Coronavirus respects no status, Canada PM’s wife tested positive

COVID-19 is not a respecter of colour, status or culture. Justin Trudeau’s wife has tested positive for novel coronavirus, his office said late Thursday, while assuring the public the Canadian prime minister is fine.

Canada’s leader and his 44-year-old wife announced Thursday they were self-isolating while she was tested for coronavirus after a public event.

“Sophie Gregoire-Trudeau was tested for COVID-19 today. The test came back positive,” the Prime Minister’s office said in a statement, adding she would remain in isolation and her symptoms were mild.

“The Prime Minister is in good health with no symptoms,” the statement said, noting he would also be in isolation for two weeks and — on the advice of his doctors — will not be tested for the virus.

It follows several provinces in Canada — which so far has reported nearly 150 cases in six states, and one death — unveiling stricter measures to combat the spread of the virus while sporting events and entertainment galas were cancelled.

The PM would continue his duties, his office said and would address the country on Saturday.

Trudeau, 48, held several meetings over the phone on Thursday, including with the special cabinet committee on COVID-19, his office said, and also spoke with the leaders of Italy, the US and Britain.

On Friday he will talk with indigenous leaders, as well as provincial and territorial premiers to coordinate Canada’s response to the virus, and “limit the economic impact on the country.”

After experiencing some mild symptoms following her return from the UK, according to an earlier statement, Gregoire-Trudeau immediately sought medical advice and testing.

“Although I’m experiencing uncomfortable symptoms of the virus, I will be back on my feet soon,” she said in a message via the PM’s Office.

“Being in quarantine at home is nothing compared to other Canadian families who might be going through this and for those facing more serious health concerns.”

Since the novel coronavirus first emerged in late December 2019, more than 130,000 cases have been recorded in 116 countries and territories, killing at least 4,900 people, according to an AFP tally.

Most of Canada’s cases have been traced to China, Iran, Italy or Egypt, but seven people who recently returned from the US also tested positive, public health authorities said.

– Avoid churches: health minister –

In parliament, Health Minister Patty Hajdu urged Canadians to “reconsider going to areas where there are a large number of people, which might include places like churches, community centres, concerts and various sporting events.”

Quebec’s Premier Francois Legault unveiled the strongest emergency measures yet in Canada, asking all travellers returning from overseas trips or anyone exhibiting flu-like symptoms to self-isolate for two weeks.

A ban on indoor gatherings of more than 250 people was also announced, with Montreal’s Saint Patrick’s Day parade — held since 1824 — postponed.

Alberta and British Columbia announced bans on large gatherings too.

Quebec, which has 13 confirmed cases of the virus, is also considering placing the entire island of Montreal — a population of nearly 2 million — under quarantine.

In neighbouring Ontario, public health officials announced the public schools would be shut until April 5.

The Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television cancelled this year’s Canadian Screen Awards — scheduled to air on March 29 — and the country’s Juno music awards, planned for Sunday, were also scrapped.

As a way of further curtailing the spread of the dreaded virus, Canada may soon advise against non-essential foreign travel, and it will be taking a number of new measures at airports in a bid to slow the spread of coronavirus, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Friday.

“We are looking at making a recommendation that people do not travel outside the country except for essential purposes,” Trudeau said in an interview with the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. He said the announcement “will probably be made later today” (Friday).