OTTAWA, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- There have been 150,456 cases of COVID-19 in Canada, including 9,255 deaths, according to the Public Health Agency of Canada on Saturday.
As of Friday, an average of 1,175 cases were being reported daily across Canada over a seven-day period. Friday saw recorded 1,363 cases over a 24-hour period, the highest number since early May. Most cases are in the two most populous provinces Quebec and Ontario.
The agency said daily COVID-19 case counts continue to increase in the country as a number of the areas experiencing high infection rates have reported that certain events, like large private gatherings indoors and outdoors, have resulted in a high number of exposures and many people being infected.
Canada's Chief Public Health Officer Theresa Tam urged Canadians again on Saturday to increase personal protective measures and reduce their number of close contacts as much as possible considering personal and family circumstances. "We also need to think about where and how the virus is surging and find safer ways to maintain the balance between maintaining our important routines and activities and keeping COVID-19 spread within manageable levels."
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Friday that the second wave of COVID-19 infections had started in the country, imploring Canadian people to adhere to public health guidelines. "What we do now will be critical for the weeks and months to come."
Canada could see as many as 16,000 COVID-19 deaths by the end of the year if current public safety measures don't change, according to new modeling from the United States that has provided accurate assessments of the American death toll.
COVID-19 deaths in Canada peaked in April and May when more than 100 people died in connection with the virus daily. Those numbers have remained much lower in recent months, with five deaths reported on Friday.
The latest modelling issued by the Public Health Agency of Canada Tuesday does not offer predictions to the end of the year but suggests that, based on current rates, the death toll could steadily rise to 9,300 by Oct. 2. Enditem
