We need to keep alert, but we need to keep moving forward in a way that keeps Canadian safe and keeps our economy rolling.

The promise of coming government action backstopped by immediate action from the Bank of Canada, which cut its key interest rate by half a percentage point, calling Cove it 19 a material negative shock to the Canadian and global economies that will likely get worse.

This is not a situation that Canada created.

Ah, but it is a situation that we're going through.

The viral slump is another drag on an economy already slowed by rail blockades, teachers, strikes and snowstorms.

So a new Cabinet committee chaired by the deputy prime minister to deal with the economic and health fall out.

Our first priority is to keep Canadians safe.

To do that, they're working with provinces to make sure hospitals have what they need, and relying on existing plans for an influenza pandemic to deal with covert 19.

There are enough similarities for this plan.

Pride us with a solid foundation and an advanced starting point for a comprehensive response.

And while the country is anxious, the number of cases in Canada remains less than one in a 1,000,000.

I think it's important for us to seek a sort of, you know, I would call it the Goldie Locks response.

Not too hot, not too cold.

It's important for our response to be adequate.

And they stress the adequate response from Canadians to keep themselves safe is really quite simple.

Wash your hands, cover your costs and sneezes and stay at home if you're sick.