The chief public health officer has acknowledged that the number of deaths as a result of COVID-19 in Canada has now exceeded the national projections for potentially 3,883 deaths by May 5. Just over 4,100 people have died in Canada to date. Tam says the increased number of deaths is due to the tragic fact that those who were infected weeks ago are now coming to the end stages of COVID-19, and are passing away, most often those in long-term care facilities. But Dr. Theresa Tam points out that the epidemic still appears to be slowing down and that the doubling time for infections is now at abo

The Canadian Pharmacists Association says ongoing drug shortages mean pharmacies are receiving short shipments from manufacturers, leaving them to try to adjust on the fly.The association first warned of the possibility of looming shortages in early March, when supply chains were disrupted by COVID-19 in China.While Canada has seen a spike in shortages since then, it hasn't developed into the emergency situation some health officials had feared.Barry Power with the association says manufacturers and wholesalers have told them the rationing measures pharmacies are taking are helping to reduce d

Ontario is extending a period of lower hydro rates as well as its emergency orders.The orders, which were set to expire today, include the closure of non-essential businesses, the prohibition of public gatherings of more than five people, and the closure of outdoor amenities such as playgrounds.They have now been extended for another two weeks, to May 19.Ontario's overall declaration of a state of emergency was extended last month to May 12.The government also says that it will extend lower electricity rates for residential consumers, farms and small businesses to May 31. An initial order fro

There are 62,046 confirmed and presumptive cases in Canada. Quebec: 33,417 confirmed (including 2,398 deaths, 7,578 resolved) Ontario: 18,310 confirmed (including 1,361 deaths, 12,779 resolved) Alberta: 5,893 confirmed (including 106 deaths, 3,219 resolved) British Columbia: 2,232 confirmed (including 121 deaths, 1,472 resolved) Nova Scotia: 991 confirmed (including 41 deaths, 652 resolved) Saskatchewan: 487 confirmed (including 6 deaths, 310 resolved) Manitoba: 282 confirmed (including 7 deaths, 238 resolved) Newfoundland and Labrador: 259 confirmed (including 3 deaths, 241 resolved) New Bru

Canada's chief public health officer says the daily increase of COVID-19 cases in Canada has slowed to about three per cent. Dr. Theresa Tam says that trend, coupled with statistics showing the percentage of tests coming back positive is going down, even as the number of tests goes up, signifies that the epidemic in Canada is slowing down. Meanwhile, Tam says the pediatric network in Canada is monitoring children for signs of the inflammatory syndrome known as Kawasaki disease, which some countries have found in some children with COVID-19. But Tam says there are no firm conclusions in Canada

Quebec is announcing 118 new COVID-19 deaths compared with the prior day, for a total of 2,398. The province is also recording another 794 positive cases of COVID-19, for a total of 33,417 confirmed cases. Quebec Premier Francois Legault said today about 11,200 workers are absent from the health-care network, either because they are sick, vulnerable to COVID-19 infection or otherwise too afraid to go into work. He says about a third of them should be finishing their 14-day quarantines and is calling on them to return to work in the health-care network, especially in the province's struggling

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is promising a $252 million aid package for Canada's agriculture and food industries in the COVID-19 pandemic.He says $77 million of that will go to measures to keep workers in food processing safe with protective equipment and by supporting physical distancing in workplaces.Meat-packing plants, in particular, have seen large outbreaks of the virus that causes COVID-19.The package includes money for beef and pork producers holding animals they can't sell, a credit program for the dairy industry and a $50 million fund to buy food that spoils and send it to groups

There are 60,772 confirmed and presumptive cases in Canada. Quebec: 32,623 confirmed (including 2,280 deaths, 7,578 resolved) Ontario: 17,923 confirmed (including 1,300 deaths, 12,505 resolved) Alberta: 5,836 confirmed (including 104 deaths, 2,942 resolved) British Columbia: 2,224 confirmed (including 117 deaths, 1,417 resolved) Nova Scotia: 985 confirmed (including 38 deaths, 638 resolved) Saskatchewan: 467 confirmed (including 6 deaths, 307 resolved) Manitoba: 281 confirmed (including 6 deaths, 238 resolved) Newfoundland and Labrador: 259 confirmed (including 3 deaths, 233 resolved) New Bru

Canada's chief public health officer, Dr. Theresa Tam, says Canadians are going to need how to learn to live with COVID-19. She says that means even as things begin to reopen, people will have to keep practising physical distancing and cough etiquette, and stay home at the first sign of symptoms. Tam says working while sick can no longer be allowed.