Ottawa – Mark Holland, Minister of Health, issued the following statement to mark the fourth National Day of Observance for COVID-19: “It is the National Day of Observance for COVID-19; a day to acknowledge the devastating health, societal and economic impact that the pandemic left on millions of people in Canada. Today, we remember the families, and honour the more than 58,000 people who lost their lives to the virus, as well as recognize those who got sick, and those who continue to suffer from the lasting effects of post COVID-19 condition (PCC) or long COVID. Today is also a day to acknowledge the immeasurable gratitude we have for our health care and essential workers who served tirelessly on the front lines during the pandemic to protect our communities across the country.”
Four years have passed since the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic and it has been 10 months since it was declared that COVID-19 was no longer a public health emergency of international concern. Today’s landscape is different than it was during the pandemic. COVID-19 vaccines and treatments are now more accessible to people in Canada, making it easier for everyone to protect themselves and their families from serious illness.
Nonetheless, we continue to see the lingering impacts of the pandemic. PCC or long COVID continues to be a complex and evolving public health challenge. To respond to the health and socio-economic effects of the condition, the Government of Canada is providing funding for Long COVID Web to develop accurate diagnostics, treatments, and rehabilitation strategies for PCC, and to Cochrane Canada and GRADE centres at McMaster University to develop clinical practice guidelines on PCC to support patients and health professionals.
The past four years have brought many unprecedented challenges. On this COVID-19 Day of Observance, let us stand in remembrance of those we lost during the pandemic, and work with resilience and hope as we continue to build a stronger and healthier Canada for everyone. – Mark Holland