Canada taking measures against COVID-19 spread, Trudeau says

Sideline Video: Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced measures on March 20 to mobilize manufacturers to quickly produce vital life-saving medical supplies against the COVID-19 pandemic in the country. (Xinhua/Li Baodong, Zhang Mocheng)

"At this time, we do not see the federal emergencies act as an essential tool today, but we are continuing to look at the situation we'll make decisions based on the best recommendations of science."

OTTAWA, March 21 (Xinhua) -- Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Saturday morning that his government is continuing to monitor the situation of the COVID-19 spread in the country and will not remove any options on the table.

Trudeau did not declare a national states of emergency against the COVID-19 spread although several provinces and cities in the country have declared state of emergency. As of Saturday noon, Canada has confirmed 1,145 COVID-19 cases and 13 people died of the coronavirus.

Customers line up with a social distance to enter a Costco warehouse store in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, on March 20, 2020. (Photo by Zou Zheng/Xinhua)

"At this time, we do not see the federal emergencies act as an essential tool today, but we are continuing to look at the situation we'll make decisions based on the best recommendations of science," he said at a press conference outside of Rideau Cottage in Ottawa, where he has been in self-isolation since his wife tested positive for the COVID-19 last week.

Canada's federal Emergencies Act, known as the War Measures Act, gives the government extraordinary powers during a national emergency.

The powers include regulating or prohibiting travel within Canada, evacuations, removing or requisitioning personal property, order people to deliver essential services, regulating the distribution of essential goods and services, making emergency payments and compensation, and imposing fines and jail terms to anyone who contravenes the orders.

Customers line up with a social distance to enter a Costco warehouse store in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, on March 20, 2020. (Photo by Zou Zheng/Xinhua)

Trudeau said that his government is working with commercial airlines to bring home Canadians who are stranded abroad due to COVID-19 travel limits.

"It is an extremely difficult situation, but the lockdowns in various countries, the limits on travel, the logistical capacities of our airlines means that we are unlikely to be able to bring everyone home," Trudeau said.

"So we're going to ask people to stay safe, to make smart choices, and do the best they can in a situation that is unprecedented, exceptional and very difficult," he said.

He said his government is looking into coordinating flights to Spain and Peru, and will announce additional countries as soon as possible.

Trudeau said he expects Canadians returning home to pay a responsible ticket price but that the government will cover additional costs.

Canada's Foreign Affairs Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne said he spoke with his counterparts in Australia, Brazil, Germany, Morocco, Peru and Turkey on Saturday to discuss plans to facilitate the return of nationals.

Closed border crossing counters are seen in Surrey, Canada, March 20, 2020. (Photo by Andrew Soong/Xinhua)

At midnight on Friday the land border between Canada and the United States was closed to all non-essential travel in an effort to stem the spread of COVID-19.

The border remains open for essential travel, which includes the transportation of goods and travel for work, so as not to affect trade and the supply chains between the two countries.

(Article by Xinhua Reporter Li Baodong) ■