Canada’s First Ministers issue statement on shared public health approach to support restarting the economy

Canada’s First Ministers released a statement today outlining the principles, criteria, and measures that inform decisions to open the country’s economy while protecting citizens from COVID-19.

The First Ministers state that until there is a vaccine or effective treatment for COVID-19, strong measures must be in place for this new normal phase of living with COVID-19 to contain future waves or outbreaks and protect Canadians and economies across the country. A key objective shared by all First Ministers is to minimize the risk of another wave of COVID-19 that would lead governments to re-impose severe restrictions.

The principles agreed to by the First Ministers to guide this process include:

• science and evidence-based decision making;
• continued coordination and collaboration across the country;
• accountability and transparency; and
• flexibility and proportionality.

The criteria and measures agreed to by the First Ministers in order to restart the economy include:

• that COVID-19 transmission is controlled;
• sufficient public health capacity is in place to test, trace, and isolate all cases;
• expanded health care capacity exists for all patients;
• supports are in place for vulnerable groups/communities and key populations;
• workplace preventative measures are in place;
• measures are taken to avoid risk of importation; and
• governments will continue to engage and support.

The full statement from Canada’s First Ministers can be found in the links below.