Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson declared a state of emergency in the Canadian capital as protests against coronavirus measures continue.

Watson said the protests, ongoing for a week, pose a problem for the safety and security of residents, warning that the situation has become "completely out of control" with the number of demonstrators exceeding the number of police officers.

Truck drivers disrupted traffic in downtown, and roads were closed off using tents and vehicles.

In an interview with the Canadian radio station "CFRB," Watson said the protesters are acting increasingly "recklessly," by "honking horns, sounding sirens, setting off fireworks and turning the (protest) into a party."

He explained that the police numbers are "significantly" fewer, saying "we are losing the battle" and "we have to take back our city."

The Ottawa mayor did not mention specific details regarding the measures he might impose, but on Sunday the police said they would increase law enforcement, including potential arrests of those seeking to assist the protesters.

The state of emergency will give the city additional powers. Many Ottawa residents opposed these protests.

The authorities in Ottawa announced in a statement that the state of emergency "reflects the serious danger and threat to the safety and security of residents due to the ongoing protests, highlighting the need for support from judicial authorities and other levels of government."

Opponents of the protests complain about trucks blocking roads, and express their fears about loss of income or harassment and violence.

The police expressed concern about the protests attracting extremist rhetoric.

Agence France-Presse quoted a protester who traveled by car for hours to join the demonstration in Ottawa, saying the protest "is about our freedom," adding that she has doubts about the safety and effectiveness of vaccines.

Vaccines against COVID-19 have contributed to reducing severe symptoms in those infected, and serious side effects are extremely rare.

Canadians widely support vaccination – about 83 percent of eligible people have received full doses of coronavirus vaccines.

The Canadian capital has witnessed similar protests before, but the city’s police chief confirms this is the largest of its kind.

There is no doubt that protesters have spread and made clear they are ready to stay for a long time, and thousands of supporters joined them over the past weekend.

With no clear end in sight, police faced frustration from many residents who ask why more is not being done to end the protest that is choking the heart of downtown and disrupting their daily lives.

Protesters may face lawsuits due to truck horns sounding for hours during the day, despite organizers saying they will try to restrict this noise to daylight hours only.

The declaration of a state of emergency is the latest move taken in the past few days by city authorities to increase pressure – but it remains unclear when the current deadlock will end.

Since then, protesters have gathered downtown near the Parliament building, escalating their demands from rejecting mandatory vaccination for crossing the border to opposing it nationwide, and opposing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump expressed support for the truck drivers on Friday, accusing Trudeau of "destroying Canada with crazy coronavirus restrictions."

Former U.S. Ambassador to Canada Bruce Heyman responded on Twitter saying Trump should not interfere in Canada’s internal affairs, warning that his statements represent "a threat to the United States, and to all democracies."

A recent poll by Abacus Data showed that 68 percent of Canadians felt they have "very little in common" with the protesters, while 32 percent found they have "much in common" with the truck drivers.

GoFundMe, the online fundraising platform, stated on Friday it will block the transfer of millions of dollars raised in support of the truck drivers, citing police reports of violence.