Chief Public Health Officer of Canada Dr. Theresa Tam arrives for a press conference on COVID-19 at West Block on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, on Tuesday, March 24, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang
The country's chief public health officer says COVID-19 outbreaks in long-term care homes are the most pressing epidemic problem facing the nation.
Dr. Theresa Tam says in all, Canada had seen nearly 27,000 confirmed and presumptive cases of coronavirus disease, more than 800 of them fatal, and nearly half of the deaths have been in long term care facilities.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says all levels of government need to do what they can to stop the spread of the virus among seniors.
Meantime, just as BC has done, Ontario Premier Doug Ford has announced a new measure to limit care workers to working in one facility only.