DAY 27 - The COVID-19 Daily Podcast with Dave Trafford

This is DAY 27   of the COVID-19 pandemic.   Here’s what you need to know on Monday, April 6, 2020   UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been admitted to the ICU after his COVID-19 symptoms worsened.   A statement from No. 10 Downing read: "The prime minister has been under the care of doctors at St Thomas' Hospital, in London, after being admitted with persistent symptoms of coronavirus. Over the course of [Monday] afternoon, the condition of the prime minister has worsened and, on the advice of his medical team, he has been moved to the intensive care unit at the hospital."   Canada’s top medical authority says says non-medical masks can help stop the spread of COVID-19. Theresa Tam warns that a non-medical mask doesn't necessarily protect the person wearing it.   More than 240 thousand Canadians have successfully applied for federal financial relief through the government’s online portal. The Prime Minister also says there will be more aid for those who don’t qualify for current relief programs.   The chair of the New York City Council’s health committee said on Monday that officials are considering temporarily burying people who die from the coronavirus in local parks.   Scientists in the UK raise alarm over 17 and a half million ‘unreliable’ COVID-19 home test kits   <<<<>>>  Information about COVID-19 is evolving rapidly as researchers around the world learn more about the novel corona virus sweeping the globe. At her Monday briefing in Ottawa, Canada’s Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Theresa Tam said there is growing evidence suggesting that non-medical masks may help curb the spread of COVID-19.   The struggle to keep up with demand for surgical and medical masks continues. Ontario’s Premier Doug Ford says a shipment of masks bound for Canada were stopped at the US border over the weekend.   For his part, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says his government is in discussion with the US Secretary of State regarding Washington’s decision to ban 3M from exporting made in America masks to Canada and Latin America.   <<<<>>>>  We are close to winding up the fourth week of this pandemic and for many of you that’s meant four weeks of working from home and four weeks of having the kids at home with you. It’s also meant new routines for work and play. Well the Greater Toronto YMCA has come up with programming that’s not only free, it’s available for families across the country and around the world. It includes daily fitness classes, music for toddlers, circle time and story time for the kids. Sherry Perez is the Manager of Program Development, Group Fitness at the YMCA of Greater Toronto.. Sherry Perez is the Manager of Program Development, Group Fitness at the YMCA of Greater Toronto. Helping you cope with the kids is one thing…Helping the kids cope with the stress and fears of COVID-19 is something else again. But, as is often the case, we adults tend to underestimate our the ability of young kids to grasp the situation and understand what needs to be done. That’s certainly what CTV’s Daniele Hamamdjian found out this weekend. Yes, wash your hands, keep your distance cause you DO NOT want to get the CRAYONA Virus…or the MACARONI virus….That sounds scarier than the Corona Virus! <<<<<>>>>>  As we told you WAY back in episode TWO of the COVID-19 Daily Podcast, musicians who were in isolation were taking to social media to share their house concerts. Neil Young started doing so from his home in Colorado. This is from his second online show. But his third weekly “Fireside Session” has been stalled because his wife – Darryl Hannah has been ill. It’s not clear whether she’s got COVID-19. Hannah has been responsible for the camera duties so has been unable to shoot the latest session. The good news is, Young says, she has recovered and they’ll let everyone know when the next show will go on. <<<<<>>>>  IF YOU HAVE A STORY ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE YOU WANT TO SHARE…send me an email. DAVE@DAVETRAFFORD.COM or connect with me on TWITTER @DaveTrafford. <<<<<>>>>>>  DISCLAIMER: THE VIEWPOINTS EXPRESSED IN THIS PODCAST REPRESENT THE OPINIONS OF THE HOST AND PARTICIPANTS AS OF THE DATE OF PUBLICATION AND ARE NOT INTENDED TO BE A SUBSTITUTE FOR MEDICAL ADVICE AND BEST PRACTICES BY LEADING MEDICAL AUTHORITIES AS THE INFORMATION SURROUNDING THE CURRENT CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC IS CONSTANTLY EVOLVING.