Social distancing won’t stop until there’s a vaccine, B.C. health officials say

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As cases of COVID-19 continue to spread around the world, Canadians seem to be increasingly concerned about their health and safety

Currently, there are more than 106,000 confirmed coronavirus cases in Canada and more than 8,700 deaths.

Check back for the latest updates on the coronavirus outbreak in Canada.

For a full archive of the first month of the pandemic, please check our archive of events.

July 9

7:15 p.m.: COVID-19 polls of the day

7:00 p.m.: B.C.’s top doctor says some public health measures will have to be in place until there is a vaccine, effective treatment

Dr. Bonnie Henry, B.C.’s provincial health officer, continues to remind people that COVID-19 is far from over, although the province has successfully flattened its curve to this point.

“I know some people may be thinking this is all over and that they can relax, and go back to normal,” Dr. Henry said. “But until effective treatment or a vaccine is available we know that this virus is going to circulate in our communities.”

“Things can quickly escalate once again if we let our guard down too far.”

In order to prepare for a possible second wave of COVID-19 infections, the province is developing a number of scenarios based on existing attack rates in B.C. Dr. Henry said the goal is to make sure the province doesn’t have to go back to shutting everything down.

“When I talk about the dynamic compartmental modelling that shows us needing to be at a balance of about 65 per cent of our contacts, that’s what we need to continue for the fall, into next year, until we either have an effective treatment or a vaccine,” she said.

Dr. Henry expects to be able to present some information based on research protocols for antibody testing later next week. She said the challenge to date has been the validity of the tests, with false negative and false positive rates quite high.

“When prevalence, the number of people who truly have it in the population, is low that can make a real difference,” she said.

This has required the province to use more than one test to validate every positive result.

Dr. Henry said the first part of the protocol has been completed, using anonymous samples from individuals who gave blood for other reasons. There was also community based sample taken in March and the end of May.

“Very few people have become affected at a population level,” Dr. Henry said.

5:15 p.m.: Quebec tightens measures for bars

The Quebec government is making changes to rules for bars after COVID-19 outbreaks have been linked to these venues.

Although case counts from gatherings at bars in Quebec are still being determined, Dr. Horacio Arruda, director of Quebec public health, said about 66 cases are from the Montérégie area, and around 25 cases are from other locations.

“If we don’t act, those 66 are going to generate another 120, it’s going to be more and more,” Dr. Arruda said.

Health minister Christian Dubé said as of Jul. 10, bars must stop selling alcoholic beverages at 12:00 a.m. and will have to be closed to customers at 1:00 a.m.

The number of people who can be at a bar at one time is being reduced to 50 per cent of their legal capacity and dancing is prohibited, everyone must be seated when consuming alcohol.

Dubé said police officers will be stationed around busy bar areas.

“We need everyone to work together on this, including bar owners and their clients,” the health minister said. “We will, as a government, continue to closely monitor the situation and we will not hesitate to take further action, if required.”

Dr. Arruda explained people in Quebec will voluntarily be able to give their contact information to bars and if a COVID-19 case is identified in that setting, public health will be able to reach them for contact tracing purposes.

“This is confidential information,” he said. “It’s only used if there is a case, nobody is going to ask to have access to this information unless there is a case.”

4:30 p.m.: Many Ontario cases still linked to farms in Windsor-Essex

Ontario’s chief medical officer of health, Dr. David Williams, indicated that of the 170 new COVID-19 cases in the province, 86 are from Windsor-Essex, while 27 and from Toronto and 28 from Peel.

Dr. Williams said most cases in Windsor-Essex are from two or three farms, and at least 76 cases are farm workers.

“We may have a day where we actually have less than 100 for the province,” Ontario’s chief medical officer of health said. “And in essence, in one way we do, but in consideration of a very much sequestered outbreak that put us well over.” 

“I’d like to see us continue to have some days reported under 100 [cases].”

When asked if there is a chance that large gathering, like arena concerts, would be able to happen before there is COVID-19 vaccine, Dr. Williams stressed these gathering are very risky.

“We’re open to some ideas but…those are certainly high risk events that we have very little control over,” he said.

Dr. Williams added that physical distancing would have to be in place, which would also require a financial consideration for the business operating the event.

2:50 p.m.: B.C. premier expresses ‘optimism’ on COVID-19 situation, confidence about fall school year

B.C. Premier John Horgan said there are “great reasons for optimism” in the province as there continues to be “relatively low” numbers of new COVID-19 cases.

“Our approach…from the beginning has been coping with the virus,” Horgan said. “Dr. Henry has been pretty clear, it’s here and it’s going to be here until we find a way to eradicate it.”

“In the the interim, we have to find ways to manage and cope with the disease. We’re under no illusion that COVID-19 is gone.”

The premier went on to say he believes bringing students back to school in June has made B.C. “better prepared for September than any other province in the country,” because education officials will have a benchmark to compare to, district by district.

“I listened to the president of the United States talk about his fountain of wisdom and knowledge on what’s best for public education in the United States, and I say I would prefer to talk to school board trustees, superintendents, teachers and parents about what’s in the best interest of their kids,” Horgan said. “That’s what we’ve been doing.”

‘They are not coming this year’

B.C.’s premier said he appreciates that some businesses want restrictions at Canada’s borders to be eased, but maintained that public health is still of the utmost importance.

“They are not coming this year,” Horgan said about international tourists. “It is not just because Canada has said we don’t want to see our border open until we see other countries in the world having the same level of success.”

“This is a global pandemic and I think that we need to remind ourselves of that periodically. I don’t think the dollars that would be invested in the tourist economy are worth the risk to public health.”

1:50 p.m.: Ontario education minister still asking parent to prepare for three different schooling options for September

After being asked several questions about what parents should prepare for in September, Ontario’s Minister of Education, Stephen Lecce, maintains school boards across the province must be prepared for three circumstances: online learning, conventional in-class learning and a hybrid model.

“The preference is everyday, convention in-class delivery,” Lecce said. “But the prerequisite has to be safety.”

When asked if parents should begin having a conversation with their employer about the possibility of needing to be home more if at-home learning continues in September, Lecce reiterated that the ministry is working with the chief public health officer to determine a safe way to educate children in Ontario in the fall.

Questions remain about what Stage 3 of reopening will look like

At a press conference on Thursday, Ontario Premier Doug Ford was asked what businesses and services will be able to resume in Stage 3 of the province’s reopening plan.

The premier said the specifics still need to be determined with the provincial health table.

“I don’t have a list in front of me to give you exactly what’s opening,” Ford said. “I want to make sure the health table approves it.”

“It’s going to come very shortly, hopefully sooner than later.”

July 8

6:00 p.m.: COVID-19 questions of the day

6:15 p.m.: ‘Community exposure events’ continue in B.C.

In a written statement from Adrian Dix, B.C.’s Minister of Health, and Dr. Bonnie Henry, the provincial health officer, they confirmed there are no new outbreaks in the province but “community exposure events” continue to occur.

“There has been a community exposure event at the No. 5 Orange nightclub in the Vancouver Coastal Health region,” the statement reads. “Public health teams have issued an alert for anyone who may have been at the premises on July 1.”

The health officials went on to stress that “one slip” can cause a surge of COVID-19 cases and avoiding crowded, closed spaces continues to be important.

“This summer, we can travel within our province, we can enjoy many activities and we can spend time with friends and family,” the statement goes on to say. “We can do this safely by all of us doing our part to keep our curve flat.”

5:00 p.m.: Outbreak at Edmonton hospital

Alberta Health Services has reported Misericordia Community Hospital in Edmonton is under a full facility COVID-19 outbreak.

In order to manage the risks of spreading the virus further, all services will be temporarily close to incoming patients and no patients will be admitted to the hospital. Patients within the hospital will continue to receive the treatment.

At a press conference on Wednesday Dr. David Zygun, medical director with Alberta Health Services, Edmonton zone, said it is too early to know how long these measures will be in place at the hospital as the contact tracing is still ongoing.

“In general, we are in the timeframe of weeks before it resolves,” Dr. Zygun said. “We’re obviously in hours of this stage, and it will really depend on the progression of the outbreak and the cases we identify.”

He indicated the initial wards impacted were medical wards and the hospital will maintain single-sight workers moving forward.

As of Wednesday morning, 20 patients and 15 staff members tested positive for COVID-19. Three deaths linked to the outbreak have occurred, all of the individuals were patients.

4:00 p.m.: Ontario introduces new economic recovery legislation

The Ontario government introduced the COVID-19 Economic Recovery Act, which would change several pieces of legislation in an effort to boost economic recovery.

This includes changes to the Municipal Act and City of Toronto Act that will allow municipalities to hold virtual meetings, and council members will be able to vote by proxy when absent. It would also amend the Education Act, including broadening the qualification requirements for Director of Education positions and would provide a second-year option for all first-year demonstration school students during the upcoming school year.

It would also amend the Marriage Act, including extensions to the validity of marriage licenses due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has touched all Ontarians and created significant hardship for individuals, families and businesses,” Ontario Premier Doug Ford said in a statement. “People are relying on our government to help rebuild the province and get people back to work ― and that’s exactly what we’re doing, starting with this new legislation.”

At a press conference on Wednesday, Ford also commented on calls from municipalities for the provincial government to provide more financial assistance. The premier said he is “leading the charge for municipalities” on calls between Canada’s premiers and the federal government.

Ford said he is pushing the federal government to come up with a “fair deal” related to the $14 billion promised by the prime minister for provinces.

“I’m not happy with where we’re going right at this point,” Ford said, adding that Ontario accounts for 38 per cent of the population and should get 38 per cent of the funds being distributed by the federal government.

“I’m not even asking them for more than $14 billion, even though I don’t think it’s enough,” the premier said. “Give us the flexibility and give us per capita and we have a deal.”

1:00 p.m.: Up to 8,900 COVID-19 deaths could occur in Canada by July 17

Public Health Agency of Canada
Public Health Agency of Canada

Newly released short-term forecasting of the COVID-19 pandemic indicates Canada could see between 106,015 and 111,260 cases by Jul. 17. Additionally, up to 8,900 deaths (approximately 200 more than today) could occur by the same date.

Dr. Howard Njoo, Canada’s deputy chief public health officer, indicated Ontario and Quebec have made up more than 80 per cent of cases in the country to date.

Public Health Agency of Canada
Public Health Agency of Canada

Looking at the number of cases per 100,000 people across Canada, Ontario and Quebec are still seeing the most, with a significant number of cases identified in northern Saskatchewan, relative to their population size.

Public Health Agency of Canada
Public Health Agency of Canada

Hotspots for COVID-19 cases include Toronto and Montreal, both having large populations and many cases linked to community transmission. Alberta and Saskatchewan have also seen a high number of cases, linked to localized outbreaks.

Public Health Agency of Canada
Public Health Agency of Canada

Canada’s deputy chief public health officer said there has been a “steady decline” in COVID-19 cases since the peak in late April.

“We have been able to impact the pandemic, control transmission nationally and benign the process of entering the next phase of monitoring and preventing a resurgence,” Dr. Njoo said. “I think overall, we’ve done an excellent job.”

Public Health Agency of Canada
Public Health Agency of Canada

The effective reproduction number in Canada, how many people have been infected by each new case, has fluctuated above one recently, but remained fairly steady below one for the course of the last 10 weeks. Dr. Njoo indicated this number needs to consistently remain below one to indicate a slowdown of spread.

He added that as the case numbers continues to decrease, it is “likely” the effective reproduction number will fluctuate rapidly.

Public Health Agency of Canada
Public Health Agency of Canada

The number of COVID-19 cases in Canada’s most elderly has significantly declined since April. However, the decline has been particularly slow in 20 to 39 year-olds since late May.

Public Health Agency of Canada
Public Health Agency of Canada

Canada’s deputy chief public health officer said contact tracing is an important component of preventing the spread of COVID-19, indicating the sooner cases can be identified and isolated, the fewer people they may infect.

The proportion of unknown sources of infection continues to decrease in Canada, which will assist in preventing a surge in infections.

Public Health Agency of Canada
Public Health Agency of Canada

Although Canada is “down the right side of the first peak,” Dr. Njoo said it continues to be important for people across the country to remain vigilant with existing public health measures, particularly while a vaccine is not available. He said if Canada relaxes measures “too much or too soon” the country will see a rapid rebound in COVID-19 cases.

Is COVID-19 airborne?

Dr. Njoo also spoke about recent reports that COVID-19 is airborne, saying the evidence in fact does not classify this particular virus as an airborne disease, based on the medical definition.

“For those of us working in medicine and public health, airborne has a very specific meaning,” he said. “Airborne diseases, usually a very infectious disease in which…the particles, or the virus in this case, can linger in the air for several hours and days and then people can become infected.”

“Let’s say someone who had the virus…left the room and several hours later someone else came into that room and then breathed in the air, they could also get infected. From the evidence, what we’ve seen from the epidemiology and so on, to this point there’s no evidence that COVID-19 is airborne.”

Dr. Njoo indicated a classic example of an airborne disease in measles, which has an effective reproductive number of around 18. Influenza has an effective reproductive number of about one or two, while the early evidence for COVID-19 shows it’s effective reproductive number is up to five.

Canada’s deputy chief public health officer explained the main mode of transmission for COVID-19 is through droplets transmitted in the air when people cough, talk or sing. Many of the droplets are “quite large” and fall to the ground within two metres of an individual, in most cases.

He added that there is a gradient of droplet size and some of the smaller droplets will fall to the ground at a greater distance than larger droplets

11:40 a.m.: Canada’s COVID-19 situation is ‘stabilizing’

Ahead of new national modelling data being released Wednesday afternoon, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said COVID-19 cases in Canada continue to decline.

“The situation is stabilizing in Canada because Canadians did their part and followed public health instructions,” Trudeau said.

The prime minister stressed the COVID-19 situation can quickly change and hotspots still exist in particular areas, including long-term care facilities and agriculture settings.

“We have to remain vigilant, we have to keep following public health advice,” Trudeau said.

‘We took on debt so Canadians wouldn’t have to’

The federal government will share an economic and fiscal snapshot later on Wednesday, which will outline Canada’s economic health as the COVID-19 pandemic progresses.

The prime minister said when this crisis first hit, many Canadians were quickly left without a job and were worried about paying their bills. He said the government had two options, sit back and let Canadians “fend for themselves” or choose to support Canadians.

“We shouldn’t forget that the cost of doing nothing would have been far more to both our health care and our economy,” Trudeau said. “We took on debt so Canadians wouldn’t have to.”

“I know there are people out there who said we should have done less but I think that’s wrong. Now was the time for the federal government to step up and help Canadians during a historic crisis.”

In advance of the release of the economic and fiscal snapshot, Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer spoke about the anticipated information, indicating that some reports anticipate this year’s deficit will be $300 billion.

“What we haven’t heard yet is whether or not the Liberals actually have a plan to help get Canadians back to work and our economy back on track,” Sheer said. “Justin Trudeau has made major mistakes and has been slow to act, and his failures have cost Canadians dearly.”

The Conservative Leader said Canadians have been “falling through the cracks” as the federal government was slow to implement and adjust its aid programs during the pandemic.

10:45 a.m.: Curve continues to flatten in Indigenous communities

On Wednesday, Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) shared that the curve of the COVID-19 pandemic in Indigenous communities continues to flatten.

As of July 6, there have been 324 confirmed COVID-19 cases, 30 hospitalizations and 274 cases have recovered on First Nations communities.

As of July 3, 1,009 orders for PPE, including hand sanitizers, N95 masks, isolation shields, and gloves were shipped.

“ISC continues to quickly process PPE requests, as effectively as possible, to ensure communities are ready to respond to COVID-19, and to ensure the safety of healthcare workers and others supporting the delivery of health services,” the statement reads.

The federal government continues to recommend the following precautions be taken to prevent the spread of COVID-19 within these communities.

  • Avoiding all non-essential trips in the community

  • Limiting the size of group gatherings

  • Keeping a distance of at least 2 arms lengths (approximately 2 metres) from others when away from home

  • Wearing a non-medical mask when physical distancing is not possible

  • Limiting contact with people at higher risk, such as Elders and those in poor health, or with underlying health conditions

“As we look ahead with cautious optimism, the priority remains supporting Indigenous leaders as they work to protect the health, safety and prosperity of communities,” the ISC said in a statement.

July 7

5:00 p.m.: P.E.I.’s top doctor strengthens mask recommendation

Dr. Heather Morrison, the chief public health officer of Prince Edward Island, is strengthening the recommendation for people in the province to wear a non-medical mask as the COVID-19 virus persists.

“Up to this point, it has been my recommendation to consider wearing a non-medical mask in places where physical distancing of six feet cannot be maintained,” Dr. Morrison said. “I’m strongly recommending that individuals wear a non-medical mask or face covering in indoor public settings when they are unable to maintain a physical distance of six feet.”

“We know that masks are effective in limiting the spread of COVID-19 and serve to protect others around us.”

P.E.I.’s chief public health officer stressed wearing a mask alone with not prevent the spread of COVID-19, and consistently practicing good hygiene and following public health measures is important. Dr. Morrison said everyone should wash their hands before putting on a mask, before taking off a mask and again once it has been removed.

3:00 p.m.: Ontario proposes new legislation to amend, extend emergency orders

The Ontario government has introduced proposed legislation that would allow the province to extend and amend emergency orders for one year, or up to two years if extended, with plans to end the state of emergency declaration at the end of the month.

Premier Ford said this proposed legislation would allow the provincial government to “move quickly” on issues as the world moves through the COVID-19 pandemic, like working rules in long-term care facilities, guidance around gathering sizes and closure of certain spaces.

Solicitor General Sylvia Jones said this would allow the government to “react and respond quickly,” with the understanding that certain restrictions are still needed in order to protect people in Ontario.

Gathering sizes, testing capacity to increase

Ontario’s Minister of Health Christine Elliott said the number of people who can gather is expected to increase when the province moves into Stage 3 of reopening, but specifics around that number are still being worked out.

“You will be able to expect, as time goes on, that the numbers of people involved in a gathering can be increased,” Elliott said.

The health minister also indicated the provincial government will continue to increase its testing capacity, particularly as the summer season transitions to the fall flu season.

“We know that our testing volumes will need to increase as people will unfortunately fall ill, they won’t know if it’s flu or if it’s COVID-19, then they will be going to the assessment centres,” Elliott said.

‘You don’t go to someone’s house’

Premier Ford also responded to renters in Toronto protesting Bill 184 outside Mayor John Tory’s condo building.

Protesters are arguing the Protecting Tenants and Strengthening Community Housing Act would allow landlords to evict tenants who could not pay rent due to the COVID-19 pandemic and takes away the requirement of a Landlord Tenant Board hearing to negotiate rent repayments.

“You don’t go to someone’s house. It’s not fair to the neighbours, it’s not fair to the people in the neighbourhood,” Ford said. “If you want to protest, come down here, protest all day long, come out to city hall.”

“We do have protections for tenants. We’re going after landlords if someone has been wrongfully kicked out of their apartment or condo, whatever it is. I think, politically, they’re spinning it but I’m going to protect the tenants.” 

July 6

7:00 p.m.: B.C.’s top doctor provides more information on how COVID-19 is spread

Dr. Bonnie Henry, British Columbia’s provincial health officer, provided additional clarification on COVID-19 spread following calls from hundreds of health experts that the virus is in fact airborne. This is contrary to reports from the World Health Organization (WHO) that airborne transmission is only possible after certain medical procedures.

Dr. Henry said conversations about airborne transmission of viruses have been “ongoing” for many years and COVID-19 is just another example.

“When we talk about something in the health-care world as being airborne transmitted, what we’re talking about are viruses that are in very small particles that can last in the air for many hours after, and then can float in the air column and can be transmitted down the hallway or through the ventilation system, for example,” B.C.’s provincial health officer explained.

“We know that there is a gradation of how droplets come out when somebody coughs or sneezes or talks. It is the smaller ones that can be breathed deep into the lungs and it’s the larger ones that are often deposited up in the back of the throat or in the upper part of the lungs.”

Dr. Henry said viruses that have commonly been associated with airborne transmission are measles, smallpox and tuberculosis. Influenza and COVID are believed to be primarily in larger droplets that are spread when people are in close contact.

“We know that the amount of virus and the moisture the virus needs to stay alive is a bit more,” the provincial health officer said.

There are some questions still outstanding when it comes to determining spread of COVID-19, particularly related to how much of the virus someone breathes into their lungs at a given time and how much is deposited into the upper airways.

“It is when you’re in close contact with somebody, within two metres, within one metre, particularly if you’re indoors where there’s poor ventilation,” Dr. Henry said. “Those are the situations where you’re much more likely to transmit this virus…regardless of what size particle you’re breathing.”

The provincial health officer went on to say another “complicating factor” is that some people “shed more virus” than others.

“We can’t tell ahead of time who that’s going to be,” Dr. Henry said. “Some people, for reasons that we don’t know, even if they have mild symptoms may shed a lot fo the virus and may have a higher probability of infecting others.

“If somebody like that attends a church service…or goes to a nightclub where they have contact in an enclosed environment with poor ventilation, with lots of people, we get very rapid explosive outbreaks.”

6:00 p.m.: Nova Scotia increases self-isolation surveillance for travellers outside of the Maritimes

Nova Scotia has confirmed one additional COVID-19 case in the province, related to travel outside of Canada. At a press conference on Monday, Premier Stephen McNeil said this individual is not a Nova Scotian but flew to the province en route to Prince Edward Island, initially traveling from the U.S. to Toronto.

“This case, along with a number of reports of people from outside of the Atlantic Bubble coming in and not self-isolating, has sparked a lot of questions and concerns about the Canada-U.S. border…and I am as frustrated as all of you,” McNeil said.

“We have worked hard together and sacrificed so much in this province to help flatten the curve only to have some people come into our province who think they’re above it all, who think that the rules don’t apply to them. Guess what, they do.”

Moving forward, anyone travelling to Nova Scotia from outside the Maritime provinces will have to provide an address for where they will be self-isolating for 14 days and a phone number. The information is being collected as of Monday but a form will be available online on Tuesday, which will have to be presented at the provincial border.

“If they are in self-isolation, they should be able to take a call,” the premier said. “Clearly some people who say that they will be self-isolating [are not] and…are putting all of us at risk, and this is not acceptable.”

Each person coming into Nova Scotia will receive a follow-up call every day for 14 days. If any individual does not answer after three phone call attempts, police will be contacted to conduct an in-person check.

Dr. Robert Strang, the province’s chief medical officer of health, said although more questions are being raised about adequate public health measures at the border, people in Nova Scotia should not make any assumptions when they see an American licence plate, or a licence plate from a non-Atlantic province.

“If you see American licence plates, don’t assume that the people are here illegally and that they haven’t done their quarantine period,” Dr. Strang said. “I think it’s important that we don’t jump to conclusions and make negative assumptions about people.

2:00 p.m.: All of Ontario will be in Stage 2 on Tuesday

Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced Leamington and Kingsville will move into Stage 2 of reopening on Tuesday, July 7. This comes after the areas were held back due to COVID-19 outbreaks among temporary foreign workers in the Windsor-Essex region.

“Outbreaks in the community have been contained, community transmission is low and we have the resources for testing and contact tracing,” Ford said.

Ontario will be sticking with the nasal swab test

At a press conference on Monday, Ontario’s health minister Christine Elliott was asked if there are any plans for the province to move to a saliva-based COVID-19 test, similar to what is being used in Australia, instead of the more invasive nasal swab test.

“They are less invasive…but they’re also less accurate,” Elliot explained “We are finding that the nasal swabs give the best results, the most accurate results and that’s what we really need right now.”

She added that for children, someone who is “very experienced” with young kids is needed to conduct the nasal swab test. Minister Elliott indicated children have more delicate nasal passages and may be more uncomfortable during the process.

July 3

5:00 p.m.: Canada’s top doctor warns about anti-vaccination information

At a press conference on Friday Dr. Theresa Tam, Canada’s chief public health officer, responded to a question about the impact anti-vaccine individuals will have on COVID-19 in Canada.

“Even prior to COVID-19 it’s been a general issue,” Dr. Tam said. “It’s one of the top health concerns the World Health Organization has identified.”

Canada’s chief public health officer admitted that health officials should be spending more time explaining how the vaccine development process works to Canadians.

“I think it is very important for us to ensure that misinformation or disinformation is addressed right away and actually provide information to Canadians about how COVID-19 vaccines develop,” Dr. Tam said.

“They have to go through safety and effectiveness testing and clinical trials. Accelerating those trials does not mean skimming on any safety or effectiveness assessments.”

She added that “nothing is 100 per cent safe” and there are some “rare” side effects to immunizations, but adults and children should ensure they are up to date with all vaccinations.

Dr. Howard Njoo, Canadian deputy chief public health officer, went on to advise the public to get their flu shot this year, particularly with COVID-19 still present during the respiratory infection season this fall.

“We certainly would encourage people to think very strongly about getting the flu vaccine this coming fall so you don’t have a chance of overloading the health-care system with both people sick with the flu and also possibly with COVID-19,” he said.

Being intimate with some is ‘a serious social contract’

Dr. Tam also spoke about whether there is a way for Canadians to have safe sex during the COVID-19 pandemic with people outside of their established circle of close contacts.

“Like anything to do with social interaction…[doing] everything to reduce your risk is the key,” she said. “Assess your own risk, do you have underlying medical conditions, don’t forget the risk to people that you’re connected to.”

Canada’s chief public health officer said it is important to not date if you’re sick, which puts people at risk of being infected with the virus, and recommends beginning interactions a safe distance apart.

“I’m not a dating expert but let’s just say, just to be sensible, maybe start virtually,” Dr. Tam said. “This is a serious social contract you have with someone.”

She added everyone should also practise proper hygiene measures, particularly in more intimate interactions, and dating large numbers of people is not wise.

“Singular dating or smaller numbers is probably the wisest thing to do,” Dr. Tam said.

1:40 p.m.: Ontario premier received ‘misinformation’ about testing at farms

Ontario Premier Doug Ford admitted he received “misinformation” that caused him to say that farm workers are “hiding” from COVID-19 testers.

“I did receive misinformation,” Ford said. “Nothing burns me up more than when I get misinformation.”

“I have been in communication with the farmers, they’re great people. This is moving like rapid fire, it’s very fluid…but we have all hands on deck.

At a press conference of Friday, the premier also commented on the province moving on to the next stage, Stage 3, of the reopening plan.

Ford indicated it is still too early to put a firm date on when the province will transition into this “final stage” but confirmed will include all business and services with the exception of very large gatherings, like spectators at professional sporting events and large-scale concerts.

New virtual health and safety training courses

The Ontario government announced it is launching virtual health and safety training courses.

Up to 100,000 job seekers can use the free program through Employment Ontario, with 10 courses being offered. They include topics like infection control, conducting health and safety incident investigations, ladder safety, slips, trips and falls prevention, and preventing workplace violence and harassment.

The provincial government is investing $3 million into this program.

“This virtual approach to safety training will ensure employers and employees have access to the latest information without the need to physically interact with others. In this way, we also reduce the risk of spreading this deadly virus,” Ford said in a statement.

July 2

6:50 p.m.: Three flights to Vancouver flagged for possible COVID-19 exposure

The B.C. Centre for Disease Control is warning of three recent flights to Vancouver that have been identified as public exposure events.

The flights are:

  • June 16 – Air Canada flight 217 from Saskatoon

  • June 18 – Air Canada flight 557 from Los Angeles

  • June 21 – Flair Airlines flight 8102 from Toronto

Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry commented on their recent exposure events and stressed the importance of not travelling if symptomatic and following the 14-day quarantine rule.

She said people arriving in B.C. must also follow the province’s “travel manners,” which include keeping bubbles on contacts small, limiting social interactions, keeping a safe distance from others and wearing a mask in more crowded indoor spaces.

COVID-19 will be with us when we ring in the New Year, Alberta doctor says

Dr. Deena Hinshaw, Alberta’s chief medical officer of health, stressed to the public that it is important to follow existing health measures closely, as she anticipates the COVID-19 virus will be with us until at least the end of 2020.

“Although we may be done with COVID, it is not yet done with us,” Dr. Hinshaw said. “It will be with us all summer and into the fall, and it will almost certainly be here when we ring in the New Year.”

Alberta’s chief medical officer of health also confirmed that 52 people in one residential building, Verve Condominiums, have tested positive for COVID-19. As of Thursday, 29 of these cases are active and as of Tuesday, one person was in hospital.

Dr. Hinshaw said it is critically important for people who live in condos to try to stay two metres apart from others, sanitize their hands after touching common surfaces (like elevator buttons. She added that building management should implement regular cleaning protocol and consider limiting the number of people who can be in an elevator at one time.

5:30 p.m.: ‘Our borders need to remain closed’

British Columbia Premier John Horgan has taken a strong stance against loosening border restrictions with the U.S., and wants to crack down on Americans who say they are travelling to Alaska but are stopping and interacting with people in the province.

“Our borders need to remain closed until the United States demonstrates that they have a handle on this pandemic,” Horgan said. “Frontline workers, health-care workers have put themselves at risk to protect all of us and we do not want to throw that away for queue jumpers, for people who want to say they’re going somewhere and do something else.” 

“We’re concerned about this phenomenon and we’re hearing about it in communities right across the province.”

B.C.’s premier confirmed he has brought this up with Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland with the expectation that she will raise the concern with state department authorities.

“I’ll leave it to minister Freeland to pick her time and her place,” Horgan said. “Issues in the United States are fluid I think, if I could be charitable. I don’t want to force her hand.”

“She has been adept at working with the current administration in the U.S. to ensure that we’re protecting the interest of Canada and we very much want her to protect the interest of British Columbia, and she understands that.”

The premier added it is not his intention to make it difficult for people to get home to Alaska, but stressed that they should not be stopping anywhere on the way, especially not to “enjoy the sites and sounds” of the province.

4:30 p.m.: Ontario’s top doctor ‘pleased’ with province’s progress to manage COVID-19 crisis

Dr. David Williams, Ontario’s chief medical officer of health, said he is “pleased” with the work the province has done to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

“Ontarians are well engaged in this process,” Dr. Williams said. “Most of our case numbers…were related to outbreaks around an activity and that means we haven’t seen a real big rise in community wide spread, which I was concerned about.”

Ontario’s chief medical officer of health highlighted daily case counts in the province have stayed in the mid-to-upper 100s for some time and the positivity rate has been around one per cent, dropping down to 0.8 per cent yesterday. To date, 87 per cent of COVID-19 cases in Ontario have recovered.

Manitoba requests proposal to deal with surgery backlog

The Manitoba government is issuing a request for proposals to complete elective surgeries postponed due to COVID-19.

The proposals can be from both public and private facilities but must “present details on how the applicant will be able to address priority surgical and diagnostic areas by creating additional capacity in the system.”

Services must be able to be delivered by Aug. 1. 

“This request for proposals will help us to use more capacity in the system,” health minister Cameron Friesen said on Thursday. “Let’s all remember that we’re not out of the woods yet and although the numbers look good in Manitoba we believe there is a window to act right now.”

“We don’t know what the fall will hold, we don’t know what the winter will hold in terms of a possible resurgence of COVID-19. So clearly now is the time to get to work, now is the time to address the issue of the backlog of surgeries that were created as a result of COVID-19.”

Surgical volumes in Manitoba were reduced by about 7,000 procedures, reaching approximately 90 per cent of normal levels by early June. At the moment, the province believes approximately 5,500 people are still waiting to have their surgery rescheduled. 

1:40 p.m.: Ontario invests another $150 million for shelters, long-term housing

The Ontario government announced it will invest an additional $150 million during the COVID-19 pandemic, through the Social Services Relief fund, to improve homeless shelters and create more opportunities for long-term housing.

These funds can be used by municipalities and urban Indigenous community partners to renovate shelters, purchase new facilities that will help with physical distancing, acquire additional supplies and support “more sustainable solutions to homelessness.” 

Premier Doug Ford said the province “needs the federal government at the table” and will continue to work with the prime minister to support Ontario’s municipalities. The premier added he will be “pushing the federal government hard” and they should “cut [Ontario] a cheque” to help support municipalities.

Temporary foreign workers are ‘hiding’ from testing teams

Ford also responded to questions about COVID-19 outbreaks in farms. The premier said when the province went back to retest temporary foreign workers they “hid.” The premier indicated they are scared of being sent home but he went on to stress it is critically important that this testing is done.

“We’re doing everything we can to get this up and going again,” Ford said. “We’re Canada, we’re not some third-world national where you have to run from the authorities.”

“We’re here to help them out and get them healthy…we need everyone to cooperate and get moving.”

Delays for contact tracing app

Earlier on Thursday, it was revealed that the roll out of the contact tracing app, set to launch in Ontario on Thursday, has been delayed. The premier said the province is ready, confirming the delay is on the federal side of the implementation.

Ford said he believes Justin Trudeau’s government is waiting for additional buy-in from other provinces.

June 30

5:00 p.m.: B.C. allows visitors to long-term care home, officials chime in on mask rules

Dr. Bonnie Henry, B.C.’s provincial health officer, announced people in long-term care homes and seniors residences will be allowed to have visitors.

Residents will be able to have a single designated visitor in a designated visiting area in each facility.

“We are going to start slowly and as we expect things will progress well, we’ll expand these activities,” Dr. Henry said.

B.C.’s provincial health officer confirmed the facility cannot be in an outbreak, and a written safety plan must be developed and put in place before visits begin. Designated spaces can be both indoor and outdoor spaces, and in some cases they could include single rooms.

“That will include designated staff who can screen everybody who comes in on entry and can provide that guidance that’s needed to ensure that visitors are able to do so safely,” Dr. Henry said.

Visitors must bring and appropriately wear a mask, which they will get training on, and all visits must be booked in advanced.

“The risk will never be zero,” Dr. Henry said. “We’re asking you to reduce those risks that you’re taking outside of that visit.”

The provincial health officer of B.C. also commented on more jurisdictions moving forward with mandatory mask wearing rules. She said the province is not at the point where it would be mandated but “strongly recommends” people in B.C. wear them in more crowded settings, including public transit.

Dr. Henry said if the province sees a significant surge in the fall, the normal flu season, there may be additional directives requiring the public to wear masks in some indoor situations.

She said she still has concerns about people who are not able to easily put on and remove face coverings on their own, like children and people with disabilities.

Alberta allows events of up to 200 people

In a press release on Tuesday, the Alberta government announced the outdoor gathering limit has increased from 100 to 200 people.

“The increase applies to attendees at community outdoor events such as festivals, fireworks displays, rodeos and sporting events, and outdoor performances,” the release explains.

Officials go on to stress that physical distancing rules remain in place.

“Seated outdoor events will still require the necessary space between families and cohorts within stadium-style seating,” the government stated.

2:00 p.m.: More mask rules to come in effect in Canada

As the City of Toronto awaits a vote from city council to make masks mandatory in indoor public spaces, Ontario Premier Doug Ford maintains a province-wide mandate is still not in the cards.

Ford stressed the “golden rule” is still to wear a mask or face covering in large groups or when physical distancing cannot be maintained, but he said it is up to each local public health unit to determine what is right for them.

“Each region has the authority to make their own rules…I encourage it” the premier said. “Toronto and Peel [are] different than Kenora, Rainy River, it’s apples and oranges.”

Dr. Eileen de Villa, Toronto’s medical officer of health, has asked city council to enact a temporary bylaw asking businesses owners to require customers to wear a non-medical face covering in their space.

“This does not include people who cannot wear a mask for medical reasons, or children under two years old,” Dr. de Villa said in a statement. “We have learned that cloth masks can help to protect others from our germs.”

“Remember, I wear my cloth mask to protect you and you wear one to protect me. This is why, in order to be most effective, we need as many.”

Toronto Mayor John Tory supported the recommendation from the city’s medical officer of health on Tuesday.

“Wearing fabric masks or face coverings keep you from unknowingly spreading this COVID-19 virus and keeps the people around you from spreading it,” Tory said. “It is about respecting and protecting each other.”

On the same day, Quebec’s government announced masks will be mandatory on public transit in the province, beginning on July 31.

Premier Francois Legault said this rules applies to anyone over the age of 12 and is recommended for younger who children, who can wear a face covering safely.

June 29

7:00 p.m.: COVID-19 questions of the day

6:50 p.m.: B.C. health experts ‘concerned’ about loosening physical distancing measures on flights

B.C. health officials expressed concern about the airlines relaxing physical distancing measures on planes next month.

“We are concerned,” Dr. Bonnie Henry, the provincial health officer said. “It is an environment that we know people spend a lot of time in close contact with each other.”

“The other really, really important thing that we need to remember is you should not be travelling if you are ill. We need to have screening processes in place that identity people before they get on board an aircraft.”

Dr. Henry went on to say there has been an occasion in the past week where people arrived in B.C. with symptoms and later tested positive for COVID-19.

Adrian Dix, B.C.’s health minister, supported Dr. Henry’s comments, adding that he would like the see Transport Canada and Health Canada say why they support this, if that is in fact the case.

“It is the responsibility of Transport Canada the federal government to ensure rules are followed and rules are applied here,” Dix said. “What I’d like to hear from Transport Canada, what I’d like to hear from Health Canada, is do they agree with this because it is absolutely within their jurisdiction to deal with.

“They need to be explicit and they need to explain why it is and that’s what we’ll be waiting to hear.”

Correlation between blood type and COVID-19 infection

Dr. Henry also commented on recent reports that people with Type O blood may be less likely to experience a more severe COVID-19 infection.

“It is interesting, it’s preliminary,” Dr. Henry said. “There’s been a number of different factors that people are looking at, some of them genetic, like blood type.”

“It does not yet give us answers but it can give us some indication that there’s host factors that have to do with how well we respond to fighting off this virus.” 

3:50 p.m.: ‘These recent outbreaks are concerning’

Dr. Barbara Yaffe, Ontario’s associate chief medical officer of health, spoke about the 177 recently confirmed COVID-19 cases in temporary foreign workers in Windsor-Essex.

“These recent outbreaks are concerning and they pose unique challenges that require a targeted response,” Dr. Yaffe said.

She confirmed that the testing team will return to the farm with the majority of cases on Monday to further investigate these cases.

Ontario Chief Coroner Dr. Dirk Huyer said this “broad” testing on farms will also be implemented in the additional regions, like Niagara and Haldimand-Norfolk, with the executional plans currently in development.

Asymptomatic temporary foreign workers

Dr. Yaffe fielded questions on the decision announced last week by the Ontario government that would allow asymptomatic migrant workers on farms, who have tested positive for COVID-19, to continue working while being kept separate from others.

“We are not applying that policy until we determine that it is the correct conditions for it,” Dr. Yaffe said, adding that the plan was developed in the view of having a “small handful” of asymptomatic workers who tested positive for the virus at a farm.

“We don’t have a small handful in this instance, we have quite a lot of people,” Ontario’s associate chief medical officer of health said. “We need to have the team go out there today, investigate, interview each of those people more carefully with an interpreter.”

Dr. Huyer echoed her comments, indicated the initial consideration of last week’s announcement assumed there was “a single or maybe two people who were determined to be asymptomatic.”

“First and foremost, the medical officer of health must sort through and evaluate whether there is an infection in the workplace, to protect everybody else in that workplace,” he said. “If in fact it’s one individual who, through evaluation, did not have symptoms, that’s a different consideration from 177.”

Dr. Yaffe said depending on how these additional interviews with COVID-19 cases in Windsor-Essex turn out, there would be consideration of closing the farm.

“One of the options is to close the farm,” she said. “That has other ramifications and it’s not the automatic thing we would do but it’s one of the considerations.”

Mandatory mask order not yet happening across Ontario

Ontario’s associate chief medical officer of health said at this time, the province is not moving to a mandatory mask order, but it is a “consideration.”

“I think everything is always under consideration in this situation,” Dr. Yaffe said. “At this point, we are strongly recommending wearing non-medical masks…in situations where you are not sure you can remain physical distant of at least two metres.” 

This comes after mayors in Ontario have asked the provincial government to create a mandatory mask policy, with “extra precautions” in urban centres.

2:30 p.m.: Most of Ontario’s case count from temporary foreign workers

Of the 257 cases reported in Ontario on Monday, 177 cases came from testing of temporary foreign workers in Windsor-Essex.

“I don’t think it’s contained to one farm…we’ll find out as we continually test down there,” Ontario Premier Doug Ford said. “It’s just a full out onslaught down there to nip this in the bud.”

The premier said the testing team will move on to the Niagara area for further investigation into temporary foreign workers.

“We have a great team out there…we’re going to make sure we’re doing everything in our power to resolve these cases as quickly as possible,” Ford said.

The premier was also asked about a practice in the region where recruiters will bring temporary foreign workers from farm to farm, which could lead to expedited spread of COVID-19.

“We’re reaching out to all the farmers, we’re getting a list of these recruitment agencies,” Ford said. “We found out some are fly-by-nighters and just trying to make a quick buck, so we’re going to put an end to that.”

Ontario NDP Leader Andrea Horwath has written a letter to Carla Qualtrough, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability for the federal government, expressing concerns about temporary foreign workers who have tested positive but do not show any symptoms, asymptomatic carriers, being allowed to continue work on Ontario farms.

“Workers desperately need protection and the lack of clear directives and consistent messaging, at a time when everyone needs to be working together, is a recipe for disaster,” the letter reads.

Minister of Health Christine Elliott confirmed a team, which includes nurses, nurse practitioners and interpreters, will be speaking to people who have been diagnosed with COVID-19 to see if they are truly asymptomatic carriers or if there are in fact symptomatic but not communicating that fact.

“We only want the people who are well…to be going back to work,” Elliott said. “That’s why we really need to make sure that they have that medical examination.”

The health minister went on to say if temporary foreign workers are symptomatic and have tested positive for the virus, they may need to be housed separately, moved off of the property or even transferred to hospital.

1:25 p.m.: Canada’s top doctor stresses the importance of contact tracing as COVID-19 continues to pop up in ‘hot spots’

Public Health Agency of Canada
Public Health Agency of Canada

Dr. Theresa Tam, Canada’s chief public health officer, stressed the importance of identifying COVID-19 cases and tracing their close contacts as a way to keep the spread of the virus down in Canada.

“The virus has not disappeared and resurgence can happen at any time or at any place,” Dr. Tam said. “We are on our way down the right side of the first peak.”

Public Health Agency of Canada
Public Health Agency of Canada

The quicker public health officials in Canada can identify COVID-19 cases and trace contacts, followed by self-isolation measures, the less likely it is that spread will occur, allowing Canadians to keep outbreaks down.

“As restrictive public health measures are being lifted…we expected to see some resurgence of cases,” Dr. Tam said.

Public Health Agency of Canada
Public Health Agency of Canada

Minimizing the number of close contacts each person has will also help maintain epidemic control. The more public health measures are in place and the few social spaces space people are in, the easier it will be to control the spread through contact tracing.

Public Health Agency of Canada
Public Health Agency of Canada

Most of the cases seen to date have been in Quebec and Ontario, primarily in the more populous areas of Toronto and Montreal. The data does show that Alberta, Saskatchewan and New Brunswick have seen a recent increase in cases, which exemplifies that resurgences can happen at any time, even if case numbers are relatively low.

Public Health Agency of Canada
Public Health Agency of Canada

P.E.I., the Yukon and Northwest Territories had no community spread of the virus, and Nunavut has not had any confirmed cases. Many of the outbreaks that have occurred have been in more vulnerable, crowded settings and lower income areas which show significant health disparities.

Public Health Agency of Canada
Public Health Agency of Canada

Earlier on in the pandemic, older Canadians made up a large portion of cases but more recently, with declines in long-term care and senior’s homes, people under the age of 40 now account for a greater number of infections.

11:55 a.m.: Canada still looking at border restrictions into August, federal updates to be less frequent

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the federal government will continue to “put the safety of Canadians at the very top of our priority list” with regards to border restrictions, particularly measures with the U.S.

“We will continue to assess the situation, work with Americans on what steps need to be taken into the month of August,” Trudeau said. “Even as our economy is reopening we need to make sure we’re continuing to remain vigilant, individually and collectively.”

The non-essential travel restrictions with the U.S. will remain in place until at least July 21.

With Canadian COVID-19 modelling data to be released later on Monday, the prime minister teased that the information will show things are heading in the right direction in terms of the country’s response to the virus.

Trudeau stressed it is still important for Canadians to continue to follow public health advice, including wearing a mask if physical distancing cannot be maintained, as a way to minimize a second wave of spread.

If a second wave does arrive, the prime minister said he is confident Canada will have sufficient fiscal room to respond effectively.

As we move into July, federal officials will only provide public updates on the COVID-19 pandemic a few times a week or when needed.

June 26

5:45 p.m.: COVID-19 polls of the day

5:30 p.m.: Quebec backtracks on COVID-19 case updates

After Quebec officials announced Thursday that the province will transition to weekly case updates to the public, the ministry of health is backtracking on their decision.

Daily case numbers will be shared with the public again starting Monday, said Quebec’s new health minister Christian Dubé.

The decision comes after the reaction from the public suggesting the change was being made as an attempt to “hide” information as public health restrictions are loosened, said Dr. Horacio Arruda, the province’s public health director.

Dr. Arruda explained the initial decision was made Wednesday because the numbers were getting lower and lower, and the belief was that the public might be getting tired of hearing the daily case counts.

New orders on travel in Manitoba

The Manitoba government have issues a number of new public health orders related to travel in the province.

The orders include:

  • Remove restrictions on travel to northern Manitoba and remote communities

  • Remove the requirement for people coming to Manitoba to work on film productions to self-isolate for 14 days before entering the province

  • Clarify the only sports teams exempt from self-isolation requirements are professional sports teams from Manitoba and remove the requirement for Manitoba sports teams to self-isolate for 14 days before returning to Manitoba

  • Permit individuals who are self-isolating under federal or provincial health orders to visit a family member or friend who has a life-threatening disease in a health-care facility, if the facility permits them to do so and they are not displaying symptoms of COVID-19

3:45 p.m.: Red Cross begins recruiting to prepare for work in Quebec long-term care homes

Harjit Sajjan, Minister of National Defence, provided additional details on the military leaving long-term care homes in Quebec as the Red Cross moves in.

“The Canadian Armed Forces will not leave a facility until it is stable,” Sajjan stressed, adding that military personnel currently in these homes have been sharing best practices with the Canadian Red Cross to help them prepare for their duties.

He said all Canadians Armed Forces members deployed to long-term care homes will go into a 14-day isolation before they resume normal military duties, but they will still be prepared to support these facilities if needed.

“Canadian Armed Forces will continue to maintain a reserve of 10 augmented civilian care shifts, teams of medical and support personnel, who will be ready to assist Quebec facilities in case the situation becomes critical again,” Sajjan said. “These teams will be able to respond to any COVID-19 outbreak that civilian staff and provincial health authorities are unable to control on their own.” 

Conrad Sauvé, the president and CEO of the Canadian Red Cross, said the organization is working to scale up its teams to support long-term care homes in Quebec. He stressed these are paid positions — with no background in healthcare required — in support aid, site management, health and safety, and administrative roles.

“Those roles require a minimum one month commitment with the opportunity to work over the summer,” Sauvé said. “This is a great opportunity for students looking for summer work, individuals who may be out of work temporarily due to COVID or those just looking to make a difference this summer.”

“The Canadian Red Cross is used to responding to increasingly complex disasters in Canada. This pandemic has required a response of an even greater scale.”

Military personnel possibly asymptomatic carriers

General Jonathan Vance, chief of the defence staff, was asked if he believes there were additional measures the military could have taken to prevent COVID-19 spreading to its personnel. Since entering long-term care facilities, 55 members of the Canadian Armed Forces have been infected with the virus, with all but four recovered.

“As we went into those long-term care facilities we brought with us the best knowledge that we could, but we didn’t have local knowledge of the facilities themselves,” General Vance said. “A lot of those troops that went in there were not experts in infectious environments and were learning as they went.”

He revealed the military believes some of these troops were infected but asymptomatic before the operation started and their close living conditions in hotels could have impacted the number of troops who contracted COVID-19.

“We believe that some of those troops that were determined to be infected had been asymptomatic before the operation started,” General Vance said. “Testing regime is going to be really critical going forward…any advances in PPE, we would take advantage of.”

1:40 p.m.: Ford won’t let people in Ontario go ‘hog wild’ like the U.S.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford commented on how the province will move into Stage 3 of reopening, not revealing too many details, but promising it will be a “cautious approach.”

“We’re going to rely on all the chief medical officers…across the province,” Ford said. “I’m sure that we’ll be doing the same staged approach.”

The premier went on to say the Ontario will not approach the next stage of reopening in the same way as the U.S.

“That’s the comparison, being cautious and everyone following the protocol…versus the reckless approach, in my opinion, south of the border that everyone just goes hog wild,” Ford said. “That’s come back to bite them and we just pray to God that doesn’t happen up here.”

‘The system is working’

The premier and Minister of Health Christine Elliott also spoke about a recent outbreak at a nail salon in Kingston, Ont., which led to 18 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and warnings to the more than 500 people who have recently visited the business.

“What it shows is the system is working…because of how quickly we contacted and traced the 500 people,” Ford said.

Elliott echoed the statement that the province’s ability to do the contact tracing for such a large number of people is positive. She added this outbreak does not mean any Stage 2 measures will be rolled back, at this point.

“It doesn’t mean that we need to go back on anything that we moved into Stage 2 but we are continuing…to make sure that the appropriate precautions are taken,” the health minister said.

11:30 a.m.: Military to be replaced in long-term care homes in Quebec

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced plans to transition Canadian Armed Forces members out of long-term care homes in Quebec, replacing them with individuals from the Canadian Red Cross.

The prime minister stressed military personnel will only leave when a care facility has moved from a red condition, the most critical label, to a green condition. He said 150 members of the Red Cross will arrive in the coming week, with 750 set to arrive in the weeks to follow.

“It was actually the Red Cross that participated in training (for) the armed forces,” Trudeau said. “We will not leave anyone in a precarious position.”

The prime minister said the country needs to do a “much better” job caring for seniors but many critical situations have stabilized.

Trudeau fields questions about WE charity partnership for the Canada Student Service Grant program

On Thursday, Trudeau announced the federal government is launching the Canada Student Service Grant, which will give each student up to $5,000 for volunteer work. The program is being administered by the WE charity organization, which the Trudeau family has worked closely with in the past.

When asked why this organization was chosen to administer the grant program, the prime minister said this was the only one in Canada that could do the job.

“We’re going to create opportunities for tens of thousands of young people right across the country to work with organizations large and small,” the prime minister said. “In order to do that, we needed to have a partner to help establish the networks and to deliver that with all partners across the country.”

“As the public service dug into it they came back with only one organization that was capable of networking and organizing and delivering this program on the scale that we needed it, and that was the WE program.”

Trudeau said WE will have its costs covered but they are not making any profits on this.

10:15 a.m.: Canada’s top doctor says issue in long-term care homes is ‘a whole of society issue’

In brief remarks on Friday, Dr. Theresa Tam, Canada’s chief public health officer, responded to calls that Canada needs to do more to care for seniors.

“Critically, our response to the pandemic has revealed failures in how we care for older Canadians,” Dr. Tam said. “While we have made progress…it is vital that we accelerate our efforts.”

When asked about much of the blame being put on the provinces, primarily Ontario and Quebec, she said these institutions do fall under provincial jurisdiction but all levels of government, in additional to both the public and private sector, needs to take responsibility.

“It’s a whole of society issue and I think that every one of us, every level of the health system should take responsibility,” Dr. Tam said. “Our role has been to support the province in the response and provide guidance.”

Canada’s chief public health officer indicated personal support workers and other staff in long-term care homes having to work in different health setting “perhaps played a role on propagation the virus as well.”

She added it is difficult for anyone to be in isolation but does not want to public to discount the effectiveness of technology to allow order Canadians to have personal connections.

June 25

7:15 p.m.: COVID-19 questions of the day

7:00 p.m.: B.C. NHL rumours and advice for ‘summer loving’

Dr. Bonnie Henry, British Columbia’s provincial health officer, responded to reports that the NHL is looking at Edmonton and Toronto as possible hub cities over Vancouver. Some reports have indicated it is due to issues around the quarantining process if a player, coach or NHL official gets sick.

Dr. Henry said she has not had direct conversations with the NHL about this being the case but maintains that the health of the players and the people of B.C. is her “primary concern.” She said if this is the case, she is “disappointed” with the decision.

“Under no circumstances was I going to compromise in any way the health of people here in British Columbia and we made that very clear,” Dr. Henry said.

“Our advice and our direction was that if there was a positive case that arose, that we would do what we do with all cases that we have here,” she explained. “We would investigate and…there needs to be contingency in case there were other people identified as ill, and it might mean suspensions of a part of a series for a period of time until that could be done.”

Health minister Adrian Dix could not confirm the reports either, saying it is “a decision for the NHL,” but maintained that Vancouver is still an excellent option for an NHL hub city.

“We just profoundly believe that the strength of what we said to everybody is the strength of public health here in B.C.,” Dix said.

What about ‘summer loving’?

B.C.’s provincial health officer was also asked about people who want to experience some “summer loving” but still need to following physical distancing rules. She responded by saying each person should evaluate their own risks.

“Go outside, meet outside, decide whether this is somebody that you want to include into your bubble,” Dr. Henry said. “I think people need to make their own decisions based on what their own risk is and the risk of those that they are closest to.”

“Love still happens in the time of COVID…start online, start meeting outside before you take the plunge.”

Alberta to bring COVID-19 tests to pharmacies

Tyler Shandro, Alberta’s health minister, announced that people in the province with no COVID-19 symptoms and no known exposure to a case will be able to get tested at community pharmacies.

“Pharmacists are highly trained health professionals and pharmacy’s support the healthcare of residents in their communities everyday,” Shandro said.

This will be a throat swab that will then be sent to Alberta Precision Laboratories for analysis.

“Participating pharmacies will receive specialized training and they will follow strict safety protocols,” Shandro said.

This will begin in the coming days at 20 pharmacies, primarily in Edmonton and Calgary. Anyone with symptoms or anyone who has knowingly been exposed to a COVID-19 case should not go to a pharmacy for a test but should instead take the online assessment and present at one of the existing assessment centres.

Dr. Deena Hinshaw, Alberta’s chief medical officer of health, in the lead up to Canada Day next week, asked people in the province to consider taking steps to minimize the risk of potentially being infected or transmitting COVID-19. This includes wearing a mask when physical distancing may not be possible, avoiding high-touch surfaces and frequent hand washing.

“The risk of spread is lower outdoors so if the weather permits, I suggest celebrating outside within your cohort,” Dr. Hinshaw said. “Please avoid barbecues and potlucks because shared containers and serving utensils can be a source of infection.”

“This year it’s a good idea for everyone to bring their own food and drinks, and if anyone disagrees with that you can blame me for that recommendation…COVID-19 loves a party so we can’t let our guard down.”

5:45 p.m.: Bars, hotels, spas, waterparks and more open in Quebec

Dr. Horacio Arruda, Quebec’s director of public health, said all business sectors that have still be restricted in the province can resume operations. This includes bars, hotels, waterparks and spas. There are three exceptions, large festivals and events, overnight camps and sports with close contact fighting.

Dr. Arruda stressed that physical distancing of two metres, frequent hand washing and the use of a non-medial facial covering must continue for all people in Quebec.

For bars in particular, Quebec’s director of public health said fewer people will be allowed inside to maintain physical distancing and there will be no standing or dancing. He said people will have to sit down to enjoy their drinks in order to prevent people walking around, possibly spreading the virus.

Dr. Arruda also spoke about the province moving to a weekly public update on case counts in Quebec. He said the number of cases and hospitalizations have come down low enough to transition to less-frequent updates.

Quebec’s director of public health said if there are any resurgences of cases or hospitalizations the province will resume more regular publication of data.

‘Viruses don’t always follow all the rules’

Dr. David Williams, Ontario’s chief medical officer of health, stressed younger people or individuals without any underlying health conditions should not be “casual” about possibly contracting COVID-19. Dr. Williams said he has received “anecdotal reports” of post-infection conditions, similar to the “COVID toes” reported in children.

“I wouldn’t be too casual about not caring about getting infected,” he said. “This is a new disease and one can’t just assume they know everything about it…you don’t know what the longer term aspects are.”

As images being to circulate of crowds of people flooding to recently opened patios in the province, Dr. Williams said opening up carefully should be the priority, with particular concern about businesses opening up too quickly.

“It’s open up and be careful, that’s the message,” Ontario’s chief medical officer of health said. “Don’t do it recklessly.”

“Viruses don’t always follow all the rules and one should not be overly confident and take things for granted.”

Manitoba begins plans for fall school year

The Manitoba government has released its plans to reopen schools in September, with teachers returning on Sept. 2 and students on Sept. 8.

School divisions are expected to submit their plans for three different possible scenarios in the fall, in-class learning with near-normal conditions, in-class learning with additional public health measures taken into consideration and remote learning from home with limited use of school facilities.

The final decision on the resumption of school in September will be made by Aug. 1, based on public health directions at the time.

Some of the key components in the framework put forward by the Manitoba government for fall schooling plans include:

  • Ensuring schools can respond and adapt to changing public health orders and guidance

  • Considering the use of cohorts in classrooms, on buses and during activities to limit exposure to COVID-19

  • Looking at ways to accommodate specialty programming and extracurricular activities

  • Considering how school transportation can be safely offered

  • Making arrangements for students, teachers and staff who may be at higher risk of COVID-19

  • Considering learning and assessment needs, as well as any educational gaps for students as a result of the pandemic

2:00 p.m.: Ontario premier criticizes report comparing deaths in long-term care facilities

Ontario Premier Doug Ford criticized a report by the Canadian Institute for Health Information comparing deaths in Canadian long-term care homes to other developed nations.

Ford said he thinks the report is “a little unfair” as it compares Canada to Spain’s 18,000 deaths in long-term care.

The premier also criticized Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for his comments on the report, with Trudeau indicating these care in these facilities is provincial jurisdiction and they were not able to provide adequate care, in many cases.

“Put your money where your mouth is,” Ford said. “We’re supposed to be all in this together, let’s be all in this together.”

The premier did go on to say that although he disagrees with the prime minister’s recent comments, the federal government has been “pretty good” in their support to date.

Minister of Health Christine Elliott said in an effort to prepare for a second wave of COVID-19 spread, the province has ordered extra higher-level dosage of the influenza vaccine for seniors, to ensure they can be protected as we head into flu season.

Elliott said Ontario is also going to continue to enhance its testing capacity and conduct regular tests, particularly for seniors and people in long-term care facilities, nursing homes and seniors residences.

‘I just don’t think we’re ready right now’

Premier Ford also commented on calls from the tourism industry to loosen border restrictions. He said he spoke to “an expert” who indicated a second wave will come when Canada starts to welcome people from around the world.

“I know it’s inevitable, we’ve got to do it, I just don’t think we’re ready right now,” Ford said. “You see what’s happening down in the States, you look at Florida, you look at Texas, Arizona, California, I don’t want to be those states.”

“I want to protect the people here in Ontario and I just think we’re opening it up too early if the decision is made on July the 21st.”

12:50 p.m.: ‘Canada needs all the volunteer COVID-19 ‘firefighters’ that we can get’

Canada’s chief public health officer Dr. Theresa Tam spoke about the importance of Canadians keeping their number of contacts small to assist with contact tracing across the country, saying it is similar to Canada putting out fires.

“Canada needs all the volunteer COVID-19 ‘firefighters’ that we can get,” Dr. Tam said.

She said the “big fire” is out and now “public health firefighters” are able to focus on case investigation and contact tracing to “control the smaller fires.”

Grouping of asymptomatic, COVID-19 positive workers at Ontario farms

Canada’s chief public health officer also commented on the plan announced yesterday by the Ontario government that asymptomatic workers on farms, who have tested positive for COVID-19, can continue working while being kept separate from others.

Dr. Tam said she is not particularly familiar with the specifics of the plan but stressed it’s important to keep people who have tested positive for the virus “isolated” to ensure they do not spread the COVID-19 to others.

“People can begin to get symptoms anytime in that incubation period,” she said. “You need to make sure that you screen them for symptoms and enable them to stop working if they’re not feeling well.”

“We have to ensure that all the conditions are right to support the workers so that they can, if they’re sick, not go to work and be supported for that period.”

Quebec to do weekly updates on COVID-19 cases

The Quebec government has announced the province will limits its COVID-19 updates to once a week, beginning next week, opposed to providing the daily case updates.

Dr. Howard Njoo, Canadian deputy chief public health officer, indicated it is more important for the province to continue to communicate good public health measures for the public to follow.

Dr. Njoo went on to say if there was an outbreak or a significant event related to COVID-19 spread, he expects the province to be transparent and disseminate the information in a public space.

11:10 a.m.: Government launches Canada Student Service Grant

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the federal government is launching the Canada Student Service Grant, as a way to help students develop skills while contributing to their community through volunteer work. Students in university, college or CEGEP can receive a grant of between $1,000 and $5,000 based on the number of hours worked.

The federal government is also investing $40 million to create 5,000 Mitacs internships for post-secondary students. Mitacs, a not-for-profit organization that provides research and training programs, usually supports masters and PhD research students. This additional funding would extend their internship opportunities to including undergraduate students and professional programs, like law and medicine.

Trudeau said an example of these new programs includes allowing MBA students to connect with small businesses facing challenges because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The government will also create 10,000 summer job placements for people between the ages of 15 and 30.

“If we want to build a strong and resilient economy, we have to invest in the next generation,” the prime minister said.

Canada needs to better support seniors in long-term care

Trudeau also responded to a recent report that the number of deaths from COVID-19 in long-term care homes is about twice the average of rates from other developed nations.

“What this recent report has shown…is that the job isn’t being adequately done in long-term care centres across the country,” the prime minister said. “We need to…make sure that we are doing better by our seniors.”

He went on to say the federal government is continuing to work with provinces on supporting long-term care facilities but recognizes that these institutions fall under provincial jurisdictions.

June 24

6:15 p.m. COVID-19 questions of the day

5:45 p.m.: B.C. moving into Phase 3 with the resumption of travel operations, film and television productions

B.C. Premier John Horgan announced the province will move into Phase 3 of its reopening plan. 

More opportunities to travel within the province is a key component of this next phase of reopening, with hotels, motels, RV parks, cabins, resorts, hostels, lodges, and backcountry operators to resume service. 

“We believe that if we’re careful about how we approach communities we have not been to in a while, and we visit respecting the views and values of the people in those communities, Phase 3 achievements will be as positive as those in Phase 2,” Horgan said. 

The travel guidelines outlined by B.C. include:

  • Pre-trip planning and research on available resources at arriving destination 

  • Respecting any local travel advisories to isolated and remote communities

  • No travelling for anyone who is sick, and if symptoms develop while travelling – self isolate immediately and contact 811 for guidance and testing

  • Practicing safe physical distancing of two metres at all times 

  • Spending time in small groups and open spaces

  • Practicing good hygiene, including frequent hand washing and cleaning

“Although we’re going to have a summer that’s better than we would have thought perhaps a few months ago, this is not a return to normal,” the B.C. premier said. “We need to make sure that we maintain the practices in our own community as we travel to other communities.”

Dr. Bonnie Henry,  B.C.’s provincial health officer, reminded people in the province that the virus is still a threat and precautions still need to be taken to keep each person safe. She stressed B.C. is not going back to a “pre-COVID normal.”

“This will be a unique year and a unique summer for all of us,” Dr. Henry said. “We are at the point where we need social interaction, we need to be able to have our economic engines going and part of that is travelling, seeing people, going to places.”

The premier said that he has heard and has personally experienced difficulty with booking a spot at key travel sites in B.C. but he said hospitality operators may “perhaps open up areas that they had not planned on.” 

“I think it’s going to be a positive challenge for tourism operators,” Horgan said.

He added now it is “more important than ever” for British Columbians to travel within the province, and support the hospitality and tourism sector.

“The biggest concern I have for our economic restart is the absence of literally hundreds of thousands of international travellers who have historically looked at British Columbia as a place to come and visit,” the premier said.

No exception for 14-day isolation rule for TV, film productions

Phase 3 also allows TV and film productions to operate in the province with a number of safety protocols in place, including staggering work schedules, limiting or restricting visitors to set, reducing the number so cast and crew at filming areas, and assigning hairstylists and makeup artists to one individual at a time.

The premier said he is not aware of any specific requests from the film industry for a type of “cohort” isolation system, similar to what is outlined in the NHL plan for hockey players who would potentially travel to Vancouver. This means international travellers going to B.C. for film or TV productions would still need to self-isolate for 14 days.

“Compared to Hollywood, Hollywood North is looking pretty good on the health front and we have extraordinary talent here…as well as studio capacity to meet the needs of many, many productions,” Horgan said. 

“I don’t think there’s a comparison between the NHL proposal, which was going to be a group of people in one place, as opposed to the film industry, which is dispersed right around British Columbia and has domestic staff that would still be part of any production that takes place.”

Dr. Henry said her “overriding concern” will continue to be ensuring protocols that protect local communities remain in place.

“There is no waving of the 14-day quarantine,” she said. “The overriding importance is the safety factor.”

3:30 p.m.: Atlantic provinces begin ‘bubble’ travel next week, possible dates to loosen restrictions for the rest of Canada

Premiers of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador have agreed to an Atlantic bubble for travel, beginning on July 3.

This would allow residents of each province to move in and out of these regions without having to isolate upon arrival.

Visitors to the Maritimes from other provinces or territories in Canada will still have to quarantine for 14 days.

“As this Atlantic bubble opens it will be closely monitored as we remain committed to working together to support economic and social recovery,” Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Dwight Ball said.

New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs confirmed no one will be able to leave their province of residence if they have been outside the Atlantic region for any reason, including for essential work, 14 days before the date they intend to travel.

“You will not be able to visit the other provinces if you have been advised to self-isolate or if you are awaiting the results of a COVID-19 test,” Higgs said.

Proof every traveller’s province of residence will have to be presented at the borders and people who are symptomatic should not travel.

“We will be collecting travellers’ information so we can conduct contact tracing in the event of an outbreak,” Higgs said. “Each province will have their own process in place to track and monitor travellers for public health purposes and New Brunswickers will be subject to those rules when visiting other provinces.”

Nova Scotia Premier Stephen McNeil said the province will continue to work on ensuring that proper public health measures are in place and followed as these travel restrictions are loosened.

“We have to have a broader conversation about the use of masks…at the same time looking at what other potential internal restrictions we could start easing off a little bit,” McNeil said.

Ball said as early as two weeks after the implementation of this Atlantic bubble, the province will look to ease travel restrictions with other areas of Canada.

“We would permit travellers from other parts of Canada starting around Friday, July 17,” Ball said. “This can only be possible if we get favourable results in the days and weeks leading into July 17.”

This sentiment was echoed by other Atlantic premiers, with Nova Scotia’s premier saying the province will be looking to make the same travel permissions around the same time.

“We don’t have a specific date but…we would look at the second to third week of July,” McNeil said. “Two weeks following the July 3 date, we would be reassessing the epidemiology in our region and quite honestly, looking at the rest of Canada.”

Higgs said it is “certainly in the realm of possibility” for New Brunswick to loosen travel rules for more Canadians around mid-to late July.

2:00 p.m.: Most of Windsor-Essex to move into Stage 2, new plan to prevent COVID-19 spread on farms

The Ontario government announced that Windsor-Essex can move to Stage 2 on Thursday, except Leamington and Kingsville.

The province is also implementing a plan to reduce the transmission of COVID-19 at farms, which still continues to be a concern.

This three-point plans includes expanded testing on these farm sites through mobile testing units, in addition to community assessment centres. The provincial government confirmed about 350 asymptomatic workers in the region have been tested at their work site and more mobile testing will be scheduled in the days to come.

Premier Doug Ford stressed that temporary foreign workers receive the same benefits and protections as other workers in the province, including Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) benefits if they do test positive for COVID-19. He said in certain cases they may be eligible for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) through the federal government.

“We stand shoulder-to-shoulder with farmers and our workers,” Ford said.

New public health guidance will be issued to allow asymptomatic workers to continue working, while following measures to reduce possible transmission of COVID-19. Dr. David Williams, Ontario’s chief medical officer of health, said this would also allow employers to separate asymptomatic workers, who have tested positive, from others.

“We put out a cluster method where you could take those individuals who are asymptotic and still test positive, and ask them to work separately from the rest because they’re mostly on farms, they’re out on large acreage,” Dr. Williams said. “They would wear a facial covering…the farmer would work to have them sleeping in separate, together, away from the rest of the workforce…so they’re not interacting with the rest of the workers.”

Ontario’s chief medical officer of health said these individuals would be monitored and retested within 48 hours, and if any develop signs of symptoms they would be dealt with as a possible case. If the test comes back negative, they would rejoin the rest of the workforce.

Premier Ford also responded to reports that some of these temporary foreign workers are having racist slurs yelled at them by people in the province. The premier said he “just won’t tolerate that.”

“Those vegetables you’re eating, it’s because of these migrant workers…and if you don’t appreciate the migrant workers than you go out in the fields and start working your back off when it’s 100 degrees out in the middle of the summer,” Ford said. “Maybe you should go up and say thank you for working your back off because a lot of people aren’t willing to do the work that they’re doing.”

“They never came here with COVID-19, they self-isolated. The people here, somewhere, somehow gave them COVID-19 then it spread in congregate living.”

June 23

7:00 p.m.: B.C.’s latest modelling data shows a safe increase of personal contacts in the province

B.C. Ministry of Health
B.C. Ministry of Health

Dr. Bonnie Henry, British Columbia’s chief medical officer of health, presenting new modelling information that indicates the province has been able to manage COVID-19 as it has moved into different stages of reopening.

“I do think we’re in the place where we can move to supporting the safe opening of other parts of our economy…including travel, particularly people travelling within B.C.,” Dr. Henry said, adding that as the province moves to Phase 3 she will be watching for any cases that are not linked to a known source.

Dr. Henry showed how the number of infections that came from unknown exposure, peaking in March, has significantly decreased since that point. 

Imported cases still continue to occur in B.C., which the chief medical officer of health said is primarily from people who are returning to the province from other countries, most recently from India. Dr. Henry said some of these cases have also been in temporary foreign workers with 27 becoming symptomatic during the quarantine period, primarily in workers from Mexico, which she said indicates this isolation measure is working.

B.C. Ministry of Health
B.C. Ministry of Health

Dr. Henry said it’s predicted that the province is at about 65 per cent of normal contact, or pre-COVID-19 contact, which has resulted in a slight increase in new cases in June. She did disclose these are considered “unstable numbers” because the number of cases in the province right now is so low, which can result in a “wide variation” in projection models.

“What this helps us understand is that we are in a place where we are having more contact in our communities,” Dr. Henry said. “But what this also tells us…is that many of those contacts are done in a safe way.”

She said B.C. wants to remain at approximately this level as increasing to 80 per cent of normal contact could lead to a “rapid rebound” of new cases.

B.C. Ministry of Health
B.C. Ministry of Health

Dr. Henry revealed a new projection based on the reproductive number in B.C., which relates to how many people a case will transmit the virus to. She said that value was flattened and brought down below one, but has since increased. Dr. Henry said she would like that number to remain the same or, ideally, be below one.

Moving forward, B.C. will work to make sure that public health still has the resources to “quickly and completely” find people who may be at risk of being exposed to COVID-19.

B.C. Ministry of Health
B.C. Ministry of Health

New tool for COVID-19 detection in communities

The province will also look at monitoring wastewater for COVID-19 RNA sequences as an indicator of when the virus may be introduced in communities. Dr. Henry said this would be particularly helpful in smaller regions of the province.

“In larger communities, as you can imagine, you have to filter and get a small amount to test and it can be a challenge,” Dr. Henry said. “But there is some evidence that we can use it to give a barometer of how much transmission there is in a community.”

“Where I think it’s going to be helpful for us is if we start to see cases, one or two, in a small community or we’re worried about transmission in a community, we can test and use it to see if there is any evidence of community spread.”

Dr. Henry is hoping by the fall the province will have this wastewater monitoring in place.

6:00 p.m.: Alberta to conduct four serology studies

Tyler Shandro, Alberta’s health minister, announced the province is investing $10 million for targeted serology testing in the province.

“We know that there are people who have been infected and were never testing,” Shandro said.

Two studies will test children in Calgary and Edmonton. Shandro said it will start next month and will test these children twice a year until 2022. Another study will regularly test a group of Albertans over the age of 45. 

Labs will conduct a fourth test in the province that randomly evaluates samples of blood collected for other purposes across Alberta. These anonymous samples can be from anyone over the age of 18.

“These four studies will give us a lot more information about how the virus is spreading,” Shandro said.

Transportation delay of 800 samples could lead to COVID-19 retests

Dr. Deena Hinshaw, Alberta’s chief medical officer of health, revealed a group of 800 samples collected last week were delayed in getting tested due to a “transportation issue” and may result in some necessary retesting.

“There were six positive tests in this group and the individuals who tested positive have been contacted, and contact tracing is underway,” Dr. Hinshaw said. “Out of an abundance of caution, a small number of those who tested negative may need to be retested if they were symptomatic.”

“The likelihood of an inaccurate result is extremely low but the lab will be contacting those individuals…and discuss whether they need another test.”

The province is also listing a COVID-19 outbreak at the Misericordia Community Hospital in Edmonton. Dr. Hinshaw said this outbreak is in a single unit and so far six patients and two staff have tested positive.

“Outbreak protocols have already been implemented and all staff or patients who may have been exposed are being tested,” Alberta’s chief medical officer of health said.

Restaurants in Edmonton close, but not an order from public health

Dr. Hinshaw also commented on a number of restaurants closing in Edmonton over the weekend. She said these were “operational decisions” made by the owners and it is an important reminder that the virus is still present.

“We did not require closures and to date, there are no known outbreaks at these locations,” Dr. Hinshaw said. “As part of the guidance we have provided, all restaurants are expected to have procedures in place for rapid response if a staff member or patron develops symptoms of COVID-19.”

Alberta’s chief medical officer of health advised the public that just because someone was at the same establishment as a case does not mean they are “automatically at risk.” She said one case does not require a business to close its operations and ordering a business to close is a “last resort.”

“Determining who is at risk is something that our contact tracing teams closely assess based on when the individual became symptomatic and two days prior to that point,” Dr. Hinshaw said. “Anyone at risk of exposure is immediately contacted, offered testing and required to isolate.”

5:25 p.m.: Saskatchewan moves to second part of Phase 4 next week

Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe said the province will enter the second part of Phase 4 of reopening on Monday, June 29.

Movie theatres and live event theatres will be able to resume operations, following enhanced cleaning and physical distancing measures. Libraries, museums and art galleries can also reopen, as well as contact sports. Locker rooms, change rooms and showering facilities can reopen, and change rooms at clothing stores can be used at 100 per cent occupancy.

“Our goal continues to be…to reopen as quickly as possible while doing so as safely as possible,” Moe said.

Dr. Saqib Shahab, the province’s chief medical officer of health, reminded people in the province that this is a “new normal” not back to “business as usual.”

He said Saskatchewan is working with neighbouring provinces about a “more permissive approach” to travel rules.

“Do more things locally than further away from home,” Dr. Shahab said, adding that the public should also check ahead of time for rules in a particular area they plan to travel to.

2:30 p.m.: Ontario will not be making mask wearing mandatory for the general public

The Ontario government said it will not be making a mandatory mask order in the province.

Minister of Health, Christine Elliott, she does not believe is it necessary and Ontario Premier Doug Ford said the province does not have enough bylaw officers to police something like that, but stores could be in charge of implemented their own policy.

Dr. David Williams, Ontario’s chief medical officer of health, said it is also important to remember that different areas of the province are experiencing different COVID-19 circumstances and local public health can use their authority to take additional actions, if required.

“By being vigilant and wearing a mask, by doing your six foot distancing, by maintaining your circles…we actually may be able to flatten a secondary wave,” Dr. Williams said.

‘They need to be responsible’

Premier Ford commented on reports of people not physical distancing at beaches in Ontario, going so far as large groups getting in physical fights.

Ford has a message for young people who may have participated, “you think you can’t catch COVID, you can catch COVID.”

The premier said 1,394 people between the ages of 0-19 have been infected with the virus and 9,006 people between the ages of 20-39 have been COVID-19 positive. Most cases have been in people ages 40-59, with 9,910 people infected.

“You get a few cold pops in you and you start going wild, that’s unacceptable,” Ford said. “They need to be responsible…The vast majority are.”

1:00 p.m.: ‘I wish I could say we were close to the finish line’

Dr. Theresa Tam, Canada’s chief public health officer, said “the marathon continues” to combat COVID-19 in Canada.

“I wish I could say we were close to the finish line or even half way, but that simply isn’t the case and no one can say for sure how far off we are,” Dr. Tam said. “We’ve got a very clear motivation to keep going and there is absolute certainty that giving up is not an option.”

She said the arrival of the summer season has not made COVID-19 “go away” as several populations around the world are still seeing high infection rates.

For people coming into Canada, primarily from the U.S. which continues to have a significant daily COVID-19 case counts, Dr. Tam said additional testing measures at the border are not going to be implemented at this time.

Canada’s chief public health officer said immunity is not yet “well characterized” and antibody testing will not be relied upon until more information on human immunity is known. Additionally, the PCR test (Polymerise Chain Reaction testing detects the genetic information of the virus called the RNA) for COVID-19 only provides a result for that moment in time and some individuals may be infected with the virus but can still have a negative test at that moment.

“There are limitations to lab testing,” Dr. Tam said.

She added people in Canada should continue to follow the two metre physical distance rule, even as some jurisdictions more to decrease that distance.

“There are droplets that are going to fall between one to two metres,” Dr. Tam said, adding that a one-metre distance would avoid “a whole bunch” of droplets but two metres would allow someone to avoid more.

11:20 a.m.: ‘Atlantic bubble’ for travel continues to be discussed

Dr. Heather Morrison, the chief public health officer of Prince Edward Island, said premiers in the Maritimes are committed to coordinating an “Atlantic bubble” for travel. This would allow people from Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, and P.E.I. to travel between each province without having to self-isolate.

“It’s important that Islanders know their risks, and it’s still overall recommended that we think small and think local,” Dr. Morrison said.

Self-isolation would continue for people from outside of Atlantic provinces and screening would still continue at all points of entry.

“I think it would be important to start with Atlantic Canada and see how that goes,” Dr. Morrison said. “We’ve always said a bubble can be fragile by its very nature.”

“At this point we’re focused on Atlantic Canada and trying to establish a date for that.”

P.E.I. is set to enter Phase 4 of reopening on Friday, which will allow organized gatherings of up to 50 people, facial and piercing services ,and sleepovers with children from different household (limited to one child or siblings from the same household with beds at least two metres apart).

Accommodations for non-residents, like campgrounds, hospitality homes, inns, and bed and breakfasts will also reopen.

The chief public health officer also said some establishments will be able to have multiple gatherings of 50 people, for example large churches with multiple rooms that can safely hold 50 people physically distant.

There should be no mixing of the two groups and plans need to be reviewed by the public health office.

For a full archive of the first month of the pandemic, please check our archive of events.

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