Trudeau reassures Canadians as COVID-19 cases climb

Canada’s Prime Minister says he expects the Canada-U.S. border to shut down for non-essential travellers sometime overnight between Friday and Saturday.

Trudeau provided that update Thursday morning, while speaking outside Rideau Cottage.

He is in self-imposed quarantine after his wife Sophie tested positive for COVID-19.

The Prime Minister says the federal government is still working out the details of the agreement with the United States.

This comes as Ontario health officials have confirmed 43 new cases of the virus as of Thursday morning.

That brings the total number of infections in the province to 257, including five resolved cases and one deceased.

Meanwhile Trudeau says he’s hearing from experts that social-distancing measures should to remain in place for several weeks or months.

As for Canadians who are out of the country, Trudeau says it’s time for them to come home.

He says he is working with Air Canada and WestJet about finding ways to help Canadians stranded overseas come home.