Interview: Chinese experience can help Canada deal with COVID-19: official

Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-14 11:34:29|Editor: zyl
Video PlayerClose

OTTAWA, March 13 (Xinhua) -- China's successful experience in containing COVID-19 may help the Canadian government beat the coronavirus in its country, a Canadian official said.

"I think Canada is coming into the virus somewhere China has been. And we are just learning in part to deal with it from the experience China did," Al Richmond, chair of Cariboo Regional District in British Columbia province, told Xinhua in an interview.

"China was ultimately, I think, successful in containing the virus. So I think our medical people and our government are using the experience in China as part of our approach to deal with the virus," said Richmond.

"The folks that I know in China, my friends, are more accepting government's recommendation to stay home, which our government is telling people (to do) if you are ill. Stay home, avoid large groups of people, these help stop the virus. I think those are the passive things we can do to contribute to the well-being of our community," said Richmond.

COVID-19 is a present menace in Canada. As of Thursday, at least 93 cases of COVID-19 and one death were reported in Canada.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau now stays in self-isolation after his wife Sophie tested positive for the disease on Thursday night. He called on Canadians Friday noon to avoid all non-essential international travel due to the rapidly spreading COVID-19 pandemic, and the House of Commons has voted to shut down for at least five weeks to limit COVID-19 spread.

The virus has led people to stock up goods from face masks, hand sanitizer to toilet paper, almost clearing up the shelves of local retailers like Costco.

"People are uncertain. They need something to do to feel secure. But I think it's overreaction," said Richmond.

Meanwhile, as the government of Canada said its public health system was prepared to respond, Richmond insisted that it would depend on how and to what extent people managed themselves.

"I don't think we can all (stay) in the hospital. We don't have that many beds for everyone. It will certainly challenge the system. But I convinced the government to announce its measures for more testing, (and) we are doing more testing which makes us more aware of where the viruses are," he added.

KEY WORDS:
EXPLORE XINHUANET
010020071420000000000000011154711388769501