14.39°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

BCSep 28, 2026

B.C. Conservatives Say Lorne Doerkson Could Remain Leader for Years Without Leadership Vote

The B.C. Conservatives say interim leader Lorne Doerkson could remain at the helm of the party for years without a leadership vote if the Conservatives win the Oct. 24 provincial election. According to a legal opinion obtained by the party, Doerkson would be invited by the Lieutenant-Governor to serve as premier if the Conservatives form government. He could then remain party leader until the board decides to call a leadership election, a process that could take 18 months or longer. The legal opinion, prepared for the party and sent to president Mauro Francis, says the party’s constitution
BCSep 28, 2026

BC Conservatives, Centre BC Announce Candidates for Upcoming Election

The BC Conservative Party has announced incumbent MLA Harmaan Bhangu as its candidate for Langley-Abbotsford. Bhangu was first elected as an MLA in 2024. In a statement, he said serving the riding over the past two years has been one of the greatest honours of his life. Meanwhile, Centre BC, led by Elenore Sturko, has nominated Kuldeep Rangi in Delta North. Rangi operates a real estate marketing brokerage business. The party has also named Raman Sharma as its candidate in Surrey City Centre. Sharma is the president of the Tradesmen Association of BC, which he founded in 2016. In Surrey North,
CanadaSep 28, 2026

Punjabi-Origin Diplomat Angad Singh Dhillon Appointed Canada’s Next Ambassador to UAE

The Mark Carney government has appointed Punjabi-origin diplomat Angad Singh Dhillon as Canada’s next ambassador to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand has announced. Dhillon will replace Radha Krishna Pandey and serve as Canada’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the UAE. Originally from a family with roots in Punjab’s Ludhiana district, Dhillon previously served as Director of Operations and Stakeholder Relations in the Prime Minister’s Office. Dhillon has been among Carney’s close advisers and played a significant role in efforts to
heavy-rain-in-forecast-as-warnings-issued-for-metro-vancouver-b-c-coast
BCSep 28, 2026

Heavy rain in forecast as warnings issued for Metro Vancouver, B.C. coast

Heavy rainfall is in the forecast for parts of the British Columbia coast, including Metro Vancouver, with some areas expecting up to 100 millimetres of precipitation. Environment Canada issued the rainfall warning for Metro Vancouver north of the Fraser River, Howe Sound, western Vancouver Island and the central B.C. coast, including Bella Bella and Bella Coola as well as inland portions of the North Coast. The heaviest rain is expected along the west coast of Vancouver Island and the central coast, while Vancouver, Burnaby, Coquitlam and the North Shore may get up to 70 millimetres. The rain
CanadaSep 28, 2026

Flight Delays Plunge at Canada’s Busiest Airports

Canadian air travellers have received some good news, with flight delays at the country’s busiest airports showing a major improvement this summer. According to air traffic control agency NAV CANADA, flight delays at Toronto Pearson, Montréal-Trudeau, Calgary International and Vancouver International airports fell by up to 85% between May 1 and August 31, 2026, compared with the same period last year. The agency said 4,996 flights, or 1.54% of scheduled flights, were affected by delays at the four airports during the same period in 2025. This year, the figure dropped to just 769 flights, re

Related News