Thread by @CBCRaffy

@JustinTrudeau starts off his news conference by stating situation w/ #COVID19 very serious across country.

"Everyone is working around the clock to get as many Canadians vaccinated as quickly as possible," he says, a few hours after we've heard @US_FDA reco to hit pause on Johnson and Johnson vaccine. (BG here: cbc.ca/news/world/joh…)

"On est tous tannés de la #COVID19 ," @JustinTrudeau says, saying the events in Montreal (storefronts were shattered a couple of nights ago) show everyone is tired, but have to keep following public health guidelines. #cdnpoli #qcpoli #yul

Trudeau now speaking to poultry farm investments.

Says @mclaudebibeau will share details later today on investments.

Trudeau reiterates the anno last night by @cafreeland and @OmarAlghabra re: agreement with @AirCanada (BG here: cbc.ca/news/politics/…)

Trudeau now speaks to necessity of virtual celebrations to Sikh community for Vaisakhi and Muslim community for Ramadan.

He then turns it over to Dr. Tam after congratulating her for getting her shot. (

https://twitter.com/CPHO_Canada/status/1381979145207484416?s=20

)

@CPHO_Canada says there is concern if increase in severe illnesses, mortality could increase too (average has been 30 per day). Says VOC have to be put under control quickly.

@CPHO_Canada highlights a vaccine clinic for Black Nova Scotian in Hammonds Plains.
(cbc.ca/news/canada/no…)

Dr. Howard Njoo, deputy public health director, on now.

(He is repeating a lot of what @CPHO_Canada said en français).

Question from @CanadianPress on whether the J and J news changes anything. @JustinTrudeau says the first doses are coming at the end of April but they will keep watch on what's going on in the States.

Trudeau says it's a good example of why Canada has so many contracts with so many companies, will have 44 million vaccines from others even w/out J and J at end of month.

"It was important that we signed deals with a large range of vaccine makers," @JustinTrudeau says. Sorry that's over 44 million doses by the end of *June* not end of month.

@RyanTumilty asks: anything about vacine procurement that you in retrospect think was a mistake or would have wanted to act earlier?

@JustinTrudeau : "No, not in terms of our vaccine rollout." Says various companies challenged w/ manufacturing issues. And says vaccinations alone don't lead to ease of public health restrictions.

@RyanTumilty 's followup: as cases continue to rise, will @JustinTrudeau consider tighter restrictions, whether interprovincial or overseas travel? Trudeau says they already have high restrictions re: overseas travel, cites mandatory quarantining in hotels etc.

Cites Atlantic Bubble's success re: interprovincial ban. "They made that decision on their own and it was the right one," he says, also applauds northern Territories. Says it's not Ottawa's job to step in, just support provinces in making hard calls.

@M_Vastel directs her q to @CPHO_Canada to get a more "specific" answer: asks if J and J could be suspended in the States...if this will lead to delays in Canada. Dr. Njoo says @GovCanHealth in discussions w/ the States.

@CPHO_Canada says the process Health Canada follows was already seen with Astra Zeneca vaccine. Says she expects the same kind of due diligence re: J and J. Says it's a rarity, 6 cases on 6.8 million shots. Says she would then expect NACI to look @ info, provide guidance.

@M_Vastel asks when @CPHO_Canada expects Canada Health to have a timeline, asks @JustinTrudeau if Canada will, like France, ban flights to Brazil, because of #COVID19 cases there.

Trudeau reiterates not time to travel, but doesn't commit to banning flights to Brazil per se, and says P.1 variant already present in Canada (in BC and Alberta notably).

@M_Vastel 's timeline question skipped over, though, and we've now moved on.

Trudeau asked about @LaurentianU 's French programs cut. Says very concerned about what's going on, says @melaniejoly is speaking to her counterpart in Ontario. Says it's up to the province to start off initiative, but feds there to support. Watching situation closely.

@JustinTrudeau is asked whether feds will kick in money to support F1 race in Montreal (they are looking for $6 million in support). Says talks are in place and they're looking into it.

@JustinTrudeau asked abt. Liberals' support for universal basic income at the convention, whether that could be in the budget. He says...wait and see what's in the budget, says policies @ convention have 'often' made it into party platforms.

@CBCDavid asks abt. Bloc Quebecois and NDP saying @JustinTrudeau would not have helped Canadians so much without their pressure. PM says it's role of parties to make themselves look important, it's gov'ts role to act.

"I'm always happy to see the Bloc, the NDP, the Greens and others" support us, @JustinTrudeau says, adds he's always happy to disagree w/ Conservatives when they, in his words, stand against more support for businesses.

Trudeau says it's normal for political parties to play games. Says he hopes other parties will allow elections act to pass, in case there's an election in the middle of a pandemic, to make it safe as possible.

Dr. Njoo is asked about idea of F1 Grand Prix in Mtl. Says they're working w/ other ministries. Says they're analyzing protocols etc.

@CPHO_Canada is asked what #COVID19 shot she got, how she qualified for it. She says she filled out her registration according to Ottawa Public Health protocols. Filled her questionnaire, waited, got a response back, lined up for her shot.

She says she got an email saying she was going to get the Pfizer shot. She lined up and received it.

Re: vaccine hesitancy, Dominic Leblanc says important for feds, provinces to work together to get Canadians proper info, avoid disinfo. "Have access to reliable scientific information."

@CPHO_Canada says very important part of rollout plans. Says safety questions have to be addressed head-on. Trying to provide tools provinces need.

Says there is more to be done on social media to reach younger audiences since it'll soon be time for younger demographics to get vaccinated. (In Alberta you can already line up if you're born before 2005 and have existing pre-conditions).

@CPHO_Canada says Health Canada has requested specific info from Astra Zeneca for Canadian context, which means age/sex breakdown of cases. Says 'difficult' when case # are unstable to make calls. Says looking at age group outcomes more important than sex.

(Q was abt. why not make ban gender-specific given most blood cot cases re: AstraZeneca involve women).

And shortly after end of this media avail we get this release from @GovCanHealth revealing first case of an individual in Canada receiving v. rare adverse event involving blood clots with low platelets. #covid19 #cdnpoli