COVID-19: Outbreak update
I’m sure you can appreciate my office is receiving a large volume of e-mails and phone calls outlining various concerns and questions about this evolving situation and its impacts on specific individual situations and our country. We’ve been working as quickly as possible to respond to everyone. Given the volume of inquiries and vast range of issues being raised, I’m providing a comprehensive summary in an effort to cover as many aspects of those concerns associated with this health challenge, which I hope will assist in addressing your own inquiry. These aspects include:
Canadians Currently Outside of Canada
Global Affairs Canada (GAC) has advised that in an effort to limit the spread of COVID-19, many countries have established travel or border restrictions and other measures, such as movement restrictions and quarantines. GAC advises to contact your airline or tour operator to determine options for cancelling or postponing your trip.
If you are outside of Canada:
Check your destination’s Safety and security, Entry/exit requirements and Health sections.
You may receive the Government of Canada’s latest updates on COVID-19 at https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/2019-novel-coronavirus-infection.html
Please check the Pandemic COVID-19 travel health notice at https://travel.gc.ca/travelling/travel-health-notices/221
It is important for all travellers to:
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MANDATORY: Self-isolate for 14 days after your return from travel outside of Canada (some provinces and territories may have specific recommendations for certain groups);
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Monitor your health for fever, cough or difficulty breathing;
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Wash your hands often for 20 seconds and cover your mouth and nose with your arm when coughing or sneezing.
The following is the information from Global Affairs received on March 17:
• To all Canadians experiencing difficult times abroad, Global Affairs is with you and is doing everything possible to help. Global Affairs is now dealing with an historic and unprecedented situation.
• Global Affairs recommends that Canadians abroad return to Canada by commercial means while they are still available.
• However, some countries have put measures in place such as closing land borders and in some cases shutting down their airspace.
• In some cases, such measures can go as far as the complete cancellation of flights for an indeterminate period of time.
• Such measures might prevent some Canadians from leaving the country in which they are located.
• If this is the case, Global Affairs strongly recommends that you follow the advice of local authorities for your health and safety.
Loan Program to assist Canadians abroad
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Global Affairs has also set up a loan program of up to $5,000 per person to assist Canadians who need to either book an emergency flight or extend their stay abroad.
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Canadians can apply for this loan at https://travel.gc.ca/assistance/emergency-info/financial-assistance/covid-19-financial-help
How to Apply:
Eligible Canadians currently outside Canada who need financial assistance can contact the nearest Government of Canada office or Global Affairs Canada’s 24/7 Emergency Watch and Response Centre in Ottawa at +1 613-996-8885 (call collect where available) or CAN.finances.CV19@international.gc.ca.
For all other consular emergencies, contact the nearest Government of Canada office or Global Affairs Canada’s 24/7 Emergency Watch and Response Centre in Ottawa at +1 613-996-8885 (call collect where available) or email sos@international.gc.ca.
Global Affairs continues to encourage Canadians outside of the country to register in the Registry of Canadians Abroad to receive important updates (https://travel.gc.ca/travelling/registration) and that they check the entry and exit requirements of the countries through which they may be transiting.
Canada’s Borders & Canadian Airports
As announced by Prime Minister, Canada is closing its borders to non-Canadian citizens with the exception of their immediate families, permanent residents, diplomats, air crews, and U.S. citizens at this time. Anyone who has symptoms of COVID-19 will not be able to enter Canada.
Please be advised:
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Canadian citizens exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms will not be able to board international flights returning to Canada;
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Canada-US border is closed to all non-essential travel.
For travellers arriving in Canada
The Government has put in place an Emergency Order under the Quarantine Act that applies to all travellers arriving in Canada in order to slow the introduction and spread of COVID-19 in Canada.
Travellers with symptoms: mandatory isolation
If you have recently returned to Canada and you have symptoms, you must ISOLATE. This is mandatory. If required, immediate medical attention will be provided upon arrival in Canada.
Mandatory isolation means you MUST:
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go directly to the place where you will isolate, without delay, and stay there for 14 days
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go to your place of isolation using private transportation only, such as your personal vehicle
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stay INSIDE your home
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do not leave your place of isolation unless it's to seek medical attention
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do not go to school, work, other public areas or use public transportation such as buses and taxis
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stay in a separate room and use a separate bathroom from others in your home, if possible
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do not have visitors and limit contact with others in the place of isolation, including children
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do not isolate in a place where you will have contact with vulnerable people such as older adults and individuals with underlying medical conditions
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if your symptoms get worse, immediately contact your health care provider or public health authority and follow their instructions
If you have symptoms but do not have a place to isolate, you will be required to isolate for 14 days in a facility designated by the Chief Public Health Officer of Canada.
Violating any instructions provided to you when you entered Canada could lead to up to six months in prison and/or $750,000 in fines.
Travellers without symptoms: mandatory quarantine
If you have recently returned to Canada and you have no symptoms, you must QUARANTINE (self-isolate) yourself. This is mandatory. You are at risk of developing symptoms and infecting others.
This means you MUST:
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go directly to your place of quarantine, without delay, and stay there for 14 days
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do not go to school, work, other public areas and community settings
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monitor your health for symptoms of COVID-19
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arrange to have someone pick up essentials like groceries or medication for you
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do not have visitors
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stay in a private place like your yard or balcony if you go outside for fresh air
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keep a distance of at least 2 arms lengths (approximately 2 metres) from others
You can take public transportation to get to your place of self-isolation after you arrive in Canada, but you must not stop on the way home and practice physical (social) distancing at all times.
Violating any instructions provided to you when you entered Canada could lead to up to six months in prison and/or $750,000 in fines.
If you develop symptoms within 14 days:
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isolate yourself from others
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immediately call a health care professional or public health authority and:
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describe your symptoms and travel history
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follow their instructions carefully
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How Canada is Monitoring COVID-19
The Public Health Agency of Canada is working with provinces, territories and international partners, including the World Health Organization, to actively monitor the situation. Global efforts are focused on containment of the outbreak and the prevention of further spread.
Canada's Chief Public Health Officer of Canada is in close contact with provincial and territorial Chief Medical Officers of Health to ensure that any cases of COVID-19 occurring in Canada continue to be rapidly identified and managed in order to protect the health of Canadians.
Canada's National Microbiology Laboratory is performing diagnostic testing for the virus that causes COVID-19.
The laboratory is working in close collaboration with provincial and territorial public health laboratories, which are now able to test for COVID-19.
If you become ill
If you feel sick during travel to Canada or upon arrival, inform the flight attendant, cruise staff or a Canadian border services officer. They will decide whether you need further medical assessment by a quarantine officer.
If you are ill and must visit a health care professional, call ahead or tell them when you arrive that you have a respiratory illness. You may be asked to wear a mask while waiting for or receiving treatment to prevent the spread of the illness.
If you have travelled abroad and you develop fever, cough, or difficulty breathing in the next 14 days:
• isolate yourself within the home as quickly as possible and
• call your health care provider or public health authority.
In Dufferin County, please contact Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health at 1-800-265-7293 (x. 7006).
In Caledon, please contact Peel Public Health at 905-584-2216.
Tell them your symptoms and travel history. Let them know whether you have had direct contact with animals or a sick person, especially if they have had symptoms.
Social Distancing
This is a term which has arisen with the spread of COVID-19. It means making a conscious effort to avoid close contact with others by establishing and maintaining a two metre (or six feet) distance from other people. It is not the same as self-isolation.
Partnerships with Canadian industry to fight the COVID-19 pandemic
Canadian businesses and manufacturers are stepping up to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. The Government of Canada is working with these companies to ensure our health care workers have the tools they need to care for Canadians across the country.
The Government of Canada is investing $2 billion to support diagnostic testing and to purchase ventilators and protective personal equipment, including for bulk purchases with provinces and territories. Personal protective equipment includes things like more masks and face shields, gowns, and hand sanitizer.
The Government of Canada has signed new procurement agreements with Canadian companies Thornhill Medical, Medicom, and Spartan Bioscience to purchase and boost capacity to manufacture equipment and supplies including portable ventilators, surgical masks, and rapid testing kits. It has also signed letters of intent with five companies – Precision Biomonitoring, Fluid Energy Group Ltd., Irving Oil, Calko Group, and Stanfield’s – to produce additional test kits, hand sanitizer, and protective apparel including masks and gowns.
The government welcomes the cooperation of other companies and industries that have answered the call to action and offered their support in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. This includes efforts from companies to re-tool their facilities and double their production capacity, to collect and donate existing supplies and equipment, and to combine resources to manufacture needed supplies more quickly.
Useful links for Health Product Manufacturers and Distributors in Relation to COVID-19:
Health product industry page
https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/drugs-health-products/covid19-industry.html
Diagnostic devices
https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/drugs-health-products/medical-devices/covid-19.html
Disinfectants
https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/drugs-health-products/disinfectants/covid-19.html
“Calling on Suppliers”
https://buyandsell.gc.ca/calling-all-suppliers-help-canada-combat-covid-19
For any questions/requests/applications for medical devices, including test kits:
hc.devicelicensing-homologationinstruments.sc@canada.ca
For any questions/requests/applications for other health products, including hand sanitizer:
Support for Food Banks and Food Organizations
On April 3rd, the Government announced an investment of $100 million to improve access to food for Canadians facing social, economic, and health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Government of Canada will provide funding to national, regional, and local organizations across Canada that are able to reach people and communities experiencing food insecurity. These organizations – including but not limited to Food Banks Canada, Salvation Army, Second Harvest, Community Food Centres Canada, and Breakfast Club of Canada – will work with partners to meet the urgent food needs of Canadians, including Indigenous peoples and Northern populations.
This funding will be used to purchase food and other basic necessities. It will help these organizations find new, creative ways to reach people in need, so they can continue to carry out their important work while respecting physical distancing guidelines. They will be able to use the funding to buy or rent equipment and other materials to help address the unique needs of the communities they serve and the health-related challenges presented by COVID-19.
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The $100 million investment is divided as follows:
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$50 million to Food Banks Canada
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$20 million divided evenly between Salvation Army, Second Harvest, Community Food Centres Canada, and Breakfast Club of Canada
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$30 million for local-level organizations who serve people experiencing food insecurity
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Funding will be delivered through the Government of Canada’s Local Food Infrastructure Fund. The Fund, launched in the summer of 2019, aims to strengthen food systems and facilitate access to safe and nutritious food for at-risk populations. Currently, more than 360 projects are receiving funding to increase accessibility of healthy, local foods within their communities, including through urban gardens, community kitchens, food banks, and greenhouses.
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Eligible activities for this new funding include the purchase of food, support for the transportation and distribution of food, hiring temporary help to fill volunteer shortages, and activities to implement biosecurity measures, such as the purchase of personal protective equipment, to reduce the spread of COVID-19 among volunteers and clients.
Useful Contacts
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Coronavirus Hotline
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1-833-784-4397
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Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health
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1-800-265-7293 (x. 7006)
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Peel Public Health
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905-584-2216
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Ontario Public Health
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1-866-797-0000
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Global Affairs
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613-996-8885
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Service Canada (EI)
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1-833-381-2725
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BDC (Small Business Loan)
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1-877-232-2269
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Constituency Office of MP Kyle Seeback
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1-866-941-1832
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If you have any question on a municipal matter, please contact your municipality:
Contacts for manufacturers/companies looking to provide supplies (please visit Buyandsell.gc.ca)
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Email for any questions/requests/applications for medical devices, including test kits, please direct people to:
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Email for any questions/requests/applications for other health products, including hand sanitizer, please direct people to:
List of contacts compiled and published freely by Dr. Jennifer Robson, Associate Professor of Political Management at Carleton University. Click on the PDF button to the left to download the list.
You can read the original document here: https://t.co/m0dXFYIZwk?amp=1.
Dr. Robson is not affiliated with this website or its publishers.