Coronavirus disease (COVID-19): Outbreak update

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Current situation

Areas in Canada with cases of COVID-19 as of March 19, 2020, 11:30 am EDT
Province, territory or other Number of confirmed cases Number of probable cases
British Columbia 231 0
Alberta 119 0
Saskatchewan 2 14
Manitoba 15 0
Ontario 257 0
Quebec 94 0
Newfoundland and Labrador 1 2
New Brunswick 2 9
Nova Scotia 5 9
Prince Edward Island 1 0
Yukon 0 0
Northwest Territories 0 0
Nunavut 0 0
Repatriated travellers 9 0
Total cases 736 34

Information on demographics, symptoms and outcomes is available for 260 cases.

Of these cases:

This illness summary is updated once a day based on information provided by provinces and territories. A detailed epidemiologic curve is also available.

Global

On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) assessed COVID-19 as a pandemic.

This assessment by the WHO is not unexpected. Describing the situation as a pandemic does not change the WHO's assessment of the threat posed by COVID-19 and it does not change what the WHO is doing. It also does not change what countries around the world should do. For that reason, it does not change the approach we are taking in Canada.

Canada's public health system is prepared. Since the outset, the Public Health Agency of Canada - along with public health authorities at all levels of government across the country - have been working together to ensure that our preparedness and response measures are appropriate and adaptable, based on the latest science and the evolving situation.

Aside from Canada, other countries and regions are reporting cases. Check the latest travel health notices before travelling.

Risk to Canadians

There is an increased risk of more severe outcomes for Canadians:

There are also increased health risks for Canadian travellers abroad. Because of these risks, the Government of Canada advises you to avoid non-essential travel outside of Canada until further notice. This includes cruise ships.

It is important for all travellers to:

We continue to reassess the public health risk, based on the best available evidence as the situation evolves.

How Canada is monitoring COVID-19

The health and safety of all Canadians is our top priority.

The Public Health Agency of Canada is working with provinces, territories and international partners, including the World Health Organization, to actively monitor the situation. Global efforts are focused on containment of the outbreak and the prevention of further spread.

Canada's Chief Public Health Officer of Canada is in close contact with provincial and territorial Chief Medical Officers of Health to ensure that any cases of COVID-19 occurring in Canada continue to be rapidly identified and managed in order to protect the health of Canadians.

Canada's National Microbiology Laboratory is performing diagnostic testing for the virus that causes COVID-19. The laboratory is working in close collaboration with provincial and territorial public health laboratories, which are now able to test for COVID-19. A summary of people tested in Canada is available and updated each week day.

National Microbiology Laboratory's summary of people tested in Canada as of March 18, 2020 at 11:11 am EDT
Total number of patients tested in Canada Total positive Total negative
53,975 611 41,181

This testing summary represents information collected by the laboratory and not the total reported cases in Canada. The remainder of tests not reported here are still being resolved.

Should there be any differences with the national case count compared with testing numbers reported by provincial and territorial public health officials, provincial data should be considered the most up-to-date.

For more information, visit Canada's response page.

History

On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declares the global outbreak of COVID-19 a pandemic.

On March 9, 2020, Canada confirms its first death related to COVID-19.

On February 20, 2020, Canada confirms its first case related to travel outside mainland China.

On February 9, 2020, Canada expands COVID-19 screening requirements for travellers returning from affected areas to 10 airports across 6 provinces.

On January 30, 2020, the World Health Organization declares the outbreak of COVID-19 a public health event of international concern.

On January 25, 2020, Canada confirms its first case of COVID-19 related to travel in Wuhan, China.

On January 22, 2020, Canada implements screening requirements related to COVID-19 for travellers returning from China to major airports in Montréal, Toronto and Vancouver.

On January 15, 2020, the Public Health Agency of Canada activates the Emergency Operation Centre to support Canada's response to COVID-19.

On January 7, 2020, China confirmed COVID-19.

On December 31, 2019, the World Health Organization was alerted to several cases of pneumonia in Wuhan, China. The virus did not match any other known virus.

Contact us

For information on COVID-19, refer to our frequently asked questions. If you have additional questions that are not answered on our website:

Note that we are currently experiencing a high volume of requests with long wait times.

Callers may experience long wait times while others may encounter a busy signal. We are working hard to answer your questions.

Updates

Table : Updates
Title Date
Prime Minister announces more support for workers and businesses through Canada’s COVID-19 Economic Response Plan 2020-03-18
Canadian Food Inspection Agency update regarding COVID-19 2020-03-17
First Ministers discuss collective efforts to address the impact of COVID-19 2020-03-13
Government of Canada advises Canadians to avoid non-essential travel abroad 2020-03-13
Prime Minister speaks with National Indigenous Leaders on efforts to address the impact of COVID-19 2020-03-13
Statement on a case of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in a passenger from the Grand Princess 2020-03-11
Prime Minister outlines Canada's COVID-19 response 2020-03-11
Government of Canada repatriates Canadians from Grand Princess cruise ship 2020-03-10
Government of Canada evacuating Canadians on board Grand Princess cruise ship 2020-03-08
Statement from the Chief Public Health Officer on the release of repatriated Canadians from quarantine following 14-day stay at the NAV CENTRE 2020-03-06
Prime Minister creates committee on COVID-19 2020-03-04
Update: special immigration measures expanded to applicants in Iran and South Korea affected by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) 2020-02-29
Update #6: Statement from the Chief Public Health Officer on the release of selected individuals from quarantine for the 2019 novel coronavirus 2020-02-26
Update: Statement from the Chief Public Health Officer on the release of repatriated Canadians from quarantine following 14-day stay at CFB Trenton 2020-02-25
Update #5: Statement from the Chief Public Health Officer on the release of selected individuals from quarantine for the 2019 novel coronavirus 2020-02-23
Statement from the Chief Public Health Officer on the release of repatriated Canadians from quarantine following 14-day stay at CFB Trenton 2020-02-21
Government of Canada repatriates Canadians and their families from Diamond Princess cruise ship in Japan 2020-02-21
Government of Canada evacuating Canadians on board Diamond Princess cruise ship 2020-02-15
Update #4: Statement from the Chief Public Health Officer on the release of selected individuals from quarantine for the 2019 novel coronavirus 2020-02-15
Update #3: Statement from the Chief Public Health Officer on the release of selected individuals from quarantine for the 2019 novel coronavirus 2020-02-12
Government of Canada repatriates more Canadians and their families from Wuhan, China 2020-02-11
Update #2: Statement from the Chief Public Health Officer on the release of selected individuals from quarantine for the 2019 novel coronavirus 2020-02-10
Community Safety a Top Priority in 2019-nCoV Repatriation Efforts 2020-02-10
Update: Statement from the Chief Public Health Officer on the release of selected individuals from quarantine for the 2019 novel coronavirus 2020-02-10
Canada supports China's ongoing response to novel coronavirus outbreak 2020-02-09
Statement from the Chief Public Health Officer of Canada on the release of selected individuals from quarantine for 2019 novel coronavirus 2020-02-09
Government of Canada repatriates Canadians and their families from the epicentre of the 2019-nCoV outbreak in China 2020-02-08
Government of Canada evacuating Canadians from Wuhan, China 2020-02-02
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau convenes the Incident Response Group for an update on the coronavirus situation 2020-02-02
Statement by Foreign Affairs Minister on travel to Hubei Province in China 2020-01-26
Statement by the Minister of Health on the First Presumptive Confirmed Travelled-Related Case of New Coronavirus in Canada 2020-01-25
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