Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s wife Sophie Grégoire Trudeau has tested positive for the novel coronavirus, according to a statement posted on Twitter by the PM’s communications director on March 13.

The first lady said that she was experiencing some “uncomfortable symptoms” and urged the public to stay safe and healthy.

The prime minister is reportedly in good health with no symptoms but will be in self-quarantine for 14 days.

Panic buying as Ontario schools shut down

Major retailers in Ontario are running out of supplies such as toilet paper, bottled water and canned goods. Social media users in Ontario are sharing photos of empty shelves in Canadian retail stores such as Loblaws and No Frills.

The panic buying came two weeks after the announcement of the closing of public schools was made. Publicly funded schools in Ontario will be shut from March 14 to April 5, in an extension of the March school break.

“Based on latest available advice from Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr. David Williams, and the experts at the #COVID19 Command Table, our government has directed all publicly funded schools in Ontario to close for 2 weeks following March break,” the Premier of Ontario, Doug Ford tweeted on March 12.

Travel advisory

British Columbia (BC) health officials are advising that people avoid travel outside Canada, and have called for the cancellation of any events that will host more than 250 people.

“We are recommending against all non-essential travel outside of Canada, including to the United States. Effective today, anyone who chooses to travel outside of Canada will be asked to stay away from work or school for 14 days upon their return. We know that this is a voluntary measure, but it is our expectation that people will follow this direction as part of their civic duty.” stated the country’s ministry of health and provincial health officials on March 12.

Canada’s health minister, Patty Hajdu, estimates that 30% to 70% of the country could possibly get infected, speaking at the House of Commons health committee on March 11. Hajdu added that the hospitals in Canada are as prepared as they can be to handle the pandemic.

Canada has recorded 158 coronavirus cases and one death as of March 13.

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