The latest developments on COVID-19 in Canada

But Dr. Theresa Tam, the chief public health officer, says officials are concerned about the increase of cases in Ontario, particularly three cases being investigated as coming from community transmission.

She says there are also a number of cases in several provinces connected to a large dental conference that took place in Vancouver.

Tam also underscores the need to avoid large gatherings and stay home as much as possible.

She encourages Canadians to keep donating blood, and noted that Canadian Blood Services has all the procedures in place to keep people safe.

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12;10 p.m.

Newfoundland and Labrador has announced two more presumptive cases of COVID-19 in the province, bringing the total number of cases to three.

Dr. Janice Fitzgerald, the province’s chief medical officer of health, says the woman and man live within the Labrador-Grenfell Health region, which covers Labrador and part of Newfoundland’s Northern Peninsula.

The cases are linked to contact with the province’s first presumptive case announced on Saturday.

Dr. Fitzgerald recommended the closure of public spaces including fitness facilities, arenas, bars, performances spaces and said all St. Patrick’s Day celebrations scheduled for tonight should be cancelled.

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12;07 p.m.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the Emergencies Act is a tool the federal government can use to enact measures it would otherwise not be able to enact.

He says the Liberal government is looking at other ways to impose new measures without calling a state of emergency.

Trudeau also says that with three million Canadians living or travelling abroad at any time, it would not be possible to expect that everyone would be able to come home immediately.

Trudeau also says Canada is in a good fiscal position to be able to invest in Canadian individuals and businesses to make sure the country gets through this difficult time and continues to “prosper and grow” once this moment is over.

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12;00 p.m.

Quebec’s finance minister is delaying the deadline for individuals and businesses to pay their taxes in order to ease financial pressure caused by the novel coronavirus.

Eric Girard said today individuals and businesses will have until June 1 to file a return and until July 31 to pay their taxes.

The finance minister says the measures will affect about two million individuals and 500,000 businesses and will immediately liberate about $7.7 billion worth of liquidity into the Quebec economy.

Quebec is the only province that requires individuals and businesses to file separate provincial and federal income tax returns.

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11;55 a.m.

Health officials in Ontario are confirming the province’s first death in a patient with COVID-19.

A spokesman for the province’s health minister says the 77-year-old man in the Muskoka region was not a confirmed case, but the illness was discovered after his death.

The exact cause of his death is still under investigation.

It’s the first Canadian fatality outside British Columbia linked to the novel coronavirus.

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11;00 a.m.

Alcoholics Anonymous is temporarily closing many of its meetings across Canada in an effort to curb the spread of COVID-19.

AA, which typically meets in churches, legion halls, and other public meeting rooms, is directly affected by government mandates to close facilities where groups may gather.

Meeting lists in Halifax, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Hamilton, Edmonton, Calgary and Vancouver show several groups have temporarily closed with warnings that more are expected.

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10;43 a.m.

Ontario is reporting eight new COVID-19 cases today, bringing the province to a total of 185.

Five of the new patients are in Hamilton, two are in the Middlesex-London area and one is in York Region.

All are in self-isolation, but information on their ages and how they became infected is unavailable for all but one case.

A man in his 60s in York Region had recently travelled to Costa Rica.

The 185 includes five cases that have been fully resolved.

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10;00 a.m.

COVID-19 is having an effect on the multi-billion dollar LNG Canada project in northwestern British Columbia.

In a post on its website, LNG Canada says out of concern for its workers, staff will be cut by 50 per cent at its Kitimat construction site over the next several days.

It says most of the cuts are being made by reducing the number of workers flying in on rotation but, if necessary, staff could be cut to levels required only to maintain site security and environmental controls.

LNG Canada is a consortium of five global energy companies, including PetroChina and South Korea’s KOGAS, building a 40-billion dollar liquefied natural gas production and export facility.

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9;20 a.m.

St. Patrick’s Day won’t be a party in Vancouver as health authorities have asked all bars and restaurants in the city to close their doors for the day.

The request from the Vancouver Health Authority came just hours after the city’s mayor said the shutdown would help efforts to control COVID-19 by keeping people away from packed St. Patrick’s Day events.

Gatherings of more than 50 people are now banned in British Columbia.

The province’s latest official count of confirmed cases of the new coronavirus is 103, including four deaths and six patients under care in hospital.

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9;15 a.m.

Quebec political leaders have announced the provincial legislature will be closed until April 21 after today’s sitting due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

Simon Jolin-Barrette, the government house leader, made the announcement today alongside counterparts from Quebec’s other major political parties.

Jolin-Barrette says the suspension is to limit the spread of novel coronavirus and to allow legislators to work from home.

He says legislature members also need to be available to constituents in their ridings.

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8:45 a.m.

A new survey suggests half of Canada’s small businesses have already seen a drop in sales due to the economic effects of COVID-19.

The survey conducted by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business also says four in 10 of those affected businesses are also reporting a drop of more than 25 per cent.

The CFIB survey found the sectors most negatively affected were hospitality, arts and recreation, retail and personal services.

It says 43 per cent have reduced hours for staff and 20 per cent have started temporary layoffs.

Thirty-eight per cent say they have experienced supply chain issues.

8:30 a.m.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford is declaring a state of emergency in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The state of emergency prohibits organized public events of 50 or more people in Ontario until March 31.

Effective immediately, all public libraries, private schools, licensed child daycares, theatres, cinemas and other public venues in the province must close.

All bars and restaurants must close except to provide takeout food and delivery.

Essential services such as grocery stores and pharmacies will continue to operate.

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6:21 a.m.

Canadian Imperial Bank Of Commerce is changing the hours at its bank branches and temporarily closing some that do not offer over-the-counter cash and banking services.

The bank says 816 of its locations will remain open, but operate under modified hours, while 206 will temporarily close tomorrow in an effort to help slow the spread of COVID-19.

CIBC says any employee affected by the temporary changes will continue to receive their full pay.

The bank is also introducing assistance for clients impacted by job loss or other circumstances and urged those that need help to contact the bank.

The Canadian Press

by Canadian Press

The latest developments on COVID-19 in Canada

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