Trudeau says pandemic ‘really sucks,’ and that Christmas gatherings are up in the air

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WatchAs B.C. enforces new private gathering restrictions, Canada's Prime Minister admits Christmas gatherings may not happen this year. April Lawrence has more.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the global COVID-19 pandemic “really sucks,” and could jeopardize large gatherings with friends and family over Christmas on the heels of a toned-down Thanksgiving season.

He says his six-year-old son asked him recently whether COVID-19 is forever.

Staying apart, telling children they can’t trick-or-treat, accepting restrictions that harm business, and giving up on gatherings are all incredibly difficult.

Trudeau says the pandemic is a chance to show who Canadians really are – people who sacrifice for each other.

And he says a vaccine is coming, and so are a spring and summer after the impending winter.

No person, institution or government is perfect, but Trudeau says everyone has to do their best to protect everyone else.

B.C. reported 217 new cases of COVID-19 Tuesday, for a total of 2,322 active infections in the province.

The number of people in hospital has ticked up to 84, but no one else has died after contracting the illness.

More than 5,100 people are now under public health surveillance after exposure to a known case.

Infections have been detected at Fellburn Care Centre and St. Michael’s Centre in Burnaby, meaning outbreaks are ongoing at 21 assisted-living or long-term care homes and two acute-care facilities.

In a statement, provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry repeated her expectation that masks are worn in indoor public spaces, including shopping malls, grocery stores, community centres and health-care facilities.

She says public spaces indoors are different from schools, offices and businesses that have established learning groups and work cohorts supported by comprehensive COVID-19 safety plans.

Also on Tuesday, Canada reached another grim milestone in the COVID-19 pandemic, surpassing 10,000 deaths connected to the novel coronavirus.

Alberta reported another two deaths from COVID-19 today to bring the national tally to 10,001.

Canada crossed the threshold of 5,000 deaths on May 12, a little over two months after the first death was reported.

MORE: B.C. announces new household gathering restrictions as 817 new cases reported over weekend

 

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