Hamilton Health Sciences (HHS) has confirmed one of its doctors has tested positive for COVID-19.

The patient is a Burlington woman in her thirties who recently travelled to Hawaii.

HHS says the doctor was working at Juravinski Cancer Centre on Monday where she saw patients and interacted with colleagues and staff.

She was later tested in the hospital’s emergency department after she started experiencing symptoms.

“Proper infection control measures were taken and personal protective equipment was worn by staff and physicians who provided the care and testing,” said HHS in a news release on their website.

The woman is currently in self-isolation at home.

“This incidence was detected very quickly and all proper processes were followed,” said Dr. Wes Stephen, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at Hamilton Health Sciences in a news release. “When she began to show symptoms, infection control protocol was swiftly initiated and she was tested in a safe environment.”

HHS and Halton Public Health are expected to hold a news conference Wednesday afternoon to update the public on the situation.

The medical organization says those individuals who were in direct contact with the physician are being contacted and directed to go into self-isolation at home, for a period of 14 days.

Others, including patients, who may have had indirect exposure because they were in clinic at the same time are being asked to self-monitor for any symptoms, including a fever above 38 C, coughing, and nausea, and report the onset of any illness to public health officials.

HHS says there is no need for anyone else that was at the hospital or other HHS sites to take any action at this point. Officials say the physician’s office space, the clinic area and other spaces at Juravinski have been “thoroughly cleaned” to remove the virus that may be remaining on surfaces.

“Halton Region Public Health is continuing to work with provincial and local health counterparts and with the resident to identify all known contacts who may have been potentially exposed to the virus to assess if there is a potential health risk,” said Dr. Hamidah Meghani, Medical Officer of Health in a news release. “The risk to Halton residents remains low.”

On Wednesday, Ontario announced five new cases of the virus, bringing the provincial total to 41.

Coronaviruses are spread mainly from person to person through close contact, for example, in a household, workplace or health care centre.

People with weakened immune systems who contract the virus, such as those with chronic diseases and the elderly, have a higher risk of severity.

Ontario’s chief medical officer of health is scheduled to host a news conference to provide an update on the 2019 novel coronavirus, known as COVID-19.