You have power to help flatten curve: PM
Make good choices, PM urges Canadians
OTTAWA • Prime Minister Justin Trudeau admitted Monday that efforts to prepare Canada for a second wave of COVID-19 have fallen short and Canadians need to take matters into their own hands to help reduce cases.
Monday brought another grim tally with nearly 1,800 new cases in Ontario and Quebec. Hospitalizations are also starting to rise in both provinces and outside of Atlantic Canada, all parts of the country are seeing rising levels of new cases.
Predictions of a second wave of the virus in the fall have been made for months, and the federal government gave provinces $19 billion in June to try to get ready, increasing contact tracing and testing resources. At the time, governments at all levels said testing and contact tracing would be essential to keeping the virus in check. The Liberals also launched the COVID-19 Alert app, which was meant to make it easier to follow cases.
Trudeau said it is clear these efforts did not dent a second wave the way they had hoped.
“Obviously, all of that hasn't been enough. We are going in the wrong direction now which is why it is so important for Canadians to do what is necessary; to wear a mask, to keep your distance, to understand that each of us has the power to end this by the choices we make.”
Ontario's latest numbers also revealed the province has a backlog of nearly 70,000 tests, with many people waiting several days to get a test result returned. The province is also switching testing centres this week to an appointment system rather than have people wait in lines for hours.
Trudeau said his government could offer some help, but much more testing capacity is needed.
“Federal labs are also providing surge support on processing of tests, including for Ontario for 1,000 tests today, and additional federal labs will be added,” he said.
In the House of Commons, Conservatives took aim at the government for the slow pace of approvals in rapid testing, as well as for failing to procure the quick tests other countries are purchasing.
“When is the prime minister going to take the health of Canadians seriously and roll out a real plan for rapid testing,” asked the party's leader Erin O'Toole.
NDP leader Jagmeet Singh said if Canada is heading in the wrong direction on COVID-19, it is Trudeau's responsibility to change course.
“The prime minister is the sole person responsible for steering our country in the right direction, but the prime minister isn't taking action.”
Over the weekend, Toronto Public Health said it was refocusing its contact tracing initiatives and would no longer do contact tracing for every positive test, but would instead focus on the highest-risk cases.
Toronto has asked the province to eliminate indoor dining and put other restrictions in place to slow the growth in cases, but Ontario Premier Doug Ford has so far chosen not to move in that direction.
Ford said the government is struggling to get the staff and supplies in place for testing.
“We have an issue with getting enough diagnostic lab technicians. We're reaching out right across the province,” he said.
He pleaded with people to only get tested if they are showing symptoms.
“If you don't show any symptoms at all please don't get tested. Let the people that are showing symptoms, get in front of you.”
Ford said he doesn't have the data yet to support restaurant closures and other restrictive measures. He said he doesn't want to force struggling small businesses to close if that isn't completely necessary.
“I have to see the evidence before it takes someone's livelihood away from them and shut their lives down. That's a huge, huge decision.”
Trudeau said the $19 billion sent to the provinces helped the situation, but he understands money isn't the only solution to the problem and he said the focus has to be on the problem at hand.
“We saw provinces' capacities on contact tracing and testing increase, but it's not just about money it's also about resources and people,” he said. “This is not about pointing fingers or laying blame. It's about all of us working together and keeping as many Canadians as possible safe from this virus.”
Trudeau also revealed for the first time that he had been tested for COVID-19 last month after having a raspy throat or what he described as a “throat tickle.” The test was negative and Trudeau said he has followed the advice of health professionals on testing since the virus first emerged.
O'Toole and Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet have both had COVID-19 and unlike Trudeau announced that they were awaiting results before the tests came back positive.
WHEN IS THE PRIME MINISTER GOING TO TAKE THE HEALTH OF CANADIANS SERIOUSLY?