Coronavirus: What's happening in Canada on Wednesday – CBC.ca

The latest:

Alberta announced millions in funding for sanitation and staffing at long-term care facilities and seniors’ homes on Tuesday, a move that came as Ontario said an independent commission will look into the province’s long-term care system.

Long-term care homes have been particularly hard-hit by the novel virus, which causes an illness called COVID-19. While most people who contract the virus experience mild to moderate symptoms, some — particularly the elderly and those with underlying health issues — are at increased risk of severe disease and death.

The vast majority of COVID-19-related deaths in Canada have been linked to care homes and long-term care facilities, with deadly outbreaks occurring in several provinces, including Alberta. 

The province announced the $170 million in spending on Tuesday, saying in a statement that it would allocate more than $14 million a month to help with COVID-19-related expenses at these facilities. The funding for staffing and sanitation, which will be retroactive to mid-March, will continue until orders from Dr. Deena Hinshaw, the province’s chief medical officer of health, are lifted.

In Ontario, the Ontario Long-Term Care Association, opposition parties and the health-care union SEIU have all called for a full public inquiry into the sector. But Premier Doug Ford suggested that would take too long.

“I’m responsible at the end of the day to make sure we get the answers,” Ford said Tuesday after the province announced the commission, which is set to begin in September.

WATCH | Toronto respirologist tackles questions about COVID-19:

Long-Term Care Minister Merrilee Fullerton said COVID-19 has “broken” the long-term care system and the province cannot lose time addressing the situation by waiting for the findings of a public inquiry.

As of 7:30 a.m. ET on Wednesday, Canada had 79,112 confirmed and presumptive cases of the coronavirus, with 40,063 of those considered recovered or resolved. A CBC News tally of the coronavirus death toll in Canada based on provincial data, regional health information and CBC’s reporting stood at 6,011.

Public health officials have cautioned that official figures don’t capture data on people who haven’t been tested and cases that are still under investigation, and have urged people to take precautions like stepped-up hand hygiene and physical distancing even if there are no known cases in their communities.

Here’s what’s happening in the provinces and territories

British Columbia reported just two new coronavirus cases on Tuesday and three additional deaths, bringing the death toll to 146. The province has 2,446 confirmed cases, with 1,975 of those considered recovered. Read more about what’s happening in B.C.

Alberta reported 33 new coronavirus cases on Tuesday, bringing the total case number to 6,716, with 5,584 of those considered recovered. The province had no new deaths. Read more about what’s happening in Alberta.

Saskatchewan is allowing some health services to resume, including some additional non-urgent surgeries. The province said surgeons are working with patients to assess and sort out who meets the criteria for the expanded service. Read more about what’s happening in Saskatchewan.

Manitoba’s chief public health officer says if the number of active COVID-19 cases in the province continues falling, the province may accelerate its plan to ease restrictions on public and business activities. A 10-person limit on public gatherings is already set for review on June 1, and Dr. Brent Roussin said the limit may be raised sooner than expected. Read more about what’s happening in Manitoba.

Ontario announced Tuesday that publicly funded schools won’t be opening their doors to students for the rest of the academic year. Read more about what’s happening in Ontario.

WATCH | Parents face tough child-care choices as Ontario keeps schools closed:

Quebec’s public health director said Tuesday that people need to keep up physical distancing even as the province lifts some coronavirus guidelines. Horacio Arruda said if the situation in the province gets worse in the coming weeks, officials will close some sectors again. Read more about what’s happening in Quebec.

New Brunswick’s teachers will be back in the classroom in June — but without the students. The teachers will be finishing up the academic year’s work and preparing for the fall, officials said. Education Minister Dominic Cardy said it’s not yet clear what schools will look like in the fall. “We don’t know whether classes will be back or online because we don’t decide what happens to the coronavirus,” Cardy said. Read more about what’s happening in N.B.

Nova Scotia could lift some more restrictions put in place in response to COVID-19 in early June, the premier said Tuesday. Read more about what’s happening in N.S.

Prince Edward Island’s tourism association said companies that rely on travellers are in a “holding pattern” as they try to decide whether to open this summer as they wait for word on travel restrictions and ongoing efforts to fight the coronavirus. Read more about what’s happening on P.E.I.

WATCH | Communities with less COVID-19 want to reopen:

Newfoundland and Labrador on Tuesday reported no new cases of COVID-19. The province has now gone 12 days without a new case of the novel virus. Read more about what’s happening in N.L.

There were no new coronavirus cases in Yukon, Northwest Territories or Nunavut on Tuesday. Read more about what’s happening across the North, including the story of a Whitehorse educator who has been using driveway visits to check in on students while school buildings are closed.

Here’s what’s happening around the world

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