Before I begin, I would like to take the opportunity to thank the IT staff and the House administration for all of the work they've done to provide us with the tools we need to have this virtual meeting. They're working very hard, and I want to acknowledge their work.
I also want to take a moment, if you'll indulge me, to provide my sincere condolences to our friends from Nova Scotia. They are going through an unthinkable situation and I want to express my profound sorrow and grief. As Canadians, we are all Nova Scotians right now, and we grieve with them during this really difficult time. I felt I had to put that on record.
As PROC committee members, we have been asked to study our parliamentary duties with respect to the COVID-19 pandemic and how it has impacted our duties. There are a few things I want to state for the record.
We know that COVID-19 is a serious public health threat, and the situation is evolving daily when we look at the numbers. The risk varies between communities, but given the number of cases in Canada, we certainly recognize that the risk remains high for all of us. When it comes to transmission, we know that most transmission is from person to person, but it comes from droplets that are shared, if you will. The droplets can be spread for about two metres. When we talk about staying six feet apart, we know where that comes from.
We also know that this virus can survive on surfaces for different periods of time, up to three days, and this depends on conditions and other factors. We know that this virus has an incubation period of one to 14 days, during which time mild asymptomatic transmissions can occur. I think we all know this, but the best ways for us to prevent COVID-19 are by staying home, keeping a safe distance, washing our hands repeatedly, covering our mouths when we cough and limiting our travel. Public health experts and researchers continue to research the risks involved, and they are basing that research on the best science and data available.
Canada has been tackling COVID-19, but I think we have to recognize we're far from being out of the woods, and we absolutely have to keep our foot on the gas to combat this virus. I think we also all recognize that during this pandemic we are experimenting with different technologies and different procedures to do our duties as parliamentarians.
We've been asked as PROC members to look at temporary modifications while using technological solutions, including virtual parliaments, to allow all members an opportunity to fulfill their parliamentary functions. I have to stress that it's all members, not just the ones who live close to Ottawa, the nation's capital.
My first question is directed to the Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, I know that you're the chair of the Board of Internal Economy. I'm wondering if you could share with the committee members and Canadians what restrictions have been put in place for COVID-19 and why those restrictions were put in place. Did all parties agree to those restrictions?