Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks during a March 19 news conference (Photo: CPAC)

By rdnewsNOW staff

WATCH LIVE

Federal government updates COVID-19 response

Mar 19, 2020 | 8:53 AM

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says experts are telling his government to expect social-distancing measures to remain in place here for several weeks or months.

He also says he spoke with leaders at Air Canada and WestJet on Wednesday about finding ways to help Canadians stranded overseas come home.

Trudeau says he also spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky this morning about co-ordinating efforts to help Canadians in other countries and also plans to speak to Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven today.

He says the government is working with telecommunications companies to send text messages to Canadians abroad to let them known about consular services available.

Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland says all asylum seekers crossing into Canada from the U.S. at Roxham Road will be temporarily housed beginning tomorrow.

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Freeland says this is to ensure they are all quarantined for 14 days just as everyone else coming into Canada from the U.S. and other countries should do.

Freeland says she spoke to Quebec Justice Minister Sonia LeBel, as well as all provincial premiers, about the issue.

You can watch this morning’s updates from the federal government live courtesy of CPAC.

(Story written with file from The Canadian Press)