Coronavirus Update: Bankrupt businesses took federal wage subsidy

Good evening, here are the coronavirus updates you need to know tonight.

Top headlines:

1. Dozens of companies that were already planning on laying off all their workers received the federal wage subsidy, meaning their CEWS-subsidized jobs were likely unsalvageable
2. An Alberta MLA wrote a letter publicly calling on Premier Jason Kenney to resign following weeks of bubbling internal discontent within Kenney’s UCP caucus
3. A nine-year-old student activist in India is using social media to save as many people in her country as possible. Last month, she bought 100 oxygen concentrators for hospitals in need

In the last 7 days, 47,101 cases were reported, down 13 per cent from the previous 7 days. There were 336 deaths announced, up 5 per cent over the same period. At least 3,726 people are being treated in hospitals and 1,212,098 others are considered recovered.

Canada’s inoculation rate is 14th among 84 countries with a population of one million or more people.

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Sources: Canada data is compiled from government websites, Johns Hopkins and COVID-19 Canada Open Data Working Group; international data is from Johns Hopkins University.

Coronavirus explainers: Coronavirus in maps and charts • Tracking vaccine doses • Lockdown rules and reopening • Vaccine distribution plan • Four vaccines approved in Canada • Essential resources

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Coronavirus in Canada

• In Ontario, Premier Doug Ford announced the province’s stay-at-home order, set to expire May 20, would be extended until at least June 2. And, the provincial government failed to track $4.4-billion in COVID-19 relief spending, an audit has found.
• In Alberta, about half of meat-packing workers – nearly 6,800 people – have received one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. Meanwhile, The Globe’s daily podcast, The Decibel, spoke with Alberta bureau chief James Keller on the province’s record-breaking third wave. And, Todd Loewen resigned as UCP caucus chair while calling on Premier Jason Kenney to resign over his handling of the coronavirus pandemic.
• In Quebec, Montreal has so far avoided a third wave of COVID-19 through contact tracing, public compliance, high levels of immunity, curfew and some luck.

An expert panel said the international regulations that are biased in favour of keeping borders open, even in a pandemic, need to be overhauled.

• International rules that frown upon travel restrictions helped make the pandemic worse around the world, said Helen Clark, the former leader of New Zealand and head of the panel.

WE Charity: The Ethics Commissioner found former finance minister Bill Morneau in breach of the Conflict of Interest Act over the WE Charity scandal. The government approved the contract with the charity for a pandemic-relief student grant program about a year ago.

COVID-19 restrictions: Provinces became more punitive in their response to the second wave of COVID-19, issuing more tickets for alleged violations, a report says.

COVID-19 vaccines: People who receive a mixture of COVID-19 vaccine doses are somewhat more likely to experience side effects, a new study finds.

Coronavirus around the world

• India recorded more than 4,000 COVID-19 deaths for the second straight day amid a vaccine shortage.
• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the U.S. eased indoor mask-wearing guidance for fully vaccinated people – removing the need for masks or social distancing for those who are fully vaccinated.
• International regulations are biased toward keeping borders open and travel flowing, even in a pandemic, and need to be overhauled, according to a panel headed by Helen Clark, the former prime minister of New Zealand.

Coronavirus and business

Canada won’t fully “heal the economy” until issues of inequality are addressed, Bank of Canada Governor Tiff Macklem said Thursday.

• Macklem said the central bank is focused on an inclusive economic recovery that brings women, youth and racialized Canadians back into the work force.
• The central banker said Canada is in the “sharpest and most unequal economic cycle in our lifetime,” noting that low-wage workers have borne the brunt of job losses throughout the pandemic.

Also today: Amazon is looking to expand its work force, and provide vaccine incentives in the process.

And: The complete loss of farebox revenue during the pandemic has forced Greyhound Canada to permanently cease operations, said the company’s senior vice-president.

Globe opinion

• Editorial board: Vaccines are working. Will provinces reopen too soon, or have they finally learned the lessons of COVID-19?
• David Parkinson: COVID-19 and the dawn of the corporate dead
• Gary Mason: The pandemic political peace accord is officially over – and partisan vitriol is back
• Veena Sriram, Sara Shneiderman, Drona Rasali, Md Zabir Hasan and Shashika Bandara: If South Asia’s pandemic isn’t addressed as a whole, India’s COVID-19 crisis could be just the beginning

More reporting

• Yesterday, Manitoba, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador announced they would no longer be offering the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine for first doses
• One economist says there are signs that bidding wars have calmed and housing prices appear to be levelling off in the hottest parts of the market
• NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh says he will follow public-health guidelines and get whatever vaccine is first offered to him
• A new global system should be set up to respond faster to disease outbreaks, an independent World Health Organization review panel said

Information centre

• How well do vaccines work? Here’s what you need to know.
• Rob Carrick’s 10-point checklist of things you should have done by now to protect or improve your money situation. Tips for minimizing damage to your credit score; how to manage retirement anxiety during difficult times; and things to think about if you’re considering home delivery.
• Here are the expectations for self-isolation; tips for managing anxiety and protecting your mental health; and what to do if you think you have the virus. Wash your hands. How to break a bad habit (like touching your face). Is flying safe?
• The best foods to eat to maintain an immune system-friendly diet; and how to keep a healthy diet while working from home; four eating tips when working from home; and five mistakes that might cause you to gain unwanted weight. Here are the essentials to stock up on and how to shop safely for groceries; the best pantry staples and how to stop stress-eating.
• Find answers to your coronavirus and employment questions.

Sources: Canada data are compiled from government websites, Johns Hopkins University and COVID-19 Canada Open Data Working Group; international data are from Johns Hopkins.

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