The president of Canada’s largest academic hospital is calling on Ottawa to invoke the Emergencies Act, warning that lives are hanging in the balance as the COVID-19 epidemic worsens.

“If that means for the short term, for the next two to four weeks, there will be loss of some civil liberties in order to protect our most vulnerable, I’m ready to sign up for that,” said Kevin Smith, president of the University Health Network.

He said he is dismayed that people continue to leave their homes and socialize in groups despite public health recommendations not to.

“Based on what we saw on the weekend, people are still not taking seriously the need for physical distancing,” said Smith, who oversees a hospital corporation that includes Toronto General, Toronto Western and Princess Margaret hospitals, as well as Toronto Rehab.

“So go all the way. The only thing we will regret is what we don’t do,” he continued.

Invoking the Emergencies Act would give the federal government sweeping powers, including regulating or prohibiting travel and movement within the country.

The legislation was passed in 1988, replacing the War Measures Act.

The act would also empower Ottawa to regulate the distribution of essential goods, order people to provide essential services and establish emergency hospitals and shelters, among other things.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has warned that all options are on the table to ensure compliance with public health recommendations.

But after speaking to the premiers by phone earlier this week, he said most of them do not think it’s necessary “at this time” to invoke the act.

On Wednesday, Health Minister Patty Hajdu announced that the government is imposing mandatary quarantines on travellers returning to Canada.

Using her authority under the Quarantine Act, she said all travellers must enter 14 days of isolation. Essential workers, including those who work in health care, are exempted.

Those who violate quarantine orders risk fines or jail time.

The Quarantine Act only applies to people entering Canada, not to those already in the country.

Smith said that invoking such legislation may seem extreme, but so is the threat facing Canadians.

“We are in an extreme situation and we continue to see behaviours that are shocking in terms of the fact that people are willing to take their own degree of high risk. What is unconscionable and unacceptable is that they are forcing that risk on the broader population,” he said.

Canada has reached a tipping point in the epidemic with half of new cases being acquired through community spread, Smith warned.

He noted that the spread of the virus is also placing health workers at risk and putting incredible demands on the health system.

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Hospitals across the country are now gearing up for an expected crush of COVID-19 patients.

Dr. Barry Rubin, medical director of the Peter Munk Cardiac Centre at UHN, said work is being done to make more beds available while ensuring patients and staff are kept safe. At the same time, the hospital is monitoring international developments and responding to new evidence and directives.

“Everybody understands that there is something coming in terms of increasing COVID-19 cases, but right now nobody really knows what it looks like,” he said.

“I don’t think any of us have ever seen anything like this in terms of how quickly this is moving,” he added.