The number of fatalities due to COVID-19 in BC has reached 50. Provincial health officer Doctor Bonnie Henry is reporting 34 new cases of COVID-19, including 2 more deaths. That brings total cases in the province to 1,370. Henry says the province is holding its own amid the pandemic but it's going to have a bumpy ride, so people need to stay home this Easter weekend.

The Manitoba government is instituting fines for people who don't follow public safety orders during the COVID-19 pandemic. Premier Brian Pallister says people who break rules such as the 10-person limit on gatherings will face fines of $486, and businesses that don't ensure proper distance between customers will be fined $2,542. Winnipeg Mayor Brian Bowman says the city will have its own fines of up to $1,000 or up to six months in jail for city-owned property such as municipal parks.

Deputy prime minister Chrystia Freeland says there is no way to know how long the border closure with the U.S. will last. The prime minister had said earlier today that much of Canada's return to normal will depend on a vaccine that could be months away. Freeland says making predictions on what that means for the border is foolhardy in the extreme. Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Theresa Tam said earlier keeping Canada's case load low does depend on what happens in other countries, including the U.S.

Ontario is now reporting 200 deaths from COVID-19, an increase of 26 people in the past day. There have been 483 new confirmed cases since Wednesday, with a provincial total of 5,759. More than 2,300 cases have been resolved, which is 40 per cent of Ontario's total COVID-19 confirmed cases.

Renters who are experiencing a loss of income during the COVID-19 pandemic can now apply for the Province's new temporary rental supplement. "This crisis is putting pressure on people across B.C. We're helping British Columbians get through this by halting evictions so renters will not lose their home. We're helping them pay rent with the new temporary rental supplement - providing direct relief on the biggest month-to-month expense for most households," said Selina Robinson, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. "Together with the other provincial and federal programs, the rental supplem

A total of 42 inmates of federal prisons have tested positive for coronavirus, a jump of about 30 per cent over the past day. Correctional Services Canada says that's out of 208 prisoners tested. Quebec, with 19 inmate infections, has been hardest hit. British Columbia has reported 15. Dozens of guards have also been infected.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says it will take months of a continued and determined effort to avoid a COVID-19 worse-case scenario. Trudeau is commenting on models released this morning forecasting how the continued spread of the pandemic will pan out based on how aggressively Canadians follow physical distancing protocols. He says Canada is at a crossroad and the outcome will depend on how people behave, given there could be ongoing waves of the coronavirus. He says this means physical distancing is and will be Canada's new reality until a vaccine is found.

Quebec is reporting 41 new deaths today linked to COVID-19, bringing the total to 216 in the province. Provincial health authorities say they have identified 10,912 confirmed cases of the virus, with 679 hospitalizations and 196 in intensive care. Legault cautioned that not all long-term care facilities in the province have been impacted by COVID-19, identifying six facilities in particular that account for the lions share of deaths. Ahead of the Easter long weekend, Legault says he wants people to steer clear of the elderly to reduce the risk of infection, but to make sure they still call th

B.C. Finance Minister Carole James says the province lost 132,000 jobs last month, but it's going to get worse before it gets better due to the COVID-19 pandemic.She says the latest Statistics Canada Labour Force numbers indicate B.C.'s jobless rate rose to 7.2 per cent from 5 per cent in March.James says she expects the jobless numbers to increase over the coming weeks as they indicate the ongoing impact of the pandemic on the economy and workers and families.She says the province has introduced a $5 billion action plan to help workers, families and businesses endure the pandemic.