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Apr 9, 2020 3:42 PM -

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

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Chief Public Health Officer of Canada Dr. Theresa Tam arrives for a press conference on COVID-19 at West Block on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, on Tuesday, March 24, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

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.''

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