Masks to be distributed this week, more restrictions for returning travellers

The government is also moving forward on a range of rapid testing kits, Trudeau said, adding more than 430,000 Canadians have been tested and work is being done to ramp up testing.

“These are tough times but we’re going to help you through them to help set your community up for when things get better – because they will,” Trudeau said

Trudeau also said the government is strengthening measures regarding quarantine for those returning from abroad.

Any returning travellers, whether showing symptoms or not, will have to prove they can self-isolate at home. If they can’t, even asymptomatic travellers who can’t explain a credible quarantine plan will be forced to quarantine in a hotel. That goes into effect at midnight tonight.

The prime minister announced that help for sectors that are particularly hard hit, including the oil industry, will be announced in the coming days.

“We will and we are looking at more specific sector-related relief. Whether it’s the airlines, tourism or oil and gas or others.”

Trudeau also defended his decision to spend Easter with his family at Harrington Lake in Quebec after spending the previous weeks at Rideau Cottage in Ottawa.

“We continued to follow all the instructions of public health authorities,” he said.

On claims by Alberta Premier Jason Kenney that the federal bureaucracy is standing in the way when it comes to approving medical devices that could that, Trudeau said the federal government will remain grounded in science and experts.

Asked about a timeline for any potential reopening of the economy, Trudeau said he knows people want to know when things will get back to normal, but “the reality is it’s going to be weeks still. It is going to be important to get our economy going but we’re going to have to remain vigilant until such a time as a vaccine is found.”

With different areas of the country at different stages of efforts to flatten the curve, Trudeau said “discussions are ongoing about how we’re going to re-open the economy it’s just going to be a while still.”

He again said he and the government will take the lead from experts and science as to when the parts of the economy to open up again and loosen restrictions on work and school.

During the address from Rideau Cottage, Trudeau also announced $130 million to support the COVID-19 fight in northern communities and $20 for the Canadian Food Inspection Agency to keep the food supply safe.

Trudeau ended his address by telling those who are grieving the loss of a loved one that they are not alone.

“You remind why it’s so important to do everything we can to keep one another safe. We all need to do our part, we can’t let up now,” he said. “To everyone: stay at home and no matter what, stay two metres apart if you do have to go out.”

As of Tuesday morning, Canada has 26,146 confirmed cases, 17 probable cases and 823 deaths. There have been 450,717 Canadians tested.

In Alberta, there are 1,732 cases and 46 deaths. A total of 77,007 Albertans have been tested. There are 877 recovered cases in Alberta.

by Chris Brown

Masks to be distributed this week, more restrictions for returning travellers

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