Dr. Theresa Tam, Canada's top doctor, said Monday that as public health restrictions are lifted, we can expect a resurgence in cases. (CPAC)
Canadians are on the right side of the first big peak of the pandemic with a steady decline of COVID-19 cases across the country.
Canada’s chief public health officer still warns that new cases are expected as public health restrictions are loosened.
On Monday, Dr. Theresa Tam said the models show if we relax too soon, the epidemic will most likely rebound with explosive growth possible.
“Until there is a vaccine or effective treatment, we need to continue to live with COVID-19 by balancing the risk of spread of COVID-19 with the unintended social and health consequences of restrictive public health measures,” Tam said.
1/4 #COVID19 key concerns in 🇨🇦: today #GOC updated on the national epidemiology and the modelling work we are using to inform ongoing control of the COVID-19 epidemic in Canada. https://t.co/JCZMUCRmHw
— Dr. Theresa Tam (@CPHO_Canada) June 29, 2020
Tam said “fast and thorough” contract tracing is required when outbreaks occur.
“We must be able to rapidly detect and isolate cases and quarantine their contacts in order to keep resurgence to a small and manageable size,” Tam said.
On Monday afternoon, there were more than 103,000 cases of COVID-19, including more than 8,500 deaths.
Sixty-four per cent of those with COVID-19 have recovered.
Canadian labs have tested nearly 2.7 million people for the virus.
In the last week, an average of 36,767 people were tested daily and one per cent tested positive.
During Monday’s media briefing, Dr. Tam was asked how her days have changed during the pandemic.
She smiled and admitted her 20-hour days have not changed a lot and she needs to take care of herself and “follow her own advice”.
Dr. Howard Njoo, deputy health minister, chimed in saying they have discussed covering each other’s shifts so they can both take vacation this summer.
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