Canada's chief public health officer says this will not be the holiday season Canadians were hoping for, warning people that if they don't reduce their contacts over the next several weeks, the country's hospitals will be overwhelmed. Dr. Theresa Tam told The National's Andrew Chang on Monday that now is not the time to be gathering in big numbers. WATCH | Reducing contacts is important right now, Tam says:Reduce contacts over the holidays, says Canada's top doctor Duration 1:08 Dr. Theresa Tam, Canada's chief public health officer, says the only way to prevent huge numbers of patients from winding up in hospital with COVID-19 in the coming weeks is to reduce gatherings over the holidays. (Evan Mitsui/CBC) 1:08While some provinces have already moved to reduce capacity limits in indoor spaces, Tam believes more restrictions may be necessary. WATCH | Workers need best protection possible, says chief public health officer:Workers need best protection possible: chief public health officer Duration 0:49 Employers need to make sure workers have the best possible masks, improved ventilation at work and access to COVID-19 vaccines, said Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Theresa Tam.

Source: CBC News December 22, 2021 01:12 UTC