Sophie Grégoire tests positive for COVID-19
SCHOOLS CLOSED, SPORTS CANCELLED TO HALT SPREAD OF CORONAVIRUS
The coronavirus toll continued to grow Thursday with dozens of new cases emerging, more sports leagues cancelling games, and facilities and schools closing.
The pandemic also hit home in a personal way for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, whose wife Sophie Grégoire Trudeau has tested positive for COVID-19, the Prime Minister’s Office confirmed late Thursday evening.
Grégoire Trudeau came down with flu-like symptoms Wednesday after returning from a trip to London, England, where she spoke at an event for WE Day, a youth empowerment gathering.
The PMO said that she is feeling well, is taking all the recommended precautions and her symptoms remain mild.
The prime minister himself is in good health with no symptoms, but will stay in isolation for 14 days, the PMO said Thursday.
He joins cabinet ministers Seamus O’regan and Mary Ng, who have also chosen to go into isolation because of possible exposure to the virus.
Trudeau’s absence forced the cancellation of the planned first ministers meetings with the country’s provincial premiers in Ottawa that had been set for Friday, but his office said they would have conversations over the phone to discuss the response to the virus.
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh also announced he would be going into self-isolation in a post on Twitter Thursday. He said he was feeling unwell and while his symptoms were not consistent with COVID-19, he was choosing to stay away from people.
On Friday, the House of Commons is set to rise for two weeks of constituency work, a week longer than scheduled.
Officials speaking on background confirmed there were discussions among all parties about extending the break, along with other measures, to reduce the possibility the illness will spread within the House of Commons.
On Wednesday, U.S. President Donald Trump announced he was restricting air traffic from Europe to the United States in a bid to reduce the spread of the virus. Trudeau and Trump spoke on Thursday about the virus and the response in both countries, but there were no details of the call as of press time.
Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland said they have been in close contact with American officials and everyone agrees on the border’s importance.
“Canadian officials have been making a concerted effort to speak to our American counterparts and they have been available to us and we have been talking about our shared border,” she said.
Freeland was asked repeatedly whether the two governments had agreed to keep the border open. She said the conversations were positive, but the situation was fluid.
“This situation with the coronavirus in Canada and around the world is developing quickly. It is constantly changing and we are monitoring that situation hour by hour and day by day.”
On Thursday, Major League Soccer, the National Hockey League and Major League Baseball all announced suspensions of their league, joining other professional leagues that have taken similar measures. The Juno Awards set for Sunday in Saskatoon are also cancelled.
Ontario announced 17 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number in the province to 59. The new cases include a baby boy. The province also announced that starting next week all schools would be closed for three weeks.
Quebec Premier François Legault was asking anyone who returned from abroad to self-isolate for 14 days and asking organizers to cancel large gatherings. Alberta followed those steps and also recommended that people not travel outside the country. The City of Montreal was also closing libraries, recreation centres and pools. Saskatchewan and Manitoba both had their first positive cases of the illness.
The day was also disastrous for financial markets with the TSX dropping more than 12 per cent and U.S. stocks having their worst days since 1987.
Freeland said the $1 billion the government announced to deal with the virus on Wednesday was not the end of the government’s response. She insisted Canada has the resources to do more to protect the economy.
After markets closed, Finance Minister Bill Morneau came out to re-emphasize that point and insisted a budget is still coming for March 30, as he announced earlier this week.
“We have a very strong fiscal position in Canada, the best among G7 countries, so that is going to continue to allow us to invest.”
In the House of Commons, the usual heckling went silent, as the seriousness of the situation seemed to settle into the chamber.
Conservative leader Andrew Scheer began by wishing a speedy recovery for Sophie Grégoire Trudeau and anyone else who may have been hit by the illness. But then he transitioned into asking why there wasn’t heavier screening at airports.
“When the final flight out of Italy landed here, passengers were not screened,” he said.
Freeland defended the government’s response and said they were letting the science guide them.