Brantford and Brant County has its first laboratory confirmed case of COVID-19, public health officials say.

A Brant County woman in her 40s acquired the illness after recently travelling to Mexico. She returned to Canada through the John C. Munro Airport in Hamilton from the Mayan Riviera region of Mexico on March 8, the Brant County Health Unit said in a statement.

Between March 9 and 10, she reported to work at Woodstock Hospital. She became symptomatic on March 11 and began to self-isolate.

The woman’s duties at the hospital require her to have limited patient contact, the health unit said.

She contacted the Brant Community Healthcare System on March 14 to report her symptoms and travel history.

She was assessed and tested by hospital staff who took all necessary precautions to ensure safety of staff and patients.

Her test came back positive for COVID-19 on March 17.

The woman is currently experiencing mild symptoms and continues to self-isolate.

The health unit has initiated case management and Southwestern Public Health will conduct case and contact protocols for those in their jurisdiction.

On Monday, the health unit said there were 25 probable cases and six have come back negative. Public health officials are still waiting for the results of the other 18 tests.

More later..

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