Guidance for a strategic approach to lifting restrictive public health measures

Abstract

Introduction: The status of the COVID-19 epidemic varies across Canada, affecting diverse groups based on gender, ethnicity/culture, and other socioeconomic and demographic factors. Nationally, we are seeing the impact of public health measures on the flattening of the epidemic curve and slowdown in the growth of new cases of COVID-19. The nature and phase of the COVID-19 epidemic is different across and within provinces and territories. This document provides guidance to public health authorities for transition planning that is underway across Canada as well as a strategic approach to lifting restrictive public health measures that can be tailored to jurisdictions. It builds on the Federal Provincial Territorial (FPT) Special Advisory Committee on COVID-19’s Recommendations on Foundations for Living with COVID-19 in Canada. Goals: The goals of the COVID-19 pandemic response are to first minimize all serious illness and death, (due to all causes) and secondly minimize societal disruption, including reducing the burden on health care resources. These goals speak to the need to strike a balance between the positive and negative impacts of restrictive public health measures.