Canada’s chief public health officer urged residents to continue making a “collective effort” to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic on Saturday as parts of the country braced for new rounds of restrictions meant to curb the spread of the virus.
Dr. Theresa Tam issued a statement acknowledging that confusion over appropriate public health measures is understandable in light of the fact that the pandemic is playing out differently across different provinces and territories.
But she stressed that Canadians must “keep our number of in-person close contacts low” and adhere to public health practices.
“There are no quick fixes and COVID-19 is not going away, so public health is focused on making the response sustainable through to the end of the pandemic, balancing the health, social and economic consequences,” Tam said Saturday in a news release.
“What is certain, is that our response requires a collective effort. Everyone’s actions matter.”
Public health officials reported 1,803 new cases across the country today, for a total of 198,127.
Conservative Leader Erin O’Toole praised Alberta Premier Jason Kenney for his province’s handling of COVID-19 as the two sat side-by-side during a livestream on Saturday, while neither leader wore a mask.
“I’m the easiest guy to hang out with because I can’t give it or get it from anyone for four months,” O’Toole said, answering Kenney’s question about how O’Toole was doing after he and his wife got the novel coronavirus last month.
According to Alberta Health spokesman Tom McMillan, the province still advises everyone to wear masks when physical distancing isn’t possible. He said that includes those who have already had COVID-19.
-Women and moms of young kids are at risk of turning to alcohol as a coping mechanism for anxiety and depression during the pandemic, according to a new study by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health.
The study, released earlier this week, surveyed 1,003 adults between Sept. 18 and 22 — just as elementary and high schools were reopening — and found women had higher levels of anxiety and loneliness than men.
