Language selection

Government of Canada / Gouvernement du Canada

Search

Epidemiological summary of COVID-19 cases in Canada

Last data update

On this page

Information on demographics, symptoms, and outcomes is currently available for reported cases in Canada. This is because it takes time for health authorities to gather this information for each individual. The data below should be used to observe trends and not absolute numbers.

A full epidemiological report is also available in PDF.

Epidemic curve

The epidemic curve (epi curve) in Figure 1 shows when cases became ill over time. The date of symptom onset for the first case of COVID-19 reported in Canada became ill on January 15, 2020. Additional cases occurred gradually from January to late February. These early cases were among travelers returning to Canada from countries where outbreaks of COVID-19 were already occurring and their close contacts. The number of cases increased sharply in March as the virus began to spread from one person to another in Canadian communities.

The grey zone in Figure 1 shows an incomplete picture. There is a one to two week delay between when people get sick and when their information is reported to the Public Health Agency of Canada. It takes time for people who become ill to seek healthcare, get tested, receive their laboratory result, and for public health authorities to gather information on their illness. More cases will be added as information becomes available.

New cases continue to be reported across the country, however with a decreasing trend in daily reported cases observed.

Figure 1. COVID-19 cases (n=Footnote 1) in Canada by date of illness onset as of

*If date of illness onset was not available, the earliest of the following dates was used as an estimate in the following order: Specimen Collection Date, and Laboratory Testing Date.

Data note: The shaded area represents a period of time (lag time) where it is expected that cases have occurred but have not yet been reported nationally.

Figure 1: Text description
Table 1. COVID-19 cases (n=Footnote 1) in Canada by date of illness onset as of
Date of illness onset Reported casesFootnote 1

Demographics

Of the COVID-19 cases reported in Canada to date, approximately {Fraction (e.g "one third")} ({Percent Sex}) are {Sex}. Approximately {Fraction (e.g "one third")} ({Percent of Over 60}) of cases are 60 years old and over (Figure 2).

Figure 2.

Figure 2: Text description
Table 2. Age by sex distribution of COVID-19 cases (n=) in Canada,
Age group (years) Number of cases with case reports (proportion) Number of male cases (proportion) Number of female cases (proportion)

Symptoms and severity

Commonly reported symptoms among reported cases include cough ({Percent Cough}%), headaches ({Percent Headache}%) and weakness ({Percent Weakness}%).

Based on case reports received to date, {Num Hospitalized} cases have been hospitalized, including {Num Intensive Care} in intensive care.

{Num Deceased} have died of COVID-19 to date in Canada.

Probable exposure setting

At this time, {Percent Community}% of all COVID-19 cases were related to community transmission, while {Percent Travel}% were either exposed while travelling or exposed to a traveler coming to Canada (Figure 3)

Figure 3. Probable exposure setting of COVID-19 cases (n=) in Canada as of May 8, 2020, 11 am EDT

PHAC is currently updating exposure category definitions. These data as presented are current to 8 May 2020 (inclusive) and will be updated as soon as possible.

*Community setting is defined as a case that had no known contact with a travel-related case and had not travelled outside of Canada in the 14 days prior to illness onset.

Figure 3: Text description
Table 3. Probable exposure setting of COVID-19 cases (n=) in Canada as of
Probable exposure setting Proportion of cases

Provincial and territorial reporting

For more information, please refer to provincial or territorial COVID-19 webpages:

Footnotes

Footnote 1

This figure is based on cases for which a case report form has been received by the Public Health Agency of Canada from provincial partners.

Return to footnote 1 referrer

Report a problem or mistake on this page
Date modified: