The latest developments on COVID-19 in Canada

The latest news on the COVID-19 global pandemic (all times Eastern):

7:10 p.m.

Yukon says six of the eight people diagnosed with COVID-19 in the territory have recovered.

The government says in its public update that it has conducted 823 tests for the virus and the results are still pending for 10 tests.

The territorial government is advising residents of rural communities to limit their visits to Whitehorse and work together with neighbours to co-ordinate picking up groceries and other supplies.

Yukon declared a state of emergency on March 27 and the update says all workers entering the territory, including miners, must self-isolate for 14 days.

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6:20 p.m.

British Columbia is reporting three more deaths and 44 new cases of COVID-19 today.

Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry says one of those deaths represents the first in the Interior Health region — a man in his 60s who had been recovering at home.

The province’s death toll is now up to 75 and the total number of cases is 1,561.

Henry says 131 people are in hospital, including 59 in critical or intensive care, while 955 people in B.C. have recovered from the disease.

She says three additional cases have been identified amid an ongoing outbreak at a West Kelowna nursery, where 26 people have tested positive so far.

There are now 48 confirmed cases at a federal medium-security prison in Mission, including seven people who are hospitalized.

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6:05 p.m.

Alberta is reporting an outbreak of COVID-19 at an oilsands work site north of Fort McMurray.

The province’s chief medical officer, Dr. Deena Hinshaw, says three people have tested positive for the illness at Imperial’s Kearl work camp.

She says six others have been tested and are isolating.

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5:50 p.m.

Alberta is reporting 126 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the total to 1,996

Premier Jason Kenney says there have been no new deaths in the province.

So far, 49 Albertans have died as a result of the novel coronavirus.

Kenney also announced $53 million in additional funding for mental health and addiction services.

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5:15 p.m.

British Columbia Premier John Horgan says people in the province should congratulate themselves for their efforts to flatten the COVID-19 curve, but says it’s still too early to loosen.

Horgan says most people are following the orders of provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry to self-isolate if sick, practise physical distancing and frequent hand washing.

Horgan says recent data says most people in B.C. stayed close to home over the Easter holiday weekend and did not visit their weekend cottages or take drives to nearby communities.

The premier says Henry will release up-to-date data models Friday that show B.C.’s successes in bending the curve of the pandemic.

Horgan also announced that B.C. is extending the provincial state of emergency for two more weeks until April 28.

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4 p.m.

Vancouver Mayor Kennedy Stewart wants to know if economic relief is on the way for Canada’s cities.

A poll taken by his office shows about 55 per cent of homeowners say they’ll be able to pay their mortgage into May, while a quarter of the residents say they’ll only be able to pay a portion of their property tax bill.

Stewart says the city has already cut jobs to help its economic picture, but it doesn’t have the capabilities to withstand a potential major shortfall if COVID-19 restrictions are extended.

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3:55 p.m.

Health officials says Saskatchewan has three new confirmed cases of COVID-19 bringing the total to 304.

It says 205 people have recovered and there are eight in hospital.

The province’s death toll from COVID-19 remains at four.

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3:20 p.m.

Canada’s premiers have sent a letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau formally saying ‘no’ to the Emergencies Act over COVID-19.

Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe’s office confirmed the letter was sent expressing how premiers see no reason for the federal government to invoke the legislation to respond to the pandemic.

Moe sent the letter on behalf of premiers as chairperson of the Council of the Federation to say provinces feel best equipped to handle COVID-19 under their own jurisdictions.

It comes after premiers received a letter for Ottawa on the issue, with the Office of the Prime Minister saying it was only a procedural step.

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2:15 p.m.

Another person has died in Manitoba due to COVID-19 as health officials announce two more positive cases of the virus.

The woman in her 60s is the fifth death in the province.

There has been a total of 246 probable and confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the province.

Nine people are currently hospitalized, four of which are in the intensive-care unit.

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1:45 p.m.

New Brunswick is reporting one new case of COVID-19, raising the provincial total to 117.

Chief medical officer of health, Dr. Jennifer Russell says the latest case is an individual in their 40s in northern New Brunswick.

She says it’s encouraging to see slow growth of the virus in the province, but people need to continue to follow public health measures to avoid community spread.

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1:25 p.m.

Employment Minister Carla Qualtrough says the government has received requests for support from several public sector employers impacted by COVID-19, but so far no decisions have been made.

Currently the government’s wage subsidy program does not apply to those in the public sector, though many institutions have had to reduce workers’ hours in light of COVID-19.

Qualtrough says talks with those public sector employers are ongoing.

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1:20 p.m.

Quebec Premier Francois Legault is making a desperate plea for family doctors and medical specialists to help out in long-term care homes that are sorely lacking in personnel.

Legault says he understands that doctors may be overqualified to help feed and take care of the sick and elderly but he’s calling on their sense of duty to help save lives.

Quebec had 52 additional deaths compared to yesterday, for a total of 487.

The province has 984 people in hospital for COVID-19, including 218 patients in intensive care — a reduction in 12 people from the day prior.

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1:10 p.m.

Canada’s chief public health officer Dr. Theresa Tam says the COVID-19 situation in the United States might have a big impact on what the “new normal” looks like after the first wave is under control.

She says the first focus is getting Canada’s first wave under control.

After that, imported cases will be a key risk, and that could mean ongoing travel restrictions to the U.S. and elsewhere.

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1 p.m.

Prince Edward Island is reporting one new case of COVID-19 Wednesday, bringing the provincial total to 26.

Chief public health officer Dr. Heather Morrison says the latest case is a man in his 30s who returned from international travel.

She said no one is in hospital because of the virus and 23 cases are considered recovered.

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12:55 p.m.

Health Minister Patty Hajdu says the government will be reviewing its practices for equipment near its expiry date in the national emergency stockpile.

As reported by the CBC, millions of disposable respirators were destroyed after reaching their expiry dates before the pandemic.

Hajdu says the government will look at its practices to see if stockpiled equipment nearing its expiry date can be distributed to provinces who need it, or other countries.

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12:50 p.m.

About 500 British Columbia workers handed layoff notices by BC Ferries are back on the payroll after the company altered staffing plans during the COVID-19 crisis.

A total of 1,100 workers were due to be laid off last Saturday but the notices were rescinded for 500 regular employees as BC Ferries waits to learn if it qualifies for federal wage subsidies.

A spokeswoman for the company says it could take some time to determine eligibility and even if approved, the layoffs will go ahead for 600 casual workers.

Physical distancing regulations require the company to cut passenger levels by 50 per cent and traffic has also plunged, prompting BC Ferries to cancel one major route and trim sailings on other routes.

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12:50 p.m.

Nova Scotia is reporting 32 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the provincial total to 549 cases Wednesday.

The death toll from the virus remains at three, and 137 cases are considered recovered.

A total of nine people are in hospital including four in intensive care.

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12:40 p.m.

Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland says Quebec will not be penalized for being the first province to top up wages for essential workers.

The government announced plans to increase wages for essential workers who make less than $2,500 per month, but the details must still be worked out with the provinces.

When asked whether Quebec workers would also receive the federal funds, Freeland says Quebec will not be penalized for setting a positive example.

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12:40 p.m.

Newfoundland and Labrador is reporting three new cases of COVID-19 Wednesday, raising the provincial total to 247.

Dr. Janice Fitzgerald, Chief Medical Officer of Health, says eight people are hospitalized with three people in intensive care.

She says starting Thursday, the province will expand its testing, by testing anyone who displays two or more of the symptoms of the virus.

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12:30 p.m.

The federal government has launched a new online mental health service to support people struggling in isolation.

The online tool allows people to assess their own mental health, connect with peers and gives them access to professional help from home.

Health Minister Patty Hajdu said it can be difficult to maintain good mental health with all the disruptions we’re experiencing.

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12:25 p.m.

Chief public health officer Dr. Theresa Tam says there is cause for cautious optimism that the COVID-19 epidemic is slowing down.

In late March, the number of cases doubled every three days. More recently, it takes about 10 days for the number of cases to double.

But Tam says that doesn’t mean that Canada can ease up on physical distancing measures.

She says coming down the other side of the epidemic curve will be like coming down a mountain in the dark. It must be done carefully and slowly, or the fall will be hard.

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11:55 a.m.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says instituting wide-scale testing will be an essential part of reopening the economy once the first wave of Canada’s epidemic is over.

He says health authorities will need to be able to quickly respond to future outbreaks, and testing and contact tracing will be vital.

The prime minister warned that is still many weeks away.

He says if physical distancing measures are lifted too soon, all the sacrifices made up to this point will have been for nothing.

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11:45 a.m.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says President Donald Trump exerted no pressure on Canada regarding its funding to the World Health Organization.

This, after Trump instructed his administration to suspend funding to the World Health Organization over the agency’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Trudeau says Canada increased its contribution to WHO in light of the global COVID-19 pandemic.

He says there will be reflections on WHO’s actions and messages in the early days of the pandemic, but says the focus should be on the present fight against the virus.

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11:30 a.m.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the New Brunswick corporation LuminUltra is increasing production of reagents needed to provide the required weekly supply for COVID-19 tests in all provinces.

He says the country also received a new shipment of swabs required for the tests.

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11:25 a.m.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the government is expanding to Canadian Emergency Response Benefit to people who earn some income, seasonal workers and those who have run out of EI.

He says people who earn up to $1,000 per month will soon be able to access the benefit.

The prime minister says the government also plans to top up the pay of essential workers earning less than $2,500 per month.

He says that includes many people who work in long-term care homes.

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10:45 a.m. 

Ontario is reporting 494 new COVID-19 cases today, including 51 more deaths.

That brings the total cases in the province to 8,447, including 385 deaths and 3,902 that have been resolved.

There were just over 6,000 tests completed in the previous day despite a promise from the government to do 8,000 tests a day by today.

The number of tests under investigation also doubled in the past day — to 4,429.

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10:30 a.m.

Federal Public Safety Minister Bill Blair says the Canadian military will expand its activities in northern Quebec following a second request for assistance from the province.

The Canadian Armed Forces mobilized 40 Canadian Rangers in Nunavik earlier this month after the Quebec government asked the federal government to help prepare for COVID-19.

The Rangers, all of whom live in the area, have been setting up heated tents and other facilities where medical personnel will triage potential patients in remote communities.

The federal government is expected to provide more details on the size and scope of the new measures later today.

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9:45 a.m.

Canada Border Services Agency is temporarily scaling back opening hours at several of what it describes as “low traffic” crossings along the border with the United States.

In all, 27 ports are affected; three in British Columbia, two in Alberta, eight in Saskatchewan, six in Manitoba and eight in Quebec.

The western crossings and two in Quebec will open later and close earlier while six other Quebec ports usually open around the clock will operate between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.

Revised hours take effect at midnight and Canada Border Services says the changes which are related to COVID-19 measures will continue until further notice as all non-essential travel between Canada and the U.S. remains banned.

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7 a.m.

Emergency room doctors are calling for health officials to ensure there are enough supplies of medical sedatives for patients going on a ventilator.

The Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians says ventilation is a physiologically complex, painful and anxiety-inducing process that requires medication for pain control and sedation.

The organization says health authorities should prepare by examining current stocks of necessary medication and identifying alternative options for analgesics.

The association is also calling on national authorities to manage the distribution of the sedatives and to incentivize domestic production.

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This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 15, 2020

The Canadian Press

Note to readers: This is a corrected story. A previous version erroneously said three additional people at Imperial’s Kearl work camp in Alberta have been tested for COVID-19 and are isolating.