OTTAWA TO FLY HOME STRANDED CANADIANS
Number of cases cross-country increases
The federal government said Sunday it will again fly back Canadians stuck aboard a coronavirus - s tricken cruise ship, a move that comes as the number of cases of COVID-19 across Canada has increased.
Foreign Affairs Minister Francois- Philippe Champagne said Ottawa had “secured” a plane to bring home Canadians on the Grand Princess, which has been floating off the west coast of the United States following an outbreak of the virus.
Passengers will be screened for symptoms before boarding the plane and quarantined for 14 days after they are flown from San Francisco to Canadian Forces Base Trenton in Ontario, a news release from Champagne’s office noted.
“The decision to repatriate Canadians on board the Grand Princess follows a request for assistance from the Government of the United States, recognizing the importance of closely working together to limit the spread of COVID- 19,” Champagne said in the release.
A similar decision was made in February, when Ottawa flew back 129 Canadians from another cruise ship, the Diamond Princess, which had been docked in Japan in the wake of a COVID-19 outbreak. All of those passengers have since been released from quarantine following a 14- day holding period.
Grand Princess has about 3,500 people aboard, including 237 Canadians, and was en route to Oakland, Calif. on Sunday after sitting off the coast for several days awaiting approval to dock, according to a Canadian Press report.
Grand Princess was also linked Sunday to COVID-19 in Alberta.
The province’s chief medical officer of health made the announcement, saying there were two new presumptive cases of COVID-19 in the province, and that a previously presumptive case was now confirmed, a first for the province.
“Both of our new presumptive cases are travel-related, and both are recovering in isolation at home with support from public health officials,” said Dr. Deena Hinshaw, Alberta’s chief medical officer of health. “As soon as these cases were identified last night, we took action to protect the public and limit the spread of the virus.”
Alberta’s third presumed case of the virus is a man who had recently been on a Grand Princess cruise before returning to the province on Feb. 21, a news release from the province stated. Hinshaw also said they believe the source of infection for Alberta’s second presumptive case of COVID-19 was a “travel companion” who was previously a Grand Princess passenger and is now a confirmed case in British Columbia. Three of Alberta’s four cases are tied to a single cruise ship, she added.
“It is also important to know, that yesterday alone, 299 tests were done for COVID-19, and 297 of those tests were negative,” the chief medical officer said.
Hinshaw said that, given the global spread of the virus, it is likely new cases will be found. And although the medical officer said the current risk of Albertans catching the virus is still low, Hinshaw added that “this may change in the coming weeks.”
The latest Canadian cases come as the outbreak continues around the world and as governments are taking steps to try to address the situation. According to the World Health Organization, there are now more than 105,000 confirmed cases of the virus and more than 3,500 deaths that have been linked to it.
In Canada, there had been 60 confirmed cases of the virus as of Sunday afternoon. Most have been in Ontario and British Columbia, with three in Quebec and one in Alberta.
Also announced on Sunday was another probable case in Quebec — a person who recently returned from a cruise. Meanwhile, another case was confirmed in Ontario, increasing the total number of confirmed cases in the province to 29.
At least four cases in Ontario have already been resolved, according to the provincial government.
“At this time, the virus is not circulating locally,” a news release from the provincial government said. “However, given the global circumstances, Ontario is actively working with city and health partners to plan for the potential of local spread.”
The Public Health Agency of Canada has rated the public-health risk from the virus as low, but has issued guidance on big gatherings, such as conferences and festivals. T he agenc y has recommended conducting a risk assessment for mass gatherings, noting that changing venues, livestreaming activities and providing packaged food instead of a buffet are all possible ways to reduce health risks.