COVID Timeline
COVID-19 Timeline and Canada’s Response
December 31, 2019
On December 31, 2019, the Wuhan Municipal Health Commission, China, officially reports to the World Health Organization (WHO) a cluster of pneumonia cases in Wuhan, Hubei Province, with links to the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market.
January 2020
January 5, 2020
The WHO reports that “the causal agent has not yet been identified or confirmed”, and noted it had requested further information from national authorities to assess the risk.
https://www.who.int/emergencies/disease-outbreak-news/item/2020-DON229
January 7, 2020
Public health officials in China confirm SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) as the cause of the new pneumonia.
January 9, 2020
The WHO issues travel guidelines:
“WHO does not recommend any specific measures for travellers. WHO advises against the application of any travel or trade restrictions on China based on the current information available.”
https://www.who.int/china/news/detail/09-01-2020-wwho.int/…/09-01-2020-who-statement-regarding-cluster-of-pneumonia-cases-in-wuhan-china
Dr. Theresa Tam tweets out travel advice:
Travelling to #China? Be aware of an outbreak of #pneumonia of unknown cause in Wuhan city, Hubei province. Consult the travel health notice before you go & contact your healthcare provider if you feel ill after your return. https://t.co/a03J2KIKtn #LunarNewYear
— Canada's CPHO (@CPHO_Canada) January 9, 2020
January 10, 2020
The WHO issues travel advice for international travel:
“WHO does not recommend any specific health measures for travellers. It is generally considered that entry screening offers little benefit, while requiring considerable resources. In case of symptoms suggestive to respiratory illness before, during or after travel, the travellers are encouraged to seek medical attention and share travel history with their health care provider. WHO advises against the application of any travel or trade restrictions on China based on the information currently available on this event.”
January 12, 2020
On 11 and 12 January 2020, WHO received further detailed information from the National Health Commission about the outbreak.
“The evidence is highly suggestive that the outbreak is associated with exposures in one seafood market in Wuhan. The market was closed on 1 January 2020. At this stage, there is no infection among healthcare workers, and no clear evidence of human to human transmission.”
https://www.who.int/emergencies/disease-outbreak-news/item/2020-DON233
January 15, 2020
The World Health Organization tweets:
January 20, 2020
President Xi Jinping says in his first public statement on the crisis:
“The recent outbreak of novel coronavirus pneumonia in Wuhan and other places must be taken seriously.”
Chinese Zhong Nanshan, a respiratory expert, tells the public that person-to-person transmission has been confirmed.
In response to news from China, Dr Theresa Tam tells reporters:
“It is important to take this seriously, and be vigilant and be prepared. But I don’t think there’s reason for us to panic or be overly concerned.”
https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/coronavirus-human-to-human-1.5433187
January 21, 2020
The WHO reports on Novel Coronavirus in a Situation Report.
January 22, 2020
The WHO Emergency Committee meets in Geneva to consider whether the virus had reached the level of a PHEIC (Public Health Emergency of International Concern).
The members of the Emergency Committee were not able to reach a conclusion based on the limited information available. As the Committee was not able to make a recommendation, the Director-General asked the Committee to continue its deliberations the next day.
January 23, 2020
The WHO emergency committee, including WHO advisor Dr. Theresa Tam of Canada, meets by teleconference with health ministry officials from China, Japan, South Korea and Thailand to discuss whether to declare COVID-19 a public-health emergency. The consensus of the committee is to reject classifying the outbreak as a full global public health emergency.
In Vancouver, there are reports that pharmacies and stores are selling out of disposable face masks.
During a national teleconference, Dr. Theresa Tam, Canada’s Chief Public Health Officer says that wearing a mask when you’re well is not a preventive measure.
“It can sometimes make it worse, if the person puts their finger in their eye or touches their face under their mask (for example). We would only recommend putting a mask on if you were sick and were entering a medical facility, such as a hospital. We have no recommendation for people to wear a mask (when) going about their daily business.”
Professor Kelly Lee, of the Faculty of Health Services at Simon Fraser University tells The Richmond News that masks are not effective against airborne viruses or bacteria.
“Virologists and other scientists are generally doubtful that masks alone worn by the general population are effective against infection from airborne viruses or bacteria. Most viruses are transmitted by air. Disposable masks tend to fit loosely, have no air filter and leave your eyes exposed. It is also difficult to wear a mask for a prolonged period. There have been a few studies suggesting that wearing a disposable mask can help in some settings (hospitals) or some situations (crowded public places, student dorms), notably lowering the risk of viral transmission from sneezes and coughs, and from hand-to-mouth contact. But any increase in effectiveness must be accompanied by an increased vigilance in practicing basic hygiene, notably regular handwashing and avoidance of hand-to-mouth contact. In other words, the positive effect comes less from the masks serving a filtration role and more from encouraging people to follow well-known hygiene practices.”
January 25, 2020
First case of illness from SARS-CoV-2 virus confirmed in Ontario, Canada.
January 26, 2020
China restricts all non-essential travel to and from Wuhan, essentially putting 50 million people into quarantine. Canada advises against “non-essential travel” to Wuhan.
January 29, 2020
Canada now has three cases. Dr. Theresa Tam says on Twitter:
“I am concerned about the growing number of reports of racism and stigmatizing comments on social media directed to people of Chinese and Asian descent related to 2019-nCoV coronavirus… Everyone has a part to play in preventing the spread of the virus. The Chinese community and all travellers from affected areas are a key part of these efforts….Racism, discrimination and stigmatizing language are unacceptable and very hurtful. These actions create a divide of Us Vs Them. Canada is a country built on the deep-rooted values of respect, diversity and inclusion.”
Liberal MP Marcus Powlowski, a doctor from Thunder Bay, Ont., questions Dr. Theresa Tam at the Parliamentary Health Committee:
“The BBC was reporting today that their ministry of health was asking all people coming from China to voluntarily self-isolate for two weeks upon returning to the country, I think because the idea is that it got out of Wuhan. When you look at the numbers and what’s happening in China, it’s not isolated to Wuhan. It would seem to me to be a fairly feasible thing for us to do, and a precautionary thing, to have anyone coming from China self-isolate for two weeks. Have you considered making that recommendation, potentially under the Quarantine Act? I don’t know if there’s a means to enforce that.”
Tam replies, defending the policy of voluntary self-isolation of only those travellers showing clear symptoms:
“Certainly, doing rigorous contact tracing and monitoring is the key to preventing any spread from a case in Canada. That, I think, is of primary importance. For other completely asymptomatic people, currently there’s no evidence that we should be quarantining them.”
Tam stresses the need to work to have affected communities work with everyone else.
“Otherwise, they’ll be stigmatized. They will be asked to take measures beyond what is currently the public health evidence. It is a matter of balance when you’re restricting someone’s freedom, essentially, to move about in the community after return. I think that is not something that we would take lightly.”
She adds:
“As I have always said, the epidemic of fear could be more difficult to control than the epidemic itself. We do know that asymptomatic people are not the key driver of epidemics. That is very important to understand.”
January 30, 2020
The WHO declares “a public health emergency of international concern”
February 2020
February 1, 2020
The WHO now reports:
“The main driver of transmission, based on currently available data, is symptomatic cases. WHO is aware of possible transmission of 2019-nCoV from infected people before they developed symptoms…Transmission from asymptomatic cases is likely not a major driver of transmission. Persons who are symptomatic will spread the virus more readily through coughing and sneezing.”
Canada now has four cases, all linked to travel from China.
https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/coronaviruse/situation-reports/20200201-sitrep-12-ncov.pdf
Justin Trudeau speaks at large Lunar New Year celebrations in Toronto and addresses COVID-19 outbreak:
“There is no place in our country for discrimination driven by fear or misinformation. This is not something Canadians will ever stand for.”
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/coronavirus-canada-trudeau-february-1-1.5448834
February 9, 2020
Canada expands its screening requirements for travellers returning from affected areas, requiring a negative COVID-19 test for those entering Canada at land borders.
Trudeau said the federal government cannot prevent Canadians from returning to the country at a land border, even without a test, but if they don’t have the required test they can be fined up to $3,000.
February 10, 2020
To contribute to global efforts to address the 2019 Novel Coronavirus outbreak, the Government of Canada launches a rapid research funding competition.
The total investment for this research is $26.8M.
February 11, 2020
WHO names illness caused by SARS-CoV-2 virus COVID-19.
February 12, 2020
Justin Trudeau addresses Canadians from outside his home in Ottawa on the federal government’s response to the ongoing pandemic. He announces that Pfizer has confirmed Canada will receive its expected 4 million COVID-19 vaccine doses by the end of March, with another 10.8 million doses arriving in April, May and June. Canada has also purchased an additional 4 million doses of the Moderna vaccine. The prime minister also confirms that new border measures, which include mandatory testing at airports and supervised quarantine at a government-authorized hotel for air travellers arriving in Canada, will take effect February 22.
February 14, 2020
Dr. Deena Hinshaw, Alberta’s chief medical health officer, says that anyone returning from international travel with healthy symptoms will be tested, first a swab taken, then they’d be isolated until results came in a day or two.
February 20, 2020
Canada confirms its first case related to travel from outside of mainland China. Canada enforces screening measures in 10 airports within 6 provinces.
Patty Hajdu tweets out travel update: “While the risk to Canadians remains low, if you are returning from a region with a confirmed case of #COVID19, and you are unwell or unsure of your health, I encourage you to self isolate and notify local health officials.”
February 27, 2020
A group of 23 Chinese-Canadian doctors signed an open letter urging a 14-day quarantine for everyone returning to Canada from China and other COVID-19 hotspots, reports the Canadian Medical Association Journal.
February 29, 2020
Dr. Jerome Adams, the U.S. Surgeon General tweets:
“Seriously people- STOP BUYING MASKS! They are NOT effective in preventing general public from catching #Coronavirus, but if healthcare providers cant get them to care for sick patients, it puts them and our communities at risk!
March 2020
March 5, 2020
Justin Trudeau’s wife Sophie Gregoire Trudeau is in London England for a major event, WE Day. She posts image on Instagram and poses for photos with celebrities including Idris Elba and Lewis Hamilton. One week later, Sophie Gregoire Trudeau tests positive for COVID-19.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says knee-jerk reactions to COVID-19 will not keep people safe, and defends Canada’s decision not to close its borders to foreign nationals coming from regions where the outbreak is spreading.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/covid19-trudeau-coronavirus-travel-1.5486799
March 8, 2020
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, tells 60 Minutes:
“There’s no reason to be walking around with a mask. When you’re in the middle of an outbreak, wearing a mask might make people feel a little bit better and it might even block a droplet, but it’s not providing the perfect protection that people think that it is. And, often, there are unintended consequences – people keep fiddling with the mask and they keep touching their face.”
March 9, 2020
Alain Rayes, Conservative MP for Richmond-Arthabaska, Que, asks in the House: “Many countries are starting to talk about COVID-19 as a global pandemic. As of today, the vast majority of developed countries have already implemented measures for travellers. Here in Canada, there are no restrictions on or monitoring of people entering the country. My question is for the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness. Does he intend to ban travellers from countries such as China, Iran or Italy from entering Canada?”
Health Minister Patty Hajdu replies: “We have been carefully screening travellers from a variety of countries, based on expert advice from the World Health Organization and many other medical professionals that have indicated to us that the best effort is to ensure we are asking travellers at the border to identify themselves, if they have travelled from specific regions. There are special questions on the kiosks. If a traveller is unwell, he or she is referred to public health and the local public health authorities.”
March 11, 2020
The WHO declares COVID-19 a pandemic. Dr Theresa Tam, Canada’s chief public health officer, at Parliamentary Health Committee: “The WHO did call this a pandemic today, but the key message is that all countries can still change the course of this pandemic by doing a number of things. I will go through them very quickly, but I believe we’re already doing them.”
In her list of things needed to be done, she did not include border closures or strictures, but says: “Second is to detect and then to protect the population, and to treat if necessary. I think the detection is very important. We have been setting up surveillance systems and laboratory testing since the start.”
March 12, 2020
It is announced that the Prime Minister’s wife Sophie Gregoire has contracted COVID-19 and the Prime Minister has gone into 14-day self-isolation.
March 13, 2020
Canada advises Canadians to avoid all non-essential travel outside of Canada until further notice. “My advice is to postpone or cancel all non-essential travel outside of Canada. This means reconsidering your vacations, going to sporting and entertainment events, large international conferences,” Tam says during a press conference.
Asked if Canada was considering a similar ban, or imposing border measures between our country and the United States, Minister of Health Patty Hajdu says: “Canadians think we can stop this at the border. But what we see is a global pandemic, which means that border measures are highly ineffective and, in some cases, can create harm. We see that in countries that had the worst expressions, the tightest borders.”
March 16, 2020
The federal government changes direction abruptly, with Canada closing its doors to the world by severely restricting international flights. The federal government advises all returning Canadians entering home to voluntarily self-isolate for 14 days. Prime Minister Trudeau also says all international visitors to Canada will be turned around at the airport, with the exception of Americans, diplomats and flight crews.
“I know that these measures are far reaching. They are exceptional circumstances calling for exceptional measures… From the very beginning, Canada’s response has been based on the latest available science and advice from our world-class health professionals. Today’s announcement is no different. These measures will help save lives… I want to remind all Canadians that they should avoid non-essential travel outside of our country until further notice. Canadian travellers should return to Canada via commercial means while it is still possible to do so. Let me be clear. If you’re abroad, it’s time for you to come home. If you’ve just arrived, you must self-isolate for 14 days. And finally, all Canadians, as much as possible, should stay home.” – Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau
March 17, 2020
Public Safety Minister Bill Blair says Canada will continue to allow in irregular border crossers and pledges to screen them for COVID-19 and put them in quarantine. “Because of the need for the 14-day self-isolation, we are now making separate arrangements for those individuals to be placed in appropriate shelter in order to accommodate the requirement for the period of isolation. We are doing this because we believe it is necessary and in the best interest of keeping all Canadians healthy and safe.”
March 18, 2020
Canada implements the ban on foreign nationals from all countries, except the United States, from entering Canada. The Canada-U.S. border is closed to all non-essential travel, and redirected international passenger flight arrivals to four airports in Calgary, Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal.
Justin Trudeau says: “We closed the borders to overseas travel on Monday. And today, two days later we announce that we are restricting nonessential travel between Canada and the United States. This is something that we’ve been coordinating with the United States on over the past days. Yesterday, the deputy prime minister Freeland reached out to Vice President Pence, to really advance these negotiations. And were able to announce it in a coordinated fashion on both sides of the border this morning. This is something that we need to move forward on to protect Canadians.”
March 19, 2020
From Dr. Tam: “All persons arriving in Canada: You must self-isolate for 14 days. Join Canada’s effort to disrupt the transmission of COVID-19.”
March 20, 2020
Former federal Conservative cabinet minister James Moore tweets: “Canada should table a resolution at the UN General Assembly calling for the immediate closure of the deadly and irresponsible wild animal and wet markets in China; enforced by international inspections and economic sanctions for non-compliance.”
The federal goverment announces that asylum seekers will now be rejected at the border and returned to the United States. Prime Minister Trudeau tells reporters: “Today Canada and the United States are announcing a reciprocal arrangement where we will now be returning irregular migrants who attempt to cross anywhere at the Canada/US border… In regards to the agreement we just worked out over the past 24 hours with the Americans, we recognize that these are exceptional times and someone who comes to the border to request asylum will be turned back to American authorities, as happens right now when someone comes to an official border crossing and requests asylum, we turn them over to American authorities at the border where they are released almost immediately into the United States. They are, for the most part, people who are legally in the United States and that is something we are confident about. We also have ensured that we are comfortable with this process as being in line with Canada’s values on the treatment of refugees and vulnerable people.”
March 22, 2020
Travel advice form the government of Canada: “Travellers arriving in Canada should self-isolate for 14 days and monitor their health for #COVID19 symptoms. If you have symptoms upon arrival, you will be given instructions on the next steps to take.”
March 23, 2020
Prime Minister announces support for Canadian farmers and food businesses.
March 24, 2020
From Dr. Tam: “To lower travel-related cases, travellers coming into Canada MUST self-isolate at home for 14-days, even if no symptoms. As long as no symptoms, it’s okay to go outside for walk but keep 2 metres away from others.
March 25, 2020
Going against WHO policy, Canada puts in mandatory self-isolation for incoming travellers, with large fines for violators.
From Dr. Tam: “We still need to do all that we can to reduce the impact and spread from travel imported cases. Today the GOC began implementing new measures making 14-day isolation mandatory under the Quarantine Act for all travellers coming to Canada. This is part of an all out effort to #SlowTheSpread.”
Canada announces the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB), providing $2000 a month, for four months, to eligible Canadians
Prime Minister’s remarks on the Canada Emergency Response Benefit and COVID-19
https://pm.gc.ca/en/videos/2020/03/25/update-covid-19-and-canada-emergency-response-benefit
March 26, 2020
Justin Trudeau tweets: “We are implementing the Quarantine Act to keep all Canadians safe. So let me be clear: If you do not go home and stay home for at least 14 days after coming back into Canada, you could face serious fines or prison time.”
Dr. Tam: “The lesson we are learning from COVID-19 pandemic is that none of us can be safe and healthy unless we are making sure that all of us, worldwide, are safe and healthy. #OneWorld #StrongerTogether… The seriousness of COVID-19 cannot be overstated.”
March 27, 2020
Canada announces financial support for small businesses
March 29, 2020
Dr. Tam: “Snowbirds, March Break & other travellers coming into Canada now/in the coming days: A) You MUST respect the mandatory quarantine now in place, which requires you to go straight home, Stay Home & Self-Isolate for 14 days. B) DO NOT stop along the way. Do arrange groceries & essentials by phone, online or through friends, neighbours, community.”
Canada announces support for vulnerable Canadians in efforts to alleviate the health, social and economic impacts of COVID-19
March 30, 2020
Dr. Tam on face masks:
“Putting a mask on an asymptomatic person is not beneficial obviously if you’re not affected… What we worry about is actually the potential negative aspects of wearing masks, where people are not protecting their eyes or other aspects of where the virus could enter your body and that gives you a false sense of confidence. But also it increases the touching of your face. If you think about if, if you got a mask around face a mask around your face, sometimes you can’t help it because you are just touching parts of your face. The other thing is that the outside of the mask could be contaminated as well. The key is hand-washing, absolutely, for sure.”
Doctors Without Borders and Amnesty International calls on the Canadian government to immediately reverse its March 20 legislation to shut the Canada-US border to people seeking refugee protection and return them to the US: “Canada’s ill-conceived decision to close the border as a COVID-19 public health measure will endanger people, runs counter to best practice for outbreak control, and flouts the international legal norms that Canada consistently claims to defend. Canada has an opportunity to exemplify the international standard it wants to set by protecting the public’s health and upholding international law.”
The World Health Organization also warned against wearing masks. “WHO stands by recommendation to not wear masks if you are not sick or not caring for someone who is sick,” CNN reported on March 30.
March 31, 2020
Canada allocates $2 billion towards diagnostic testing and the purchase of ventilators and PPE.
April 2020
April 9, 2020
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland speaks with premiers to discuss COVID-19. The Prime Minister talked about the need to exhaust all available options to protect Canadians and the importance of having discussions regarding the Emegencies Act. He encouraged premiers to share their views on how the Act could be used.
COVID-19 projections show long road ahead
Ottawa’s COVID-19 projections show cases could peak in the late spring, but some restrictions could be in place until a vaccine is available.
April 10, 2020
Trudeau says there will be ‘an awful lot of learning’ about COVID-19 response
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau responds to reports that show officials were slow to respond to the risk COVID-19 presented in Canada.
April 11, 2020
Finance Minister Bill Morneau introduced in Parliament Bill C-14, the COVID-19 Emergency Response Act, No. 2 to help businesses keep Canadians in their jobs.
Bill C-14: https://www.parl.ca/DocumentViewer/en/43-1/bill/C-14/royal-assent
April 15, 2020
Prime Minister announces expanded access to Canada Emergency Response Benefit
Wellness Together Canada is launched by the Government of Canada to support mental wellness
April 22, 2020
Canada announces the Canada Emergency Student Benefit (CESB), providing $1250 a month, for four months, to eligible post-secondary students and new graduates.
April 29, 2020
Canada releases ArriveCAN, an app designed to limit points of contact for travellers entering Canada.
May 2020
May 3, 2020
Canada invests $175.6 million in antibody discovery technology.
May 12, 2020
Health Canada approves serological test to detect COVID-19 antibodies.
May 15, 2020
Canada increases the Canadian Dairy Commission’s borrowing capacity by $200 million to support the dairy industry during the COVID-19 pandemic.
May 16, 2020
Canada invests $15 million into the Women’s Entrepreneurship Strategy (WES) to support woman entrepreneurs affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
May 22, 2020
Canada announces an online resource, Find Financial Help during COVID-19, to help Canadians decide to which government benefit they should apply.
May 25, 2020
Canada announces the launch of the Business Resilience Service, a four-week national hotline designed to support small businesses with financial planning.
May 27, 2020
Health Canada amends the process of clinical trials to accelerate access to health products.
May 29, 2020
Transport Canada announces cruise ships providing overnight services with more than 100 passengers are prohibited from operating in Canadian waters until October 31, 2020.
June 2020
June 1, 2020
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau holds a press conference at Rideau Cottage, to discuss the federal government’s response to COVID-19, including $2.2 billion in accelerated funding to offset the economic impacts on municipalities. Trudeau also discusses ongoing anti-racism protests in the United States and Canada following the death of George Floyd, who died on May 25 after a white Minneapolis police officer pressed his knee onto his neck for 9 minutes and 29 seconds during an arrest.
June 2, 2020
Canada proposes funding to the small projects component in the Enabling Accessibility Fund to support people living with disabilities.
June 5, 2020
Canada defers changes to the Divorce Act until March 1, 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
June 6, 2020
Canada’s Chief Public Health Officer, Dr. Theresa Tam issues a statement today, stating that COVID may be having a positive impact on the environment.
“Yesterday we observed World Environment Day. This is one area where our response to COVID-19 may be having a positive impact. Amid lockdowns implemented worldwide to limit the spread of the virus, major cities are seeing a reduction in air pollution.” – Dr. Theresa Tam
Health Canada recalls hand sanitizers made with industrial-grade ethanol.
July 2020
July 31, 2020
Canada releases the Canada COVID-19 app designed to keep Canadians updated on news related to the pandemic and enable them to self-assess their symptoms. The app was developed by Health Canada in partnership with Thrive Health – a software based company out of Vancouver. In Thrive’s data collection notice, it states the app is granted authority to gather information under Section 4 of the Department of Health Act.
April 2021
April 2, 2021
Health Canada issues an urgent advisory, warning Canadians not to use face masks containing graphene because they are potentially toxic and may pose a risk to human health.
Health Canada investigated the masks and identified a potential for early lung toxicity from inhaling graphene, the substance coating the masks. Reports from wearers included the feeling of “breathing in cat hairs”, increased headaches, and skin complaints.