A timeline of events in Canada’s fight against COVID-19

Here’s a timeline of key developments in the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada since the first presumptive case was reported on Jan. 25:

Jan. 25: A Toronto man in his 50s who returned from the Chinese city of Wuhan — the epicentre of the outbreak — becomes the first presumptive case of the novel coronavirus in Canada. The man is placed in isolation in Toronto’s Sunnybrook Hospital.

Jan. 26: The man’s wife, who had travelled with him from Wuhan, also tests positive, becoming the country’s second presumptive case. The woman is allowed to self-isolate at home. 

Jan. 27: The National Microbiology Lab in Winnipeg confirms that the Toronto man being treated at Sunnybrook Hospital is the first confirmed case of COVID-19 in Canada.

Jan. 28: The Toronto man’s wife is declared the second confirmed case of COVID-19. Health officials in British Columbia say a man in his 40s who travels to China for work is presumed to have COVID-19. The man is in self-isolation at his Vancouver home.

Feb. 4: Another presumptive case is reported in B.C. — a woman who had family visiting from China’s Hubei province. She is in isolation at her home.

Feb. 7: A plan carrying more than 200 Canadians from Wuhan arrives at CFB Trenton in eastern Ontario, where they start a 14-day quarantine.

Feb. 12: Ontario health officials report the first resolved case of COVID-19, a woman in London.

Feb. 20: A woman who returned from Iran becomes B.C.’s sixth case of COVID-19 and the first person in Canada diagnosed with the illness who did not recently visit China. The Toronto man who was the country’s first confirmed case is cleared after testing negative for the virus.

Feb. 27: Quebec public health officials report the province’s first presumptive case, a woman from the Montreal region who recently returned from Iran.

March 5: B.C. announces eight new cases, including Canada’s first-ever case possibly contracted within the community, rather than through travel or contact with other cases.

March 8: Canada records its first death from COVID-19. A man in his 80s died in a North Vancouver nursing home.

March 11: The World Health Organization declares COVID-19 a pandemic. Canada has more than 100 cases. A Utah Jazz player tests positive two days after a game against the Toronto Raptors, causing the NBA to suspend its season.

March 12: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau self-isolates after his wife tests positive for COVID-19. The NHL and most other sports leagues suspend seasons. The Juno Awards are shelved. Minor hockey across the country is cancelled. Schools in Ontario announce they’ll be closed for two weeks after March break. Manitoba and Saskatchewan report their first cases.

March 13: The federal government announces Parliament will go on break.

March 15: Nova Scotia reports its first three cases.

March 16: Apart from Americans and a few exceptions, Canada announces it is closing its borders to non-Canadians.

March 17: Ontario and Alberta declare states of emergency. Federal government says it will screen and isolate irregular border-crossers for COVID-19.

March 18: Canada and the United States announce they will close their shared border to non-essential traffic. B.C. and Saskatchewan declare states of emergency.

March 19: New Brunswick declares state of emergency.

March 20: COVID-19 cases pass 1,000. Trudeau says asylum seekers crossing into Canada on foot from the U.S. will be turned back as part of the border shutdown. About 4,000 Canadians are trapped on cruise ships. Manitoba declares state of emergency.

March 21: U.S.-Canada border officially closes to non-essential travel.

March 22: Quebec closes shopping malls, restaurants and salons. Canada says it won’t compete in the Tokyo Olympics or Paralympics if held this summer.

March 23: Ottawa announces repatriation flights for Canadians stranded in foreign countries.

March 24: Olympics officially postponed until next year. Community transmission overtakes travel-related spread.

March 25: Emergency aid bill passes. Canada makes 14-day quarantine for all arrivals mandatory.  

March 28: Trudeau announces ban on air travel for those with COVID symptoms. His wife, Sophie Grégoire Trudeau, says she has recovered.

March 30: Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan says 24,000 Canadian troops ready to help deal with COVID-19. Trudeau says new wage subsidy program will cover all businesses whose revenue has dropped by at least 30 per cent because of COVID-19.

April 2: COVID-19 death toll passes 100 in Canada.

April 3: Ontario projects COVID-19 death toll could reach 15,000.

April 4: U.S. company 3M told by the White House to stop exporting N95 respirators to Canada.

April 6: 3M makes deal with the White House to provide N95 masks to Canada. Canadians start applying for emergency aid. Dr. Theresa Tam, Canada’s chief public health officer, says wearing masks is a way for people who might have COVID-19 without realizing it to keep from spreading the illness.

April 7: A seniors home in Montreal reports more than 100 infections and eight deaths.

April 9: Ottawa projects 4,400 to 44,000 Canadians could die of COVID-19. Government announces more than one million people lost their jobs in March.

April 11: Quebec says 31 people have died in a Montreal-area long-term care home since March 13.

April 13: Federal government announces nearly 5.4 million Canadians are receiving emergency aid.

April 15: Canada passes 1,000 deaths.

April 22: Ontario and Quebec, the hardest-hit provinces, call on the military to help out in long-term care homes.

April 23: Canadian death toll passes 2,000 as country announces it’ll pour $1.1 billion into vaccine testing. Ontario Premier Doug Ford chokes back tears as he discusses the crisis in long-term care homes.

April 25: New Brunswick introduces a two-household bubble, allowing people to interact with others.

April 28: Canada hits 50,000 cases.

May 3: A rapid test for COVID-19 is voluntarily recalled after issues are discovered.

May 4: Restrictions begin to lift in several provinces including Quebec and Manitoba. An Alberta meat-packing plant reopens after a two-week shutdown caused by a COVID-19 outbreak.

May 7: Canada completes its millionth COVID-19 test.

May 8: The unemployment rate rockets up to 13 per cent, the second highest figure on record in Canada.

May 11: Some Quebec schools reopen and Ontario stores start offering curbside pickup.

May 12: Death toll passes 5,000.

May 13: The country’s top doctor says Canadians in communities where COVID-19 is still spreading should wear non-medical masks when they can’t stay physically distant from others.

May 14: Many stores, child-care centres and hair salons open in Alberta.

May 15: Canadian Forces announce five members working in long-term care homes have tested positive.

May 19: Many stores reopen in Ontario, B.C., and Saskatchewan.

May 23: Thousands pack a park on a sunny day in Toronto, creating fears for a new outbreak.

May 26: A new report from the military helping battle COVID-19 in five long-term care facilities in Ontario reveals extreme neglect and exposes the extent of the horrific conditions facing residents.

May 27: New Brunswick officials confirm a health-care worker who travelled outside the province had failed to self-isolate upon their return and subsequently infected other people.

May 29: At least 41 staff and students test positive for COVID-19 in the first two weeks after elementary schools outside the Montreal area reopen.

June 1: Political leaders encourage people to keep COVID-19 in mind when attending anti-racism protests.

June 12: Ontario enters Stage 2 of its reopening, except for Toronto, Windsor-Essex and Peel region.

June 16: Trudeau says his government’s signature benefit for people whose jobs have vanished amid the pandemic will be extended by eight weeks.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 18, 2020.

The Canadian Press