You are being urged to keep staying home as much as possible during the Easter long weekend.
Canada’s chief public health officer, Dr. Theresa Tam, says we are still at a very critical stage in the fight against COVID-19.
“What each of us does now impacts the trajectory of this epidemic. By following tried and true public health advice, we can all do our part to help save lives. Keep staying at home as much as possible, practicing good hygiene and connecting with your loved ones virtually. By staying apart, we can get through this together,” Tam said in a statement issued Sunday.
Across Canada, there are more than 24,000 confirmed cases and at least 717 deaths as of Monday morning.
She is also sending her condolences to those who have lost a loved one to outbreaks in long-term care homes, where many COVID-19 deaths have taken place.
Tam says the efforts to keep the coronavirus out of long-term care homes led to the creation of new guidelines for those facilities released yesterday.
It includes ensuring staff and essential volunteers wear a mask for the duration of their shift, and discard it afterward. Health officials also say they should be trained in how to properly put on, wear, and remove personal protective equipment to minimize the spread of the virus onto themselves or their surroundings.
Other measures include restricting visitors to long-term care homes, and recommends testing visitors, staff, and residents with even mild symptoms.
