This is DAY 43   of the COVID-19 pandemic.   Here’s what you need to know on Wednesday, April 22, 2020   <<<<>>>    Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced measures to support university students who have lost summer or post-graduation jobs. The PM unveiled a $9 billion package in support.   Ontario Premier Doug Ford had to clarify comments he made Wednesday morning on CFRA radio in Ottawa. The premier suggested to Bill Carroll the province would be loosening lockdown restrictions by the Victoria Day weekend in May. Later, Ford said, "There’s never going to be one date that we just open up the economy. We’re going to open it up with a trickle, and just let it flow from there." He stressed, those decisions would only be made with the considered advice of provincial public health officials.   Today, Premier Ford and Quebec Premier Francois Legault have both requested military support to help cope with staffing shortages at provincial long term care homes. 125 personnel have already been sent to Quebec. Legault is requesting another 1000 members.   While US states and the Trump administration muse about re-opening economies across the country, the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention is warning the US could be hit by a second wave of COVID-19 that is worse than the outbreak we’re seeing now.   A new study suggests Coronavirus patients treated with malaria drug hydroxychloroquine are more likely to die. President Donald Trump has been promoting the drug as an effective treatment for COVID-19.   Today, the New York Times is reporting, Dr. Rick Bright, one of the top US vaccine experts, says he was forced out of his job because he questioned the effectiveness of hydroxychloroquine as a COVID-19 treatment.   <<<>>>    Six weeks into the coronavirus pandemic and it’s become increasingly clear that our work life, our school days and our recreation time will return slowly. And that has posed financial challenges for postsecondary students who were counting on post-grad jobs or summer employment to help them pay for their education. Today, Prime Minister Trudeau laid out a $9 billion plan to support university and college students.   <<<>>>    Among the support initiatives announced by Ottawa is a $350 million package to help charities. But MACLEANS magazine asks whether that’s enough. The Emergency Coalition of Canadian Charities had called for $10 billion in stabilization funding.   As CTV’s Jill Macyshon reports, charities and the services they provide have become a foundational element of the Canadian economy.   <<>>    The lockdown of our economy is having obvious effects on our job numbers, productivity, and it’s placing particular pressures on suppliers.   The hospitality sector may be among the hardest hit by this pandemic. More than half of the restaurants and bars are closed because of the lockdown orders. And Restaurants Canada says nearly 1 in 5 restaurants will go out of business as of May 5th.   The downstream effect of that is breweries, distilleries and wineries are feeling pressured. Restaurants, bars and hotels would account for a significant amount of their overall sales.   We have a world class and robust wine industry in this country. Andre Proulx is a Wine Writer and Toronto Life Columnist as well as a producer at Newstalk 1010 radio in Toronto. <<<>>>    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.    

This is DAY 42   of the COVID-19 pandemic.   Here’s what you need to know on Tuesday, April 21, 2020   <<<<>>>    As we wrap up the sixth full week of the pandemic, the most pressing and often asked question is WHEN will we begin to return to something that resembles a routine that involves activities outside of our own homes? And even when we are able to open businesses and activities, what will they look like? We’ll get into those questions coming up later in the podcast.   With that in mind. The WHO warns any rush to ease virus rules could cause resurgence The World Health Organization said Tuesday that rushing to ease coronavirus restrictions will likely lead to a resurgence of the illness, a warning that comes as governments start rolling out plans to get their economies up and running again.   Canada’s top public health official says we have avoided an “explosive outbreak” in this country but Dr. Theresa Tam says this news doesn’t clear the way for a loosening of restrictions.   One World Health Organization referred to this coronavirus as the “Wayne Gretzky of viruses” before it turned from epidemic to pandemic. Now the Managing Director of the IMF is quoting the Great One when describing the plan to help the economy recover. Kristalina Geogieva says some member states will have to take exceptional measures. To quote Gretzky: “Skate where the puck is going, not where it’s been.”   Italy’s PM will unveil plans to gradually lift pandemic lockdown restrictions by the end of the week. Italy’s economy has been shut down since March 9th.   Meanwhile, German Chancellor Angela Merkel has urged people to stay disciplined as some shops reopen for the first time since coronavirus curbs were imposed in late March.   US President Donald Trump says he will sign an executive order to temporarily suspend immigration into the United States. Trump says he need to do it to protect American jobs.   Prime Minister Trudeau announced Canada’s plan to provide a $350 million Emergency Community Support Fund to help charities and non-profits Oil prices hit an 18 year low on Tuesday as the COVID-19 crisis persists. Oil was trading for less than $20 a barrel.   Air Canada suspends all remaining U.S. flights effective April 26. Air Canada says travel to the U.S. will resume on May 22, pending any further government restrictions.   <<<>>>    Major Canadian broadcasters are coming together for star-studded, multi-platform benefit in support of frontline workers fighting COVID-19 across Canada. Bell Media, CBC/Radio-Canada, Corus Entertainment, Groupe V Media, and Rogers Sports & Media have partnered for "Stronger Together, Tous Ensemble," which will air on English and French services on Sunday evening – radio, television and all the various digital platforms..   The event is intende to raise $150 million dollars for Food Banks Canada. It comes one week after we saw the One World – Together at home concert raised $50 million to fight COVID-19.   It was an historic event presented by the World Health Organization and Global Citizen. It was a unique live offering…which raises the question of whether this is a sign of things to come in our immediate future. Will we see larges stadium events, big concerts and sporting events?   We put that question to Tony Chapman, of Tony Chapman Reactions and host of the podcast Chattert that Matters…and he’s also a board member at Global Citizen.   <<<>>>    While music might be the healing message and distraction as we cope with the COVID-19 pandemic, live music is of course suffering. I was recently a board member at Orchestra Toronto, Canada’s largest community orchestra and they, like many others, have been forced to cancel their performances.   Michael Newnham is the Music Director at Orchestra Toronto…   <<<>>>  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.    

  This is DAY  41   of the COVID-19 pandemic.   Here’s what you need to know on Monday, April 20, 2020   <<<<>>>  COVID-19 cases continue to rise at various rates across the country. And the current circumstance at Long Term Health facilities has put pressure on medical and front line healthcare staffing. The Ontario Medical Association has partnered with a platform that helps healthcare centres get the staff support they need. We’ll talk more about it coming up in the podcast.   Canada’s federal parties have agreed on plans to allow Parliament to hold a mix of in-person and virtual House sittings at least until May 25. The agreement allows parliamentary business to continue while MPs can respect physical distancing measures.   The latest modelling numbers from the province of Ontario suggest community spread appears to have peaked in the province. Health officials are projecting fewer than 20,000 total cases over the course of the pandemic. Projections presented just two weeks ago suggested 80 thousand Ontarians would be infected by the end of April. The worst case scenario suggested the province would have as many as 300 thousand cases within a 12-18 month period.   Dan Riskin is CTV’s Senior Science Correspondent. He says these results suggest the physical distancing and isolation measures have had an effect on outcomes. He makes it clear, the health officials didn’t “get it wrong”, they presented projections based on the trends and behaviour they observed a month ago. In the meantime, Ontario Premier Doug Ford says his government is working on a framework to guide the “gradual, measured and safe” reopening of the economy   <<<>>>  The head of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says 25% of infected people might not have symptoms. That may suggest COVID-19 is considerably less lethal than originally feared. While that's clearly good news, it also means it's impossible to know who around you may be contagious. It complicates decisions about returning to work, school and normal life.   Muslims around the world will observe the holy month of Ramadan under lockdown and tight restrictions due to the coronavirus outbreak that has paralysed entire countries.   The WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION tells BBC News countries with high air pollution levels could face increased risks of COVID-19. A US study suggests Covid-19 death rates rise by about 15% in areas with even a small increase in fine-particle pollution levels in the years before the pandemic. The top male tennis player in the world says he would oppose compulsory COVID-19 vaccinations. A Reuters report says Novak Djokovic “wouldn’t want to be forced by someone to take a vaccine in order to be able to travel.”   World cruise that set sail pre-pandemic docks in Spain 15 weeks later   Brazil’s President Balsonaro has come under criticism for joining protestors demanding COVID-19 lockdowns be lifted.   CNN is reporting, US President Trump and Russian President Putin have spoken four times in the past two weeks. President Trump’s Twitter account suggests the leaders were engage in the OPEC plus discussion. But a few days after their latest call, the US Navy says a Russian jet flew to within 25 fee of a US surveillance plane at high speed in international airspace over the Mediterranean Sea. <<<<>>>>  “BookJane” offers health care facilities and staffing agencies the ability to use its platform to help relieve staffing shortages and labor inefficiencies in hard-hit markets. “The COVID-19 pandemic is creating staffing challenges for care facilities across North America,” stated Curtis Khan, CEO and founder of BookJane. “We want to ensure that facilities have the staff they need to deliver consistent health care during this crisis. To do that, BookJane is offering all health care facilities free access to its platform to better manage and leverage their staff, create shared resource pools, and maintain clear communications with everyone in their organization.” <<<<>>>>      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.