Coronavirus disease (COVID-19): Outbreak update

On this page

• Current situation
• Risk to Canadians
• How Canada is monitoring COVID-19
• History
• Updates

Current situation

Information on demographics, symptoms and outcomes is available for most cases.

Of these cases:

• the onset of illnesses occurred between January 15 and March 8, 2020
• 52% of ill individuals are female
• 76% of ill individuals are over the age of 40
• 13% of ill individuals have been hospitalized
• 1 person has died of COVID-19
• 79% of ill individuals are travellers and 12% are close contacts of those travellers

This illness summary is updated once daily with COVID-19 information that is provided by provinces and territories to the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC). A detailed epidemiologic summary is also available.

Global

Aside from Canada, other countries and regions are reporting cases. Check the latest travel health notices before travelling.

• North America

  • United States of America
  • Mexico
• Central America, Caribbean and South America

  • Argentina
  • Brazil
  • Chile
  • Colombia
  • Costa Rica
  • Dominican Republic
  • Ecuador
  • Peru
• Africa

  • Algeria
  • Egypt
  • Morocco
  • Nigeria
  • Senegal
  • South Africa
  • Togo
  • Tunisia
• Europe

  • Andorra
  • Austria
  • Belarus
  • Belgium
  • Bosnia and Herzegovina
  • Croatia
  • Czech Republic
  • Denmark
  • Estonia
  • Finland
  • France
  • Georgia
  • Germany
  • Gibraltar
  • Greece
  • Hungary
  • Iceland
  • Ireland
  • Italy
  • Latvia
  • Liechtenstein
  • Lithuania
  • Luxembourg
  • Malta
  • Monaco
  • Netherlands
  • North Macedonia
  • Norway
  • Poland
  • Portugal
  • Romania
  • Russia
  • San Marino
  • Serbia
  • Slovenia
  • Spain
  • Sweden
  • Switzerland
  • United Kingdom
  • Ukraine
• Asia

  • Afghanistan
  • Armenia
  • Azerbaijan
  • Bahrain
  • Bhutan
  • Cambodia
  • China (mainland)
  • Hong Kong
  • India
  • Indonesia
  • Iran
  • Iraq
  • Israel
  • Japan
  • Jordan
  • Kuwait
  • Lebanon
  • Macao
  • Malaysia
  • Nepal
  • Oman
  • Pakistan
  • Palestine
  • Philippines
  • Qatar
  • Saudi Arabia
  • Singapore
  • South Korea
  • Sri Lanka
  • Taiwan
  • Thailand
  • United Arab Emirates
  • Vietnam
• Oceania

  • Australia
  • New Zealand

Risk to Canadians

At this time, PHAC has assessed the public health risk associated with COVID-19 as low for the general population in Canada but this could change rapidly. There is an increased risk of more severe outcomes for Canadians:

• aged 65 and over
• with compromised immune systems
• with underlying medical conditions

While a COVID-19 outbreak is not unexpected in Canada, our public health system is prepared to respond. PHAC, along with provincial, territorial and community partners, continues to reassess the public health risk, based on the best available evidence as the situation evolves.

The risk to Canadian travellers abroad will vary depending on the destination, as well as the person’s age and health status. There are some destinations where the Government of Canada recommends avoiding all travel or all non-essential travel. Check the latest travel health notices before travelling.

As well, the risk for COVID-19 may be increased for certain settings such as:

• cruise ships
• heavily affected areas
• international conferences and other large gatherings in enclosed spaces

It is important for all travellers to:

• self-monitor for symptoms of COVID-19 (fever, cough or difficulty breathing) for 14 days after returning to Canada
• avoid places where you cannot easily separate yourself from others if you become ill

If you have even mild symptoms, stay home and call the public health authority in the province or territory you are in to inform them. They will provide advice on what you should do.

We will continue to adapt our risk assessment based on the latest data available.

How Canada is monitoring COVID-19

The health and safety of all Canadians is our top priority.

PHAC is working with provinces, territories and international partners, including the World Health Organization, to actively monitor the situation. Global efforts are focused on containment of the outbreak in China and the prevention of further spread.

Canada's Chief Public Health Officer of Canada is in close contact with provincial and territorial Chief Medical Officers of Health to ensure that any cases of COVID-19 occurring in Canada continue to be rapidly identified and managed in order to protect the health of Canadians.

Canada's National Microbiology Laboratory has implemented testing to diagnose COVID-19 from clinical specimens. The laboratory is working collaboratively with Canadian provincial public health laboratories to ensure there is additional testing capacity in multiple jurisdictions.

As of February 25, 2020, British Columbia and Ontario are able to confirm laboratory diagnostics for the virus that causes COVID-19. For all other provinces, their results undergo additional testing at the National Microbiology Laboratory to provide further confirmation of initial laboratory findings. Please refer to information from provinces and territories for further test result summaries.

As of March 11, 2020, the National Microbiology Laboratory has confirmed 619 negative cases and 23 positive cases of COVID-19.