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As the number of coronavirus patients around the world continues to climb, the federal government is clamping down with new travel restrictions and encouraging Canadians to cancel all non-essential international travel.

“My advice is to postpone or cancel all non-essential travel outside of Canada. This means reconsidering your vacations, going to sporting and entertainment events, large international conferences,” Canada’s Chief Public Health Officer, Dr Theresa Tam, said during a press conference Friday.

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This is the first time that the country’s top doctor explicitly advised Canadians to cancel any form of international travel, suggesting trips within Canada instead.

“This is especially important for older adults and people with underlying medical conditions who are at a higher risk of developing severe disease”, she added.

We know these measures are going to cause disruptions in your lives but we know that they are also incredibly necessary

As of noon Friday, there were 157 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Canada, with Saskatchewan, Manitoba and New Brunswick reporting their first cases.