10.02°C Vancouver

Apr 1, 2020 9:58 PM -

Dr. Theresa Tam: Health system is not designed to deal with this kind of surge, could face difficult decisions about how to allocate scarce resources

Share On
dr-theresa-tam-health-system-is-not-designed-to-deal-with-this-kind-of-surge-could-face-difficult-decisions-about-how-to-allocate-scarce-resources
Chief Public Health Officer of Canada Dr. Theresa Tam listens to questions at a press conference on COVID-19 at West Block on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, on Tuesday, March 24, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

Chief public health officer Dr. Theresa Tam says the health care system has the potential to be overwhelmed in all of the COVID-19 scenarios projected by the federal government.

The government has not shared any of its projections related to how the COVID-19 pandemic is likely to play out in Canada.

But Tam says the health system is not designed to deal with this kind of surge, and could be facing difficult decisions about how to allocate scarce resources in all those scenarios.

She says in some of the worst case scenarios, the health care system will not be able to cope.

Latest news

cfia-begins-ostrich-culling-at-b-c-farm-after-supreme-court-rejects-final-appeal
BCNov 07, 2025

CFIA Begins Ostrich Culling at B.C. Farm After Supreme Court Rejects Final Appeal

A large-scale operation to destroy an ostrich flock in rural British Columbia is underway after Canada’s top court declined to intervene in a long-running dispute over an avian flu order. Gunfire was heard overnight at the farm near Edgewood, where Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) staff began killing hundreds of birds inside a hay bale enclosure. RCMP officers restricted public access to the property late Thursday, blocking the main road and turning away onlookers. Floodlights and stacked hay bales concealed most of the activity, though workers were seen entering the enclosure carrying
majithias-bail-hearing-in-assets-case-adjourned-to-monday
IndiaNov 07, 2025

Majithia’s bail hearing in assets case adjourned to Monday

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has postponed the hearing in the disproportionate assets case against former Punjab minister and Shiromani Akali Dal leader Bikram Singh Majithia. The proceedings, which continued for nearly an hour on Friday, were adjourned to Monday after the court heard arguments from both sides. Majithia’s counsel argued that since a chargesheet has already been filed and the investigation remains incomplete, there is no justification for keeping his client in custody. The defence alleged that the state government is deliberately delaying the bail process by repeatedly s
canada-adds-67-000-jobs-in-october-as-unemployment-rate-dips-to-6-9-per-cent
CanadaNov 07, 2025

Canada adds 67,000 jobs in October as unemployment rate dips to 6.9 per cent

Canada’s labour market showed unexpected strength in October, adding 67,000 jobs and marking the second straight month of stronger-than-forecast employment growth, according to Statistics Canada. The federal agency said the gains were concentrated in part-time positions, with the private sector recording its first employment increase since June. Ontario led the way with 55,000 new jobs, driven largely by growth in wholesale and retail trade as well as transportation and warehousing. Younger Canadians also saw long-awaited improvement. Employment among workers aged 15 to 24 rose by 21,000 in
edmonton-mp-matt-jeneroux-resigns-from-parliament-following-another-conservatives-defection
CanadaNov 07, 2025

Edmonton MP Matt Jeneroux resigns from Parliament following another Conservative’s defection

Conservative MP Matt Jeneroux has announced his resignation from Parliament, marking the second departure from the federal Conservative caucus in less than a week. Jeneroux, who has represented Edmonton Riverbend since 2015, said in a letter that stepping down was “not an easy decision” but one he believes is “the right one.” He noted that he had hoped to contribute to a government led by Pierre Poilievre’s Conservatives but acknowledged that the political outcome had not aligned with his expectations. The Alberta MP expressed “great admiration” for members of the House of Common
punjab-sc-commission-summons-congress-leader-pratap-singh-bajwa-on-november-10
IndiaNov 07, 2025

Punjab SC Commission Summons Congress Leader Pratap Singh Bajwa on November 10

The Punjab State Scheduled Castes Commission has issued a second notice to the state Congress over alleged misuse of a portrait of Bhai Jaita Ji during a recent rally in Tarn Taran ahead of the byelection. The Commission has directed Leader of the Opposition Pratap Singh Bajwa to appear in person on November 10. Officials said the Deputy Commissioner of Tarn Taran has also been asked to submit a detailed report on the matter by November 17. Earlier, the Commission had issued a similar notice to Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring. The Commission stated that if the required

Related News