A roundup of COVID-19 developments for Monday, April 6
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Newsrooms are designed to cover the news.
However, when the news involves the newsroom, we sometimes aren’t quite sure how to proceed.
It might have something to do with journalistic distance. Or maybe it’s just that we are more comfortable reporting on others rather than ourselves.
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But like businesses everywhere, the Free Press is not immune to the economic impact of COVID-19, and so the paper is now among the headlines of those making difficult decisions to deal with the financial fallout from the virus. In our case, everyone here is taking a big pay cut in order to keep doing what you need us to do in these trying times.
We’ve turned to our publisher Bob Cox to outline the situation we are now in and the steps taken to keep publishing the Free Press. You can read his column here.
In the meantime, on behalf of our newsroom, I wanted to thank our subscribers for supporting our journalistic mission. The notes of appreciation many of you are sending to us are helping now more than ever. And if you are not yet a subscriber and believe in our mission, you can join our growing audience here.
— Paul Samyn, Winnipeg Free Press editor
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THE LATEST NUMBERS
Note: Manitoba and Canada figures may not match due to differences in data sources.
THE LATEST IN MANITOBA
Though the province recorded only one additional case of COVID-19 on Monday, the province’s chief public health officer Dr. Brent Roussin cautioned the public to expect far fewer days like this going forward as the province enters the early stages of community-based transmission. The current total of confirmed and probable cases in the province stands at 204.
Manitoba is reviewing its options on how to deal with people who refuse to practise social distancing to slow the spread of COVID-19. Premier Brian Pallister says Manitobans expect consequences for those not following guidelines in parks and other areas and said he’ll have more to say later this week.
Manitoba has put out a call for proposals to set up eight temporary hospitals in three regions of the province to treat non-critical patients in Winnipeg, Brandon and Thompson. According to the request, the province anticipates the need for hospitals from mid-April to July of 2020.
As upcoming celebrations of Easter and Passover approach, the province’s chief public health officer Dr. Brent Roussin says adhering to social-distancing rules and limiting gatherings remains critical. Roussin said he’s heard reports about churches around the province planning to hold in-person services.
THE LATEST ELSEWHERE
More than 300,000 out-of-work Canadians successfully applied for pandemic-related emergency relief in the first few hours after the application process began Monday, and Ottawa says it will soon change the rules to let hundreds of thousands more access the help.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said officials will have a better idea of how long the pandemic crisis will last once models and predictions have been developed, but said Canadians should expect to continue with isolation and distancing for “several weeks, perhaps several months.” New infections and deaths continued to be reported across the country Monday, with 16,500 total cases and 321 deaths reported by midafternoon Monday.
Dr. Theresa Tam, Canada’s top public health officer, updated guidelines on wearing non-medical masks, amid what she said was increasing evidence that COVID-19 can be transmitted by infected people who have not started to show symptoms or who never fall sick. As a result, public health authorities have concluded that simple cloth masks can help prevent the wearer from spreading the virus to others in places where physical distancing is difficult, she said.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson was moved to the intensive care unit of a London hospital after his coronavirus symptoms worsened Monday, just a day after he was admitted for what were said to be routine tests.
Reports from around the world suggest the United States is using its buying power and international clout to muscle out smaller buyers for increasingly scarce COVID-19 supplies such as respirators. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called out the U.S. by name Monday, and officials in Germany, France and Brazil have all complained about having orders resold out from under them — sometimes right on the airport tarmac after a last-minute exchange of cash.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said that he will declare a state of emergency for Tokyo and six other prefectures as early as Tuesday to bolster measures to fight the coronavirus, but that there will be no hard lockdowns.
ODDITY
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern offered a bit of encouragement to young New Zealanders on Monday. “You’ll be pleased to know that we do consider both the tooth fairy and the Easter Bunny to be essential workers,” she said, though she added it’s may be difficult at the moment for them to get everywhere. Ardern suggested households help create Easter egg hunts for children by placing images of eggs in their windows.
QUOTE, UNQUOTE
”Stop looking for loopholes. ‘Normal’ has changed and you need to recalibrate to the new normal. So build a bubble for yourself and your family. Stay in that bubble and don’t burst anyone else’s.”
— Newfoundland and Labrador Health Minister John Haggie
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LOCAL NEWS
Brent Bellamy:
Rethinking infrastructure after the pandemic
In our desperate battle to slow the spread of the coronavirus, almost four billion people, half the world’s population, are living under stay-at-home orders. In a rare united effort, governments...
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Carl DeGurse:
Yes, there are reasons to be thankful
If gratitude is a remedy for fear, perhaps this is a good time to take a dose.
Fear has abounded since the pandemic came to town. We worry about catching the virus, and also about economic consequence...
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NATIONAL NEWS
The Canadian Press:
Distancing to last weeks or months: Trudeau
OTTAWA - Some provinces and health officials saw glimmers of hope in the country's COVID-19 numbers on Monday, even as the prime minister warned that Canadians shouldn't expect life to return to norma...
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Jim Bronskill, The Canadian Press:
Top doc now says non-medical masks can help
OTTAWA - Wearing a simple cloth mask is a way for someone who might have COVID-19 without realizing it to avoid spreading the illness to others, Canada's top public health doctor said Monday.
Dr. Ther...
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James McCarten, The Canadian Press:
3M: Canada will keep getting our N95 masks
WASHINGTON - One of America's largest manufacturers of medical face masks rode to Canada's rescue Monday, forging an agreement with the White House that allows it to provide millions of its precious N...
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The Canadian Press:
Federal guidance on COVID-19 and masks
OTTAWA - Here is the federal government's latest guidance on COVID-19 and masks:— Wearing a non-medical mask — such as a homemade, cotton covering — is an additional measure you can take to protect ot...
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The Canadian Press:
The latest developments on COVID-19 in Canada
The latest news on the COVID-19 global pandemic (all times Eastern):8:30 p.m.3M says it will continue to send N95 respirators to Canada after reaching an agreement with the White House to import milli...
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The Canadian Press:
Yukon puts agents at boundaries over COVID-19
WHITEHORSE - Yukon says it has placed enforcement officers at its boundaries and at the Whitehorse airport to get details of travellers self-isolation plans, their contact information and to look for ...
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The Canadian Press:
Second COVID-19 death reported in N.L.
ST. JOHN'S, N.L. - There has been a second death in Newfoundland and Labrador as a result of COVID-19.Chief medical officer of health Dr. Janice Fitzgerald says the latest death is a 61-year-old woman...
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The Canadian Press:
Luck, timing helped B.C. slow COVID-19: doctor
VICTORIA - British Columbia's top doctor is crediting luck and timing for the province's early restrictive measures that helped slow down the spread of COVID-19 in the community.
Dr. Bonnie Henry said...
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INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Colleen Long, Jennifer Peltz And Lori Hinnant, The Associated Press:
Virus deaths slow in places, but British premier gets worse
NEW YORK - The steep rise in coronavirus deaths appeared to be levelling off Monday in hard-hit New York, echoing a trend underway in Italy and Spain, while the crisis escalated alarmingly in Britain,...
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Mike Blanchfield, The Canadian Press:
Cdn cruisers leave Coral Princess for Toronto
OTTAWA - As Canadians said farewell to the COVID-19-stricken Coral Princess cruise ship on Monday for their long journey home, other recently repatriated high-seas travellers coped with the emotional ...
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The Canadian Press:
Reynolds backs Wickenheiser's supplies ask
TORONTO - Hayley Wickenheiser's call for medical supplies for front-line health care workers got an assist from actor Ryan Reynolds.Wickenheiser is in medical school after retiring from a decorated ho...
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Donna Spencer, The Canadian Press:
COVID-19 wiping out weekend road races
Donna Moore enters a road race almost every weekend. One after the other, they're cancelled or postponed."My first cancellation was the St. Patrick's Day road race," said the 57-year-old from Airdrie,...
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COVID-19 BASICS
COVID-19 FAQ
How to protect yourself and others from infection, and what to do if you think you have symptoms
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What to do if COVID-19 suspected
Manitoba's health department has implemented guidelines for who to call and where to go if Manitobans are concerned they may have been exposed to the novel coronavirus or are exhibiting symptoms consi...
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