Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his wife Sophie are in self-isolation as she awaits COVID-19 test results.
Meanwhile, a meeting between Trudeau, the premiers and Indigenous leaders that was scheduled to begin in Ottawa today has been postponed indefinitely in response to the COVID-19 outbreak.
"Having recently returned from a speaking engagement in London, U.K., the Prime Minister's wife Sophie Grégoire Trudeau began exhibiting mild flu-like symptoms including a low fever late last night," says a PMO press release.
"She is self-isolating at home awaiting test results, and her symptoms have since subsided.
"The doctor's advice to the Prime Minister is to continue daily activities while self-monitoring, given he is exhibiting no symptoms himself. However, out of an abundance of caution, the Prime Minister is opting to self-isolate and work from home until receiving Sophie's results."
The PMO said Trudeau is not planning to be tested at this time.
The statement from the PMO says Trudeau will speak to the provincial and territorial leaders by phone to discuss "collective action" to limit the spread of COVID-19.
The PM will spend the day in briefings, phone calls and virtual meetings from home, including speaking with other world leaders and joining the special COVID-19 cabinet committee discussion, the statement says.
The agenda of the now-cancelled First Ministers Meeting was to focus on economic issues, including the impact of tumbling oil prices on the national economy, the pressing need for critical infrastructure and the impact of COVID-19.
On Wednesday, federal Health Minister Patty Hajdu said experts have suggested the coronavirus could infect 30 to 70 per cent of the population.
Today, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh announced on Twitter he's staying home because he's "feeling unwell."
"I have been in contact with a doctor and they do not believe I have symptoms consistent with COVID19. But their advice is for me to limit contact with the public until I am feeling better," he tweeted.
As of midday Thursday, there were at least 137 presumptive and confirmed cases reported in Canada, with one death.
Calgary has reported the first known Canadian case of a child testing positive for the virus, and Manitoba and Saskatchewan each announced their first presumptive cases on Thursday.
Across the country, concerts, conferences, sports events and other public gatherings have been cancelled.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford, who has already arrived in Ottawa for the planned meetings, said today all Canadians must pull together to get through the COVID-19 crisis.
"Moments of urgency require us to put aside our differences, have each others' backs, stick together as a country and reassure the people of Ontario and the people of Canada that we're all in this together," he told a news conference in the capital.
Yukon Territory Premier Sandy Silver had already cancelled his attendance at the meeting "out of an abundance of caution" and after a conversation with the chief medical officer of health in his territory.
New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs also questioned whether it was "prudent" for the country's leaders to gather in one spot.
"We've actually connected with Ottawa and our colleagues and considering, can we do this on a video conference? Can we look at this another way? If we're asking people to stay home, should we be doing the same thing?" Higgs said in an interview with CBC's Power & Politics.
Source: Lire l'article complet de Vigile.Québec
