12.42°C Vancouver

Feb 27, 2020 12:36 AM -

What if Canada gets an outbreak of the new coronavirus? A look at pandemic plans

Share On
what-if-canada-gets-an-outbreak-of-the-new-coronavirus-a-look-at-pandemic-plans
Patty Hajdu, Minister of Health, makes an announcement regarding a Bill entitled "An Act to amend the Criminal Code (medical assistance in dying)" during a press conference at the National Press Theatre in Ottawa on Monday Feb. 24, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Canada has a leg up on preparing for a potential outbreak of the novel coronavirus because the country already has a detailed pandemic plan, according to federal Health Minister Patty Hajdu.

It includes lessons learned from the 2003 outbreak of SARS in Ontario and the 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic. So what is supposed to happen if the virus starts spreading in Canada? Here's a simplified look:

Some steps in the plan are already underway, like stepping up surveillance of the disease in Canada and globally, and alerting the public to the potential outbreak. The government has also increased lab capacity to accommodate tests for the virus and put out guidelines for health providers and public-health advice. It has also begun funding rapid research into the virus.

A priority is to figure out how bad things are, and how bad they're likely to get based on how easily the illness spreads and how sick it makes people who catch it. H1N1 flu, for example, had moderate transmissibility and wasn't terribly severe, as influenza viruses go.

That put the impact on par with a bad flu season.

The 1918 "Spanish flu," on the other hand, made people very sick and was very easily transmitted. Unusually, it was exceptionally deadly to young adults, putting extreme pressure on a patchwork health system and killing an estimated 50,000 Canadians. Once everyone has a handle on those two factors, it becomes easier to predict what the impact is going to be on individual patients, the health system, society and the economy, which allows the federal and provincial governments to prepare.

So far the confirmed cases of the new coronavirus, or COVID-19, in Canada have been found in people who have recently travelled out of the country and their very close contacts. If the virus starts spreading locally, provinces and territories are expected to ramp up capacity to deal with an increase of cases.

If cases spread at the local level, governments might also consider things like school closures and gathering volunteers to open reception centres for people who are sick and need help but not necessarily hospitalization.

If things get worse, then it's time to triage. If the virus overtakes the capacity of provincial health-care systems, they are supposed to increase their surge capacity as much as possible. If that doesn't work, they have to decide who needs the services most. That's also when public-health agencies will consider cancelling major gatherings like festivals and sports events.

If a vaccine becomes available the pandemic plan says the provinces and the federal government should decide who is going to get it first, based on who's most at risk, and start immunizing people as quickly as possible.

The plan also outlines what happens when the pandemic dies down and things start to get back to normal. First is to prepare for a possible resurgence and restock supplies. Health systems should also put together immunization programs, if a vaccine exists, and evaluate the psychological effect of the outbreak on the public.

When it really is over, it's time to look back and evaluate how it went, so the plan can be updated for the next health crisis.


Latest news

trump-expresses-caution-on-missile-sales-as-zelenskyy-visits-washington
WorldOct 17, 2025

Trump expresses caution on missile sales as Zelenskyy visits Washington

U.S. President Donald Trump met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House on Friday, signalling reluctance to approve Ukraine’s request for long-range Tomahawk missiles. The talks focused on military aid and the ongoing war with Russia, as Kyiv continues to seek advanced weapons to bolster its defence. The meeting followed a lengthy phone conversation between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin a day earlier, during which the two discussed the conflict in Ukraine. While Trump had recently indicated a willingness to consider missile sales, he appeared to scale back exp
bank-of-canada-to-resume-economic-forecasts-with-cautious-outlook-amid-global-uncertainty
CanadaOct 17, 2025

Bank of Canada to resume economic forecasts with cautious outlook amid global uncertainty

Bank of Canada Governor Tiff Macklem says the central bank will take a cautious approach as it resumes formal economic forecasting later this month, acknowledging the need for “humility” in the face of continued trade uncertainty. The Bank of Canada is expected to release its next economic outlook alongside an interest rate announcement on October 29 its first full forecast this year. The central bank paused detailed projections earlier in 2025, citing unpredictable global conditions tied to U.S. tariffs and shifting trade relations. Speaking from Washington, D.C., where he is attending th
montreal-man-admits-to-threatening-parti-québécois-leader-and-his-family
CanadaOct 17, 2025

Montreal man admits to threatening Parti Québécois leader and his family

A Montreal resident has pleaded guilty to making death threats against Parti Québécois Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon and his family. Court records show that 42-year-old Philippe Clément-Laberge entered the plea on Tuesday at the Montreal courthouse. The threats were reportedly made in early March 2024, prompting a police investigation that led to his arrest shortly afterward. St-Pierre Plamondon publicly addressed the incident last year after news of the threats surfaced, saying he was concerned for his family’s safety but expressed confidence in the justice system’s response. The cas
reconstruction-approved-for-hazel-trembath-elementary-after-2023-fire
BCOct 17, 2025

Reconstruction approved for Hazel Trembath Elementary after 2023 fire

The British Columbia government has approved plans to rebuild Hazel Trembath Elementary School in Port Coquitlam, nearly two years after a fire destroyed the original building. Infrastructure Minister Bowinn Ma announced Friday that a new, 240-seat school will be constructed on the same site where the blaze occurred in October 2023. The province says the $39-million project will be developed through an accelerated model designed to shorten construction timelines, marking what officials describe as a first-of-its-kind approach in B.C. Ma said the school’s loss was deeply felt across the commu
ottawa-announces-plan-to-hire-1-000-new-border-officers-expand-benefits-for-frontline-responders
CanadaOct 17, 2025

Ottawa announces plan to hire 1,000 new border officers, expand benefits for frontline responders

Prime Minister Mark Carney says the federal government will move ahead with new border security and public safety investments as part of the upcoming federal budget, including hiring 1,000 additional Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) officers. According to the announcement, the new officers will focus on curbing the movement of stolen goods, illegal firearms, and drugs, while enforcing import measures and investigating unfair trade practices. The government also plans to increase the CBSA recruit stipend from $125 to $525 per week the first raise since 2005 to attract and retain new recruit

Related News