Latest update on COVID-19 news in Canada

But Tam says the health system is not designed to deal with this kind of surge, and could be facing difficult decisions about how to allocate scarce resources in all those scenarios.

She says in some of the worst case scenarios, the health care system will not be able to cope.

12:45 p.m.

There are no new cases of COVID-19 on Prince Edward Island Wednesday, with the provincial total remaining at 21.

Chief public health officer Dr. Heather Morrison says three of the Island cases are considered recovered.

All the cases on the Island have been the result of international travel.

12:45 p.m.

There are 23 new positive cases of COVID-19 in Newfoundland and Labrador, all within the Eastern Health authority.

The total number of known cases of the illness in the province is now 175.

Dr. Janice Fitzgerald, chief medical officer of health, says 15 people have been hospitalized and three are in intensive care.

She says 10 people have recovered.

12:40 p.m.

Employment Minister Carla Qualtrough says the backlog of employment insurance claims filed in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis will be addressed within the week.

Canada has seen an unprecedented surge in requests for support.

In the last two weeks 1.3 million EI claims have been filed, compared to just 2.1 million for all of last year.

Qualtrough says the department has found a way to streamline applications, and starting today they will be able to process 400,000 applications per day.

12:35 p.m.

Health Minister Patty Hajdu says the government has created a mobile app to provide direct updates on COVID-19.

The app will provide updates on the latest government measures and public health advice to limit the spread of the virus.

It will also include a self-assessment tool for people experiencing symptoms of COVID-19.

12:10 p.m.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the government is expecting a shipment of much needed medical supplies in a few days, or even sooner.

Several provinces have reported shortages of personal protective equipment for front line workers, given that the equipment is in demand all over the world.

Trudeau says the government is working with international partners to try to bring more surgical masks and in-demand supplies to Canada.

11:40 a.m.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he’s asked the government house leader to reach out to opposition parties about bringing back parliament.

He says the entire government needs to be involved in the largest economic program in Canada’s history.

Canada’s parliament was suspended on March 13 to limit the spread of the virus and allow the cabinet to focus on the COVID-19 response.

It briefly reconvened last week to pass the government’s emergency COVID-19 response bill.

10:35 a.m.

Ontario is reporting 426 new COVID-19 cases today the largest number so far including four new deaths.

It represents a nearly 22 per cent increase and brings the provincial total to 2,392.

That includes 37 deaths and 689 cases that have been resolved.

9:45 a.m.

Some Manitoba health care workers have tested positive for COVID-19, leading to other health workers having to self-isolate.

One staff member at a hospital in Selkirk tested positive after travelling within Canada, and had been working while symptomatic between March 19 and 23.

The Manitoba Nurses Union says a nurse at a hospital emergency room in Winnipeg has also tested positive.

And St. Boniface Hospital has sent a letter to workers that says a staff member in the echocardiography department has tested positive, and was working while symptomatic on March 25.

8:10 a.m.

A hospital in Burlington, Ont., is building a temporary COVID-19 unit in anticipation of a surge of patients.

Joseph Brant Hospital says the structure being built on hospital grounds will have 93 beds.

The hospital’s chief of staff, Dr. Ian Preyra, says the pandemic response unit will allow the hospital to keep its critical care and high acuity beds for the sickest patients.

7:30 a.m.

A driver in Ottawa’s transit system is in isolation after testing positive for COVID-19.

The city says the driver developed symptoms on March 20 and was tested for the virus that causes the illness the next day.

The local health unit says there’s concern the driver might have spread the virus in the days before feeling sick.

The city says it’s deep-cleaning the busses that the person drove, which mostly ran between downtown Ottawa and western suburbs.

7:25 a.m.

A ship carrying passengers sick with COVID-19 is expected to arrive in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., on Thursday.

About 250 Canadians are among the passengers aboard Holland America’s Zaandam, which was denied entry by several countries after reporting four deaths and dozens of infections.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has said the state’s health care resources are already stretched too thin to take on the ships’ coronavirus caseload.

But President Donald Trump said people are dying on the ship, and he’s going to do “the right thing” for humanity and allow it to dock in Florida.

6:35 a.m.

It’s April 1st and rent payments are due for millions of Canadians for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic led to an economic shutdown and many layoffs.

Hundreds of thousands of Canadians have signed petitions, asking for the outright cancellation of rents and mortgage payments for the duration of the COVID-19 crisis.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau suggests that’s not going to happen, but says the banks have been asked to give people a break if they need it.

Multiple provinces have placed an outright ban on evictions, while others have placed an effective ban by closing down landlord and tenant boards.

Applications for federal support payments and details about wage subsidies that are meant to help Canadians weather the storm are still to be released.

(The Canadian Press)

by The Canadian Press

Latest update on COVID-19 news in Canada

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