As of last night, more than 600-thousand Canadians had applied for the CERB. The Canada Emergency Response Benefit will provide 2-thousand dollars a month for the next 16 weeks, for those who have lost all their income because of Covid-19. And the Prime Minister has already said help will be coming for students and those who are still working, but have seen their hours cut.
Today is reserved for people born in April, May and June to apply.
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-As of yesterday, Canada has close to 16-thousand confirmed cases of Covid-19, with more than 13-hundred in Alberta. And another Albertan has died from the virus; Calgary woman in her 80’s.
Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Deena Hinshaw says she’s been getting a lot of questions as to whether or not face masks can help the general public. She says they won’t protect you against the virus, but they may prevent respiratory droplets from contaminating other people or surfaces. And she says it’s crucial that you not touch or move the mask, because at that point, you can assume it’s been contaminated. She also says you might want to consider carrying a plastic bag of them with you, so you can change them in the event one becomes contaminated. And another plastic bag for the used ones.
Hinshaw says the message remains the same: keep your distance from those not living with you, wash your hands often and avoid touching your face.
If you choose to wear a non-medical mask or face covering, it should be well-fitted and not gape at the sides.
You should also be aware that masks can become contaminated on the outside.
Avoid moving or adjusting the mask. After wearing the mask, assume that it has been contaminated and take the proper precautions.
Critically, if you wear a mask, you must wash your hands before putting it on, as well as before and after taking it off.
Cloth masks should be worn only a short time, as there is some evidence that they can trap virus particles after they become damp, which may put the wearer at greater risk of being infected.
For those choosing to wear non-medical masks, it may be prudent to carry a bag with several clean masks in it, as well as a plastic bag that can be used to safely store used masks until they can be washed at home. It is critical that used masks be carefully handled to avoid spreading infection to others.
The most important steps you can take to prevent the spread of infection remain the same.
Consistent adherence to good hygiene such as proper hand washing, following all public health orders, staying home whenever possible, particularly if you are feeling ill and practicing physical distancing when you need to go out are the best ways to keep yourself and those around you healthy.
These practices will become even more critical in the following weeks.
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In the meantime, the province says its making changes to the Employment Standards Code so people can take care of themselves and their families at this time while providing flexibility for job creators. For example–those caring for kids who have to stay home because schools and day cares are closed—will have access to unpaid job protected leave. The 90 day employment requirement has been waived–and the amount of time they’re gone is flexible.
Changes for employees
- Employees caring for children affected by school and daycare closures or ill or self-isolated family members due to COVID-19 will have access to unpaid job-protected leave. The 90-day employment requirement is waived and leave length is flexible.
Changes for employees and employers
- Increasing the maximum time for a temporary layoff from 60 days to 120 days to ensure temporarily laid off employees stay attached to a job longer. This change is retroactive for any temporary layoffs related to COVID-19 that occurred on or after March 17.
Changes for employers
- Improving scheduling flexibility by removing the 24-hour written notice requirement for shift changes, and the two weeks’ notice for changes to work schedules for those under an averaging agreement.
- Removing the requirement to provide the group termination notice to employees and unions when 50 or more employees are being terminated.
- Streamlining the process for approvals related to modifying employment standards so employers and workers can respond quicker to changing conditions at the workplace due to the public health emergency.
Duration
The changes above take effect immediately and will be in place as long as government determines it is needed and the public health emergency order remains.
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-As more people wear masks and rubber gloves because of Covid-19, the problem of people just tossing them on the ground after using them has become a serious issue. One Edmonton man says he spent part of his weekend picking up gloves near Abbotsfield Mall. There have been enough complaints that city officials may have to intervene.
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-The city of Edmonton has launched a couple of online tools for those who are concerned about people who aren’t physical distancing or breaking other Covid bylaws.
-“3-M” says its reached an agreement with the White House, so it can keep sending N-95 respirators to Canada. It’s agreed to import millions of the medical face masks from China, for use in the States. Company officials say it will be able to meet American demand for the masks without sacrificing the ability to provide the life saving equipment to Canada and Latin America.
In the meantime, reports are coming in from around the world that the U-S has been pushing out smaller buyers. Germany, France and Brazil say they’ve all had orders for medical supplies resold from right underneath them, sometimes right on the airport tarmac.
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-For every negative story, there’s a positive. Members of Edmonton’s Sikh community want to say a big thank you to truckers for making sure that essential goods are still getting through. They also say any trucker from anywhere coming into Edmonton who’s having trouble finding something to eat can call the following numbers and vegetarian food will be delivered right to you, no matter where you are in the city.
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