Canada’s chief public health officer has asking people to postpone or cancel all non-essential travel outside Canada amid concern about the growing coronavirus outbreak. Here’s a look at what the government is saying, how provinces are faring and what’s happening around the world.
The latest:
- Federal government asks Canadians to cancel all non-essential international travel.
- Europe has become the epicentre of the COVID-19 pandemic, WHO says.
- Global death toll surpasses 5,000.
- Prime Minister Justin Trudeau promises ‘significant’ fiscal stimulus package for Canadians in the days ahead.
- U.S. President Donald Trump declares national emergency.
- Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre warns of COVID-19-related scams.
- Number of cases in Canada approaches 200.
- READ MORE: Here’s the latest guidance for Canadians on travel, quarantines and what to do if you have symptoms.
The federal government is warning against all international travel and is limiting inbound flights as part of a series of measures to limit the spread of COVID-19.
Canada’s chief public health officer has asked Canadians to postpone or cancel all non-essential travel outside the country.
“It is also important to remember that if you travel abroad, you could be subject to the measures of the other countries,” said Dr. Theresa Tam. “Your one-way trip may become much longer.”
Health officials across the country are urging people to do what they can to slow the spread of disease and thus lower the burden on the health-care system.
In addition to avoiding international travel, those measures include handwashing, staying home if sick and social distancing.
“This means avoiding crowded places and non-essential gatherings, considering shopping or taking public transport in off-peak hours and greeting one another with a wave or elbow instead of a handshake, kiss or hug,” Tam said. “Where possible, increase social distancing with others to two arms’ length, approximately two metres.”
Social distancing measures like working from home, school closures and cancelling sporting events could lead to a drop of new infections of coronavirus. 1:54
The government announced a range of measures Friday, including asking travellers already outside the country to consider self-isolating upon their return, enhancing screening measures at airports, marine, land and rail points of entry, restricting the number of airports where international flights can land and banning cruise ships carrying more than 500 people from docking at Canadian ports until July.
Not closing door to ‘further steps’
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Friday that the government will be announcing a “significant” fiscal stimulus package in the days ahead. “We will get through this together,” he said.
The prime minister, who previously announced a $1-billion COVID-19 economic package, said decisions would be based on recommendations from medical experts and top scientists.
“We’re not closing the door to any further steps, but we will make those decisions based on what science tells us.”
- Read the full story on what Trudeau said and how the government is preparing for COVID-19
- Follow the developments in Ottawa, after MPs vote to suspend House of Commons until April 20
Trudeau was speaking from his home, where he is in self-isolation after his wife tested positive for COVID-19. Trudeau said he has no symptoms, feels “very well,” and is working at home as a precaution at his doctor’s recommendation.
In an interview with CBC’s Matt Galloway earlier Friday, Trudeau said that his government is looking at “everything” and that Ottawa doesn’t want people to be worried about whether they’ll be able to make rent or pay for groceries. It was not immediately clear when the full details of that plan would be available.
In a separate interview with Radio-Canada, Trudeau said Friday his government is considering closing the border to some international travellers.
The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre issued a bulletin warning consumers of “COVID-19 related frauds that have already may begin to occur in Canada.”
Fraudsters are aiming to “profit from consumers’ fears, uncertainties and misinformation” around the outbreak, the bulletin said. People should be on the lookout for scams ranging from private companies offering fake “fast” coronavirus tests or products claiming to treat or prevent the disease to “malicious email campaigns,” it said.
Schools closing in Ontario, Quebec, Manitoba, New Brunswick
On Friday, Quebec, Manitoba and New Brunswick closed schools for an extended period in a bid to slow the spread of COVID-19. Ontario made that decision on Thursday.
In Quebec, all schools, universities, daycares and CEGEPs in the province will be closed for two weeks starting Monday, Premier François Legault announced.
Legault, who spoke about everything from school closures to how the health system is preparing, also called on Trudeau to limit the entry of foreign visitors into Canada.
Manitoba schools will also close for three weeks, starting March 23, Education Minister Kelvin Goertzen said at a news conference on Friday. The move will end classes a week early for spring break and keep kids out until April 13 to get ahead of COVID-19, he said.
New Brunswick public schools will close for at least two weeks, starting on Monday. The closure will not affect daycares, Premier Blaine Higgs said.
Ontario announced Thursday that publicly funded schools would be closing from March 14 through to April 5. The Ontario school closure — which tacks two weeks onto the upcoming March Break — was made at the recommendation of the province’s chief medical officer, the provincial government said.
- COVID-19: The latest guidance for Canadians
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- How big grocers in Canada are preparing for COVID-19
Health Minister Patty Hajdu said Friday that Canada is in a “critical window” to deal with COVID-19. She said she spoke with her G7 counterparts, “and everybody is working as diligently as possible to contain the spread globally.”
Case numbers are still on the rise around the world, but there are signs of progress in the fight against the novel coronavirus, particularly in China, where the disease first emerged.
The epicentre of the pandemic has now shifted to Europe, the WHO said on Friday, where there are more reported cases and deaths than the rest of the world combined, except for China.
About half of the world’s 138,000 people infected have already recovered.
Most patients have only mild or moderate symptoms such as a fever or cold, though severe symptoms including pneumonia can occur, especially in older adults and people with existing health problems.
The global death toll has now surpassed 5,000, which the WHO has called “a tragic milestone.”
Here’s a look at what’s happening with COVID-19 in Canada, the U.S., the global economy and some of the harder-hit regions of the world.
Here’s a look at what’s happening in provinces with cases of COVID-19
Canadians should absorb the short-term pain and practise social distancing in order to avoid the coronavirus, says Dr. Michael Gardam. 6:58
Schools are closing in Ontario and Quebec, while provincial officials in B.C. and Quebec are cautioning residents about international travel. Even in provinces without confirmed cases of COVID-19, people are being urged by health officials to practice proper hand hygiene and take precautions like staying home when sick.
In Ontario, the latest news is that schools are closing. The premier’s office said Thursday that it recognizes that the closures will have a “significant impact” on parents, students and communities as a whole. But Doug Ford’s office said “this precaution is necessary to keep people safe.” Read more about what’s happening in Ontario, where some stores are feeling the strain as worried shoppers flood in, despite warnings not to engage in panic buying.
In B.C., the province’s top doctor is cautioning against all non-essential travel outside Canada, and recommending that large events be cancelled. Dr. Bonnie Henry said Thursday that people who leave the country and return to B.C. — including people who travel to the U.S. — should stay away from work and school for a period of 14 days. Many schools in the province are about to start a two-week scheduled spring break. While some parents are calling for an extended closure of schools, the province’s education ministry said Thursday that the ministry isn’t considering it because the risk in schools is still low. Read more about what’s happening in B.C.
In Alberta, jury trials between now and May 31 have been postponed and the province’s top doctor has called for the cancellation of events of more than 250 people. Read more about what’s happening in Alberta.
In Quebec, schools are being closed for two weeks. The planned closures in Quebec come after Premier François Legault introduced his sweeping plan for the province, which included mandatory self-isolation for public sector workers who travelled abroad and voluntary isolation for anyone else who made a similar trip. Read more about what’s happening in Quebec.
Manitoba, announced its fourth COVID-19 case on Friday. The province said it was opening screening centres in Winnipeg in a bid to increase testing for the coronavirus. It also announced schools would shut down for three weeks starting March 23. Read more about what’s happening in Manitoba.
In Saskatchewan, the province