Statement from the Chief Public Health Officer of Canada on December 9, 2020

December 9, 2020      Ottawa, ON                 Public Health Agency of Canada

As the resurgence of COVID-19 activity continues in Canada, we are tracking a range of epidemiological indicators to monitor where the disease is most active, where it is spreading and how it is impacting the health of Canadians and public health, laboratory and healthcare capacity. The following is the latest summary on national numbers and trends, and the actions we all need to be taking to maintain COVID-19 at manageable levels across the country.

Since the start of the pandemic, there have been 429,035 cases of COVID-19, including 12,867 deaths reported in Canada; these cumulative numbers tell us about the overall burden of COVID-19 illness to date. Though the cumulative number is high and many areas continue to experience rapid growth, it is important to remember that the vast majority of Canadians remain susceptible to COVID-19. This is why it is important for everyone to continue with individual precautions to protect ourselves, our families and our communities.  

At this time, there are 71,968 active cases across the country. The latest national-level data indicate daily averages of 6,510 new cases (Dec 2-8) and over 80,000 people tested daily, with 8.0% testing positive (Nov 29-Dec 5). COVID-19 is spreading among people of all ages, with high infection rates across all age groups. However, nationally, infection rates remain highest among those aged 80 years and older who are at highest risk for severe outcomes.

Likewise, outbreaks continue to occur in high-risk populations and communities, including hospitals and long term care homes, congregate living settings, Indigenous communities, and more remote areas of the country. This continued impact on high risk individuals, settings and populations is deeply concerning, putting countless Canadians at risk of life-threatening illness, causing significant disruption to health services and presenting ongoing challenges for areas not adequately equipped to manage complex medical emergencies.

The number of people experiencing severe illness continues to increase across Canada. Provincial and territorial data indicate that an average of 2,795 people with COVID-19 were being treated in Canadian hospitals each day during the most recent 7-day period (Dec 2-8), including 544 of whom were being treated in intensive care units. During the same period, there were an average of 94 COVID-19-related deaths reported daily. This situation is placing a heavy strain on local healthcare resources, particularly in areas where infection rates are highest. These impacts affect everyone, as the healthcare workforce and health system bear a heavy strain, important elective medical procedures are delayed or postponed, adding to pre-existing backlogs and wait times.

The positive news is that, today, Health Canada authorized the first COVID-19 vaccine in Canada, the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, after a thorough, independent review of the evidence for safety, efficacy, and quality requirements for use in Canada. Earlier this week, the Government of Canada announced that Pfizer is set to provide us with up to 249,000 doses of a COVID-19 vaccine during December. As welcome as this news is amid our ongoing concerns of rapid growth and increasing severe outcomes, it does not mean that control of COVID-19 will be soon or quick. Initial supplies of COVID-19 vaccines will be limited and the supply to provide access for all Canadians will increase gradually.

And while safe and effective vaccines are now within sight, we need to remember that this is not a race to the finish but a test of our continued collective effort and resolve. During the initial vaccine rollout, it is crucial that we all continue to follow public health advice and maintain individual protective practices to keep us and our families safe along the path ahead. To do this, we need to continue to limit close contacts to only those in our immediate household and reduce in-person interactions to only essential errands and activities, while consistently maintaining key public health practices: stay home/self-isolate if you have any symptoms, maintain physical distancing, wear a face mask as appropriate (including indoors with people from outside your immediate household), and keep up with frequent hand, cough and surface hygiene. Avoid the three C’s as much as possible: closed spaces with poor ventilation, crowded places where many people gather, and close contact situations where you cannot keep two metres apart. Importantly, please follow the guidance of your local public health authorities.

Canadians can also go the extra mile by sharing credible information on COVID-19 risks and prevention practices and measures to reduce COVID-19 in communities and by downloading the COVID Alert app to break the cycle of infection and help limit the spread of COVID-19. Read my backgrounder to access more COVID-19 Information and Resources on ways to reduce the risks and protect yourself and others.