Brass Rail employee tests positive for COVID

About 550 people may have been exposed to COVID-19 at Brass Rail Tavern over the course of four days, Toronto Public Health announced in a news release Friday morning.

An employee who tested positive for COVID-19 was at the strip club, at 701 Yonge St., on Aug. 4 from 7 p.m. to 2:30 a.m., Aug. 5 from 8 p.m. to 3 a.m., Aug. 7 from 9 p.m. to 3 a.m. and Aug. 8 from 7 p.m. to 2:30 a.m.

Anyone who visited the Brass Rail during those times needs to monitor themselves for COVID-19 symptoms for 14 days after their most recent visit, TPH said, adding there is no risk to anyone who was there outside those times.

Dr. Vinita Dubey of TPH said inspectors sent to the Brass Rail on Thursday evening, after the infection was discovered, found “a number of areas of non-compliance” with provincial and city anti-virus regulations.

She would not give specifics but noted rules require tables to be at least two metres apart, staff to stay distanced from patrons whenever possible, performers to use a Plexiglas shield when distancing is impossible, and customers covering faces when not eating or drinking.

Inspectors also found incomplete entries for customer information logs now being used to trace the infected worker’s potential contacts. They should include names, arrival and departure times and table locations.

Asked if it’s possible some customers gave false information, because of the nature of the club, Dubey said public health has had the logs only since Thursday and she wasn’t aware if that is a problem.

The Brass Rail’s operator was issued a non-compliance order and given 24 hours to remedy the problems. If infractions persist, the strip club could face fines and/or remedial orders including, potentially, a closure order.

The infected staff person is self-isolating at home as are his or her close contacts, Dubey said.

“At this point we’re not aware of anyone else having symptoms and no other confirmed positives related to this place,” she said.

At Queen’s Park, Premier Doug Ford said contact tracing and inspections of the Brass Rail are extremely important, as are distancing and mask wearing, even if that seems “ironic” in a strip club.

“I feel sorry for people when they go to their house and tell them that they were at the Brass Rail,” Ford told reporters.