The Bank of Canada is cutting its key interest target by half a percentage point to 0.25 per cent in an unscheduled rate announcement. In a statement on its website, the central bank says its decision to lower rates is aimed at cushioning the economic shocks from COVID-19 and a sharp drop in oil prices by easing the cost of borrowing. It adds that providing credit in the economy for businesses that need it should help lay the foundation for the economy's return to normalcy. The interest rate cut takes the key rate to what the central bank referred to as ``its effective lower bound'' or the

The Quarantine Act is now in effect. The prime minister says people ignoring orders to stay isolated after returning from trips outside the country are endangering lives. Justin Trudeau says most people seem to be heeding the advice to self-isolate. But the P-M says others are not complying and the federal government is now taking the next step and is threatening serious consequences. Canada is now enforcing the Quarantine Act order for international arrivals to Canada to stay away from others for at least 14-days.

There are4,043 confirmed and presumptive cases in Canada. Quebec: 1,629 confirmed (including 8 deaths, 1 resolved) Ontario: 858 confirmed (including 15 deaths, 8 resolved) British Columbia: 725 confirmed Alberta: 486 confirmed (including 2 deaths, 27 resolved) Saskatchewan: 95 confirmed (including 3 resolved) Newfoundland and Labrador: 82 confirmed Nova Scotia: 73 confirmed Manitoba: 25 confirmed, 11 presumptive New Brunswick: 33 confirmed Repatriated Canadians: 13 confirmed Prince Edward Island: 9 confirmed Yukon: 3 confirmed Northwest Territories: 1 confirmed Nunavut: No confirmed cases Tot

Another 66 people in British Columbia have been diagnosed with COVID-19 for a total of 725 cases in the province. Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry says there are no new deaths. Fourteen people have died from COVID-19 in the province. Henry says there are also new guidelines that will allow doctors to prescribe drugs to illicit drug users, giving them a safe supply to ensure they're able to comply with self-isolation requirements. Health Minister Adrian Dix says staff at the government's 811 health helpline managed to answer 5,070 calls on Wednesday, dealing with the anxiety and the

Alberta has identified 67 new cases of COVID-19, bringing its total to 486. Dr. Deena Hinshaw, the province's chief medical health officer, says the cases include 13 at the McKenzie Towne Continuing Care Centre in Calgary. The virus was linked to one death at that centre earlier this week. Hinshaw says 27 Albertans have so far recovered from COVID-19.

Foreign Affairs Minister Francois Philippe Champagne says Canada and its G-7 counterparts need to rely on science to make proper decisions in combating the COVID-19 outbreak now, and in the post virus recovery phase. He says there is concern about the spread of disinformation. His comments come a day after he and his G-7 counterparts met via videoconference with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in the wake of President Donald Trump's heavily criticized pledge to end the American pandemic lockdown by Easter Sunday. Champagne says they stressed the need to act in tandem to contain the virus, a

With many Canadians struggling financially as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the federal government is looking at ways to help people pay their bills. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Finance Minister Bill Morneau is in talks with Canadian banks asking them to lower interest rates. He says the government is also looking at extending lower-interest credit directly to consumers.

Canada's chief public health officer says random checks will be done to ensure Canadians returning to Canada from abroad are following the new mandatory 14 day quarantine. Dr. Theresa Tam says contact information about travellers will be collected when they arrive at the border to allow for follow up, which could include visits to their homes. She says federal health officials will be working closely with local public health agencies to enforce the mandatory quarantine, which could lead to fines or prison time if breached. Tam also said recent data on COVID-19 cases in Canada show one per cen

A 91 year old man from Quebec's Laurentians region is the eighth person to succumb to COVID-19 in the province. Regional health authorities confirmed the man, who lived in a seniors' home, died Wednesday. Quebec Premier Francois Legault says the province now has 1,629 confirmed cases of COVID-19, an increase of 290 from the day before. Provincial health authorities had confirmed two additional deaths Wednesday, and Montreal's public health department announced later in the day the city's first COVID-19 death.