(Bloomberg) -- Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is considering warning Canadians off non-essential travel abroad, as he begins governing from home after his wife contracted the coronavirus.
The federal government hinted Thursday it could soon move to support the domestic economy as worry over the viral outbreak and its impact roils financial markets. Lawmakers agreed Friday morning to temporarily suspend the legislature until April 20.
“We are looking at making a recommendation that people not travel outside the country except for essential purposes,” the prime minister told the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. on Friday morning. “There are a number of measures we're going to be bringing in at airports.”
Asked about details of potential financial support for Canadians, including mortgage and rent relief, he said: “We are looking at everything.”
Trudeau went into self isolation Thursday, but still held calls with U.S. President Donald Trump, U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Italy's Giuseppe Conte to compare notes on best practices on how to contain the spread of coronavirus.
In his Friday call in to CBC's Toronto morning radio show, Trudeau reiterated that “unlike many countries around the world Canada has a really strong fiscal position that allows us to invest and support people during the time of crisis.”
The prime minister also spoke to Radio-Canada in Montreal, his home district, and said he and his family are doing well under strained circumstances. “I'm working from home, it's not super convenient,” he said in French.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau tested positive for Covid-19 on Thursday, according to a statement from the prime minister's office. She reported flu-like symptoms after speaking at a conference in London.
--With assistance from Sandrine Rastello.
To contact the reporter on this story: Kait Bolongaro in Ottawa at kbolongaro@bloomberg.net
To contact the editors responsible for this story: Theophilos Argitis at targitis@bloomberg.net, Stephen Wicary, Chris Fournier
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