Virgin Radio Halifax

  This is DAY 30 of the COVID-19 pandemic. Here’s what you need to know on Thursday, April 9, 2020 <<<<>>>  Canada’s modelling projections suggest the corona virus could kill 22,000 in this country – even with the strongest physical distancing protocols in place. More than a million Canadians lost their jobs in the last month. The unemployment rate hit 7.8 per cent in March. That’s an increase of 2.2 percentage points since February. More than 400 thousand of those lost jobs were in Ontario. CTV News is reporting that the House of Commons will be recalled for an emergency sitting on Saturday to pass an expansion to the wage subsidy program   British Prime Minister Boris Johnson moved out of intensive care as condition improves   A National Academy of Sciences committee says it doesn't appear coronavirus will go away once the weather warms up.   <<<<>>>>  The numbers were staggering. Stats Canada reported more than a million lost jobs in the month of March. And while there are efforts underway to bridge workers and businesses through the financial crisis, the question is whether it’s enough to repair the damage being done to the economy. Perrin Beatty is the President and CEO of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce. He told BNN Bloomberg, these numbers are more than staggering. Beatty does note, the wage subsidy plans announced by Ottawa are helping. The House of Commons is expected to sit this weekend to pass legislation to expand the wage subsidies. <<<<<>>>>>  These unemployment numbers are being compared to the rates we saw during the Great Depression… Jon Erlichman is the host of The Open at BNN Bloomberg. He says the REAL unemployment rate may well be well above the 7.8% announced today. <<<<<>>>>>  Jon referred to the WAVE of COVID-19 and more waves to come in the pandemic. That’s based on the projections released by federal public health officials on Friday morning. The short-term federal projection on the spread of COVID-19 shows that between 500 and 700 Canadians could die from COVID-19 in the next week Dr. Stephen Lucas is the Health Canada Deputy Minister. He says the death toll over the course of the pandemic could range from 11 thousand to 44 thousand. And amid all the heavy news and difficult projections…LIFE goes on at home…for you and your family <<<<>>>>  I spoke to Nancy Marchese – founder of Breakthrough Autism – about the challenges parents and kids with autism are facing in light of the isolation and physical distancing orders during the pandemic. 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 29 – we begin WEEK 5 of the COVID-19 pandemic. Here’s what you need to know on Wednesday, April 8th, 2020 Saskatchewan is the latest province to release its COVID-19 projections. Modelling done by the province’s health authority suggests nearly 31 hundred could die in the province during the course of the pandemic. And that would be a best-case-scenario. The worst case set the death toll above 83 hundred. In Ontario, Premier Doug Ford says there is no excuse for the province to be lagging behind in COVID testing New modelling published at ScienceDaily.com and released by the Canadian Medical Association suggests periodic physical distancing may be the best way to curb the spread of the corona virus while providing “a chance to return to a more normal life.” Ottawa has made further adjustments to the federal wage subsidy plan and has unveiled plans to support summer jobs for students. Air Canada announced it will tap into federal wage subsidy program to rehire laid off workers. It’s not clear how many of the 16,500 laid off workers will be back on the job. And in this time of stress and isolation, we have another great story about “being what’s needed” when we are relying so heavily on others to help us get through the COVID crisis. <<<<>>>  Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced measures today that expand the federal wage subsidy program to better address the bind business are finding themselves in during the COVID outbreak. Trudeau also said measures are in place to help businesses to hire high school and university students who need summer jobs. In Ontario, Premier Doug Ford had an “enough is enough” moment on Wednesday, telling the media he’s tired of seeing his Health Minister and Deputy Premier Christine Elliott twist in the wind because the province is lagging behind the rest of the country in its COVID testing program. The Premier says there are no more excuses now that the province has a proper supply of testing reagent. <<<<>>>>  In the UK this afternoon, Prime Minister Boris Johnson remains in the ICU and it’s reported that he is responding to treatment for the corona virus. Rishi Sunak is Chancellor of the Exchequer. He told the media at 10 Downing, the PM is improving. <<<>>>> Indeed, COVID is indiscriminate. On Tuesday night, we got word that the “Ingenious Songwriter” had died due to corona virus complications. John Prine fell ill last month. His wife reported that he had pneumonia in both lungs and was on a ventilator. Bruce Springsteen paid tribute to Prine today on his Sirius Radio show. He called Prine “A true national treasure and a songwriter for the ages. We send our love and prayers to his family.” <<<<>>>>  So much of what we’ve witnessed in the past month has brought out the best in humanity. While scientists tackle the HOW and WHEN they can solve the COVID-19 pandemic, ordinary citizen ask WHAT? What can I do to help? There is no shortage of initiatives responding to the needs of others. And my friends SONSHINE and BROCCOLI are launching a challenge to all of us to acknowledge those who are stepping up and keeping us safe and making us better through all of this. It turns out Lisa Sonshine tagged me in the campaign! Well, song writing might be a nice distraction…We’ll give it a crack! And I would encourage you to do the same… The campaign is HASHTAG Out4Me. That’s Out the NUMBER 4 Me… 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.