Trudeau & premiers release what steps are necessary to reopen provinces

Well, here is the news a lot of us have been waiting for. Prime Minister Trudeau and the premiers of Canada’s provinces and territories have agreed on what needs to be done before provinces start to reopen. The list is long, but it’s necessary. Let’s take a look!

The joint statement “acknowledges that provinces and territories will take different steps at different times in order to ease restrictions, reflecting the specific circumstances in each jurisdiction.”

This means that although the following steps are agreed upon, when and how actions are taken will be determined province-by-province.

So, here are the “common principles” determined by Canada’s leaders.

• COVID-19 transmission is controlled with new cases contained at a level that the health care system can manage.
• Sufficient public health capacity is set up so we can test, trace, isolate, and control the spread of COVID-19.
• Health care capacity is expanded in order to provide support for all needs for both COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 patients.
• Sufficient support systems are in place to aid vulnerable groups, including but not limited to healthcare workers, seniors, Indigenous people, other essential workers, and inmates.
• Sufficient support and increased monitoring of workplace protocols are put into place to keep working Canadians safe at their jobs while preventing the spread of virus.
• Easing the restriction of non-essential travel in a safe and coordinated manner.
• Aiding communities in managing local outbreaks through schools, public transport, etc.

Well, that sure is quite the checklist. That being said, it’s encouraging to see the political leaders of the country coming together to agree on how to safely reopen the country.

Now, all we can do is our part! Stay home if you can, stay safe, practice physical distancing, and before we know it things will start getting back to normal. Cheers!