Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and other leaders across the country are taking a rare day off from updating the nation on the COVID-19 crisis as many Canadians celebrate Easter Sunday.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and other leaders across the country are taking a rare day off from updating the nation on the COVID-19 crisis as many Canadians celebrate Easter Sunday.
Yet even as people gather with their families both physically and virtually for the holiday, the pandemic continues to cause pain and grief for people whose health and livelihoods have been devastated by the illness.
Ontario reported 401 new cases of COVID-19 on Sunday as well as 21 deaths, bringing the national total to 23,738 confirmed and presumptive cases and 709 deaths. The federal government and other provinces were expected to release more numbers throughout the day.
In a message marking Easter, nearly one month after the country started locking down to slow the spread of COVID-19, Trudeau commemorated the personal sacrifice and compassion that many Canadians have exhibited during the pandemic.
“This year, as we celebrate differently in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Easter’s themes of hope, understanding, and renewal are more relevant than ever,” the prime minister said in a written statement.
“We are seeing great displays of personal sacrifice and compassion during this pandemic. Canadians are protecting their friends and families by staying home. Others are donating to food banks, picking up groceries for friends and loved ones, and going to their jobs so we can continue to get the essential goods and services we need. By doing this, Canadians are showing the true meaning of loving our neighbours as ourselves.”
This weekend is a chance for all of us to reflect on what matters, and to think about where we are. I k