Coronavirus crisis
Minister of Finance Bill Morneau speaks during a news conference in Ottawa, Friday, March 27, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
Wage subsidies: In Ottawa, Finance Minister Bill Morneau and Small Business Minister Mary Ng will announce more details of the Liberal government’s proposed wage subsidy program. The program was not included in the emergency aid package approved by Parliament last week. The Canadian Press reports. READ MORE
Survey says: Ninety-seven per cent of Canadians say they are social distancing, a new poll found. More than three-quarters of those polled say they would agree to a total quarantine of a city, if necessary. The Canadian Press reports. READ MORE
Stopping the spread: A local doctor says the general use of masks could reduce the spread of the virus, but an infectious disease expert at the University of Manitoba says he doesn’t think masks would help much. READ MORE
Last call: Bars must close by midnight tonight under a new public health order. Manitoba Health officials will give their daily update on COVID-19 cases at 1 p.m. Carol Sanders and Larry Kusch report. READ MORE
Deadly day in Spain: Spain reported 849 deaths from COVID-19, the most the country has recorded in a 24-hour period, for a total of 8,189. The country has the third-most reported cases of the virus. READ MORE
Weather
Your forecast: Cloudy this morning with a 40 per cent chance of showers, a mix of sun and cloud in the afternoon, a high of 10 C, and wind from the southeast at 20 km/h increasing to 40 km/h and gusting to 60 early this afternoon.
More on pandemic
Transit riders maintain their distance on a bus ride Monday. Public health requirements call for ‘reasonable separation’ between passengers. (Jesse Boily / Winnipeg Free Press)
Rules for riders: Reporter Eva Wasney went on a bus to see how passengers are practising social distancing — as space permits. On Monday, Manitoba’s chief public health officer said there should be a “reasonable separation” of passengers. READ MORE
Parks and the pandemic: The city’s parks remain open, and some are concerned people aren’t staying far enough away from each other. Malak Abas reports. READ MORE
Distancing difficult on sidewalks: A spokesman for the City of Winnipeg says more information on road closures will be released this week amid calls to open streets so pedestrians and cyclists can keep an appropriate distance. Danielle Da Silva reports. READ MORE
Support from students: Post-secondary students studying to become health-care professionals are pitching in to help during the pandemic. Maggie Macintosh reports. READ MORE
Growing unease: With restaurants struggling, simplifying their menus or closing entirely, farmers are facing difficult decisions. Sarah Lawrynuik reports. READ MORE
In other news
Winnipeg police Chief Danny Smyth said he’s relieved the grievance has concluded and provided clarity for officers. (Mike Deal / Winnipeg Free Press files)
Police pensions: Mayor Brian Bowman’s office said he hasn’t decided whether the city will challenge an arbitrator’s ruling that could leave a $33-million hole in the multi-year budget. Joyanne Pursaga reports. READ MORE
On this date
On March 31, 1987: The Winnipeg Free Press reported that a baffling infection had wiped out the caribou and mule deer herds at the Assiniboine Park Zoo; officials had quarantined infected reindeer to prevent the spread of the disease to five rarer deer species. Winnipeg’s chief of police wanted officers to have the power to pick up suspected AIDS victims and force them to submit to tests; his concern was to prevent prostitutes from passing HIV to their clients, as well as to protect officers from possible infection from people they arrested, including drug users. A parliamentary report on child care drew universal scorn from provincial non-profit daycare centres and the Manitoba government.
Today’s front page
Get the full story: Read today’s e-edition of the Winnipeg Free Press READ MORE
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