Canada COVID-19 National News

 

COVID-Cda)

The border with the U-S could soon be locked down for all non-essential travel.

A Canadian official says both countries have been in talks to restrict northbound and southbound travel to a limited few essential workers — including truck drivers, airline crew members and health-care workers.

The source also noted that snowbirds — who are Canadian citizens or permanent residents but who winter in the southern U-S — would also be exempted to give them time to get home. (2)

(COVID-Cda-Stimulus)

A new federal economic stimulus package is in the works to help Canadian workers and business weather the strengthening restrictions being imposed to fight the COVID-19 outbreak.

Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland says the health and safety of Canadians does still come first.

But any measures being imposed also have to be balanced with financial support so that the economy can come back out of the gate, very strong. (2)

(COVID-Health)

Canada’s chief public health officer says provinces are working to boost the capacity of their health care systems to handle the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dr. Theresa Tam says the race to fortify the systems started after the first rumblings of the novel coronavirus in Wuhan, China, more than two months ago.

Since the outbreak hit Canada, she says provinces have started taking measures to free up hospital resources and beds, like cancelling elective surgeries and procedures. (2)