The "Epidemic" In Canada

"The epidemic is slowing down."
"We've got many challenges still to deal with, including managing the outbreaks in long-term care facilities."
"The main message for all Canadians is actually not to let go ... We're doing a great job."
"Let's continue that until we can get to the bottom of that hill and then look at what that new normal would look like."
Dr.Theresa Tam, Chief Medical Officer of Health, Canada

Canadian cases

CONFIRMED

30,095

(Today: +1,731)

DEATHS

1,196

(Today: +186)

RECOVERED

9,729

(Today: +759)

499,772 individuals tested  (Today: +17,959)

"The uncomfortable and tragic truth is that the very places that care for our elderly are the most vulnerable to COVID-19."
"We all need to do better. We all need to take leadership for the seniors who've built this country."
"[The federal government will work with the provinces to get a wage boost for personal care workers] as quickly as possible."
"For many workers looking after the most vulnerable Canadians, including seniors and those with disabilities, we know conditions have gotten more difficult over the past weeks, and you need support right now."
"As we face an unprecedented threat to public health, you are our most important line of defence. We will do whatever we can to help you do your job and support you through this time."
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau

The high proportion of cases in long-term care facilities – funeral home workers seen here on April 15, 2020 removing a body from the Verdun CHSLD seniors residence in Montreal – 'unfortunately results in higher fatality amongst the people who get ill,' Chief Public Health Officer Theresa Tam said Thursday.   Ryan Remiorz/The Canadian Press

Canada's official death toll from the coronavirus swept past 1,000, surpassing the government's modelling which gave Canada an approximate number of deaths between 500 and 700 by April 16. A scenario that looks sunnily optimistic in comparison to the realized reality that arrived well before the date in question, doubling the number of deaths assumed. And almost half of all deaths seen in Canada due to the infectious COVID-19 have occurred in long-term care homes.

The statements by a prime minister who has effectively separated himself physically from the business of government, remaining secluded in his prime ministerial home, only to emerge like clockwork every morning to hold a news conference where he issues both discomfiting and quasi comforting updates as a kind of government public relations-to-the-public assurance under extreme duress updating his parliamentary authority intact, but failing to impress.

The prime minister, in self-imposed physical seclusion, iterates and reiterates the classical advice to the Canadian public that they must isolate themselves, maintain a physical distance from one another, remain in their homes, and not question the paradoxical advice to keep active and exercise, while public spaces like parks and playgrounds are now off limits even if social distancing is rigorously employed.

Canada's chief medical officer of health, stressed that remaining at home, isolating oneself means just that. That people owning more than one home should select one and remain there. That those owning summer cottages should abstain from travelling to them. That rural areas are not prepared during this time to accommodate an influx of seasonal residents. That hospitals and medical staff, public safety authorities, grocers and other services in rural areas are already coping to their limits and don't need additional strains.

To which the prime minister responded with his usual casual disregard by choosing, while commiserating with Canadians that they would have to make do over Easter by refraining from travelling, and instead connecting with their families online instead of in person. Whereas he
travelled to the prime ministerial cottage in Gatineau Park, which the National Capital Commission closed down to all other entrants, to spend the four-day Easter holiday with his wife and children.

Canada's agony of a rising death count in old age, seniors and long-term care homes has been compounded by the fact that this elderly-deadly infectious disease has also infected personal care workers and health professionals working in the homes, leading to a dire shortage of critical staffing. So even though the entirety of the Canadian population has seen an easing of the infection and death rate, the numbers keep rising in these vulnerable group homes.

In Canada, overall identified COVID cases double every ten days now in comparison to late March when they doubled every three days. And the essential care workers in long-care homes who earn less than $2,500 monthly are overworked and overwhelmed while themselves falling ill to the virus. Ontario has had outbreaks at 98 homes, with 145 long-term care deaths, and likely more, when the numbers catch up from local health units.

Over 20 deaths have occurred in at least three Ontario facilities resulting from COVID-19. Increased testing and infection control measures are now being brought in at all the long-term care homes, according to the Ontario premier. "Today we're throwing everything we've got at our long-term care homes", promised Premier Doug Ford. While in Quebec 41 care homes have serious outbreaks and an additional 104 are dealing with fewer infections. Three homes in Quebec had over 25 deaths each.

According to Quebec's Premier Francois Legault, over 1,200 care-home staff have been infected and thus are unavailable for work. He has entreated qualified people like physicians and nurses to help with staffing. Quebec is in the unenviable position of having 487 deaths reported from COVID-19, representing close to 50% of Canada's total number, and 45 percent of those deaths in Quebec relate to long-term care homes.