Meadowvale Business Express and exited at Financial Drive

6:12 p.m.: Syntex Court at Financial Drive, he boarded 27 Milton GO Bus and exited at Yorkdale Station.

City of Mississauga spokesperson Catherine Monast said the vehicles involved in the trips “are being pulled from service and will be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected prior to a return to service.”

Those who rode with the man should follow the same advice as others, de Villa said. With no symptoms, wash your hands and take other precautions. With respiratory symptoms, including a mild cough, stay home and rest.

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RBC spokesperson Gillian McArdle confirmed Friday the company was investigating a possible presumptive case of COVID-19 at its Meadowvale location. She described the potential case as affecting “one floor of the office building.”

McArdle didn’t confirm whether the employee involved was the same person that Mississauga and Toronto officials spoke of Friday, but said the person was under self-quarantine.

The company was contacting other employees who may have been in contact with the affected person “to ensure they self-quarantine until advised otherwise as a precautionary measure.”

“We have taken a number of steps to protect the health and safety of our employees, and are working with Ontario Public Health to understand the case and the next steps,” she said.

With respiratory symptoms for which you’d normally seek treatment, call your health provider before going, de Villa said.

“With respect to public transit, this info is being provided out of an abundance of caution — we are talking about low-risk situations and we are actively following up as we do with every case of infectious disease in this city … to minimize any risk in our community,” de Villa told reporters.

De Villa could offer no details about the man’s Las Vegas visit. An internal email from University Health Network, obtained by the Star, said he attended an international conference in Las Vegas. (On Thursday, the state reported its first COVID-19 case, a man who had travelled to Texas and Washington.)

The other new case reported Thursday night was a man in his 50s who had travelled to Iran and arrived back in Toronto on Feb. 27. He went to North York General Hospital’s emergency ward, was assessed and went into self-isolation, de Villa said.

Mayor John Tory urged Torontonians to follow expert advice and not panic. “Calm must prevail,” Tory told reporters.

Asked about TTC workers wanting to wear face masks to minimize infection risk to themselves, de Villa said some masks can help stop infected people spreading it to others, but there’s no evidence they protect the wearer from infection.

Despite that Carlos Santos, president of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 113, which represents most TTC employees, renewed his call for management to allow workers the option of wearing face masks on the job.

“It’s all about prevention. I don’t understand how they can talk about prevention but yet do not want our members to wear a mask. It’s not responsible by the employers whatsoever,” he said.

He added that transit workers who interact with thousands of riders every day are worried about the virus and letting them wear masks would make them feel better.

TTC CEO, Rick Leary, confirmed employees aren’t allowed to wear masks on the job, and those who show up with masks are “educated” about why they’re not necessary.

Asked what the downside would be of allowing employees to don masks, Leary denied the TTC is trying to avoid sparking panic among riders.

“I’m not worried about spooking the public. The question is, why would you (wear a mask) if there’s no benefit?” he asked.

In a statement Friday, the TTC said it has stepped up efforts to wipe down its vehicles, with a focus on “touch and grab points” such as buttons, railings, handles and straps.

“Every station, bus, streetcar, Wheel-Trans vehicle and train are receiving extra attention,” the statement said.

TTC employees are cleaning subways and streetcars, and the agency has hired a private contractor to wipe down its fleet of about 2,000 buses, according to Leary. He said the organization started deep cleaning its vehicles with “hospital-grade” disinfectant in late January.

“The manpower is there,” Leary said, adding the agency is also discussing coating the interior of its vehicles with an anti-microbial spray, as GO Transit has done.

The TTC statement said the agency is in daily communication with Toronto Public Health, and “the direction is that no additional measures are required.”

According to the agency, “the risk of exposure for both TTC employees and customers remains low” and “the TTC continues to be a safe method of travel.”

According to Mississauga’s Monast, prior to being alerted to the affected person riding MiWay this week, the organization instituted an “enhanced cleaning protocol” for its buses.

In addition, this weekend MiWay will start applying Aegis Microbe Shield to its vehicles. The long-term antimicrobial spray is intended to last for up to one year.

Toronto Public Health has a website with information and advice on precautions, as does Metrolinx for GO and UP Express travel.

The Metrolinx Incident Command Team has created a centralized location at 277 Front Street West to act as a command post to help coordinate coronavirus response, according to an email from chief safety officer, Martin Gallagher.

The agency has taken a number of actions to prepare for the virus, including distributing hand-sanitizer to drivers and staff, and putting dispensers in buses and stations. Protective gear such as gloves and disposable respirators are also in stock.

The World Health Organization said Friday the number of COVID-19 cases worldwide was approaching 100,000, of which 3,380 died.

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