Toronto strip club shuts down after seven people test positive for COVID-19

TORONTO — Toronto Public Health says six employees and one patron who visited a west Toronto strip club in the past three weeks have tested positive for COVID-19, prompting officials to urge anyone who went there recently to self-monitor for symptoms.

Officials say the seven cases were detected at Club Paradise, at 1313 Bloor Street West, since Sept. 4.

They say the fact that all but one of the cases were in employees means the "risk to patrons is low."

"Toronto Public Health understands Club Paradise is now voluntarily closed for a two week period."

Club Paradise is the second strip club in the city to host COVID-19 infections, after the Brass Rail near Bloor and Yonge Streets reported two cases in August.

Associate Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Vinita Dubey says there approximately 300 people who attended the strip club during the affected period who they have not been able to reach through contact tracing efforts.

Unlike the Brass Rail, Toronto Public Health says two recent inspections of Club Paradise found it to be following physical distancing guidelines.

Officials say they have used contact tracing logs to follow up with all known close contacts of the seven positive cases.

Everyone else who attended the bar between Aug. 29 and Sept. 10 is asked to self-monitor for 14 days.

Dubey would not say how many entries in the logs contained useful contact information, but said reaching all those who visited the strip club has been "difficult."

Strip clubs have been allowed to resume operations in the city since late July.