Canada's Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Theresa Tam. (Supplied by The Canadian Press)

By The Canadian Press

Community spread of COVID-19 in Canada now equal to those from travel

Mar 24, 2020 | 2:11 PM

OTTAWA, ON – Canada’s Chief Medical Health Officer Dr. Theresa Tam says, overall in Canada, an equal number of Canadians who have tested positive for COVID-19 contracted the virus from travel and from transmission within their own communities.

The trend is now turning toward community spread.

Deputy chief public health officer Dr. Howard Njoo said nearly 90 per cent of cases reported to the public health agency in recent days came from spread of the virus within the community.

Tam says this is a fundamental shift in the spread of the virus in Canada.

If Canada is going to get a handle on community spread, she said self-isolation for those who have been advised to do so, social distancing, and maintaining a two-metre barrier between people is essential.

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Nearly 120,000 Canadians have been tested for the coronavirus, with an average of 10,000 people tested per day.

Tam also said 220 passengers from the Grand Princess cruise ship who have completed their 14-day quarantine at CFB Trenton and are symptom-free have been repatriated.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published on March 24, 2020.

(The Canadian Press)