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.

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 (i

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.

The federal government is warning people not to stockpile their prescriptions. It says there could be local shortages of medications if people hoard more than they need. The government has advised pharmacies not to dispense more than necessary, and is monitoring the supply of drugs.

Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan says the military is getting ready to support COVID-19 mitigation efforts. He says there are up to 24,000 regular and reserve force members prepared to roll out. Sajjan says the work could include direct support to communities or help with logistics. But he says the military has yet to receive a direct request for aid.

Canada's chief public health officer says 220,000 people have been tested for COVID-19. Dr. Theresa Tam says three per cent have been confirmed positive, and 93 per cent confirmed negative. She says of the over 6,000 cases diagnosed so far, seven per cent have required hospitalization, three per cent are critical, and one per cent have been fatal.

Two inmates have tested positive for COVID-19 at a maximum-security prison in Quebec, the first confirmed cases involving prisoners in a federal institution. The Correctional Service of Canada says that prior to the two inmates being diagnosed, nine employees who work at Port-Cartier Institution also tested positive for the virus. The service says in a news release all of these employees are in isolation at home and are following direction from local health officials. As of Saturday, 50 tests were conducted on inmates in institutions with 45 negative and two positive results, with three o

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the new wage subsidy program will cover all businesses whose revenue has dropped by at least 30 per cent because of COVID-19. That includes non-profits and charities. Trudeau revealed more details about the previously announced program this morning. He says there is no restriction on the number of employees a company must have in order to qualify. Under the program, the government will cover 75 per cent of salary on the first $58,700 a person earns.