Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced the details of a national medical and research strategy worth $1.1 billion to help find a solution to COVID-19.
During his daily press conference from Rideau Cottage in Ottawa, the prime minister revealed a “three pillars” plan being put into motion in an effort to find medium and long-term solutions to slowing the spread of coronavirus, while understanding it better.
The three pillars outlined by Trudeau are research on vaccines and other treatments, supports for clinical trials, and expanding national testing and modelling.
Under Trudeau’s first pillar, he said the government will be spending $115 million for research into vaccines and treatments being developed in hospitals and universities across the country. This money is on top of what the government has already allotted towards vaccine development since the start of the pandemic.
Of the $1.1 billion being invested by Ottawa, the lion’s share of the funding – $662 million – will be for the clinical trials to test those vaccines and treatments as they are developed.
Prime Minister Trudeau says although a vaccine is the long-term solution, he feels more needs to be done in the interim as Canadians wait for a solution.
“These drugs will take months to develop, test, fabricate, and roll out, so until we have something ready we need to control the spread of the virus,” said Trudeau.
With health experts anticipating a long development process, Trudeau said the government will be investing $350 million towards more testing and modelling, with hopes these efforts help the Canadian economy can reopen sooner rather than later.
According to Trudeau, part of this test funding will be allocated to creating a task force of public health experts that includes Dr. Theresa Tam, Canada’s chief public health officer, and Dr. David Naylor, who has advised Liberal and Conservative governments on health and science issues.
The task force will be asked to oversee country-wide blood test surveys to get a better handle on potential immunity and vulnerabilities in Canada.
“They’ll be looking at key questions like how many people beyond those we’ve already tested have had COVID-19? Whether you’re immune once you have it? And if so, how long that lasts?” Trudeau added.
The prime minister said that the government’s plan is to test over one million Canadians over the next two years as part of this study. According to Trudeau, the findings of this research will not only help health officials with the rollout of a potential vaccine, but also to assist in determining which public health measures are most effective, among other things.
“The better we understand this virus, its spread and its impact on different people, the better we can fight it and eventually defeat it,” said Trudeau.
In the meantime, Trudeau continues to encourage Canadians to practice social distancing and stay home, suggesting “it’s working.”
The cash announced today is on top of $275 million in research funding the Liberals announced in March at the outset of the pandemic.
This announcement comes one day after Trudeau announced plans for the government to put $9 billion towards helping post-secondary students during the current crisis.
Graham Cox
