The Canadian government says any citizen who’s abroad should get back home while it’s still possible. That’s a step up from previous advice, which urged travellers outside the country to think about doing so.
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Some of the latest developments:
- The official national tally of confirmed cases is at least 250.
- Saskatchewan announced four new presumptive cases late Saturday.
- Nova Scotia and the three territories are the only areas that have not confirmed a case.
- Quebec, Ontario announced new restrictions on who can visit long-term care facilities.
- Trump tests negative for coronavirus.
- CBC/Radio-Canada and TV distributors make 24-hour news channels widely available.
The growing number of COVID-19 cases in Canada has prompted a wave of restrictions aimed at protecting seniors as officials made more insistent calls for travellers to return home without delay.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, meanwhile, announced Saturday he held a phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump following a news conference in which U.S. officials raised the possibility of grounding all domestic flights south of the border.
The threat was part of the growing alarm over the COVID-19 pandemic, which has triggered an unprecedented number of closures and other measures meant to protect the population.
The most notable new measures on Saturday targeted seniors and their loved ones in Quebec and Ontario. Both provinces announced rigid new restrictions on who could visit long-term care facilities in those provinces.
Quebec Premier François Legault took things one step further by advising anyone over the age of 70 to stay home until further notice and implementing a provincewide ban on visitors to hospitals and seniors’ residences.
“I know it’s tough because when you have your mother or grandmother, you’d like to visit her,” Legault said at a news conference. “But it’s not a good idea to visit people and take the risk that they get the coronavirus.”
In Ontario, chief medical officer of health Dr. David Williams urged long-term care residences to bar access to all but “essential visitors.” That group was defined as the relative of anyone who is dying or gravely ill, as well as the parent or guardian of a sick child or youth.
“The safety and well-being of our vulnerable residents is our top priority,” reads a memo Williams sent to the province’s long-term care facilities.
Meanwhile in Ottawa, Global Affairs Canada called upon Canadians currently abroad to hasten home while they still have the chance as countries around the world impose ever-tighter travel restrictions.
Word from Ottawa came as Canadians travelling in Europe scrambled to book flights ahead of looming border closures in many European Union countries.
The advice marks an escalation for the government, who previously urged Canadians to cancel or postpone non-essential trips.
“Airlines have cancelled flights. New restrictions may be imposed with little warning. Your travel plans may be severely disrupted and you may be forced to remain outside of Canada longer than expected,” the ministry said in an email to registered Canadians abroad.
“Find out what commercial options are still available to return to Canada. Consider returning to Canada earlier than planned if these options are becoming more limited.”
More than 150,000 infected worldwide
The World Health Organization declared COVID-19 as a global pandemic on March 9 as cases began to spike in countries around the world.
But Canadian public health officials continue to describe the risk to the public as relatively low as they urge hygiene measures such as frequent handwashing and social distancing.
WATCH | Trudeau warns against leaving the country:
Speaking from self-isolation, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced new measures to combat COVID-19, warning against international travel. 2:27
The virus has infected more than 150,000 people worldwide and killed upwards of 5,600 globally, including one person in British Columbia.
Most people diagnosed with COVID-19 experience mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough, and the vast majority of those who contract the virus recover. The Public Health Agency of Canada says the risk to the general population is low.
However, for some, including Canadians aged 65 and over, those with compromised immune systems and those with pre-existing conditions, the illness can be much more severe. Among the Canadians diagnosed with the illness so far, fewer than 15 per cent have required hospitalization.
- Read about Canada’s plans — including details around international travel and enhanced screening
- Here’s what we know so far about the $10-billion business credit line and a planned stimulus package
The growing number of cases has prompted widespread closures of schools and universities, mass cancellation of large-scale events, multimillion-dollar economic stimulus packages from governments, and the suspension of the Parliament until April 20.
Here’s how Canadian provinces and territories are dealing with the COVID-19 outbreak
For full detail about what’s happening in every province — including those that do not yet have cases — visit your local site.
Ontario remains at the epicentre of the national outbreak. The provincial government reported 24 new cases of the disease on Saturday, with at least six of the cases linked to recent travel outside of Canada. At a COVID-19 assessment centre in Ottawa, hundreds of people turned up for screening only to be turned away because they did not meet the testing criteria. Anyone who didn’t have a cough or fever, and who had not recently travelled out of the country or been in contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19 were turned away. Read more about what’s happening in Ontario.
Dr. Bonnie Henry, the top public health official in British Columbia, said her province is struggling with needless testing as the number of cases continues to climb. She reported nine new positive tests on Saturday, bringing the provincial total to 73. “For most people, you do not need a test,” Henry said at a briefing in Vancouver. “We want to make sure that testing is available for all who do need it.” Read more about what’s happening in B.C. here.
Alberta’s top public health official, Dr. Deena Hinshaw, said 10 new cases were reported in the province on Saturday, bringing the total number of cases to 39. Of the new cases, she said one patient in Edmonton and one in Calgary are in intensive care. Read more about what’s happening in Alberta here.
Officials in Quebec reported seven new cases in the province, bringing the total to 24. Read more about what’s happening in Quebec here.
Manitoba confirmed its fourth case on Saturday and announced that its students would also be out of school for an extra two weeks. No new cases were announced Saturday, and all four confirmed cases are believed to have been contracted through travel. Read more about what’s happening in Manitoba here.
P.E.I. had its first confirmed case of COVID-19 on Saturday, a woman who recently returned from a cruise and is currently in self-isolation at home. The province has put up signs on its Confederation Bridge and at Charlottetown Airport directing all international travellers to self-isolate for 14 days upon their return. Read more about what’s happening in P.E.I. here.
The Northwest Territories’ chief public heal