Alberta is changing labour rules to provide 14 days of paid leave for workers who self-isolate due to the novel coronavirus or are caring for someone who has it. Premier Jason Kenney says employees will not need a doctor's note nor will they have had to work for 90 days previously to qualify. Alberta has announced six new cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number in the province to 29. Publicly funded schools, however, will remain open. Deena Hinshaw, chief medical officer of health, says the evidence on whether closing schools is an effective way of limiting the spread is not conclusive.

British Columbia has 11 new cases of COVID-19, all of them in the Vancouver area, bringing the total in the province to 64. Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry says the new cases also involve an ``additional cluster'' that was reported earlier today at the Lions Gate Hospital in North Vancouver. Three administrative workers at the hospital have tested positive for COVID-19. Vancouver Coastal Health says they are in self-isolation at home and are recovering. Henry says they have not worked in the hospital's clinical areas. There is also another case related to the Lynn Valley Care Centr

Canadians are being told to avoid non essential travel outside of the country and to be prepared not to be allowed back home if they do. Foreign Affairs Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne issued the global travel advisory this afternoon, urging those currently aboard to consider ending their trip early. The government notes new border restrictions, flight cancellations and quarantines could prevent people from returning to Canada. And those out of the country should make sure they have enough money and necessities in case their plans are disrupted.

Toronto's medical officer of health says all licensed childcare centres will be closed until April 5 to stop the spread of the COVID-19 outbreak. Dr. Eileen de Villa is also recommending that anyone who has travelled recently outside of Canada to self-isolate for two weeks. The city will also shut down many public buildings including libraries, recreation centres and swimming pools as well as cancel March break camps. Officials, however, are not asking people to avoid mass public transit. Toronto Mayor John Tory, who recently returned from a trade mission to London, says he has no symptoms bu

Canada's national museums are set to shut their doors Saturday as the COVID-19 pandemic hits cultural venues across the country. National Museums of Canada has announced that the public institutions will be closed until further notice to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus. The decision impacts the Canadian Museum of History, the Canadian Museum for Human Rights, the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21, the Canadian Museum of Nature, the Canadian War Museum, Ingenium and the National Gallery of Canada.

Three administrative workers at Lions Gate Hospital in North Vancouver have tested positive for COVID-19. Vancouver Coastal Health says they are in self-isolation at home and are recovering. The health authority says they have not worked in the hospital's clinical areas. The authority's medical health officers are investigating the source of the transmission and following up with other staff members who might have had close contact with the infected employees. Starting today, the health authority says only family members are allowed to visit the hospital, out of an abundance of caution. There

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says while he and his children are remaining in self-isolation after his wife tested positive for the novel coronavirus, health professionals have told him he does not need to be tested unless he develops symptoms. Sophie Gregoire Trudeau is now in quarantine following her diagnosis, and Health Minister Patty Hajdu says public health officials will be reaching out to everyone who had contact with her. Trudeau says he will be working from home for the next couple of weeks, and he is keeping in close touch with his counterparts in the provinces and abroad.

Health Minister Patty Hajdu says public health officials will be reaching out to everyone who had contact with Sophie Gregoire Trudeau since she became symptomatic. The prime minister's wife was diagnosed with COVID-19 yesterday after returning from the U.K. Hajdu says that, because of the relatively low number of cases in this country, it's still possible for public health officials to do ``contact tracing'' for people diagnosed with the illness. The country's deputy chief public health officer says Gregoire Trudeau was not symptomatic on the plane, so it's not necessary to reach out to thos

The Bank of Canada is cutting its overnight rate target by half a percentage point to 0.75 per cent in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The last rate cut was last week, when it dropped from 1.75 per cent to 1.25 per cent. @bankofcanada has slashed overnight lending rate by another 50 basis points to 0.75%. @Bill_Morneau announces a stimulus package of $10b to support small businesses.#COVID2019 #economy— Connectfm915 (@connectfm915) March" class="redactor-linkify-object">https://twitter.com/connectfm9... 13, 2020 Meantime, Finance Minister Bill Morneau says the government is making 10-