Canada’s House of Commons suspending for 5 weeks as officials battle coronavirus spread

The House of Commons is shutting down in a bid to tackle the growing spread of the new coronavirus disease known as COVID-19.

Officials from the political parties have been in discussions over recent days about whether the House of Commons should return from its scheduled break week next week and on Friday, the Conservative House Leader Mark Strahl and Bloc Quebecois Leader Yves-Francois Blanchet said all parties had reached an agreement to suspend.

Government House Leader Pablo Rodriguez spoke after all of the opposition parties had voiced their agreement for the motion to adjourn.

He said the House of Commons will be adjourned until April 20 — a five-week break.

The decision comes as public health officials around the world grapple with the spread of the new virus, which has infected more than 135,000 people worldwide and killed 4,981.

In Canada, there are 138 confirmed cases and one death.

Among those infected is Sophie Grégoire Trudeau, wife of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Trudeau is in isolation for the next 14 days and working from home as a result.

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