The federal government has purchased 157 million surgical masks and more than 60 million N95 masks, used by health-care professional to stop the spread of COVID-19. There are also 1,570 ventilators on order, with officials looking to secure 4,000 more. Public Services and Procurement Minister Anita Anand laid out the state of the government's bulk buy efforts today.

Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland says the government is monitoring closely the spread of COVID-19 among health professionals who live in Canada but work in the U.S. Reports suggest many of the cases in Windsor, Ont., are a result of cross-border travel for essential work. That's the only reason people are currently allowed to cross the border. Freeland says stepped up measures have been put in place at the hospitals on the U.S. and Canadian side of the border.

Quebec Premier Francois Legault is warning the province could run out of some kinds of medical supplies in three to seven days. He made the announcement as the total number of cases in Quebec rose to 4,162, which is an increase of 732 from yesterday. There were also six more deaths due to COVID-19, bringing the province's death toll to 31. Legault said he hopes new shipments of medical supplies will arrive in coming days, and thanked Ontario Premier Doug Ford for agreeing to send Quebec some equipment.

Several cities and health authorities are suspending paid parking, especially for health-care workers, during the COVID-19 pandemic. The City of Vancouver says it's temporarily suspending the enforcement of metered parking, residential permit parking and parking time limits, while enforcement will continue for parking spots designated for people with disabilities and other special zones. The Vancouver Coastal Health Authority, Fraser Health Authority and Provincial Health Services Authority have also suspended pay parking at sites they own and operate. Health Minister Adrian Dix says the suspe

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the government is moving forward with the private sector on agreements to purchase equipment for the response to COVID-19. He says production of ventilators, masks and test kits is now underway.One company, Thornhill Medical, says it is making 500 ventilators and hopes to have them ready within weeks.Trudeau says the government has signed letters of intent with five other firms to bolster the national stockpiles of badly needed equipment.The government is also allocating $2 billion to purchase personal protective equipment for health care professionals.

The Union Territory of Chandigarh reported a few more cases of coronavirus on Monday, taking the total tally in the city to 13. These include an NRI couple from Canada among others. All of them have been admitted to the isolation ward at GMCH-32. The country is under a 21-day lockdown to prevent the spread of coronavirus, which according to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has infected a total of 1071 people so far.

There are 7,495 confirmed and presumptive cases in Canada. Quebec: 3,430 confirmed (including 25 deaths, 1 resolved) Ontario: 1,706 confirmed (including 33 deaths, 431 resolved) British Columbia: 970 confirmed (including 19 deaths, 396 resolved) Alberta: 690 confirmed (including 8 deaths, 73 resolved) Saskatchewan: 176 confirmed (including 2 deaths, 3 resolved) Newfoundland and Labrador: 148 confirmed (including 1 death, 7 resolved) Manitoba: 96 confirmed (including 1 death, 2 resolved), 47 presumptive Nova Scotia: 127 confirmed (including 10 resolved) New Brunswick: 68 confirmed (in

COVID-19 has caused thousands of temporary layoffs, and massive flight cancellations at Air Canada. The carrier will temporarily lay off more than 15-thousand unionized workers beginning this week. It will also cut between 85 per cent and 90 per cent of its flights. The layoffs will continue through April and May. The two-month furloughs will also affect about one-third of management and administrative and support staff.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is warning of serious consequences for anyone trying to cheat the system as the federal government doles out wage subsidies meant to cushion the blow of the COVID-19 pandemic. Billions of dollars will be going out the door quickly. Trudeau says the wages covered by the system will be capped at 847-dollars a week. Trudeau says companies that can pay their employees without government help should do so and warns them not to game the system and abuse federal financial aid.