Christmas in jeopardy from COVID, PM warns

`Tough winter ahead' as deaths near 10,000

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the global COVID-19 pandemic “really sucks,” and could jeopardize large gatherings with friends and family over Christmas.

Acknowledging frustrations around partial lockdowns and scrapped Halloween plans in some parts of the country, Trudeau said Tuesday that Canadians need to gird themselves for a “tough winter ahead” amid the second wave of the virus.

“It's frustrating to have to explain to your kids in many parts of the country, like here in Ottawa, that we're not going to be trick-or-treating this weekend. And it's frustrating knowing that unless we're really, really careful, there may not be the kinds of family gatherings we want to have at Christmas,” Trudeau said at a news conference. “My six-year-old asked me a few weeks ago, ` Dad, is COVID-19 forever?' I mean, he's in Grade 1, this was supposed to be his big year as a big boy, and they're not even singing in his classroom.”

The prime minister encouraged Canadians to continue to follow the advice of local health authorities, despite frustrations over conflicting information on Halloween as well as testing requirements for students.

Dr. Theresa Tam, Canada's chief public health officer, has suggested hockey sticks to hand out Halloween treats, while others are resorting to candy chutes or self-serve stations. But the Ontario government has recommended against trick-ortreating in parts of the province that have been hardest hit by the coronavirus resurgence.

Meanwhile, school reopening plans sowed confusion about what symptoms demanded COVID-19 tests, triggering massive lineups at assessment centres and overwhelming laboratories.

The mixed messaging threatens to chip away at trust in public health advice, said Tim Sly, an epidemiologist and professor emeritus at Ryerson University's School of Public Health.

Dance studios in Ontario's “hot zones” have been allowed to stay open, while gyms have been forced to shutter, he noted. “Quite honestly I don't know why a distinction is made between those two,” Sly said.

Trudeau said circumstances have changed since the spring, when little was known about the virus and there was one main message: “Everyone stay home.”

“We can be a little more targeted (now). But yeah, that means a little more complicated in our messages,” he said.

Trudeau's remarks come as Canada verges on 10,000 deaths due to COVID-19.

Ontario is reporting 827 new cases of COVID-19, and four new deaths due to the virus, pushing the total number of reported fatalities to 9,999 as of midday Tuesday.

Quebec is reporting 963 new cases of COVID-19 and 19 more deaths linked to the coronavirus.