Canada's top doctor says cooler weather, easing restrictions creating 'turbulence'

Cooler weather and easing restrictions are contributing to a rise in COVID-19 infections in some parts of Canada, Canada’s top health official says.

Chief public health officer Dr. Theresa Tam said the bumps in Canada’s trajectory were expected as provinces continued to lift gathering restrictions and as the colder temperatures drive people to spend more time inside.

"It looks like we may be experiencing a bit of turbulence this week," Tam said.

"Most notably, coverage is not the same everywhere, and where there are pockets of very low coverage, there is a higher risk of local surges in virus activity in the weeks ahead."

Tam also reminded the public that the virus can linger and remain suspended in the air as a fine aerosol and stressed the importance of wearing a well-fitted mask when spending time in indoor public spaces, especially when the ventilation is not optimal.