Stay informed with the latest data on the number of COVID-19 cases.
Canada
Total confirmed cases
Global
Total confirmed cases
Confirmed COVID-19 cases in Canada by province
With data from CBC News
Confirmed COVID-19 cases worldwide
With data from Johns Hopkins University
Frequently asked questions
Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses. They cause a range of illness ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases — such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV).
Coronaviruses are zoonotic, meaning they originally pass from animals to humans. But some, like the current one, can also pass directly between humans.
Chinese scientists confirmed there has been human-to-human transmission of the virus among close contacts such as family members. It’s unclear how easily the virus is transmitted between people.
According to the Centers for Disease Control in the U.S., coronaviruses are most commonly spread by coughing or sneezing; close personal contact, such as shaking hands; or touching an object or surface with the virus on it and then touching your mouth, eyes or nose.
According to the World Health Organization, signs of infection can include respiratory complaints, fever, cough, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties. In more severe cases, infection can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure and even death.
The only way to confirm infection is with a lab test.
Fever, cough and shortness of breath can be symptoms of COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus — but they’re also symptoms of seasonal flu and other respiratory illnesses that are common at this time of year.
Call your local public health unit if:
- You have even mild symptoms.
- You have been exposed to someone known to be infected.
If you have symptoms and are concerned for any other reason that you may have COVID-19, you can call public health, but you could also call your provincial or territorial telehealth service, or call your doctor to talk about your risk.