Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced he spoke with political and industrial leaders around the world Monday morning to work together on accelerating global development of COVID-19 vaccines, treatment and testing.
Trudeau said Canada has spent over $850 million in the global fight against the virus, in both Canadian and international COVID-19 research.
Trudeau said “I really look forward to facing that challenge of how we start to scale back the benefits (COVID-19 related benefits for employers and workers) and help people get back to work.”
“We’re very much still trying to make sure people get the support they need,” Trudeau said.
The prime minister cited the difficulty in projecting the delivery of a federal budget in light of the economic uncertainty caused by COVID-19 (federal budgets usually delivered in April), hoping for a budget/economic statement to be revealed as soon as possible.
Provincially, Premier Doug Ford, joined by Minister of Health Christine Elliott and Minister of Long-Term Care Merrilee Fullerton, announced Ontario is leading the country in COVID-19 testing.
Ford said as of May 1, the province is conducting 17,000 tests a day, surpassing the original target of reaching 16,000 tests a day by May 6.
Ford said Ontario is “laser focused” on ensuring testing for the vulnerable in long term care homes, group homes, homeless shelters, women’s shelters and other such environments.
Ford said there is a $50 million fund for businesses who want to open up domestic production of personal protective equipment (PPE), stating “we’re going to start relying on ourselves" rather than relying on "foreign countries" for such items.
As reported earlier, another 84 COVID-19 deaths were reported in Ontario since yesterday, 36 of those deaths in long term care homes.
There are 370 new lab-confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 500 more recoveries.
Locally, the City of Sault Ste. Marie announced City leaf and yard waste collection has been postponed also announcing COVID-19 related changes to the City Landfill and Household Hazardous Waste Depot Collection’s 2020 schedule.
City of Sault Ste. Marie Senior Services announced citizens 55 and over may now access programming through telephone and/or video conference in order to stay connected during the COVID-19 lockdown.
Here are the latest numbers from Algoma Public Health:
- 2,341 tested
- 13 positive
- 2,067 negative
- 261 pending
- 0 deceased
- 12 resolved
Total confirmed cases by area of residence:
- 9 in Sault Ste. Marie and area, with evidence of community spread
- 1 in central and east Algoma
- 3 in Elliot Lake and area ***
- 0 in north Algoma
*** Three positive cases in Elliot Lake and area have been confirmed by Elliot Lake Family Health Team
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