Article Figures & Tables
Figures
- Figure 1:
Cumulative COVID-19 cases and policy measures by province, Mar. 11–31, 2020. This figure focuses on a subset of our study period that begins when the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 to be a pandemic, cases began to increase in Canada and provincial governments began introducing widespread social distancing measures. Cumulative cases per 10 000 population are visually represented as a 3-day rolling average. Case data were obtained from the Government of Canada’s COVID-19 database.20 AB = Alberta, BC = British Columbia, CAN = Canada, COVID-19 = coronavirus disease 2019, MB = Manitoba, NB = New Brunswick, NL = Newfoundland and Labrador, NS = Nova Scotia, ON = Ontario, PE = Prince Edward Island, QC = Quebec, SK = Saskatchewan.
Tables
- Table 1:
Coding summary of provincial news releases issued by and with chief medical officers of health, Jan. 21 to Mar. 31, 2020
No. (%) of news releases; province BC
n = 56AB
n = 23SK
n = 29MB
n = 44ON
n = 41QC
n = 15NB
n = 25NS
n = 29PE
n = 20NL
n = 7Total
n = 290Date of first COVID-19 news release Jan. 21 Mar. 14 Feb. 13 Jan. 28 Jan. 25 Jan. 22 Mar. 1 Feb. 28 Feb. 28 Mar. 10 – News releases primarily issued by CMOHs alone, primarily issued jointly with other officials or issued in mixed fashion (sometimes alone and sometimes jointly) Joint Joint Joint Joint Mixed Joint Mixed Joint Solo Joint – Describing preparedness and capacity building Efforts to increase and improve testing and case identification 19 (34) 2 (9) 7 (24) 9 (20) 4 (10) 3 (20) 5 (20) 9 (31) 1 (5) – 59 (20) Emergency preparedness and contingency planning 17 (30) 1 (4) 11 (38) 12 (27) 21 (51) 4 (27) 6 (24) 13 (45) 3 (15) – 88 (30) Issuing recommendations and mandates Cancellations, closures and social distancing recommendations 26 (46) 19 (83) 18 (62) 22 (50) 14 (34) 5 (33) 13 (52) 16 (55) 16 (80) 5 (71) 154 (53) Travel-related recommendations and restrictions 11 (20) 5 (22) 12 (41) 25 (57) – 4 (27) 6 (24) 26 (90) 10 (50) 2 (29) 101 (35) Enforcement of restrictions 4 (7) 5 (22) – 2 (5) 1 (2) – 2 (8) 2 (7) 6 (30) – 22 (8) Characterization of pandemic as serious or emergency situation 5 (9) 2 (9) 5 (17) 6 (14) 7 (17) 3 (20) 2 (8) 2 (7) 3 (15) 1 (14) 36 (12) Expressing reassurance and encouraging the public Public reassurance 27 (48) 3 (13) 8 (28) 9 (20) 19 (46) 10 (67) 5 (20) 4 (14) 3 (15) 1 (14) 89 (31) Acknowledgement of community cooperation or contributions 11 (20) 5 (22) – 2 (5) 1 (2) 8 (53) 3 (12) 5 (17) 3 (15) – 38 (13) Promoting public responsibility Discussion of transmission prevention as collective responsibility 16 (29) 14 (61) 4 (14) 4 (9) 4 (10) 6 (40) 12 (48) 10 (34) 1 (5) 1 (14) 72 (25) Provision of COVID-19–related information to the public 9 (16) 5 (22) 3 (10) 12 (27) 4 (10) 3 (20) 9 (36) 8 (28) 5 (25) 2 (29) 60 (21) Note: AB = Alberta, BC = British Columbia, CMOHs = chief medical officers of health, COVID-19 = coronavirus disease 2019, MB = Manitoba, NB = New Brunswick, NL = Newfoundland and Labrador, NS = Nova Scotia, ON = Ontario, PE = Prince Edward Island, QC = Quebec, SK = Saskatchewan.
- Table 2:
Variation in messaging during different phases of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic25,29–36
Late January–early March 2020 Local reassurance Mid-March 2020 Public action Late March 2020 Collective duty Je tiens à réitérer que le réseau de la santé est prêt et bien préparé à faire face à une apparition de cas au Québec. La population ne doit pas s’inquiéter. Bien que les cinq cas soient infirmés, comme la situation épidémiologique évolue rapidement, il est attendu et normal que d’autres cas soient investigués. Le Québec a mis en place un système de détection efficace et fiable, et demeure proactif et vigilant.
– Dr. Arruda, Quebec (Jan. 24)Dr. Heather Morrison has confirmed the first positive case of COVID-19 in the province, and urges Islanders to follow recommendations to limit the potential number of cases and spread of the virus. … It is strongly recommended that Islanders follow the advice of the Chief Public Health Office and … reconsider attending social gatherings where a 2-m distance between people is not possible, especially if elderly or immune-compromised people are present.
– Prince Edward Island news release citing Dr. Morrison (Mar. 14)We have to protect our health-care workers, so they can carry on with this important work. … When we take actions to limit the spread of this disease, among those we are protecting are the front-line workers that are so valuable in this situation. When you stay home and practise social distancing, you are not only protecting yourselves, you are protecting the people who may soon be saving your life.
– Dr. Russell, New Brunswick (Mar. 23)While the risk to residents in Saskatchewan remains low, we are working closely with the Public Health Agency of Canada on preparedness, procedures and reporting to quickly identify and manage any cases that present for care. … Canada has multiple systems in place to prepare for, detect and respond to the spread of serious infectious diseases like novel coronavirus.
– Dr. Shahab, Saskatchewan (Feb. 13)The new cases that have emerged today, particularly those demonstrating transmission into communities and school settings, mean we need to put in place additional restrictions for schools, day cares, continuing care facilities, and worship gatherings. These decisions are not made lightly, and I know they will have a tremendous impact on Albertans’ day-to-day lives, particularly parents, children, and seniors. But it is crucial we do everything possible to contain and limit the spread of COVID-19.
– Dr. Hinshaw, Alberta (Mar. 15)Given the number of returning travellers, including snowbirds, and more testing being done, an increase in cases is expected. … We’re 3 weeks into our response and I know this is hard for everyone. Please continue to be part of flattening the curve by following public health advice and direction.
– Dr. Strang, Nova Scotia (Mar. 28)The government and public health officials are reminding Manitobans the risk of acquiring COVID-19 in Manitoba remains low, but is increasing given events occurring in Canada and around the world. We must continue to prepare for this virus in Manitoba.
– Dr. Roussin, Manitoba (Mar. 10)This death is further evidence of the increasing seriousness of the situation we are in, which is why the province has been taking decisive steps to manage the spread of COVID-19 in Ontario. Earlier today, the Ontario government enacted a declaration of emergency closing all facilities providing indoor recreational programs, public libraries, private schools, licensed child care centres, theatres, cinemas, concert venues and bars and restaurants, except to the extent that such facilities provide takeout food and delivery.
– Dr. Williams, Ontario (Mar. 17)We are at a critical juncture in our provincial COVID-19 response. Every British Columbian has a part to play to flatten the curve. We must all do the right thing and be 100% committed.
Dr. Henry and Adrian Dix (Minister of Health), British Columbia (Mar. 31)
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