OTTAWA—Canada is pulling up the welcome mat with a plan to bar entry to many foreign citizens as it struggles to contain the COVID-19 virus that has claimed three more lives and sparked warnings of worse to come.

On Monday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced the move his government had for days resisted taking, declaring that effective Wednesday, most foreign citizens would be barred from entering Canada.

“We will be denying entry to Canada to people who are not Canadian citizens or permanent residents,” Trudeau said, speaking from a podium outside his residence at Rideau Cottage, where he has self-isolated after his wife contracted the novel coronavirus.

Trudeau said the border measures, to take effect Wednesday, won’t apply to American citizens for now, or to the flow of commerce and trade.

“I know that these measures are far reaching. They are exceptional circumstances calling for exceptional measures,” he said.

“These measures will help save lives.”

It was a day that drove home the danger and disruptions from the virus and held warnings of tougher days to come:

-- three more deaths from the virus were reported in B.C., bringing the total death toll in Canada to four. Canada had 407 confirmed cases. Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland cautioned the tougher days lie ahead. “What the experts are telling us is that this situation will get worse before it gets better,” she said.

-- stock markets tumbled again. The Dow Jones sagged almost 13 per cent and the S&P/TSX dropped almost 10 per cent, compounding the worries of Canadians who, already concerned about their health, are now fretting about the state of savings and retirement plans.

-- Ontario promised legislation that will protect the jobs of workers forced to remain home because of self—isolation, illness or to care for children.

-- public health officials stepped up warnings that Canada is a critical juncture and the actions of governments and individuals in the coming days will determine how far the virus spreads here. “We are in a fairly critical period. . . . now is the goal is to see how much you can level it off and don’t let it take off,” said Dr. Theresa Tam, Canada’s chief public health officer,

For the federal government, Monday’s actions centred on restricting the influx of foreign travellers as the World Health Organization tallied 168,019 cases in 148 countries or territories and 6,610 deaths.

The restriction had been urged by several premiers who wanted to see the influx of international visitors restricted. I’d be OK with closing the border to visitors, not to trade and commerce… we have to keep the supply chain open,” Ontario Premier Doug Ford said prior to Trudeau’s announcement.

The travel restriction comes with several exemptions. It won’t apply to diplomats, immediate family members of Canadian citizens. Nor will it apply to U.S. citizens, who made up 15 million of the 22 million visits by international visitors to Canada in 2019, according to Statistics Canada.

Trudeau and other ministers were asked repeatedly Monday why the restrictions did not apply to American citizens, especially given concerns over how the U.S. is handling the outbreak within its own borders.

For example, he B.C. government – mindful of the virus outbreak in neighbouring Washington state – said the ban should have gone further to include Americans.

“We remain concerned that access for visitors from the U.S. continues to be allowed,” B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix said.

“It’s our strong message that visitors from the United States not come to British Columbia. Don’t come because at this moment, it’s the wrong thing to do,” he told a news conference.

But the prime minister said the integration of the economies of the two countries “puts the U.S. in a separate category from the rest of the world. . . . We will continue to examine next steps and measures that must be taken.”

Federal Health Minister Patty Hajdu said that combatting the virus in Canada, the United States and Mexico demands a “continental response.”

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“This is a complicated situation. Obviously, we are working very closely with the United States on ways that we can protect our citizens on both sides of the border but that also keeps the integrity of our supply chain intact,” she said.

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Dr. Theresa Tam, Canada’s chief public health officer, said border controls are just one tool to curb the spread the virus. More important, she said, are the detection of cases, practicing social distancing within communities and demanding that travellers self-isolate after their return.

“Those are the key things that are going to be really, really important right now,” Tam said. “Border measures add layers of protection to that fundamental public health action.”

Still, she suggested that the U.S exemption could be reconsidered if Ottawa grows concerned about how the outbreak is being handled south of the border. “What we will want to see is that they have enacted certain measures to try and contain their epidemic as well. So we just need to evaluate the situation every day,” she said.

The travel restrictions won’t apply to professionals such as flight crews and truck drivers required to make frequent border crossings.

Ottawa took other steps to prevent travellers from bringing the virus with them to Canada. Airlines will be required to do a basic health assessment of every traveller.

“Anyone who has symptoms will not be able to come to Canada,” Trudeau said, adding that the government will set up a support program for Canadian travellers stranded abroad.

However, travellers showing symptoms will be allowed in at land crossings and referred to public health officials, according to the prime minister’s office.

The federal government will restrict most international flights to Canada to airports in just four major cities, including Toronto, in a further effort to slow the spread of COVID-19. Flight from the U.S, the Caribbean and Mexico will land at their scheduled Canadian destinations.

The prime minister had a blunt message for Canadians currently out of the country. “Let me clear: if you're abroad, it's time for you to come home,” he said, adding the reminder that anyone arriving from abroad should self-isolate for 14 days.

The prime minister was pressed why Canada had not closed its borders sooner, given similar action had already been taken by other countries such as the United States.

He said the government actions were based on the “latest available science.”

“This situation, as everyone knows, has been evolving extremely rapidly and the recommendations of public health and public safety have been evolving as well. At every step, we've taken the best advice of our public health officials and now is the time to take this particular step,” Trudeau said.

Trudeau acknowledged the brutal day on the stock markets. He said the government’s immediate priority is to ensure that people displaced by the impact of the virus have money for rent and groceries. It’s expected a government stimulus package will be rolled out this week. But the prime minister conceded the longer term challenge of rebuilding a battered economy.

“We will need to invest significant amounts to restore people's confidence in the economy, to restore the kind of growth that is going to ensure a better future for all Canadians,” he said.

The headline on this story was changed on March 16, 2020, to reflect that all foreign citizens, except Americans, will be barred from entering Canada.

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