Minggu, 31 Mei 2020

Asia stocks prove resilient to US riots as S&P futures bounce - Reuters

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Asian shares pushed to three-month highs on Monday as progress on opening up economies helped offset jitters over riots in U.S. cities and unease over Washington’s power struggle with Beijing.

FILE PHOTO: A passerby wearing a protective face mask, following an outbreak of the coronavirus, walks past an electronic board showing the graphs of the recent movements of Japan's Nikkei share average outside a brokerage in Tokyo, Japan March 6, 2020. REUTERS/Issei Kato

There was also relief that while President Donald Trump began the process of ending special U.S. treatment for Hong Kong to punish China, he left their trade deal intact.

“With specific and verifiable measures against China appearing to be weak, markets may draw hollow consolation that the U.S. is treading carefully,” said analysts at Mizuho in a note.

After a cautious start Asian markets were led higher by China on signs parts of the domestic economy were picking up. Hong Kong .HSI managed to rally 3.6%, while Chinese blue chips .CSI300 put on 2.2%.

An official business survey from China showed its factory activity grew at a slower pace in May but momentum in the services and construction sectors quickened.

A private survey showed a return to growth in May, though exports remained depressed.

That helped lift MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan .MIAPJ0000PUS 2.1% to its highest since early March. Japan's Nikkei .N225 added 1.1% to also reach a three-month peak.

E-Mini futures for the S&P 500 recovered to be up 0.1%, having been down 1% in early trade. EUROSTOXX 50 futures firmed 1.4% and FTSE futures 1.2%.

The resilience was notable given major U.S. cities were cleaning up streets strewn with broken glass and burned out cars as curfews failed to stop confrontations between activists and law enforcement.

The turmoil was a fresh setback for the economy which was only just emerging from a downturn akin to the Great Depression. Following poor data on spending and trade out on Friday, the Atlanta Federal Reserve estimated economic output could drop a staggering 51% annualised in the second quarter.

The May jobs report due out on Friday is forecast to show the unemployment rate surged to 19.8%, smashing April’s record 14.7%. Payrolls are expected to drop by 7.4 million, on top of the 20.5 million jobs lost the previous month.

YEARS, NOT MONTHS

“Current unemployment numbers go far beyond what has been experienced in any post-war recession,” wrote Barclays economist Christian Keller in a note.

“To the extent that some sectors may never return to pre-pandemic business-as-usual, labour faces a substantial challenge to reallocate workers,” he added. “Such a process could be a matter of years rather than months or quarters and in the meantime it would weigh on consumer demand.”

Bond investors suspect economies will need massive amounts of central bank support long after they reopen and that is keeping yields super low even as governments borrow much more.

Yields on U.S. 10-year notes were trading steady at 0.66% having recovered from a blip up to 0.74% last month when the market absorbed a tidal wave of new issuance.

The decline in U.S. yields has been a burden for the dollar, but the world’s reserve currency also tends to benefit from safe-haven status to limit the losses.

Early Monday, the dollar was 0.2% softer on a basket of peers at 98.018 =USD having touched an 11-week low of 97.944 on Friday. It was steadier on the yen at 107.70.

Much of the dollar’s recent decline has come against the euro which has been broadly boosted by plans for an EU stimulus package. The single currency was last up at $1.1131, after climbing 1.8% last week.

Markets are awaiting a meeting of the European Central Bank on Thursday where it is widely expected to raise its asset buying by around 500 billion euros to 1.25 trillion.

In commodity markets, gold added 0.6% to $1,1737 an ounc.

Oil prices initially eased on worries about U.S. demand, but found support from reports Russia had no objection to the next meeting of OPEC and its allies being brought forward to June 4 from the following week.

Brent crude futures were off 7 cents at $37.77 a barrel, while U.S. crude was flat at $35.49.

Editing by Stephen Coates & Simon Cameron-Moore

Our Standards:The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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2020-06-01 03:38:00Z
CAIiEAQ4Nv1CJp7k9ig60IKfTT8qFAgEKg0IACoGCAowt6AMMLAmMOpn

Asia stocks prove resilient to US riots as S&P futures bounce - Reuters

E-Mini futures for the S&P 500 recovered early losses to be up 0.1%, having been down 1% in early trade, while safe-haven gold pared an early rise to be up 0.4% at $1,733 an ounce. Bonds also lost early gains and oil prices slipped.

After a cautious start Asian markets were led higher by China on signs parts of the domestic economy were picking up. Hong Kong .HSI managed to rally 2.8%, while Chinese blue chips .CSI300 put on 1.4%.

An official business survey from China showed its factory activity grew at a slower pace in May but momentum in the services and construction sectors quickened.

A private survey showed a return to growth in May, though exports remained depressed.

That helped lift MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan 1.6% to its highest since early March. Japan's Nikkei .N225 added 1% to also reach a three-month peak.

Protesters have taken to the streets after weeks of lockdowns during the coronavirus pandemic that threw millions out of work and hit minority communities especially hard.

“Current unemployment numbers go far beyond what has been experienced in any post-war recession,” wrote Barclays economist Christian Keller in a note.

Bond investors suspect economies will need massive amounts of central bank support long after they reopen and that is keeping yields super low even as governments borrow much more.

Yields on U.S. 10-year notes were trading steady at 0.66% having recovered from a blip up to 0.74% last month when the market absorbed a tidal wave of new issuance.

The decline in U.S. yields has been a burden for the dollar, but the world’s reserve currency also tends to benefit from safe-haven status to limit the losses.

Early Monday, the dollar was 0.2% softer on a basket of peers at 98.018 =USD having touched an 11-week low of 97.944 on Friday. It was steadier on the yen at 107.70 JPY=.

Much of the dollar's recent decline has come against the euro which has been broadly boosted by plans for an EU stimulus package. The single currency was last up at $1.1131 EUR=, after climbing 1.8% last week.

Markets are awaiting a meeting of the European Central Bank on Thursday where it is widely expected to raise its asset buying by around 500 billion euros to 1.25 trillion.

In commodity markets, oil prices eased on worries about U.S. demand, but found some support from reports Russia had no objection to the next meeting of OPEC and its allies, known as OPEC+, being brought forward to June 4 from the following week.

Brent crude futures were off 25 cents at $37.59 a barrel, while U.S. crude dipped 22 cents to $35.27.

Editing by Stephen Coates

Our Standards:The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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2020-06-01 02:53:53Z
CAIiEAQ4Nv1CJp7k9ig60IKfTT8qFQgEKg0IACoGCAowt6AMMLAmMJSCDg

Asia cautious as U.S. riots weigh on S&P futures - Reuters

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Asian share markets started on a cautious note and gold gained on Monday as images of riots in burning U.S. cities unnerved investors already tense over Washington’s power struggle with Beijing.

E-Mini futures for the S&P 500 ESc1 retreated 0.5% in early action, while gold rose 0.77% to $1,739 an ounce XAU=. Oil prices also slipped, while sovereign bonds picked up the usual safe-haven bid.

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan .MIAPJ0000PUS edged up 0.2%, as did Japan's Nikkei .N225.

“If American consumers were reluctant to come out of their Covid19 lockdown cocoon, fearing a secondary spreader with police cars ablaze, freeways blocked, and videos of mass looting shared through social media like wildfire, they’re not going to feel any safer,’ said Stephen Innes, chief global markets strategist at AxiCorp.

Major U.S. cities were cleaning up streets strewn with broken glass and burned out cars as curfews failed to stop confrontations between activists and law enforcement.

Protesters have flooded streets after weeks of lockdowns during the coronavirus pandemic that threw millions out of work and hit minority communities especially hard.

“Current unemployment numbers go far beyond what has been experienced in any post-war recession,” wrote Barclays economist Christian Keller in a note.

In Asia, an official business survey from China over the weekend showed its factory activity grew at a slower pace in May but momentum in the services and construction sectors quickened, pointing to an uneven recovery.

Bond investors suspect economies will need massive amounts of central bank support long after they reopen and that is keeping yields super low even as governments borrow much more.

Yields on U.S. 10-year notes US10YT=RR were trading at 0.66% having recovered from a blip up to 0.74% last month when the market absorbed a tidal wave of new issuance.

The decline in U.S. yields has been a burden for the dollar, but the world’s reserve currency also tends to benefit from safe-haven status to limit the losses.

Early Monday, the dollar was a fraction softer on a basket of peers at 98.223 =USD having touched an 11-week low of 97.944 on Friday. It was steady on the yen at 107.76 JPY=.

Much of the dollar's recent decline has come against the euro which has been broadly boosted by plans for an EU stimulus package. The single currency was last at $1.1114 EUR= after climbing 1.8% last week.

Markets are awaiting a meeting of the European Central Bank on Thursday where it is widely expected to raise its asset buying by around 500 billion euros to 1.25 trillion.

In commodity markets, oil prices started soft on worries about U.S. demand, but found some support from reports Russia had no objection to the next meeting of OPEC and its allies, known as OPEC+, being brought forward to June 4 from the following week.

Brent crude LCOc1 futures were off 8 cents at $37.76 a barrel, while U.S. crude CLc1 dipped 13 cents to $35.36.

Editing by Stephen Coates

Our Standards:The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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18 new COVID-19 cases Sunday; Alberta recoveries over last week outweigh new cases - Globalnews.ca

Alberta announced 18 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Sunday, and no new deaths.

Recoveries in the province now sit at 6,245 out of a confirmed case total of 7,010.

That means that 89 per cent of Albertans who have tested positive for COVID-19 are now recovered.

There are now 584 active cases in the province:

Calgary zone: 440 active cases, 4,330 recovered
South zone: 42 active cases, 1,184 recovered
Edmonton zone: 69 active cases, 464 recovered
North zone: 28 active cases, 202 recovered
Central zone: two active cases, 95 recovered
Three active cases and eight recovered cases in zones to be confirmed

Over the past week, active cases have continued to drop in Alberta.

[ Sign up for our Health IQ newsletter for the latest coronavirus updates ]

Since May 24, the province saw 217 recoveries, compared to 192 new cases and nine deaths.

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The provincial death toll remains at 143, with 104 in the Calgary zone, 16 in the North zone, 13 in the Edmonton zone, nine in the South zone and one in the Central zone.

Out of the total deaths, over 76 per cent of them have been at continuing care facilities, with 109 residents dying from COVID-19, according to the province.

There are currently 61 active cases and 659 recovered ones at continuing care facilities in Alberta.

Stage 1 fully launching Monday

The province is officially moving to a fully complete Stage 1 on Monday, with Calgary and Brooks opening day camps and places of worship with guidelines.

All Albertans, with or without symptoms, can now be tested. Anyone interested in a test can take the province’s self-assessment tool and will be prompted if they would like to take an asymptomatic test.

Alberta’s chief medical officer of health, Dr. Deena Hinshaw, is scheduled to give an in-person update on the COVID-19 situation and the provincial strategies on Monday afternoon.

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2020-05-31 23:03:05Z
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Alberta records 18 new COVID-19 cases and no new deaths - CBC.ca

Alberta recorded 18 new COVID-19 cases and no additional deaths from the illness on Sunday.

The number of active cases in the province continued to drop, sitting at 584 as of Sunday. Hospitalization rates also remained low with 52 people in hospital and six in intensive care.

In total, 6,283 people have recovered from the illness in Alberta. The total number of deaths was 143.

Most active COVID-19 cases continue to be found in the Calgary zone. Here's a regional breakdown of cases:

Calgary zone: 440 active cases and 4,330 recovered;
South zone: 42 active cases and 1,184 recovered;
Edmonton zone: 69 active cases and 464 recovered;
North zone: 28 active cases and 202 recovered;
Central zone: two active cases and 95 recovered;
Three active cases and eight recovered cases in zones to be confirmed.

To date, 658 cases have an unknown exposure.

So far, 235,415 Albertans have been tested and labs have performed 260,365 tests, with 3,138 tests completed in the last 24 hours. Testing has been made available to any person without symptoms who wants to be tested.

Starting in early June, Albertans will also be able to get four free non-medical masks per person at all A&W, McDonald's and Tim Hortons drive-thru locations in the province, while supplies last. They can ask for masks without having to purchase anything.

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2020-05-31 21:56:00Z
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As May comes to a close, Alberta has 584 active cases of COVID-19 and 143 people have died - CTV News

EDMONTON -- Alberta reported 18 new cases of COVID-19 on Sunday, bringing the total number of active cases to 584.

No additional deaths were reported.

There are currently 52 people in hospital; six of them are in intensive care.

The case breakdown across the province is as follows:

Calgary zone: 440 active cases and 4,330 recovered
South zone: 42 active cases and 1,184 recovered
Edmonton zone: 69 active cases and 464 recovered
North zone: 28 active cases and 202 recovered
Central zone: two active cases and 95 recovered
Three active cases and eight recovered cases in zones to be confirmed

There are currently 61 active cases in continuing care facilities in the province, and 659 people have recovered. A total of 109 residents have died.

In total, there have been 143 deaths in Alberta.

In the last 24 hours, there have been 3,138 tests completed.

As of May 31, 6,283 Albertans have recovered from COVID-19.

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2020-05-31 21:39:00Z
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'The individual was likely infectious:' Officials warn of possible COVID-19 exposure at North Battleford Walmart - CTV News Saskatoon

NORTH BATTLEFORD -- Health officials are warning people of a possible coronavirus exposure at the North Battleford Walmart.

The Saskatchewan Health Authority said a person who tested positive for COVID-19 visited the store when “the individual was likely infectious,” according to a news release.

Officials are advising people who were at Walmart on May 21, between 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. to immediately self-isolate if they have symptoms of the virus, and call the 811 health line to arrange for testing.

People who aren’t showing symptoms, but were at the store during this time period, should self-monitor for symptoms of COVID-19 until June 5.

Symptoms of the virus include fever, dry cough, fatigue and shortness of breath.

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2020-05-31 19:12:51Z
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Possible COVID-19 transmission at North Battleford Walmart says SHA - CBC.ca

The Saskatchewan Health Authority and Indigenous Services Canada say someone who tested positive for COVID-19 visited the North Battleford Walmart, likely while they were infectious.

As a result, both organizations have asked people who were at the Walmart on May 21, 2020 between noon and 2 p.m. to immediately self-isolate and call the 8-1-1 healthline if they have symptoms of COVID-19.

Anyone who was at the store during that timeframe is being asked to self-monitor daily for symptoms of COVID-19 until June 5.

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2020-05-31 15:38:00Z
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What you need to know about COVID-19 in Alberta on Sunday, May 31 - CBC.ca

The latest:

Provincial campgrounds will reopen tomorrow, but COVID-19 restrictions will keep half the sites closed.
Alberta has partnered with a number of fast-food chains to provide free, non-medical masks starting in early June.
Alberta reported just 13 new cases of COVID-19 on Saturday, bringing the total active cases to 604.
There are 54 people in hospital, five of whom are in intensive care. One more person has died.
CEMA announced Thursday the city will begin reopening its 1,100 playgrounds on Friday — three days ahead of schedule.
Calgary's quickly proliferating expanded outdoor restaurant patios are getting mixed reviews.
Alberta's sexual violence helpline saw a 57 per cent increase in calls during the first month of the pandemic and a 42 per cent increase during the first two months.
The Alberta government has scaled back the provincial COVID-19 news conferences it had been offering every weekday and is now holding them on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

What you need to know today in Alberta:

Campgrounds in Alberta's national parks will remain closed until at least June 21, but provincial campgrounds will open at half capacity starting tomorrow.

The Alberta government is distributing 20 million masks meant to help limit the spread of COVID-19. They will be available for pick up from the drive-thrus of A&W, McDonald's and Tim Hortons.

There have been 143 deaths due to COVID-19 in the province.

There are 53 people in hospital and five in intensive care. More than 257,000 tests have been completed.

Most active COVID-19 cases are still found in the Calgary zone. Here's a regional breakdown of cases:

Calgary zone: 461 active cases, 4,295 recovered.
Edmonton zone: 67 active cases, 464 recovered.
South zone: 44 active cases, 1,182 recovered.
North zone: 27 active cases, 200 recovered.
Central zone: 2 active cases, 95 recovered.
Unknown: 3 active cases, 9 recovered.

This map provides an overview of how COVID-19 has impacted the province of Alberta as of May 29, 2020. (CBC News)

What you need to know today in Canada:

Quebec reported another 530 cases of the virus on Friday. Its total number of cases has grown past 50,000 and the death toll to 4,363.

In Ontario, cases have surged by 344 for a total of 27,210 with 2,230 deaths. Premier Doug Ford has said he is looking at reopening the province region by region.

Canada's economy shrank at an 8.2 per cent annual pace in the first three months of 2020, as an already weak economy in January and February was walloped by COVID-19 in March.

This map shows the number of active cases in Calgary as of May 29, 2020. (CBC News)

As of 8 p.m. ET Saturday, Canada had 90,190 confirmed and presumptive coronavirus cases. A CBC News tally of deaths based on provincial data, regional information and CBC's reporting stood at 7,136.

Self-assessment and supports:

Alberta Health Services has an online self-assessment tool that you can use to determine if you have symptoms of COVID-19.

The province says Albertans who have returned to Canada from other countries must self-isolate. Unless your situation is critical and requires a call to 911, Albertans are advised to call Health Link at 811 before visiting a physician, hospital or other health-care facility.

If you have symptoms, even mild, you are to self-isolate for 10 days from the onset of symptoms.

You can find Alberta Health Services' latest coronavirus updates here.

The province also operates a confidential mental health support line at 1-877-303-2642 and addiction help line at 1-866-332-2322, available from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., seven days a week.

Online resources are available for advice on handling stressful situations and ways to talk with children.

There is a 24-hour family violence information line at 310-1818 to get anonymous help in more than 170 languages, and Alberta's One Line for Sexual Violence is available at 1-866-403-8000, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

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2020-05-31 14:28:00Z
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Alberta's campers turn to public land due to COVID-19 - CBC.ca

On Monday the province's campgrounds will reopen but COVID-19 restrictions will keep half the sites closed

Campgrounds in Alberta's national parks will remain closed until at least June 21.

Meanwhile, British Columbia and Saskatchewan have followed Alberta and closed their campgrounds to out of province visitors.

If the Crown Land Camping Alberta Facebook group, recently launched by Calgarian Ryan Epp, is any indication, many Albertans are looking for alternatives.

In the seven weeks since launching the page, Epp has welcomed nearly 29,000 members with more joining all the time.

"I started it up basically looking to find some new people to go camping with," Epp said. "I was expecting to get maybe 50, 60 people to join up.

"We're still growing at almost a thousand a day," he told CBC News. "It's been crazy."

Epp believes the interest in his group is connected to conventional campgrounds being closed or restricted.

Ryan Epp and his friends circle the wagons at an undisclosed spot somewhere on Alberta's public lands. (Ryan Epp)

Now he's sharing his knowledge with people who have never used Crown land before, something the 46-year-old has been doing since he was a kid.

"We'd hit the forestry trunk road with our tents and some other family friends," he said.

As an adult, Epp upgraded to a tent trailer and he's recently purchased a hard-walled trailer.

"It's got bathroom facilities and a water tank and everything, it's a little more comfortable," he said. "I've got a generator to supply power so that way I'm all set-up."

It's a long way from the five-gallon pail he once used for a toilet.

"There's no services, so there's no water, no electricity, no toilet facilities," Epp said. "If you head out there you have to have all that with you."

Camping on crown land usually can mean fewer neighbours. (Ryan Epp)

Epp is also quick to remind members of the etiquette and rules when it comes to Crown land camping.

"The big one with a lot of us is we try to haul out more than we take in," he said. "We look for garbage, we'll pick it up and bring it out."

There are options for those looking for peace and quiet and options for those who might want to let loose and make a little noise.

"It's so much more quiet," he said. "If you want to make more noise you can because there's not really anyone right beside you that you're going to disturb."

Epp says there are also Crown land camping areas ideal for specific hobbies like quading or fishing. The tricky part is finding those spots and Epp is fielding a lot of questions from people wanting to know where to go.

Albertans may have to get off the beaten path to find those special camping spots on public land. (Ryan Epp)

"We all have our secret spots that we're not going to divulge to anybody," he said. "The fun of it is going out and scouting out and finding your own secret spot to go to because there's thousands upon thousands of kilometres to travel and find these throughout Crown land."

CJ Blye, a PhD candidate at the University of Alberta in the faculty of kinesiology, sport and recreation, agrees.

"There are a lot of places; actually 60 per cent of the province is public land," Blye said.

"We do have a number of wildland provincial parks that are north of Edmonton and then most of our public land use zones follow along that Rocky Mountain corridor all the way down to the south of the province."

Much of the land is not easily accessible and Blye encourages people to check regulations before heading out.

Each public-land-use zone has its own rules and regulations, which are more important than ever, Blye said.

"The pressure that we're going to be placing on our natural areas will be more significant because we're going to see more folks wanting to get out," she said.

"We want to be really careful that we're not overloading our natural environments.

"Leave no trace camping and leave no trace travel is a great way to look at how we can be in these areas and reduce our impact," she said.

Blye encourages people to check the online information provided by the provincial government and Alberta Parks before they head out.

Nobody from the province would talk about the pressure on Crown land.

In an email, Jess Sinclair, press secretary for the minister of Environment and Parks, said that over the May long weekend, staff saw an increase in public land use in parts of southern and central Alberta.

"It remains to be seen if campers that traditionally use our provincial parks will increasingly move onto public land for their fill of outdoor recreation," Sinclair said.

Sinclair urges users pack out what they pack in and limit stays in one spot to 14 days.

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2020-05-31 13:00:00Z
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30-day limit on prescriptions in Ontario expected to end by July 1; Ontario completes more than 20000 coronavirus tests in a day for the first time - Toronto Star

The latest novel coronavirus news from Canada and around the world Sunday (this file will be updated throughout the day). Web links to longer stories if available.

8 a.m.: India reported more than 8,000 new cases of the coronavirus in a single day, another record high that topped the deadliest week in the country.

Confirmed infections have risen to 182,143, with 5,164 fatalities, including 193 in the last 24 hours, the Health Ministry said Sunday.

Overall, more than 60 per cent of the virus fatalities have been reported from only two states — Maharashtra, the financial hub, and Gujarat, the home state of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The new cases are largely concentrated in six Indian states, including the capital New Delhi.

There are concerns the virus may be spreading through India’s villages as millions of jobless migrant workers return home from cities during the lockdown. Experts warn that the pandemic is yet to peak in India.

7:45 a.m.: Russia reported 9,268 new cases of the coronavirus on Sunday, the first time in a week that the daily tally exceeded 9,000, but the lowest death toll in several days: 138.

Overall, Russia has recorded 405,843 cases and 4,693 deaths from COVID-19. The relatively low mortality rate compared with other countries has prompted skepticism domestically and abroad.

7 a.m.:Ontarians who rely on prescription medication will hopefully see an onerous COVID-19 precaution lifted by the end of June.

A 30-day limit on prescriptions was brought in by the Ontario government in the early days of the pandemic in an effort to prevent drug shortages. Spokespeople for Ontario’s seniors community and the province’s pharmacy industry say they expect the limitation will be lifted within the month, returning to the usual 90-day maximum by July 1.

“It’s been a difficult policy,” said Justin Bates, the chief executive officer of the Ontario Pharmacists Association. “We stand by the policy, we think it was the right thing to do, but I think everybody’s hopeful that we can get back to 90 days and to a normal cycle of quantity.”

11 p.m: The Toronto Raptors issued a statement late Saturday, as protests escalated across North America in the wake of the death of George Floyd, a Black man killed in Minneapolis after a police officer pressed his knee into his neck for several minutes.

The Raptors put out the statement hours after thousands of people took to the streets on Saturday demanding justice for Regis Korchinski-Paquet, three days after the 29-year-old woman fell to her death from a High Park highrise, in an incident that is now under investigation by Ontario’s civilian police watchdog.

Read the full story from Laura Armstrong here.

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Saturday, 7 p.m. Ontario’s regional health units are reporting 320 new COVID-19 infections, according to the Star’s latest count.

As of 5 p.m. Saturday, the health units had reported a total of 29,212 confirmed and probable cases, including 2,316 deaths. The daily counts have fallen from a spike that saw totals above 400 cases per day most of last week.

Saturday’s tally included 123 new cases in Toronto and 114 more in Peel Region; together, the two health units accounted for nearly three-quarters of the province’s new infections.

According to a provincial database of COVID-19 cases, nearly 80 per cent of the 3,933 Ontarians with an active case of COVID-19 reside in the GTA, with nearly 85 per cent of those in Toronto or Peel Region.

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2020-05-31 12:11:15Z
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30-day limit on prescriptions in Ontario expected to end by July 1 - CP24 Toronto's Breaking News

Ontarians who rely on prescription medication will hopefully see an onerous COVID-19 precaution lifted by the end of June.

A 30-day limit on prescriptions was brought in by Ontario on March 20th in an effort to prevent drug shortages during the pandemic.

Spokespeople for Ontario's seniors community and the province's pharmacy industry say they expect the limitation will be lifted within the month.

That means a return to the usual 90-day maximum allotment for prescriptions by July 1st.

That policy includes a subsidy for people on the Ontario Drug Benefit Program, which is also scheduled to expire on July 1st.

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2020-05-31 10:09:00Z
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Sabtu, 30 Mei 2020

Alberta announces 13 new COVID-19 cases, 1 more death Saturday - Global News

Alberta Health announced 13 new lab-confirmed COVID-19 cases in the province on Saturday, bringing the total number of active cases to 604 and the total number of confirmed cases to 6,992.

The province reported one additional death.

Cases

The province said 53 people are in hospital, with five of them in intensive care.

As of Saturday, 661 cases stemmed from an unknown exposure.

In total, 6,245 Albertans have recovered from COVID-19, Alberta Health said.

Case breakdown:

Calgary zone: 461 active cases and 4,295 recovered
South zone: 44 active cases and 1,182 recovered
Edmonton zone: 67 active cases and 464 recovered
North zone: 27 active cases and 200 recovered
Central zone: two active cases and 95 recovered
yet-to-be-confirmed zones: three active cases and nine recovered

Hand sanitizer and a face mask. Kaylen Small/Global News

Deaths

[ Sign up for our Health IQ newsletter for the latest coronavirus updates ]

Alberta Health said one new death was reported Saturday while one previous death was determined not to be related to COVID-19, meaning the death toll stands at 143.

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The latest death was a man in his 70s at Intercare Brentwood Care Centre in Calgary, Alberta Health said.

Death breakdown:

104 in Calgary zone
16 in North zone
13 in Edmonton zone
nine in South zone
one in Central zone

Alberta Health said there are 62 active cases and 657 recovered cases at continuing care facilities, adding that 109 residents have died.

Mental health funding update

On Saturday, the province provided an update on $21.6 million in funding that will expand online and virtual resources for mental health and addiction challenges because of the pandemic. Last month, the government said it was $21.4 million, which was a typo, according to Kassandra Kitz, the press secretary for Mental Health and Addictions.

The government said this money is the first portion of the $53-million COVID-19 mental health action plan announced in April.

$21.6M funding breakdown:

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expand Kids Help Phone and crisis text line – $1.8 million (previously announced)
expand Addiction Helpline and the Mental Health Helpline – $9.6 million (previously announced)
expand 211 – $3 million (previously announced)
Big White Wall – $1 million
InnoWell – $2 million
community-based supports – $3 million
about $1.2 million in capital costs

Associate Minister of Health and Addictions Jason Luan said that many Albertans are in need of mental health and addiction recovery supports during the pandemic — and when it’s over.

“This funding is giving more people free access to supports 24/7, and it’s enabling our government to work with our sector partners to develop other innovative supports,” he said in a statement.

“We are in this together and we will support Albertans every step of the way.”

Since the end of March, the Addiction Helpline (1-866-332-2322) has responded to more than 1,000 calls and the Mental Health Helpline (1-877-303-2642) has responded to more than 3,400 calls, according to the Alberta government.

The Kids Help Phone (1-800-668-6868) experienced about a 50 per cent increase in demand for its texting service (text CONNECT to 686868) since the start of the pandemic, the province said.

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In April, Alberta 211 responded to more than 2,700 calls — more than 400 of which were about mental health and substance use, the government said.

Testing

Alberta Health said testing is now available to all Albertans, whether they have COVID-19 symptoms or not.

View link »

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2020-05-30 23:33:13Z
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Alberta records one new death, 13 additional cases of COVID-19 - CBC.ca

Alberta recorded 13 additional COVID-19 cases on Saturday, and one new death from the illness in the last 24 hours.

The province also saw the number of active cases around Alberta drop to 604, with 53 people currently in hospital with COVID-19 and five of those people in intensive care.

The province's COVID-19 death toll remains at 143 as the province said one previous death was determined to not be related to COVID-19. In total, 6,245 people have recovered from the illness in Alberta.

At continuing care facilities in Alberta, there are still 62 active cases and 657 recovered cases of COVID-19. In total, 109 facility residents have passed away.

On Friday, Dr. Deena Hinshaw, Alberta's chief medical officer of health, said Stage 1 of Alberta's economic relaunch will begin in full in Calgary and Brooks, the two cities hit hardest by the virus. This means day camps and summer schools will be able to reopen in these citie with occupancy limits, and places of worship can resume in-person services of up to 50 people.

Most active COVID-19 cases are still found in the Calgary zone. Here's a regional breakdown of cases:

Calgary zone: 461 active cases, 4,295 recovered.
Edmonton zone: 67 active cases, 464 recovered.
South zone: 44 active cases, 1,182 recovered.
North zone: 27 active cases, 200 recovered.
Central zone: 2 active cases, 95 recovered.
Unknown: 3 active cases, 9 recovered.

Mental health funding

The province also provided further details Saturday on the distribution of $53-million in COVID-19 mental health funding announced in April.

According to the Saturday release, the first $21.6 million of funding is dedicated to online and virtual supports, including the expansion of the Addiction Helpline and Mental Health Helpline and 211. Kids Help Phone, another recipient, has seen demand for their texting service spike by 50 per cent since the beginning of the pandemic.

Newly-announced recipients from this portion were $1-million to online community Big White Wall and $2 million to Innowell, the creator of an online clinical tool for health professionals and providers.

Around $1.2 million is earmarked for capital costs and $3 million to community-based supports.

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2020-05-30 22:35:00Z
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What you need to know about COVID-19 in Alberta on Saturday, May 30 - CBC.ca

The latest:

Alberta has partnered with a number of fast-food chains to provide free, non-medical masks starting in early June.
Alberta reported just 13 new cases of COVID-19 on Saturday, bringing the total active cases to 604.
There are 54 people in hospital, five of whom are in intensive care. One more person has died.
CEMA announced Thursday the city will begin reopening its 1,100 playgrounds on Friday — three days ahead of schedule.
Calgary's quickly proliferating expanded outdoor restaurant patios are getting mixed reviews.
Alberta's sexual violence helpline saw a 57 per cent increase in calls during the first month of the pandemic and a 42 per cent increase during the first two months.
The Alberta government has scaled back the provincial COVID-19 news conferences it had been offering every weekday and is now holding them on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

What you need to know today in Alberta:

The Alberta government is distributing 20 million masks meant to help limit the spread of COVID-19. They will be available for pick up from the drive-thrus of A&W, McDonald's and Tim Hortons.

The Alberta Opposition says Premier Jason Kenney's United Conservatives have a new "sugar daddy" in Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and should not accept a federal COVID-19 wage subsidy the party has applied for.

There have been 143 deaths due to COVID-19 in the province.

There are 53 people in hospital and five in intensive care. More than 257,000 tests have been completed.

Most active COVID-19 cases are still found in the Calgary zone. Here's a regional breakdown of cases:

Calgary zone: 461 active cases, 4,295 recovered.
Edmonton zone: 67 active cases, 464 recovered.
South zone: 44 active cases, 1,182 recovered.
North zone: 27 active cases, 200 recovered.
Central zone: 2 active cases, 95 recovered.
Unknown: 3 active cases, 9 recovered.

What you need to know today in Canada:

Quebec reported another 530 cases of the virus on Friday. Its total number of cases has grown past 50,000 and the death toll to 4,363.

In Ontario, cases have surged by 344 for a total of 27,210 with 2,230 deaths. Premier Doug Ford has said he is looking at reopening the province region by region.

Canada's economy shrank at an 8.2 per cent annual pace in the first three months of 2020, as an already weak economy in January and February was walloped by COVID-19 in March.

As of 6:00 a.m. ET Saturday, Canada had 89,418 confirmed and presumptive coronavirus cases, with 47,533 of them considered recovered or resolved. A CBC News tally of deaths based on provincial data, regional information and CBC's reporting stood at 7,046.

Self-assessment and supports:

Alberta Health Services has an online self-assessment tool that you can use to determine if you have symptoms of COVID-19.

If you have symptoms, even mild, you are to self-isolate for 10 days from the onset of symptoms.

You can find Alberta Health Services' latest coronavirus updates here.

The province also operates a confidential mental health support line at 1-877-303-2642 and addiction help line at 1-866-332-2322, available from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., seven days a week.

Online resources are available for advice on handling stressful situations and ways to talk with children.

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2020-05-30 22:32:00Z
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Fixed COVID-19 hydro rate coming to Ontario - BlackburnNews.com

Fixed COVID-19 hydro rate coming to Ontario

By Allanah Wills May 30, 2020 3:00pm

The province is introducing new electricity rate relief measures as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ontario ratepayers will now pay a fixed price of 12.8 cents per kWh at all times of the day.

Referred to as the COVID-19 Recovery Rate, the pricing will be automatically applied to all time-of-use customers starting on June 1 and be in effect until October 31.

According to a release by the provincial government on Saturday afternoon, the fixed rate is based on the average cost of electricity, set by the Ontario Energy Board.

“Since March 24, 2020, we have invested just over $175 million to deliver emergency rate relief to residential, farm and small business electricity consumers by suspending time-of-use electricity pricing…As Ontarians continue to work and learn from home, we are extending the suspension of time-of-use price to provide consumers with greater stability and predictability with their electricity bills,” Greg Rickford, minister of energy, northern development and mines, said in the news release.

More information about the COVID-19 Recovery Rate is expected to be announced during Premier Doug Ford’s daily briefing on Monday.

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2020-05-30 19:00:00Z
CBMiYWh0dHBzOi8vYmxhY2tidXJubmV3cy5jb20vbG9uZG9uL2xvbmRvbi1uZXdzLzIwMjAvMDUvMzAvZml4ZWQtY292aWQtMTktaHlkcm8tcmF0ZS1jb21pbmctb250YXJpby_SAQA

Ontario introduces new fixed COVID-19 hydro rate - CTV News

TORONTO -- Ontario residents will now have to pay a fixed electricity price that is slightly higher than the off-peak hydro rate, which people in the province have been allowed to pay so far due to the pandemic.

The announcement, which was made in a news release on Saturday, comes after the Ontario government suspended the normal “time-of-use” billing system on March 24.

The government moved all customers onto the lowest rate in response to the pandemic as emergency measures meant more people would be at home during the middle of the day when electricity costs are the highest.

Now, the government has introduced a new “COVID-19 recovery rate” of 12.8 cents per kilowatt hour at all times of the day. The fixed price will be in place from June 1 to Oct. 31.

The fixed price is slightly higher than the off-peak price, which stood at 10.1 per kilowatt hour. However, it is much lower than the mid-peak rate of 14.4 per kilowatt hour and the high-peak rate of 20.8 per kilowatt hour.

“This investment was made to protect the people of Ontario from a marked increase in electricity rates as they did their part by staying home to prevent the further spread of the virus.”

Rickford said that the COVID-19 recovery rate is based on the average cost of electricity set by the Ontario Energy Board.

“This fixed rate will continue to suspend time-of-use prices in a fiscally responsible manner,” he said. "Consumers will have greater flexibility to use electricity when they need it without paying on-peak and mid-peak prices."

More information about the new hydro rates is expected to be released on Monday during Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s daily briefing.

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2020-05-30 17:49:00Z
CBMiVWh0dHBzOi8vdG9yb250by5jdHZuZXdzLmNhL29udGFyaW8taW50cm9kdWNlcy1uZXctZml4ZWQtY292aWQtMTktaHlkcm8tcmF0ZS0xLjQ5NjE4MDLSAQA

Son of 2 Portapique victims says 2011 warning on gunman should have prevented attack - CBC.ca

The son of two people killed in last month's mass shooting in Nova Scotia believes a 2011 warning to police that gunman Gabriel Wortman had a stash of guns and wanted "to kill a cop" should have prevented the tragedy from ever happening.

The tip, according to records recently obtained by CBC News, was sent to police agencies across Nova Scotia, but RCMP can't say what, if anything, was done with it.

"I'm angry more than anything. I'm angry that 22 people lost their lives and I really, truly believe that this could have been prevented," said Ryan Farrington, whose mother and stepfather, Dawn Madsen and Frank Gulenchyn, were killed in the April 18-19 massacre.

Farrington's parents lived in Portapique, N.S., and moved from Oshawa, Ont., 10 years ago. Farrington's mother was originally from Nova Scotia and always wanted to move back. The couple loved living by the ocean.

Farrington said there are still a lot of unanswered questions about the tragedy, as well as the 2011 tip.

Farrington said his mother, Dawn Madsen, left, is originally from Nova Scotia. She and her husband, Frank Gulenchyn, right, moved to Portapique, N.S., from Oshawa, Ont., 10 years ago. Farrington said his mother and stepfather loved living by the ocean. (Jon Farrington/Facebook)

An RCMP spokesperson said the force typically only keeps warnings like that for two years.

"We can't speak about specifics of the follow-up to the 2011 bulletin because our database records have been purged as per our retention policies," Cpl. Jennifer Clarke said in an email.

"Preliminary indications are that we were aware and at minimum provided assistance to [Halifax Regional Police], which aligns with the RCMP's approach for such enquiries (sic)."

The tip was initially sent to the Truro Police Service, who then shared it with the Criminal Intelligence Service of Nova Scotia, a network of policing agencies that includes the RCMP.

Halifax Regional Police did investigate the tip at the time because Wortman has a home in Dartmouth, but determined any information about weapons was related to his cottage property in Portapique, which was outside its jurisdiction. Halifax Regional Police said that information was shared with the RCMP.

Police say Gabriel Wortman torched several homes, including his own in Portapique, in the midst of a shooting rampage in April. Nine years earlier, police agencies across the province were warned he had a stash of guns and wanted 'to kill a cop,' according to documents obtained by CBC News. (Steve Lawrence/CBC)

"I don't understand why [the 2011 bulletin] would be erased after two years, knowing that there is a highly volatile person in the area, especially mainly with the weapons being at his Portapique addresses," Farrington said.

He said he was told by RCMP that the Truro police had information that could have prevented the massacre, but that it wasn't shared with them. The Truro Police Service said they never had any direct dealings with Wortman, who lived outside their coverage area, but shared all the information available nine years ago with other police agencies because of how serious it was.

The documents obtained by CBC through access to information show that one day after the 2011 bulletin, someone at the RCMP followed up with Cpl. Greg Densmore, the Truro officer who wrote the officer safety bulletin. In that exchange Densmore passed along details about the truck and jeep Wortman is believed to have used to drive between Dartmouth and Portapique.

"There's just so much we need to know and we're not getting answers," Farrington said.

He hopes the federal government calls a public inquiry that would address questions such as what the RCMP knew and when, how Wortman was able to bring in weapons illegally across the Canada-U.S. border, how he was able to get a police uniform and outfit his vehicle to look like an RCMP cruiser.

Federal inquiry

Nova Scotia Justice Minister Mark Furey told CBC's Mainstreet on Friday that an inquiry into the shooting should be handled by the federal government because there are limits to what the province could do.

Furey, who is a retired Mountie, said many of the major players involved in the situation are federal agents, including the RCMP, the Canada Border Services Agency and the firearms registry.

He said an inquiry should be collaborative so the agencies that answer to different levels of government would be compelled to answer questions and implement any recommendations made.

Nova Scotia Justice Minister Mark Furey would not say whether Nova Scotia would launch a provincial inquiry if the federal government decides not to launch an inquiry into the mass shooting. (Craig Paisley/CBC)

Furey would not say if Nova Scotia would seek an inquiry if the federal government doesn't.

"Those would be circumstances I would address at the time," he said.

If you are seeking mental health support during this time, here are resources available to Nova Scotians.

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2020-05-30 12:18:00Z
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First-quarter GDP worst showing since 2009: StatCan - CTV News

OTTAWA -- Canada's economy had its worst quarterly showing since 2009 through the first three months of 2020 owing to COVID-19, Statistics Canada said Friday, warning an even steeper drop may be coming.

Gross domestic product fell at an annualized rate of 8.2 per cent in the first quarter, including a 7.2-per-cent drop in March as restrictions by public health officials began rolling out, including school closures, border shutdowns and travel restrictions.

Preliminary information indicates an 11 per cent drop in GDP for April, but the statistics agency said that figure is likely to be revised as more information becomes available.

Similarly, the agency said first-quarter figures are likely to have larger than usual revisions in subsequent data releases. Some numbers had to be estimated because they were not available.

Early indications are that March and April could end up as the largest consecutive monthly declines on record.

The drastic drop in gross domestic product likely doesn't fully reflect the experience of every Canadian, said BMO chief economist Douglas Porter, noting GDP is just one barometer of how the pandemic has affected the domestic economy.

"You don't get the entire picture just from GDP and even from employment (figures) because policy-makers have stepped up with such unusual and aggressive actions that a lot of the common metrics just don't apply 100 per cent in this episode," Porter said in an interview.

The federal response to date totals about $152 billion in direct spending. The parliamentary budget officer has said that could leave the deficit at $260 billion, with a national debt north of $950 billion.

A preliminary estimate released by the Finance Department on Friday showed deficit of $21.8 billion for the fiscal year that closed in March. The figure will still be subject to revisions, which may land it closer to the government's last estimate of $26.6 billion.

The monthly fiscal monitor also showed the debt pushed past $794.4 billion.

Many of the items adding to this year's deficit are expected to show up in supplementary spending estimates. The documents will be scrutinized for four hours in mid-June based on the motion the adopted this week to put the Commons on extended hiatus until late September.

Budget officer Yves Giroux told a Commons committee on Friday that would provide parliamentarians little opportunity to properly scrutinize tens of billions, if not over $100 billion in proposed spending.

"It comes up as a very expensive four hours potentially for Canadian taxpayers," he said. "The amount of scrutiny for this unprecedented spending will also be unprecedented, but for the wrong reasons."

The latest federal spending figures showed $41.44 billion has been paid to 8.29 million people through the Canada Emergency Response Benefit, and $7.9 billion in wage subsidies to 181,883 companies.

MPs on the Commons finance committee were told Thursday the cost of the wage susbidy program is somewhat less than the original $73-billion estimate. Consultations are underway to understand why companies aren't accessing the program that covers 75 per cent of salaries, subject to a cap of $847 per week, per employee.

Asked about the lopsided spending, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the subsidy will become "more and more important" as restrictions ease and businesses reopen. He also said the CERB has helped "support millions of Canadians who need help paying for groceries, paying their rent."

Statistics Canada said household spending, a backbone of the Canadian economy, was down 2.3 per cent in the first quarter of 2020, the steepest quarterly drop ever recorded.

The drop in household spending was broad, affecting goods like new cars and clothing, and services for food as bars and restaurants in particular were ordered closed. Instead, spending on going out became money spent staying in, Statistics Canada said, noting increases in household food and alcohol by 7.2 per cent and six per cent, respectively.

As a result of less spending overall, the savings rate rose for the quarter to 6.1 per cent from the 3.6 per cent recorded in the fourth quarter of 2019 with higher rates recorded at higher income levels.

The savings built up during the shutdown period could translate into extra spending as restrictions ease, said CIBC senior economist Royce Mendes in a note.

TD senior economist Brian DePratto wrote in a note that it isn't unreasonable to think a modest recovery may already be forming.

"The key question is what kind of recovery? Given the significant hits to incomes and longer-lasting impacts on some industries, a marathon appears more likely than a sprint."

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 29, 2020.

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2020-05-30 08:33:17Z
52780816805659

Minggu, 31 Mei 2020

YEARS, NOT MONTHS

Stage 1 fully launching Monday

The latest:

What you need to know today in Alberta:

What you need to know today in Canada:

Self-assessment and supports:

Get the latest in your inbox

Sabtu, 30 Mei 2020

Cases

Deaths

Mental health funding update

Testing

Mental health funding

The latest:

What you need to know today in Alberta:

What you need to know today in Canada:

Self-assessment and supports:

Fixed COVID-19 hydro rate coming to Ontario

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