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“We are engaged in procurement immediately, as well as in the long term.”

The government did not provide delivery timelines for these supplies, but said some have already arrived and more were expected in the weeks ahead.

A government source speaking on background said they expected a substantial amount of supplies to be delivered in the next month, but delivery timelines around the world were being challenged because of border restrictions and other issues around the world that could derail a shipment.

In total the government is pledging $2 billion to buy supplies, including bulk orders with provincial governments.

The government has faced criticism for a decision early in the crisis to send thousands of items of medical gear to China in early February, where the first outbreak of the coronavirus was reported. Health officials have defended the decision as important to help control the initial spread of the virus.

Across Canada, health care workers have reported that they’re running low on supplies and that their workplaces have asked them to ration masks.

Photo by Paul Chiasson/The Canadian Press/File

Trudeau said the government is looking at a wide range of potential scenarios for the virus’s spread across the country. He said people need to be prepared for the worst and that includes being restrained about the use of equipment.

“We’re looking at a number of different models where worst case scenarios are fairly dire, but the expected track is reasonable and something we think we’re going to be able to manage,” he said. “It continues to be so important, not just for us to prepare for every eventuality and be very careful and responsible about how we use the equipment we have.”