All residents of Mississauga condo building tested for COVID-19 variant

Public health officials are testing all residents of a Mississauga condo building for COVID-19 after five people who live there tested positive for a more contagious variant of the virus.

Peel Public Health says it’s taking the “urgent” step now, while community spread of the B.1.351 variant that first emerged in South Africa is still low.

The agency says it will conduct testing floor-by-floor in the building, which is located on Prince of Wales Drive, in the Confederation Parkway and Rathburn Road West area, on Monday between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Andrew Mitton, who has lived in the building for about three years, said he was a little concerned when he first got the email about the positive cases.

“We got an email yesterday evening, basically notifying us that there was a [COVID-19] variant of concern in the building and that the city would be coming around to do some testing today,” he told CityNews. “That was all that we were told.”

Mitton admitted he didn’t know much about the new variants but he feels relieved that public health came to test so quickly.

“If the variant is concerning the government and health officials as much as it is, then I think it probably is the right thing to do to come in and test everyone in the building and make sure that this isn’t being spread. If one person is positive there’s a likely chance others are.”

When it comes to having the virus in the building he calls home, Mitton said he finds his neighbours and condo staff are taking COVID-19 protocols seriously.

“Our security guards do a tremendous job of keeping things enforced,” he said. “For the most part I think people are pretty diligent about others and keeping others in mind.”

Peel Public Health says residents who were unable to get tested can also attend a testing centre in the community.