Ottawa Public Health Looking to Contact Rideshare Driver Who Travelled to Barrhaven

By Barrhaven Independent Staff 

Ottawa Public Health says they are investigating after a person who tested positive for COVID-19 took a rideshare to the Barrhaven area during the contagious period. They are now looking to contact that driver. 

The public health unit says the infected person travelled in a private rideshare from Trudeau International Airport in Montréal to Ottawa on November 24. They left the airport at approximately 8:30 pm that evening. 

 “As part of the COVID-19 case management and contact tracing process, Ottawa Public Health follows up with close contacts of individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19,” they said in a statement. “If Ottawa Public Health is unable to identify close contacts of an individual who has tested positive for COVID-19, a public release may be issued to reach those contacts.”

The driver was a male and drove a white car, says the health unit. They arrived in Barrhaven at about 10:30 pm that night. It’s believed the driver was likely exposed to COVID-19 during that roughly two hour window. 

Ottawa Public Health is asking any rideshare drivers who transported a passenger from Trudeau International Airport to Barrhaven during that time period, to monitor for symptoms until December 8. They are also urged to contact the local health unit. 

It’s recommended that you travel by car only with people in your own household. If travelling with others from another household, you’re urged to wear a mask, avoid any shared food or drinks, and avoid car travel with others all together if you’re sick.