Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Tuesday the ban on non-essential travel at Canada-U.S. border crossings has been extended for another 30 days, to June 21.
The extension of the restriction on non-essential travel came at Canada's request after speaking with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security over concern with the high number of COVID-19 cases in the U.S.
The cross-border flow of commerce and essential services continues.
Trudeau also announced the federal government is extending its Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) through the summer to get people “back to work and giving businesses the confidence to reopen, rehire and even grow.”
“To employers looking to start up again, please rehire your workers. Use the wage subsidy for their pay cheque. That’s what it’s there for,” Trudeau said.
The prime minister said the government is expanding eligibility for the Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA) for business owners, including people who rely on contractors, hair salon owners with stylists who rent chairs, local physiotherapists and independent gym owners with contracted trainers, Trudeau adding details will be released soon as to how businesses may apply for those CEBA benefits.
Trudeau said there is also new funding available for regional development agencies if employers don’t meet the expanded criteria for CEWS or CEBA.
The prime minister added Canada is increasing domestic production of personal protective equipment (PPE) for frontline workers during the COVID-19 pandemic, the federal government having 15 contracts in place with PPE manufacturers across the country.
Provincially, Premier Doug Ford announced Tuesday that Ontario is cancelling the remainder of the current 2019-2020 school year for elementary and secondary school students because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I’m just not going to chance it,” Ford told reporters at Queen’s Park, citing concerns for the safety of students during the pandemic.
Online learning will continue at home for students. Ontario states students who were headed for graduation before the COVID-19 shutdown of schools will receive their report cards.
Overnight summer camps will remain closed.
Education Minister Stephen Lecce said a summer learning program will be put in place for “credit recovery” for students in Grades 9 to 12, also giving Grade 8 students a chance to work ahead.
Lecce said the province will reveal details of how education will look like in the 2020-2021 school year before the end of the current school year in June.
As reported earlier, Public Health Ontario has reported another 427 lab-confirmed cases of COVID-19 today, including 15 deaths in today’s update.
So far, Public Health Ontario has confirmed 23,384 cases of COVID-19, including 4,235 cases reported as long-term care home residents (over 18 per cent), and 1,456 cases (over 6 per cent) reported as health care workers who are employed in long-term care facilities where there have been outbreaks.
Locally, Maker North reports it has had to close the ‘maker space’ component of its operations, focusing on providing design and manufacturing services to clients.
Here are the latest COVID-19 numbers from Algoma Public Health:
-
5,831 tested
-
20 positive
-
5,528 negative
-
283 pending
-
0 deceased
-
13 resolved
Total confirmed cases by area of residence:
-
16 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
Algoma Public Health states “these numbers now include testing that was completed at long-term care homes (LTCH) in the Algoma district as part of the province’s one-time surveillance testing initiative. Staff and residents of all Algoma LTCHs have completed one-time surveillance testing.”
*** Three positive cases in Elliot Lake and area have been confirmed by Elliot Lake Family Health Team
Click here for a SooToday list of what's still open in the Sault.
