The loss of that senior manpower has had a dramatic impact on community organizations, health care and other sectors of Canada's economy since the lockdown began in March.

The prime minister said Health Canada will be building a database of "specialized work volunteers," and that some of the work may include tracking COVID-19 cases and tracing contacts.

Health Canada is creating a database of specialized volunteers provinces and territories can draw on to help track down people who have been in contact with positive cases, collect data and provide surge capacity at hospitals.