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Coronavirus as it happened March 18: Air Canada suspending most international flights as Quebec confirms first death

Province wants people who took certain cruise ships to self-isolate for 14 days

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This post provided COVID-19 updates on Wednesday, March 18.


Air Canada suspending most international flights by end of March

(more updates below)

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Air Canada says it will “gradually suspend the majority of its international and U.S. transborder flights by March 31, 2020 in response to decisions by national governments, including Canada and the United States, to close borders and restrict commercial aviation as a result of the COVID-19 crisis.”

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In addition, it said “subject to further government restrictions, the airline intends to continue to serve a small number of international and U.S. trans-border destinations from select Canadian cities after April 1, 2020.”

For U.S. flights, Air Canada said it “will reduce its transborder network from 53 airports to 13, subject to further reductions based on demand or government edicts. The cities with continued service will be: New York (LGA and EWR), Boston, Washington, D.C. (IAD and DCA), Chicago, Houston, Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Denver, Orlando and Fort Lauderdale.”

Air Canada also said it “intends to continue to serve all provinces and territories of Canada, reducing its domestic network from 62 airports to 40 through a reduced network during the period April 1 to 30, subject to further reductions based on demand or government edict.”

More in our story, by Frédéric Tomesco.

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Health Canada authorizes unilingual hand sanitizer

In light of a national emergency, Health Canada is relaxing rules for the sale of disinfectants, hand sanitizers and personal protective equipment to ensure important supplies aren’t hampered by minor regulatory issues like having bilingual packaging.

The order covers “products that are already authorized for sale in Canada but are not fully compliant with Health Canada requirements (e.g., English-only labelling, different packaging from what was authorized); and products that are not authorized for sale in Canada, but are authorized or registered in other jurisdictions with similar regulatory frameworks and quality assurances.”


Orthodox Jewish synagogues suspend services

Answering Premier François Legault’s request to limit public gatherings, Quebec’s orthodox Jewish community has decided to close their synagogues entirely, for the first time in its history.

The decision was “not an easy one to take, believe us,” the group said in a statement Wednesday evening. But they said doing so conforms with divine law that requires them to preserve life before all else.

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“We will continue to pray with all Quebecers that our country makes it through these difficult challenges.”


Concordia kicks students out of residence

With classes suspended, Concordia University has told all students living in residence they have to move out by Sunday.

In light of the current health emergency, and in particular, for the safety of those students living in residence for whom social distancing measures are difficult to maintain, all students are required to move out of residence by end of the day, Sunday, March 22, 2020.

Exceptions to the deadline “will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis,” the notice says.

The university is working on alternative measures allowing students to continue studying from home starting next week.


‘Kahnawake physician tests positive’

From the Kahnawake News:

“Kateri Memorial Hospital Center Executive Director Lisa Westaway announced that a physician from the KMHC has tested positive for COVID-19. The news came shortly after 5 p.m. on Wednesday, following the daily briefing done by the Kahnawake COVID-19 Task Force.

Westaway said “there is no risk to our population, nor to our patients, nor to our nurses and other physicians and or residents,” the news site reported.

More on the Kahnawake News website.


Here are the public places visited by Quebec’s COVID-19 patients

Quebec wants people who took certain cruise ships to self-isolate for 14 days.

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It has also updated the list of local public places in Montreal and the Montérégie that infected patients frequented while they were potentially contagious.

New on the local list is a shuttle bus at Trudeau Airport. An infected person took the shuttle toward EconoParc parking lots P7, P8 and P9 lots on March 8 at about 5 p.m.

Quebec says people who were in these places at the listed times who have flu-like symptoms should call the province’s coronavirus hotline: 1-877-644-4545.

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More here.


Family time

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Union says construction sites unsafe for workers


Where Montrealers can call for help


Dear sports fans in withdrawal

NFL and NBA fans can access past games for free while adjusting to life without live sports during the coronavirus pandemic. Read our story here.


First Quebecer succumbs to COVID-19

Quebec has reported its first COVID-19 death – a woman in poor health who lived in a seniors’ residence in the Lanaudière region, northeast of Montreal. She had been in contact with someone who traveled out of the country.

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There are now 94 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Quebec, up from the 74 reported at 3 p.m. yesterday, Legault said. Six Quebecers are in hospital, including four in intensive care. One person has recovered from the disease. There are 24 cases in Montreal.

“I understand there’s a lot of anxiety in our society right now,” Legault said.

But “if you’re alone at home, there’s no risk at all, so don’t panic. The health care network is ready. We have right now only six people that need to be in our hospitals and we have 2,300 beds that are waiting in case we need to use them for the coronavirus.”

Legault made the comments during his daily press conference with Health Minister Danielle McCann in Quebec City.

The premier said Quebecers should brace themselves for a long fight against COVID-19.

“The battle will be long, it has just started,” Legault said.

Here are the key points from today’s press conference

  • Legault reminded worried Quebecers, particularly seniors, that there is no risk if they stay home and away from other people.
  • Quebec is ready for a surge in patients, the premier said. “We have the capacity in terms of bed and equipment,” Legault said.
  • Legault said he understands many Quebec workers are concerned but it’s important that society continues, that goods continue to be produced and sold. As long as it’s safe, he’s asking workers whose businesses are still open to continue to go to work.
  • Quebec is very happy with the federal measures announced today, including the decision to extend the ban on foreign visitors to Americans, Legault said.
  • Horacio Arruda, Quebec’s public health officer, urged Quebecers to use credit or debit cards and not cash and, whenever possible, order items online or by phone instead of going to stores.
  • Legault said Quebec is working with the federal government to come up with a plan that will allow seasonal workers from other countries to come to the province to help on farms. Quebec farmers say they desperately need them to help with harvests.
  • Asked about construction workers who are refusing to work because of insufficient hygiene measures, Legault said Quebec officials are working with unions to fix the problem.
  • Why hasn’t Quebec announced a plan to educate children who are out of school? “At this point, what we want is for people to stay at home,” Legault said. “We will look at these kinds of projects like online learning but right now what is important is to focus on healthcare.”
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Here’s our full story, by Philip Authier.

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Montreal Stories: How readers are coping with the pandemic

How are you dealing with life in the shadow of COVID-19? We’re inviting you to share your thoughts, feelings, experiences and observations with other readers in a feature we’re calling Montreal Stories.

Please send submissions of under 400 words to letters@montrealgazette.com

Please put “Montreal Stories” in the subject line and include your name and the name of the municipality or neighbourhood where you live. We’ll select some of the submissions to share with other readers online and in print. Shorter submissions may be considered for use as letters to the editor.

We look forward to hearing from you.


Quebec grocers cutting hours

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Quebec’s key messages today


Meanwhile, in Miami

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Children are reaching out for help

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Don’t ban cash, central bank tells retailers

“Refusing cash could put an undue burden on people who depend on cash as a means of payment. The Bank strongly advocates that retailers continue to accept cash,” the Bank of Canada said in a statement today.

Read our story here.


Drive-through testing comes to Quebec

A COVID-19 drive-through testing clinic opened today in Quebec City, La Presse Canadienne reports.

People will not have to get out of their cars to be tested. The clinic will be able to screen around 100 people a day. Like all other COVID-19 screening clinics, this one is also by appointment only.

Late last week, a physician who had to wait more than 10 hours to get tested herself, called on the province to set up drive-through testing sites like they have Ontario and New York State.

Read the story here.


Quebec will be able to process up to 12,000 tests per day

Quebec is ramping up its COVID-19 testing to be able to process as many as 12,000 a day with the expectation that the novel coronavirus will soon spread into the community, the director of the testing program has told the Montreal Gazette.

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Dr. Michel Roger warned it’s only a matter of time — and it could come as early as next week — before the criteria for testing is expanded to include anyone in Quebec who has respiratory symptoms, even if they haven’t returned from travels abroad.

Read our story, by Aaron Derfel.


Coping with COVID-19 stress


Let’s watch Bob Ross paint some landscapes

If you’ve never heard of Bob Ross, now is a good time to get to know his work. Our story here.


How South Korea is getting through this

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Mahler on program for tonight

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Grim update from Italy

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The progression in Quebec


SAQ no longer taking cash

The Société des alcools du Québec, the province’s liquor store monopoly, is no longer taking cash. It’s also taking other measures to protect customers and employees.

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Sugar Sammy to the rescue

Montreal comedian Sugar Sammy is going to webcast his You’re Gonna Rire bilingual show tonight.


Changing of the guard

Hello. I’m Andy Riga and I’m taking over the live blog from colleague Jason Magder. I’ll be with you for the rest of the day.


Ski hill operators say stay off the slopes

The recent snowfall may be tempting, but the association of ski hill operators is telling all people to stay off the slopes because all ski hills are closed by order of the Quebec government.

“We’re calling on people’s sense of civic duty to respect the signs, and to understand that ski hills are private property and not public playgrounds with free access,” Yves Juneau, the president and director general of the Association des stations de ski du Québec said in a written statement.


WHO says stay away from Advil, if you have COVID-19

The World Health Organization said Wednesday acetaminophen, rather than ibuprofen is the pain reliever of choice for those with COVID-19 symptoms.

The organization said those who take ibuprofen, sold most often under the brand name Advil, could make symptoms of the virus worse, because it is an anti-inflammatory drug.

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https://twitter.com/ScienceAlert/status/1240062973613412352


Public health director pleads with Quebecers not to hoard masks

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Public health director, Dr. Horacio Arruda is pleading with Quebecers not to hoard masks during this health crisis. Arruda said people should not be wearing masks as a preventive measure.

He said masks should be reserved for healthcare workers and for patients. Wearing a mask while outside isn’t an effective measure to prevent the spread or contraction of the virus. Hand washing is the recommended course of action.

Read our story here.


Trudeau announces Canada and U.S. to restrict border crossing

Canadian Prime Minister spoke live from Rideau Cottage, where he has been in self-isolation for at least a week. (Read our full story here.)

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He said the government is restricting travel over its land border with the U.S. to everything but commerce and trade. Last week, Trudeau announced the government has grounded most flights, and will only allow Canadians to return home. Tourists are being told to stay away.

“In Canada, public health should never hinge on financial considerations,” Trudeau said.

He also said:

  • Borders to be closed to non-essential traffic only;
  • Trade will not be affected;
  • Supply chains, including trucking will not be affected, so stores, supermarkets can continue to receive essential goods;
  • Trudeau also announced the government will provide up to $82 billion in direct support to Canadians and businesses to help stabilize the economy;
  • That includes: $27 billion in direct support to workers and businesses and $55 billion to meet liquidity needs of businesses and households
  • Emergency care benefit every two weeks for up to 14 weeks to people who have to stay home, feel ill, or have to take care of someone affected by the virus and don’t qualify for Employment Insurance. The benefit will be similar to EI payments;
  • Another COVID-19 emergency support benefit for people who lose their jobs, or who have to stop working because of the virus;
  • Tax deadline now extended until August;
  • Canada Child Benefit to be temporarily boosted for the coming months;
  • The GST credit will be boosted: payments to increase to $300 for adults, and up to $150 per child, starting in May;
  • Student loans: an interest-free moratorium for six months;
  • Funding boosted for shelters for those fleeing domestic violence;
  • An Indigenous Community support fund;
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Speaking at a podium in front of his home dressed in a suit, Trudeau went to get his coat after his prepared remarks and before taking questions, saying he has to “model healthy behaviour.”

Trudeau was asked about people who cross the border illegally at Roxham Rd. In Hemmingford, for example and said they will be immediately placed in quarantine for 14 days.

Trudeau also added that his wife is recovering after having tested positive for COVID-19 last week. His children are feeling well.

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Donald Trump tweets that border to be shut to non-essential travel

U.S. President Donald Trump tweeted Wednesday that he is working with the Canadian government to restrict travel between both countries to non-essential trips. Trade will be maintained, but traffic across the land border between both countries is expected to be seriously curtailed.

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Wife of COVID-19 patient speaks about her experience

Radio-Canada is reporting the testimony of a woman whose husband returned to the country on March 1 and is now suffering from COVID-19.

The man, in his 50s, returned from an area that was apparently not affected by the virus, and it took healthcare professionals a few days to test him for the virus. They were surprised when the test came back positive.

His illness started with mild flu symptoms, but by the sixth day, he was having difficulty breathing.

He is still on a respirator and being kept asleep, but the woman, who didn’t want to give her name, said he’s in a stable condition. The couple’s son has also contracted the virus, but he’s only suffering mild symptoms.

Read the full story here.


Montreal Gazette’s own ‘influencer’ invites young people to stay home

Responding to a request from Christopher Skeete, the CAQ government’s point-man for relations with the anglophone community, the Montreal Gazette’s Christopher Curtis, and cat Ulysses, made a TikTok.

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Blood donations climb after appeal from premier

Héma-Québec, Quebec’s blood services agency, has reported a spike in donors after an appeal from Premier François Legault on Monday.

Legault said during a news conference that the best way Quebecers can help during the current health crisis is to stay home, and to donate blood if they are eligible. Héma-Québec had noted a 75 per cent drop in donors. The agency needs 1,000 blood donations per week to keep up with the demands of the healthcare sector, during normal times. After the appeal, the number of donations went back up to their normal level, the agency told CBC News.

The agency said it is respecting its traditional guidelines to bar anyone who has travelled outside the country for the last 14 days to donate blood. Anyone who travelled outside the continental U.S. or Europe must wait 21 days.

Héma Québec said there is no evidence COVID-19 can be transmitted through a blood transfusion. The agency is stepping up hygiene measures by disinfecting the beds in between blood donations.


Air Transat cancels flights until April 30

Montreal-based Air Transat announced in a news release Wednesday that the sale of flights to most destinations in Europe and the U.S. have been immediately suspended until April 30. The carrier is paring down the rest of its flights, and offering “repatriation flights” to customers who would otherwise be stranded, over the next two weeks.


U.S. and Canada working on ways to restrict visitors

Several news outlets are reporting Canada and the U.S. are expected to reduce all non-essential travel over its shared land border. A deal is expected to be announced by the end of the week.


U.S. death toll climbs over 100

More than 100 people have now died of the novel coronavirus in the U.S., CNN is reporting. The news network broke down all the deaths in the country, and they are people mostly in their 70s and 80s, though some in their 50s and 60s have also died.


What’s open and closed in Montreal

We are constantly updating our list of what is open, and mostly what is closed, in Montreal.


Nightly newsletter

Sign up for our new email newsletter dedicated to local coronavirus coverage here: http://montrealgazette.com/coronavirusnews


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    A timeline of the novel coronavirus in Quebec

jmagder@postmedia.com

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