The country’s top doctor remains steadfast in her message : keep your distance and keep washing your hands, even as things slowly begin to open up.
During Wednesday’s regular COVID-19 address, Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Teresa Tam was asked how provinces can consider opening up while there is still a lack of understanding surrounding community spread.
“For every establishment, whether it’s a school or workplace, that there is a plan in place for the distancing between people, for all the hygienic measures, also to watch for symptoms,” she explained. “Those distancing measures and your hand hygiene measures are absolutely fundamental.”
Dr. Tam noted that to date, there have been 62,458 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Canada, 4 ,111 deaths, and 27,000 people – or 43% – that have recovered.
She said that some of the most important questions surrounding COVID-19 include the role of children in transmitting the virus.
Dr. Tam explains that just like adults, there isn’t a clear understanding of our bodies’ immune response to the virus.
She said that health officials have to consider a balance between effective physical distancing measures and potential negative effects when it comes to re-opening schools.
“What we do know is children – and younger children in particular – have much milder illnesses,” she stated. “It still remains to be studied in terms of how infectious they are.”
Dr. Tam says studies suggest children may be less contagious than adults.
