Canadian Prime Minister Justin
Trudeau and his wife Sophie are in self-isolation after she came
down with flu-like symptoms and was tested for the new
coronavirus, according to an official statement on Thursday.
The 48-year-old Liberal leader is exhibiting no symptoms and
will continue to work from home until the results of his wife's
test comes in, the statement said. However, face-to-face
meetings with provincial premiers scheduled for Thursday and
Friday will instead be held by phone.
"Having recently returned from a speaking engagement in
London, UK, the Prime Minister's wife Sophie Grégoire Trudeau
began exhibiting mild flu-like symptoms including a low fever
late last night," the statement from the prime minister's office
read.
"She immediately sought medical advice, and is being tested
for the COVID-19 virus. She is self-isolating at home awaiting
test results, and her symptoms have since subsided."
The statement does not mention whether their three children
are staying home as well.
Trudeau's announcement comes as the spread of the new
coronavirus appears to be gathering steam and as authorities
canceled major events to try to limit contagion.
Canada had just over 100 confirmed cases of the new
coronavirus as of Wednesday, more than double the number from a
week ago. With Manitoba and New Brunswick reporting their first
presumptive cases in the past 24 hours, six of Canada's 10
provinces have recorded COVID-19 contagion.
Two other ministers with flu-like symptoms have gone into
self-isolation in recent days as they awaited test results for
the virus. Indigenous Services Minister Marc Miller said that
the rest of the cabinet had not been instructed to self-isolate.
Trudeau's move is "a precautionary measure, and should
Canadians find themselves in a similar situation, that is the
recommendation," Miller said.
Ontario, the country's most populous province, reported 17
new cases overnight, a 40%. In Alberta, Suncor Energy
spokeswoman Erin Rees said a pre-school child in Calgary who
attended a daycare in one of its buildings had tested positive
for coronavirus.
The daycare was closed and children and their families were
advised to self-quarantine, Rees said. Alberta health officials
have not confirmed the case.
Also on Thursday, Canadian authorities canceled the JUNO, an
annual music award show similar to the Grammys in the United
States, citing virus concerns, and Toronto's annual St.
Patrick's Day parade was suspended.
All 360 people working at the Ottawa office of the
Superintendent of Financial Institutions - Canada's top
financial services regulator - were asked to start working from
home on Thursday after an employee was tested for the
coronavirus, said spokesman Michael Toope.
Trudeau's government committed C$1 billion ($723 million) on
Wednesday towards bolstering the healthcare system and limiting
the impact of the virus.
The government of Ontario, the province that has reported
the highest number of cases, has set aside C$100 million in
"contingency funding", Premier Doug Ford told reporters on
Thursday.