In recent weeks, we have paid close attention to government and
media reports confirming new cases of a novel coronavirus
originating from Wuhan, China and spreading to a number of cities
and countries worldwide. The World Health Organization (WHO) has
recently declared a global health emergency as the outbreak
continues to spread. According to recent reports, there are
confirmed cases in Canada in Ontario, British Columbia and
Quebec.
While the public health risk remains low according to Health
Canada, it is clear that the WHO and governments are closely
monitoring the situation and taking precautionary measures to
respond. In this climate, employers in Canada should also consider
their obligations to protect the health and safety of their
employees, particularly in the context of contagious illnesses. As
many employers will recall, the legal obligation to ensure a safe
and healthy workplace is expressly enshrined by applicable health
and safety laws, and,
