COVID-19 Government and International Response: July 6, 2020

WHAT TO KNOW

Global COVID-19 cases have reached 11,418,475, up from 10,665,758 at 3:30 p.m. Thursday. Canada now reports 105,536 cases, up from 104,193 cases of COVID-19 on Thursday. Ontario reports 35,948 cases, up from 35,370 cases on Thursday.

The growth rate of new cases in the province is still under 1%, with 154 (0.4%) new cases reported since yesterday. Of the province’s total cases, 31,426 have been resolved (87.4%) and there have been 2,689 deaths (7.5%). The province has now completed 1,544,417 tests and reports 8,931 tests are currently under investigation. More information here.

A province-by-province breakdown of Canada’s COVID-19 case count can be found here.

FEDERAL

The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) is temporarily reducing service hours at additional land, air, and marine ports of entry (POE) in addition to deferring seasonal opening hours at select POEs. Economic supply chains and trade will remain open and the CBSA continues to work to ensure that access to goods and services is not interrupted. As such, these changes should not affect commercial traffic. These COVID-19 related measures are temporary and have been in effect since July 3. More information here.

PROVINCIAL

On July 3, the Government on Ontario announced plans to invest $3 million to provide free online health and safety training. These virtual courses will make it easier for job seekers and workers to get essential qualifications while practicing physical distancing and preventing the spread of COVID-19. Up to 100,000 job seekers can now take free online workplace health and safety training through Employment Ontario. Also, worker and employer members of Joint Health and Safety Committees can now use video conferencing to take training in real-time with qualified instructors from training providers. More information here.

Today, the Government of Ontario has announced the development of a made-in-Ontario plan for growth, renewal and economic recovery following the COVID-19 pandemic. The plan includes measures that make it easier and faster to build provincial highways, major transit infrastructure projects and quality, affordable housing. The province is also proposing to accelerate key provincial highway construction and priority transit projects. As part of the plan, the government would also enter into new commercial agreements with partners to build transit-oriented communities, allowing for the development of more housing around transit in an integrated manner. More information here.

INTERNATIONAL