Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says now is the time for Canadians to further limit personal contacts and cancel social plans.

Speaking to reporters outside Rideau Cottage, Trudeau urged people to stay home and asked businesses to let employees work from home amid a spike in COVID-19 infections.

He acknowledged the growing fatigue among Canadians as the pandemic drags on, but says actions now could determine the country’s fate for generations to come.

Trudeau says his government is committed to helping businesses weather the storm but says that lockdown measures are a better way to ensure long-term economic success.

These comments came following a sobering warning from Canada’s chief public health officer Dr. Theresa Tam.

If everyone keeps behaving as they have been, Tam predicts we will see more than 20,000 cases per day by the end of next month.

If people venture outside their homes and socialize even more, we could see 60,000 cases per day by the end of December.

Tam warned “the time is now” for Canadians to do everything to do reduce their contacts.

She says it will take a combined effort on the part of individuals and public health authorities to bring infection rates down to manageable levels.