OTTAWA – Dr. Theresa Tam, Canada’s Chief Public Health Officer, issued the following statement today:
“As of the end of the day on Tuesday, June 9, there were 96,653 confirmed cases including 7,897 deaths and 55,572 or 58% have now recovered. Labs across Canada have tested 1,955,719 people for COVID-19 to date. Over the past week, we have been testing an average of 33,000 people daily, with 2% of these testing positive. These numbers change quickly and are updated regularly on Canada.ca/coronavirus.
As provinces and territories continue with re-opening of business, social and recreational spaces and services this week, I want to stress the vital importance of going “outsmart.” COVID-19 is still present in Canada, including areas with active outbreaks and community transmission hotspots. While we have made progress in flattening the curve, it is essential that all Canadians maintain physical distancing and good hygiene measures.
If you are going out in public, consult your local public health authority for the latest advice and guidance. Go “outsmart” by following tried and true public health measures, including:
- Practicing physical distancing by maintaining a 2-metre distance from others;
- Washing your hands frequently with warm water and soap for at least 20 seconds;
- Avoiding touching high touch surfaces and objects that could be contaminated with the virus; and
- Covering your coughs and sneezes with tissues or your sleeve.
Where COVID-19 is still active, wearing a non-medial mask or face covering can be used as an extra layer of protection for when you can’t maintain a physical distance of two metres from others, such as on public transit or enclosed public places like grocery stores. To learn more about how to wear a non-medical mask, please visit Canada.ca/coronavirus.
Going out smart also means knowing when to stay in. If you have symptoms, even if mild, it is imperative that you stay home and away from others to avoid spreading the virus and contact your local public health authority and follow their advice.
If you are worried that you have been exposed to the virus, please contact your local public health authority for instructions on when and how to seek testing.
COVID-19 is an ongoing global health crisis. We must keep public health measures up to stamp out the last chains of transmission in current hotspots and not give the virus opportunities to re-emerge elsewhere. For the sake of ourselves, our families and our communities, we can continue to do our part by going “out smart.”
SOURCE Public Health Agency of Canada
