Canada’s Chief Public Health Officer says this country will not be following the same guidelines as the U.S. Centre for Disease Control which has announced that Americans who are fully vaccinated do not need to wear a mask. Dr. Theresa Tam says Canada’s community approach to COVID-19 is more similar to the U.K.

New guidelines from Public Health are that to return to a more normal life, 75 per cent of eligible adults need to have had their first dose of vaccine and 20 per cent have had their second dose. It would mean slowly easing the more restrictive measures like shutdowns and stay-at-home orders.

Then, Dr. Tam says, at least 75 per cent of eligible adults would have to be fully immunized to go back to post-secondary education in person, and for indoor sports and large indoor gatherings.  She suggests wearing a mask would be the final measure to be removed because it protects individuals and the community.

Minister of Public Services and Procurement, Anita Anand says as of Thursday, Canada has received more than 20-million vaccine doses, and 42 per cent of all Canadians have had at least one shot and more than half of adults have had at least one.