17.53°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

BCAug 26, 2026

2 Killed in Horrific Crash Near Lytton, 44-Year-Old Charged a Year Later

A 44-year-old Williams Lake man has been charged in connection with a fatal crash on Highway 1 near Lytton last year that claimed the lives of two people. Joel Chenier has been charged under the B.C. Motor Vehicle Act with driving without due care and attention. The crash occurred around 5 p.m. on Aug. 14, 2025, near Spences Bridge. According to police, a black Ford SUV crossed the centre line of the highway and collided head-on with an oncoming pickup truck. The impact was so severe that both vehicles caught fire. A woman travelling in the SUV and a man in the pickup truck died at the scene.
why-was-the-us-deal-rejected-poilievre-demands-answers-from-carney-government
CanadaAug 26, 2026

Why Was the US Deal Rejected? Poilievre Demands Answers from Carney Government

Canada’s main opposition Conservative Party is stepping up pressure on Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government over a deal with the United States that was ultimately rejected. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre and Deputy Leader Melissa Lantsman are demanding that the government release the documents related to the failed agreement, arguing that Canadians deserve transparency about what was discussed and why the deal was turned down. Poilievre has repeatedly raised the issue, saying Canadians are united in defending Canadian workers and industries against what he described as illegal U.S
WorldAug 26, 2026

Ebola Claims More Than 2,700 Lives in Congo, WHO Issues Warning

The Ebola outbreak in Uganda has officially come to an end, but the situation remains critical in neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where the virus continues to spread rapidly. The World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed on Wednesday that Uganda’s Ebola outbreak, caused by the Bundibugyo strain, was over. The Ugandan government had declared the country Ebola-free on July 28 after reporting 20 cases and two deaths. WHO continued monitoring the situation until this week to ensure that no chains of transmission had been missed. In contrast, the outbreak in the DRC continues to
WorldAug 26, 2026

15 Newborn Babies Killed in Fire at Islamabad Hospital Nursery

Fifteen newborn babies died after a fire broke out in the nursery of the gynaecology ward at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences in Islamabad on Wednesday. Hospital officials said 16 newborns were present in the nursery when the incident occurred, but only one baby was rescued. According to rescue officials, an air-conditioner compressor inside the nursery exploded, triggering a fire that quickly spread through the ward. Rescue teams rushed to the hospital after receiving information about the blaze and launched a rescue operation. Officials said the fire has now been brought under cont
AlbertaAug 26, 2026

16-year-old arrested after threats to shoot students at northern Alberta school

A 16-year-old youth has been arrested in northern Alberta after allegedly threatening to shoot students at a school just days before the start of the new academic year. RCMP officers said they received a report in Manning about a student threatening to shoot other students on the first day of school. After nearly six days of investigation, Mounties executed a search warrant at a local residence on Tuesday. During the search, police seized seven weapons. RCMP said the 16-year-old is expected to face a charge related to uttering threats, subject to Crown approval. Manning RCMP Sgt. Gavin Ool sai

Related News