10.78°C Vancouver
Ads

Feb 3, 2021 2:32 AM -

Trudeau highlights risk of more infectious COVID-19 variants taking root in Canada

Share On
trudeau-highlights-risk-of-more-infectious-covid-19-variants-taking-root-in-canada
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau holds a press conference at Rideau Cottage in Ottawa on Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2021., to provide an update on the COVID-19 pandemic. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says "rare exceptions" to new travel restrictions will be made on compassionate grounds, but that more contagious COVID-19 variants now taking hold in Canada mean tough rules must be implemented in the next few weeks.

Trudeau announced last week that passengers returning from abroad will have to quarantine at a hotel for up to three days after taking a PCR test at the airport, but no date has been set for when this will take effect.

The move is one of several measures meant to choke off entry of the virus into Canada, but comes after case numbers of more transmissible variants have begun to rise.

Chief public health officer Dr. Theresa Tam says 148 cases of the variants that first emerged in the United Kingdom and South Africa have been confirmed across the country, even as overall case counts continue to decline.

Health authorities in Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia have identified both mutations, with Ontario's single confirmed case of the variant that first emerged in South Africa found in a Peel Region patient who had no known contact with travellers, raising fears of community spread.

The Public Health Agency of Canada says foreigners can still apply to enter the country for non-essential reasons that include supporting a critically ill person, attending a funeral or being with a loved one who is dying.

Latest news

man-arrested-in-haida-gwaii-in-suspicious-death-investigation-of-pedestrian-crash
BCApr 25, 2025

Man arrested in Haida Gwaii in suspicious death investigation of pedestrian crash

The major crimes unit in Haida Gwaii says a 32-year-old man has been arrested in a suspicious death investigation. Police say they received a report of a pedestrian-involved accident on Tuesday afternoon in the community of Skidegate.They say a vehicle hit a person who later died from his injuries.Police say they believe the death was a targeted attack and there was no risk to the public.Sgt. Chris Manseau, the detachment commander in Daajing Giids, says police have been made aware of several social media posts that question the investigation's timeline, but officers have been working around-t
police-seek-3-toronto-women-who-robbed-stores-in-scarborough
CanadaApr 25, 2025

Police seek 3 Toronto women who robbed stores in Scarborough

Toronto police have released images of three women who allegedly stole from local stores in the Scarborough area by sexually harassing them. The three are described as having long hair and dark, olive skin. Police say there were five incidents in the Scarborough area between June 2024 and April 2025 where the owner and employee were distracted by sexual activity and robbed of large amounts of cash. According to Toronto police, upon entering the store, a female suspect would allegedly engage in sexual activity with the owner or employee, and her accomplices would steal the cash. Investigators
burnaby-rcmp-arrests-44-year-old-man-after-he-allegedly-threatened-security-staff-with-bear-spray-and-a-knife
CanadaApr 25, 2025

Burnaby RCMP arrests 44-year-old man after he allegedly threatened security staff with bear spray and a knife

A 44-year-old man was arrested by Burnaby RCMP after he allegedly threatened Metrotown security with bear spray and a knife. On April 22, 2025, at approximately 10:20 p.m., Burnaby RCMP frontline officers responded to a report of a suspect who had allegedly attempted to bear spray staff while holding a knife. The suspect had fled the scene prior to police arrival; however, with the assistance of several witnesses and security, police were able to quickly locate the suspect a short distance away. Police verbally engaged the suspect, who was holding what was believed to be a can of bear spray. T
liberals-are-not-trustworthy-at-all-jagmeet-singh
CanadaApr 25, 2025

Liberals are not trustworthy at all: Jagmeet Singh

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh today launched a major attack on the Liberal Party led by Mark Carney. During the election campaign in Toronto, he said that the Liberals are not trustworthy at all. Jagmeet Singh said that history is a witness to this that the Liberals do the right thing only when the New Democrats force them to do so. Jagmeet Singh also said that he fears that if the Liberals come to power, they will make big cuts in the budget, which will revive the memory of the cuts made by the party in the 1990s. During this, he also commented on the Palestinian and Jewish communities. He sa
poilievre-promises-to-start-work-from-day-one-after-victory
CanadaApr 25, 2025

Poilievre promises to start work from day one after victory

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre says that if his government is formed, he will start work from day one and that parliamentary proceedings will last until the passage of three important bills related to the people. Poilievre said that his government will run the House of Commons sitting throughout the summer to pass bills related to capacity, crime and the economy, and during this time, politicians' vacations will be canceled. Poilievre was in Saskatoon this morning, which is considered a safe seat for the Conservatives. At the same time, he also talked about eliminating trade barriers
ADS
Ads

Related News

ADS
Ads