The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today issued the following statement on National Medical Laboratory Week, which runs from April 26 to May 2, 2020:

“Today, I join Canadians to mark the beginning of National Medical Laboratory Week, and celebrate the invaluable and life-saving contributions of our country’s dedicated medical laboratory professionals.

“As they work hard to provide timely, reliable test results for COVID-19, Canada’s laboratory professionals have demonstrated their importance as core members of our health care team.

“During this difficult time, their work is more important than ever. Laboratory professionals across Canada have been working day and night to process COVID-19 tests, while finding innovative ways to speed up the process. Working together with health care professionals, they play a key role in helping to identify cases of COVID-19 so we can stop its spread.

“While we rely on the hard work of our laboratory and health care professionals, we all must do our part by following the recommendations of public health experts and staying at home. We will get through this together.

“On behalf of the Government of Canada, I encourage all Canadians to join me to thank the many laboratory professionals on the front lines of the fight against COVID-19. Their professionalism, expertise, and dedication is helping to keep our loved ones, our health care professionals, and our communities safe.”