Canada’s Chief Public Health Officer Theresa Tam asked Canadians to avoid large gatherings as COVID-19 cases spike.
Tam said in a statement that “now is not the time for hosting large in-person gatherings.”
COVID-19 cases have been rising in Canada after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that the second wave had already begun in the country in late September.
The latest national-level data indicate daily averages of 2,488 new cases, said Tam.
According to CTV, Canada confirmed a total of 216,104 COVID-19 cases and 9,946 deaths as of Sunday afternoon.
Canadian experts said various factors contribute to the country’s recent surge in record-breaking COVID-19 cases, including Thanksgiving celebrations, fewer restrictions, and increased testing capacity.
Quebec province continues to be the epicenter of the pandemic in Canada, surpassing 100,000 confirmed cases on Sunday. In contrast, Ontario, the second hardest-hit province, registered more than 1,000 new COVID-19 cases for the first time, setting another record for new patients in a single day.
On Sunday, Quebec province reported 879 new cases, bringing 100,114 patients in the region. It recorded 6,143 deaths.
Meanwhile, the Ontario province reported 1,042 new cases. The region had 70,373 cases and 3,093 deaths.
Public health officials across Canada have re-urged people to be extra vigilant during the second wave of the pandemic, as colder weather pushes people indoors.
Tam said there is a concern that Canada has not yet seen the full impact of the recent increase in Coronavirus cases, as hospitalizations and deaths generally lag behind case numbers.
Tam said influenza and other respiratory diseases place an added pressure on hospitals in the fall and winter months, making it even more critical to heed precautionary measures. “Right now, doing the best thing to keep our family, friends, and community safer means keeping safely apart.”
