Nurses protested against state government over lack of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) kits in hospitals. According to a nurse, there is lack of PPEs in her hospital and also demanded PPE kits for every staff member of the hospital so that they can treat patients without worrying about the COVID-19 infection. The number of coronavirus cases in Punjab rose to over 40. A total of 51 people have been confirmed positive for coronavirus in Punjab and five people have died due to the infection till now, said the state health department on Friday. "The COVID-19 cases surge to 51 in Punjab. Five p

There are 12,547 confirmed and presumptive cases in Canada. Quebec: 6,101 confirmed (including 61 deaths, 306 resolved) Ontario: 3,255 confirmed (including 67 deaths, 1,023 resolved) British Columbia: 1,174 confirmed (including 35 deaths, 641 resolved) Alberta: 1,075 confirmed (including 18 deaths, 196 resolved) Saskatchewan: 220 confirmed (including 3 deaths, 36 resolved) Nova Scotia: 207 confirmed (including 21 resolved) Newfoundland and Labrador: 195 confirmed (including 1 death, 11 resolved) Manitoba: 164 confirmed (including 2 deaths, 11 resolved), 18 presumptive New Brunswick: 95 confir

Provincial health officer Doctor Bonnie Henry is reporting another 53 cases of COVID-19, bringing the total in BC to 1,174 cases. Henry says four more people have died, including three linked to clusters at two long term care homes in the Vancouver Coastal health region. 35 deaths have now been recorded in BC from COVID-19. Henry says the good news is that hospitalizations have dropped slightly from yesterday but people must remain committed to following orders aimed at slowing the spread of the virus.

CIBC says it is offering reduced interest rates on personal credit cards for Canadians in financial hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The bank says credit card clients who request to skip a payment and are experiencing financial difficulties will receive a temporary lower annual interest rate of 10.99 per cent. It says for the 80,000 Canadians who have already received CIBC credit card relief, the temporary lower rate will be retroactively applied to March 15.

Canada's top public health official is urging people to have caution when looking at provincial models for how COVID-19 will develop. Ontario released its projections for the best and worst case scenarios of the crisis. Dr. Theresa Tam says people should remember they are just that, projections, and not real data. She says both must be examined to get an accurate picture of where the virus is headed.

Quebec Premier Francois Legault says provincial police are looking into using cell phone data to track the movements of people infected with COVID-19. The premier said today police are not currently using that kind of data but may in the future. Quebec is among many jurisdictions across the world that are either considering or already using electronic data to monitor people infected with the virus and those they come into contact with. Quebec Premier Francois Legault says the province recorded 25 more deaths related to COVID-19 since the day prior, bringing the provincial total to 61. But Leg

The growing movement in British Columbia and across Canada to salute health care workers by clapping and making noise each evening at 7 p.m. will gain even more volume tonight. A statement from the Chamber of Shipping, the voice for the marine industry on Canada's west coast, says all ships in B.C. waters will sound their horns in solidarity. The statement says the audible celebration is noteworthy because ship crews are also working to maintain essential transportation networks. The chamber says vessels move critical cargo directly supporting medical efforts or supplying communities to ensur

Health Minister Patty Hajdu says Canada is paying inflated prices for personal protective equipment. She says the global market is extremely competitive as every country vies for the limited supply. She says Canada is keeping an eye on the cost, but is focused on getting what's needed. Health Canada is also taking measures to guard against fraud and counterfeit PPE that's being produced.

Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland says the government is planning to `pull out all the stops' to press the U.S. on its plans to limit supplies to Canada. The White House ordered manufacturer 3M not to ship N95 respirators across the border to Canada. Freeland says Canada will push back hard. She says all ministers are in touch with their U.S. counterparts and the provincial premiers have also been asked to get involved.