COVID-19 Government and International Response: August 10, 2020

WHAT TO KNOW

Global COVID-19 cases have reached 19,845,788, up from 18,793,522 at 3:30 p.m. on Thursday.  Canada now reports 119,451 cases, up from 118,187 cases of COVID-19 on Thursday. Ontario reports 40,161 cases, up from 39,809 cases on Thursday.

The growth rate of new cases in the province is still under 1%, with 115 (0.3%) new cases reported since yesterday. Of the province’s total cases, 36,381 have been resolved (90.6%) and there have been 2,786 deaths (6.9%). The province has now completed 2,422,487 tests and reports 10,865 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

Today, the Honourable Carla Qualtrough, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion, announced that effective August 9, 2020, a minimum unemployment rate of 13.1% will be applied temporarily for all EI economic regions across Canada. When individuals begin transitioning off of the CERB back to EI regular benefits at the end of this month, those living in EI regions with an unemployment rate lower than 13.1% will have their EI benefits calculated on the basis of the 13.1% rate, while individuals living in regions with a higher unemployment rate will have their benefits calculated using the actual rate for that region. More information here.

On August 6, the Government of Canada announced $13.5 million in funding to support the Toronto Aboriginal Support Services Council (TASSC), Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres, Indigenous Primary Health Care Council, and Anduhyaun Inc. The funding provided will help address the urgent needs of Indigenous Peoples during the current COVID-19 pandemic in the Greater Toronto Area.  More information here.

Canada’s forest sector has continued to adapt and implement unique technologies and processes to manufacture new products that contribute to Canada’s pandemic response. On August 7, Canada’s Minister of Natural Resources, the Honourable Seamus O’Regan, announced a $1.3 million investment to FPInnovations for a COVID-19 response project to develop a biodegradable, sustainable filter for single-use face masks made from local, and eco-friendly solutions. More information here.

PROVINCIAL

The Ontario Government, in partnership with the federal government, is providing $234.6 million in funding to keep children and staff safe in child care and early years settings. This funding will help support enhanced cleaning costs as well as health and safety requirements set out to support the reopening of licensed child care and early years programs. This funding is in addition to the Ontario government’s continued commitment to stabilize the child care sector as many Ontarians return to work. More information here.

The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit will join the rest of the province’s 33 public health regions that entered into Stage 3 on July 17, 24 and 31, 2020 respectively. Windsor-Essex will be allowed to move into Stage 3 on Wednesday, August 12, 2020, at 12:01 a.m. More information here.

INTERNATIONAL