30 Mar What is the Canadian Government doing to fight Coronavirus?
As the deadly shadow of the novel coronavirus disease draws the whole world into an eerie darkness, countries all over the world are taking drastic measures to deal with the global pandemic. Canada has been one of the countries with an early response to COVID-19. According to the Public Health Agency of Canada, there have been 4,018 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Canada, as of March 26, 2020. So, how is Canada dealing with the threat of COVID-19, which has already claimed 39 lives in the country?
According to the Public Health Agency of Canada, the Government of Canada has developed the necessary infrastructure for dealing with public health threats of COVID-19. The Government of Canada is adequately prepared for action for reducing the health, social, and economical impacts of the rapidly spreading global pandemic. Most important of all, the Government of Canada is driving its response towards COVID-19 on the shoulders of collaboration with international partners and provincial and territorial governments.
Underlying Principles of Canada’s Response to COVID-19
The effectiveness of Canada’s response to COVID-19 is primarily due to its guiding principles. According to the Public Health Agency of Canada, the notable guiding principles underlying the response of Canada are as follows.
- Collaboration.
- Evidence-based decision making.
- Proportionality.
- Flexibility.
- Precautionary approach.
- Utilization of established systems and practices.
- Ethical decision making.
Immediate Measures Taken by the Canadian Government
- In accordance with these principles, the Government of Canada has created the Public Health Agency of Canada for monitoring and responding to disease outbreaks.
- In addition, the Government of Canada has also appointed a Chief Public Health Officer for issuing guidance on steps for protecting the health and working in collaboration with chief medical officers in other territories and provinces.
- Canada also has a pandemic preparedness plan for the health sector with the “Canadian Pandemic Influenza Preparedness: Planning Guidance for the Health Sector.”
- The Government has also instituted improvements in the diagnostic capacity of the National Microbiology Laboratory.
Reasonable Allocation of Budgets for Response Measures
The Public Health Agency of Canada further states that the Canadian Government has allocated more than $1 billion dollars to public health measures.
Immediate response to COVID-19 by the Canadian Government is evident in the allocation of $50 million dollars for initial actions such as imposing border and travel restrictions and activating the Health Portfolio Operations Centre and the National Microbiology Laboratory.
Furthermore, the Government also provided $7.1 million for repatriation of Canadians alongside a contribution of $2 million to the World Health Organization to support the fight against COVID-19.
Emphasis on Informing People
One of the foremost highlights in the response of Canada to COVID-19 has been the Government’s emphasis on communication and public education about COVID-19.
- The official website of the Public Health Agency of Canada and the multiple social media accounts of the Government of Canada are reliable sources to fetch required information about the outbreak.
- In addition, the coronavirus information line by the Government of Canada is open from 7:00 am to midnight on all days of the week.
The Government is also making further plans to expand the existing communications and public education infrastructure. For example, the Government is allocating $50 million to the dedicated communications and public education efforts of the Public Health Agency of Canada.
Just like Canada, we are all in this fight together. The examples of rapid and proactive response by the Government of Canada can serve as benchmarks for many countries struggling to contain the threat of COVID-19. In this time of need, a prayer and a voice of support could make the most vital contribution to the sustenance of mankind on this planet!
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