TORONTO -- Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says that he is heeding the advice of heath officials but has not been tested for COVID-19 after speaking at an international mining conference attended by a man who later tested positive for the virus.
Trudeau told a press conference March 11, where he announced $1 billion in funds to combat COVID-19, that instead he is 鈥渇ollowing Dr. Tam鈥檚 (head of Public Health Agency of Canada) recommendations in order to keep myself and my family safe."
Ontario Public Health officials have confirmed a positive case of the new coronavirus in a Sudbury, Ont. man in his 50s who was experiencing coughing and shortness of breath.
An ongoing public health investigation has revealed that the man attended the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada conference in Toronto on March 2 and 3. Trudeau spoke at the conference on March 2.
The man went to an emergency department on March 7 and health officials say the Sudbury hospital took all necessary precautions and, after testing,
鈥淎lthough this is concerning, as a community and as a health system, we have been preparing for COVID-19,鈥 said Dr. Penny Sutcliffe, Sudbury and District Medical Officer of Health.
鈥淥ur focus is on breaking the chain of transmission to limit the spread of infection and as a precautionary measure, we are asking those who attended PDAC 2020 to monitor for symptoms for 14 days.鈥
Meanwhile, Minister of Natural Resources Seamus O鈥橰egan, who was also at the mining conference, has entered self-isolation after a doctor recommended he get tested for COVID-19 due to an illness he鈥檚 been suffering from.
O鈥橰egan tweeted on Tuesday evening that he鈥檚 been dealing with 鈥渁 persistent head cold for a few days鈥 and that he decided to contact a doctor out of caution.
A spokesperson for the minister said O鈥橰egan has been tested for COVID-19 and is awaiting the results.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford also attended the conference but is in 鈥済ood health鈥 and not experiencing any symptoms related to COVID-19,
鈥淗e remains vigilant and encourages all Ontarians to do the same by taking the preventive actions recommended by our incredible health officials,鈥 a spokesperson for the premier鈥檚 office, Ivana Yelich, said on Wednesday morning.
Provincial Minister of Energy, Mines, Northern Development and Indigenous Affairs Greg Rickford also attended the mining conference at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, which took place from March 1 to 4.
say the event attracts nearly 26,000 people from 132 countries to the event. Organizers took extra health measures for this year鈥檚 event including cleaning 鈥渉igh-volume touchpoints鈥 such as touchscreens and door handles and providing extra hand sanitizer.
With files from CTV Northern Ontario鈥檚 Chelsea Papineau, CTVNews.ca鈥檚 Ben Cousins and 麻豆影视 Toronto鈥檚 Kayla Goodfield
