OTTAWA : The Canadian coronavirus death toll passed the 5,000 mark on Tuesday and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said major reforms were needed to seniors' residences, where more than 80% of the victims lived.
The public health agency said the number of deaths edged up by 2.9% to 5,049 from 4,906 on Monday, one of the smallest daily gains so far.
Canada is the 11th nation to record more than 5,000 deaths from the outbreak. Long-term care homes in Ontario and Quebec - the two most populous of the 10 provinces - have been particularly hard hit.
Officials have detailed poor conditions in some residences, where employees earn just the minimum wage. "We've seen heart-breaking tragedies in long-term care facilities and nursing homes right across