20.73°C Vancouver

May 7, 2020 7:30 PM -

Dr. Theresa Tam: Going to a cottage or a second home can be a bad idea

Share On
dr-theresa-tam-going-to-a-cottage-or-a-second-home-can-be-a-bad-idea
Dr. Theresa Tam, Canada's Chief Public Health Officer, speaks during a press conference on Parliament Hill during the COVID-19 pandemic in Ottawa on Wednesday, May 6, 2020. Tam says a COVID-19 outbreak gripping the northern Saskatchewan community of La Loche is an area of concern.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Dr. Theresa Tam says it's a bad idea to go to a cottage or a second home if you risk straining local health resources.

Rules and advice on how to apply that will vary from province to province and situation to situation, though.

In Ontario, for instance, Premier Doug Ford has called on people who own cottages not to leave city homes for them over the upcoming Victoria Day weekend, after previously saying he thought it might be OK.

Tam says part of the concern is about spreading the virus that causes COVID-19, and part is about simply having too many people heading to places that don't have the local hospital capacity to treat them if they got sick.



(Millionth test for COVID-19 conducted)



Dr. Theresa Tam says Canada has conducted its millionth test for COVID-19, and about six per cent of the people tested have been confirmed as positive cases.

Nearly half of those who tested positive are considered recovered at this point, but more than 4,000 people have died of the illness.

The country's chief public health officer says mental health is a growing concern amid the pandemic, but one thing that helps many people is feeling as though they're helping and making a difference.

For children, she says being creative and cheering people up with art can achieve that.

Latest news

IndiaMay 27, 2026

Air India to reduce domestic flights by up to 22% amid rising fuel costs

Air India says it will temporarily reduce the number of its domestic flights by 20 to 22 per cent as the airline faces increasing aviation fuel prices and higher operating costs. The airline said it has already reduced some international flight operations by nearly 27 per cent as part of broader cost-management measures. According to the company, the decision was taken due to sustained high fuel prices, which have increased the cost of operating flights across several routes. In a statement issued Wednesday, Air India said flight frequencies on selected domestic and international routes will b
canada-to-release-long-awaited-national-ai-strategy-next-week-carney
CanadaMay 27, 2026

Canada to release long-awaited National AI Strategy next week: Carney

Prime Minister Mark Carney confirmed Wednesday that the federal government’s long-awaited National AI Strategy will be released next week. Speaking to reporters while heading into a Liberal caucus meeting, Carney said the strategy will outline Ottawa’s long-term plans for artificial intelligence policy and regulation in Canada. The federal government had previously identified six pillars that will form the foundation of the strategy in its economic update. According to government officials, the plan will include measures aimed at protecting Canadians from the risks associated with artifici
BCMay 27, 2026

B.C. LNG project signs long-term supply agreement with German energy company

A long-term agreement has been signed to supply liquefied natural gas from the proposed Ksi Lisims LNG export terminal in northern British Columbia to Germany, according to an announcement made Wednesday by federal Energy Minister Tim Hodgson in Vancouver. Hodgson said Germany-based energy company SEFE has agreed to purchase one million tonnes of LNG annually over a 20-year period. Supply from the project is expected to begin around 2030, pending construction and final investment approval. The Ksi Lisims LNG project is planned for British Columbia’s north coast near the Alaska border. While
former-environment-minister-steven-guilbeault-to-resign-as-mp-later-this-summer
CanadaMay 27, 2026

Former environment minister Steven Guilbeault to resign as MP later this summer

Former federal environment minister Steven Guilbeault has announced he will resign as a member of Parliament for his Montreal-area riding later this summer. Guilbeault informed Liberal caucus members of his decision during a national caucus meeting Tuesday morning. He said he will remain a member of caucus until stepping down from the seat later this summer. In a statement to colleagues, Guilbeault said that after nearly seven years serving as an MP and cabinet minister, he now wants to continue his environmental and climate advocacy work outside elected office. He also thanked constituents fo
rcmp-seize-fentanyl-mdma-and-weapons-from-suspected-drug-labs-in-abbotsford-and-chilliwack
BCMay 27, 2026

RCMP seize fentanyl, MDMA and weapons from suspected drug labs in Abbotsford and Chilliwack

RCMP say federal investigators have dismantled two suspected clandestine drug labs in Abbotsford and Chilliwack, leading to the seizure of large quantities of fentanyl, MDMA, cash and firearms. According to RCMP Federal Policing Pacific Region, officers arrested three people during the operation. Police said the individuals were later released pending further investigation and no charges have been announced so far. Investigators said a suspected fentanyl production site was uncovered on May 1 in the 41000 block of Keith Wilson Road in Chilliwack. RCMP said officers seized about 40 kilograms of

Related News