The B.C. government has formally extended the provincial state of emergency to support the provincewide response to the COVID-19 pandemic, through the end of the day on April 14, 2020. “The next 14 days are critically important in our province’s unprecedented fight against COVID-19. What we do today will affect what our doctors, nurses and first responders face in the days and weeks ahead,” said Premier John Horgan. “Today, we’re asking all British Columbians to re-commit to doing their part. There are early signs that our actions are making a difference, and we can’t stop now

Provincial health officer Doctor Bonnie Henry says there are 43 new cases of COVID-19 in BC. Henry says there were also five more deaths in the Fraser and Coastal Health regions, which means 24 people have died from the disease in BC. The total number of cases is 1,013, with 61 people in intensive care. Henry says outbreaks have now been reported at 19 long term care centres, but there are still only two major outbreaks with most other facilities reporting just one case.

Alberta is reporting 64 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the province's total to 754. The province's chief medical health officer, Dr. Deena Hinshaw, says another resident has also died at Calgary's McKenzie Towne Continuing Care Centre. She says up to 75 of the total number of cases appear to have been caused by community transmission, and that is concerning.

The US Coast Guard says it's working with Holland America to plan for the docking of the cruise ships MS Zandaam and the MS Rotterdam. The ships have reached Miami after two weeks at sea. Two of the four deaths on board the Zaandam have been blamed on COVID-19 and the cruise company says nine others have tested positive for the novel coronavirus. About 250 Canadians are aboard the two vessels. Holland America says the Rotterdam took on nearly 1,400 people who appear to be healthy from its sister ship.

Canada's chief public health officer says there have now been 236,000 tests in Canada for COVID-19. Dr. Theresa Tam says 3.5 per cent are confirmed positive, and more than 93 per cent confirmed negative. She says adults under 40 represent about 10 per cent of hospitalizations. Tam says the greatest concern at the moment is the introduction and spread of the virus in places where high-risk populations reside, including long-term care homes, remote First Nations and prisons.

The federal government has purchased 157 million surgical masks and more than 60 million N95 masks, used by health-care professional to stop the spread of COVID-19. There are also 1,570 ventilators on order, with officials looking to secure 4,000 more. Public Services and Procurement Minister Anita Anand laid out the state of the government's bulk buy efforts today.

Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland says the government is monitoring closely the spread of COVID-19 among health professionals who live in Canada but work in the U.S. Reports suggest many of the cases in Windsor, Ont., are a result of cross-border travel for essential work. That's the only reason people are currently allowed to cross the border. Freeland says stepped up measures have been put in place at the hospitals on the U.S. and Canadian side of the border.

Quebec Premier Francois Legault is warning the province could run out of some kinds of medical supplies in three to seven days. He made the announcement as the total number of cases in Quebec rose to 4,162, which is an increase of 732 from yesterday. There were also six more deaths due to COVID-19, bringing the province's death toll to 31. Legault said he hopes new shipments of medical supplies will arrive in coming days, and thanked Ontario Premier Doug Ford for agreeing to send Quebec some equipment.

Several cities and health authorities are suspending paid parking, especially for health-care workers, during the COVID-19 pandemic. The City of Vancouver says it's temporarily suspending the enforcement of metered parking, residential permit parking and parking time limits, while enforcement will continue for parking spots designated for people with disabilities and other special zones. The Vancouver Coastal Health Authority, Fraser Health Authority and Provincial Health Services Authority have also suspended pay parking at sites they own and operate. Health Minister Adrian Dix says the suspe