Trudeau calls on Canadians to 'starve' Omicron by following public health guidance over the winter

While he admits the public's willingness to follow public health measures may be waning, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is asking Canadiansto stay focused onpreventing theOmicron variantfrom ruining the coming winter and spring.

"Omicron doesn't care if we're tired of restrictions," Trudeau said in ayear-end interview airing onRosemary Barton Liveon Sunday."It's going to keep doing what it does anyway.

"We have a choice,because we've seen it so many times. If we act early and carefullyto hold back, to starve Omicron, if we over the next two weeksdon't feed it, don't give it opportunities to spread more than it has to, we'll have a much better winter and a way better spring."

Trudeau made the remarks as the federal government announced stronger testing requirements for international travellers in an effort to control the spread of the COVID-19 Omicron variant.

Starting Tuesday, all travellers will againneed to get a COVID-19 molecular test before returning to Canada. Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos said todayhe's rolling back the exemption announced last month, which permitted fully vaccinated Canadians and permanent residents taking trips abroad lasting less than 72 hours to return home without proof of a negative test.

The restored testing requirement will beenforced starting Tuesday,Dec. 21.The federal government is also advising against any unnecessary travel during the Christmas period.

The Liberals andthe NDPhave saidtheir MPs and staff are not permitted to travel internationally right now.Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole has not given that direction to his team.

In an interview airing Saturday,O'Toole told CBC Radio's The House that he's not instructing Conservative MPs to obey the federal government's recommendation against foreign travelbecause there are other ways to stay safe.

"We've got vaccination rates over 80 per cent with double testing at departure and arrival, with mask usage, all the rules," he said."You can mitigate risks and try and have the right balance for the economy and for our way of life while keeping a focus on safety. That's what we're trying to do."

The number of Omicroncases is now doubling every two daysor less an unprecedented rate of spread for a COVID variant.

"Omicron doesn't care if we're tired of restrictions," says Trudeau

3 years ago

Duration 1:28

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau tells CBC News Chief Political Correspondent Rosemary Barton he believes public health orders will not have to be enforced to the same degree they were during previous waves because Canadians have seen that they work.

Strengthening public health measures

On Thursday, the Ontario government'sCOVID-19 science table released modelling suggesting that without "circuit breaker" restrictions to reduce social contacts by about 50 per cent, booster shots alone likely won't be enough to stop the number of daily cases in the province from hittingbetween 6,000 and more than 10,000 per dayby the end of the year.

Trudeau said he believes that, despite widespread pandemic fatigue, Canadians will do what it takes to control thespread of Omicron because they arenow "empowered with knowledge."

"We've shown the highest vaccination rates of so many other countries because people are doing the right thing. We know what to do," Trudeau told CBC's chief political correspondent Rosemary Barton.

The prime minister also said he believespublic health orders will not have to be enforced to the same degree they were during previous wavesbecauseCanadians have seen that they work.

We can "rely a lot on what Canadians have shown, which is the thoughtfulreasonableness, a willingness to protect our frontline health care workers and protect our most vulnerable," Trudeau said.