Control measures critical to keeping Canadian COVID-19 deaths under 22,000, health agency says

Even with strong containment measures, as many as 22,000 Canadians could die of COVID-19 in the coming months.

That's the worst-case scenario set out by federal public health officials this morning at a briefing in Ottawa.

The Public Health Agency of Canada says short-term estimates are more reliable, and that up to 700 people could die by the end of next week.

Officials warn that if people don't obey social distancing and self-isolation rules, the death toll could be much higher.

Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Theresa Tam says ``we cannot prevent every death but we must prevent every death that we can.''