Coronavirus: Trudeau says decision on schools, potential lockdown up to provinces | FULL

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Tuesday said people are rightly concerned about issues like school closures or a potential lockdown, but said the federal government’s role is to support and work with provinces and how each region is impacted is different so these issues are up to health and provincial authorities, not Ottawa. He added he didn't think it would be necessary nor "desirable" to invoke the Federal Emergencies Act.

Trudeau made the comments during a COVID-19 update alongside Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Theresa Tam and Deputy Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Howard Njoo.

As snowbirds are signaling they would like to travel during this winter despite COVID-19, Trudeau also said the travel advisory remains for people to stay home and not engage in international travel. He said if people decide to do it, it is their choice but they need to ensure they have good health and travel insurance and there’s sufficient health care capacity where they are going.

The prime minister also spoke about the recent results from American pharma giant Moderna regarding its vaccine being 94.5 per cent effective, saying the company has submitted its product for Health Canada review, but added Canadians need to double down on working to prevent to COVID-19 as a vaccine isn’t effective until a person actually gets it.

He said they are also engaging with partners like the military on delivering a vaccine, but said while there they see a "light at the end of the tunnel coming," they need to ensure they get through the winter "as best we can."

Canada surpassed 300,000 total confirmed cases on Monday, with the death toll at 11,027.

MORE: https://globalnews.ca/news/7467164/coronavirus-canadians-vaccinated-growing/

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