“I’m telling you that at the moment the curve is not as it was in the spring, but it is still quite bad”, declared Dr. Horacio Arruda, director of public health of Quebec during a conference of press in Quebec on Monday. “If we don’t do something, it will increase even more, and I’m telling you, it won’t be fun.
Across the country, public health experts say Canadians have too much close social contact with family and friends, and young people are gathering in groups too large to contain the spread. Canadian government statistics show that about two-thirds of new positive coronavirus cases are detected in people under the age of 40.
Part of the interventions planned by the authorities include strengthening the enforcement of restrictions on large gatherings. In cities like Toronto, Montreal and Ottawa, city officials, by-law officers and police say they are stepping up enforcement of strict protocols that limit private gatherings indoors to six or 10. In Ontario, the minimum fine for breaking the rules is $ 7,500.
“We are in a good position and certainly ready to apply as needed,” Pegg said at a press conference in Toronto on Monday.
Toronto Mayor John Tory once again begged residents to stay home as much as they can if they are not going to work or school. He asked people to limit social contact to the bare minimum.
“Should I do this?” Should I go to this place? Should I receive these people? And if the answer is, not really, then please don’t, ”Tory said at a press conference on Monday.
In British Columbia, the peak of cases is described as a resurgence by public health officials instead of a second wave.
“The important thing is being able to manage that, can we keep that under control without having this rapidly growing exponential growth, and so far we’ve been able to do that,” said Dr. Bonnie Henry, Manager of British Columbia Health. a press conference on Monday.
The increase in the number of cases comes two weeks after Labor Day and as the majority of Canadian children return to face-to-face learning in schools.
Officials say hospitalizations have increased but are stable and add they will wait for more data before deciding whether or when to bring in more closures or restrictions.
In the past month, Canada has seen the number of new daily cases double, increasing the demand for testing. The BC Center for Disease Control announced a new gargle test for people aged 4 to 19 last week, which authorities hope to extend to adults as well. The test is just as accurate but easier to administer, the center said.
