Top doctor says Canadians need to cut their contacts by 25% to slow second wave

By The Canadian Press

New federal projections suggest that Canadians need to cut a quarter of their contacts to keep the COVID-19 outbreak from resurging.

The modelling indicates that at current rates of in-person socializing, Canada could see COVID-19 case counts increase to 8,000 per day come early December.

Public health officials say a 25 per cent reduction in contacts could control the spread of the virus in most locations.

Canada’s chief public health officer says further restrictions and closures may be needed in communities where the virus is surging.

Dr. Theresa Tam says more regions have reported increased rates of infection over the past two weeks, with 26 Indigenous communities reporting two or more active COVID-19 cases.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the federal government is adding $200 million to its funding to fight COVID-19 in Indigenous communities.

More than half of that is going to pre-schools and day-care centres, to improve training and staffing and enhance cleaning.

The forecasts predict that Canada’s total COVID-19 count could reach 262,000 cases and 10,400 deaths cases by Nov. 8.

Tam adds there’s been a troubling rise in infection rates among Canadians under the age of 40, and 2,100 schools have reported at least one confirmed COVID-19 case.

COVID Alert App Updated

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the COVID Alert app can now provide more precise information to people who are exposed to the virus.

Trudeau says users who test positive for COVID-19 can enter the time their symptoms started, or the date they were tested.

This information is important to figure out when they were most infectious to others, and those who are exposed can better estimate the time period they were at risk.

The new features are optional.

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