Sunday, March 15th 2020, 2:00 pm - The COVID-19 pandemic is escalating in Canada, with closures and cancellations announced in several provinces.
Health and government officials are planning for various scenarios relating to the COVID-19 pandemic -- from mild to worst-case.
It's hard to know how events will unfold over the days to come, but here's what's happened today and what you need to know.
HEADLINES AT A GLANCE: MARCH 15, 2020
Popular North American and European ski resorts shut down because of COVID-19
Alterra Mountain Company, which owns the popular Blue Mountain and Mont Tremblant resorts, and 13 others across North America, has suspended operations at all its resorts until further notice, due to the virus outbreak. All lift operations, food and beverage, retail and rental services are now closed until further notice.
It's not just happening on this side of the Atlantic, ski resorts in Europe are also implementing strict regulations, including closures, to limit the spread of the coronavirus.
Switzerland, which has more than 1,500 confirmed cases, launched a ban on gatherings of more than 100 people Friday. The ruling also applies to ski resorts. In Austria's western area of Tyrol, renowned for its popular ski resorts, where the country's first cases of the virus were reported, announced a full lockdown Sunday.
Other resorts shutting down include those in Colorado, Whistler, B.C., and France.
New cases confirmed in ontario
Ontario is reporting 39 new cases of COVID-19, putting the province at a total of 142, with five classified as resolved. Most of the infections reported have originated from southern ontario.
Worldwide cases increase, but risk to Canadians still low
To date, more than 150,000 people worldwide have been infected with the virus, while upwards of 5,600 deaths have been reported globally, including one person in British Columbia. N.L. and P.E.I. announced their first cases on Saturday and Saskatchewan confirmed its first two presumptive cases of the virus.
Even with the numbers on the rise, close to 300 in Canada now, Canadian public health officials say the risk to the public is still relatively low. They urge Canadians to frequently handwash and incorporate social distancing as preventative measures.
Canadians asked to return home
Global Affairs Canada has urged all Canadians currently abroad to cut their trips short and return home as soon as possible, while they still are able to. Countries around the world are beginning to enforce tighter travel restrictions. The recommendation is an escalation for the government, who previously had informed Canadians to cancel or postpone non-essential trips.
HEADLINES AT A GLANCE: MARCH 14, 2020
Prince Edward Island confirms first case
P.E.I. Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Heather Morrison announced at a Saturday press conference the first known case of COVID-19 in the province, a woman in her 50s who had returned from a cruise on March 8, showing symptoms on March 10.
Schools close down, others move to online courses
It was previously announced that the ontario government would be shutting down all publicly funded schools across the province for two weeks following March Break due to COVID-19.
As well, many Canadian colleges and universities are taking precautionary measures in light of the outbreak. This includes Laurentian University and the University of Toronto, cancelling face-to-face classes and switching to online courses for the time being.
WHAT HAPPENED EARLIER THIS WEEK
Cruise restrictions: Transport Minister Marc Garneau has announced that no cruise ships carrying more than 500 people will be allowed to dock in Canada until at least July 1, citing COVID-19 transmission concerns.
This change has been added to the Government of Canada's travel advisories.
Airport restrictions: Garneau says there are also plans to impose restrictions on airports that can accept international flights so that authorities can keep a better eye on the passengers, but the list of airports hasn't been released yet.
Travel advisory: Canada's public health officer Dr. Theresa Tam advises all Canadians to avoid non-essential travel outside the country and to avoid large crowds.
Government assisance: Finance Minister Bill Morneau announced a $10 billion business credit line will be made available to support Canadian businesses that struggling to make ends meet as the COVID-19 pandemic spreads.
Because the full economic ramifications of COVID-19 will be 'hard to predict,' Morneau says another financial package will be announced in the coming days.
Speaking alongside Morneau, Bank of Canada Governor Stephen Poloz said the bank is cutting its overnight rate by half a point, to 0.75 per cent.
"It is already clear that the spread of the coronavirus is having serious consequences for Canadian families and for Canada's economy," Poloz said.
"In addition, lower prices for oil, even since our last scheduled rate decision on March 4, will weigh heavily on the economy, particularly in energy intensive regions."
MORE COVID-19 COVERAGE
- When it comes to fighting germs, soap and water wins
- Common COVID-19 myths, debunked with hard facts
- How to self-isolate during the COVID-19 crisis
- How Canadian weather can impact the spread of COVID-19
- Airport virus hotspots
FLATTENING THE CURVE
The goal of community mitigation, (1) delay outbreak peak (2) decompress peak burden on healthcare, known as flattening the curve (3) diminish overall cases and health impact. Courtesy: Wikipedia.
If you haven't heard the term 'flatten the curve', you likely will in the coming days. It's a simple concept: If everyone gets sick simultaneously, hospitals and health care workers will be overwhelmed. This is a worst-case scenario that can lead to more people falling ill or dying due to a lack of hospital beds, ventilators, doctors, and nurses.
If everyone does what they can to limit the spread of the disease, it can prevent a spike in daily infections. This buys the health care system time to treat more people, free up more beds, and possibly develop a vaccine or some form of medication.
You can help flatten the curve by:
- Self-isolating.
- Avoiding touching your face.
- Washing your hands thoroughly for at least 20 seconds with soap and water.
- Trying to keep a distance of 1.8 metres from other people when in public.
- Avoiding large crowd gatherings.
- Limiting travel.
- Working from home if you can.
VIDEO: CORONAVIRUS AND 'FLATTENING THE CURVE
CANADIAN INNOVATION IN THE FIGHT AGAINST COVID-19
Pictured left to right: Dr. Robert Kozak, Dr. Samira Mubareka, Dr. Arinjay Banerjee. Courtesy: Sunnybrook.
On Thursday, a team of Canadian researchers from Sunnybrook Research Institute in Toronto, McMaster University, and the University of Toronto has isolated COVID-19 virus, which will help scientists around the world develop better diagnostic testing, treatments, vaccines and "gain a better understanding of SARS-CoV-2 biology, evolution and clinical shedding," Sunnybrook said in a press release.
“Researchers from these world-class institutions came together in a grassroots way to successfully isolate the virus in just a few short weeks,” said Dr. Rob Kozak, a clinical microbiologist at Sunnybrook.
“It demonstrates the amazing things that can happen when we collaborate.”
Meanwhile, researchers at the University of Saskatchewan (U of S) are hard at work developing a COVID-19 vaccine.
The team at the Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization at the International Vaccine Centre (VIDO-InterVac) at the U of S was awarded $1 million as part of a $26.7-million federal initiative to help contain the COVID-19 outbreak globally.
“You will be happy to hear we have already immunized animals with our vaccine. So we have already made a vaccine where we are in the animal phase where we’re testing it. We’re are hoping in a few weeks from the first trial we learn whether it works or not,” Dr. Volker Gerdts, project co-applicant and director of VIDO-InterVac, told local news.
SYMPTOMS
COVID-19 symptoms are similar to that of the flu or common cold, so you may be sick with it and not know it.
Things to look out for:
- Fever.
- Coughing.
- Difficulty breathing.
- Pneumonia (which would be confirmed via a chest X-ray).
- Symptoms could present between 2 and 14 days after exposure. Not everyone with COVID-9 will have symptoms, and some will only experience mild discomfort.
Microscopic view of Coronavirus, a pathogen that attacks the respiratory tract. Analysis and test, experimentation. Getty Images.
VIDEO: HOW LONG SHOULD I WASH MY HANDS?
IF YOU ARE SUFFERING FROM SYMPTOMS
If you feel unwell, contact a medical professional. COVID-19 can only be confirmed through a lab test.
Healthy individuals under age 50 are typically told to stay home and avoid the hospital, the CBC reports.
Individuals of all ages with compromised immune systems or individuals who are experiencing shortness of breath are advised to seek immediate care, as well as all individuals aged 50 and older.
Contact a health provider if you are concerned about your symptoms or have recently travelled to an area identified as a "hot spot."
VIDEO: STARBUCKS BANS THE USE OF REUSUABLE CUPS
TREATING COVID-19
There is no current vaccine for COVID-19, nor are there any federally-approved natural products that are authorized to treat or protect against infection, according to Health Canada.
COVID-19 is a respiratory illness, but the flu vaccine will not protect against it.
AT-RISK PATIENTS
The World Health Organization categorizes the most at-risk population segment as individuals:
- Who are aged 65 and older.
- With compromised immune systems.
- With pre-existing medical conditions.
RESOURCES
- Health Canada
- Government of Canada travel advisories
- The World Health Organization (WHO)
- COVID-19 Q&A (via WHO)
- Confirmed cases of COVID-19 worldwide (via the Center for Disease Control)