Speaking to the media on Monday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had harsh words for Canadians who are not adhering to guidelines on social distancing in the midst of the global COVID-19 pandemic.
“If you choose to ignore that advice … you’re not just putting yourself at risk, you’re putting others at risk too,” he said in his daily press conference outside his Rideau Cottage residence in Ottawa.
The prime minister said that frontline workers in Canada “need you to make the right choices.” Social distancing, now in widespread practice around the globe, requires that people stay two metres apart and refrain from gathering in clusters, so that virus spread can be lessened.
“Enough is enough,” he said to those who aren’t complying. “Go home and stay home.”
He said the government hasn’t taken any options off the table when it comes to imposing stricter social distancing controls, including use of the Emergency Act, but said for now they are relying on the goodwill of Canadians.
The federal government is also unveiling advertisements to hammer home the importance of social distancing.
“When we see people out in the sunshine in large groups, that is extremely concerning,” he said, adding that those flouting the guidelines are putting the elderly and other vulnerable groups at risk.
Trudeau said the House of Commons will reconvene Tuesday to pass emergency legislation in relation to the crisis.
Trudeau says the federal government is planning to invest $192 million to help create and produce vaccines for COVID-19.
The money will be distributed to a number of different companies and universities in the drive to find a way to stop the illness’s spread.
(Canadian Press)
