Social distancing may be the new normal

The practice of social distancing may go on much longer than what was initially expected, according to Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Theresa Tam. The measure may be in place for months to come. Social distancing is so far the best practice for slowing down the fast-spreading COVID-19 coronavirus.

At time of writing, there are as many as 800 cases of coronavirus and 10 deaths across the country, with two more deaths recorded just after the federal government released their latest numbers. One was in British Columbia and the other was in Alberta according to CBC.

The tally of cases is based on positive test results, which means that those who are carrying the virus have likely already spread it to others unknowingly while they are awaiting their results. This means that the number of people infected will rise exponentially.

"I always tell people it's a bit like the light from a star," said Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Theresa Tam during a press conference on Thursday. "What you're seeing reported today is something that actually happened a while back." Coronavirus tests give us new information about something that likely happened weeks ago.

People have taken drastic measures to limit their contact, many have stopped going to work and are limiting all unnecessary travel. Several provinces have ordered bars and restaurants to close and all shows, parades and crowded events have been cancelled. National borders have been closed.

These are all preventative measures to ensure that there isn't a sudden spike in the number of cases. The slower the spread of the virus over time, the more likely hospitals will be able to keep up. Public health experts officials are referring to this action as "flattening the curve."

"What I would like to see, and I'll be watching very closely in the next two weeks or so, what actually happens to that curve," Tam said.

The majority of cases in Canada so far haven’t been severe, and are typically found in people that are at an age where they can fend it off. However, the virus becomes much more serious when contracted by senior citizens or people with previous health complications.

The demographic profile of Canadians who have contracted coronavirus matches that of other countries as well, however today Dr. Tam said we should not just be trying to flatten the curve but to “plank it.”

According to Dr. Tam, China and South Korea both had major outbreaks before Canada and it took them about two and a half months to get a hold of the situation. She is hoping that Canada will never reach the amount of casualties and instability that those countries endured. Italy has already surpassed the number of coronavirus deaths than were reported by China, where the outbreak began.

"I'll see how Canadians do in the next couple of weeks," Tam said.

What is most frightening for health officials are the cases that can't be traced to international travel or any other known source. This can only lead the authorities to believe that those infections were able to spread undetected. The airborne quality of the virus makes this even more possible.

The bulk of Canadian cases are from recent travellers and their close contacts, around 83 percent. The others are being investigated by public health officials to see where they could have contracted the virus.

Often the virus can be found in people who all attended the same public gathering, "If we can trace it, that's a good sign," Tam said.