Hello everyone, 

With holidays underway, many of us will be finding creative ways to connect with family and friends we would ordinarily have been able to see in person. 

With the start of Passover last night, many in the Jewish community are holding seders by Zoom or Facetime or sharing traditions with housemates instead of family. And with Easter on its way, it will be a big adjustment for kids and those used to attending church services together. I know I will miss the solemn beauty of the annual Good Friday procession. 

And of course, for health care workers doing long hours and double shifts, this will be another challenging weekend. 

While we adapt together to these new circumstances, take some time this weekend to check in on neighbours and friends, and people who might be away from their families and feeling alone. You can still catch up by phone, from your balcony or backyard while keep a safe distance and you’ll find it goes a long way.

And while you’re at it, don’t forget to check in on yourself. Juggling home, work and family life in the middle of a pandemic isn’t easy. So if you can take the time this weekend - do it. 

If you need additional supports, or someone in your life is struggling, please don’t hesitate to reach out for the supports you need. CAMH has provided a comprehensive set of mental health supports here, and you can always get connected with supports by dialing 211. 

Take care and have a great long weekend,

Marit

Here are today's developments:

• Statistics Canada released stark job numbers today, reporting Canada lost more than one million jobs in March. 

• Ontario lost about 403,000 jobs in March; the province is putting together a committee to look into economic recovery post-pandemic. Reports of floundering small and medium-sized businesses are echoing what I’m hearing on calls from people who’ve lost their jobs and from local businesses that are worried how much longer they can keep going. The NDP continues to call on the provincial government to provide more direct support for people — like direct financial help, rent subsidies for tenants and small business, and remote work set-up funding to help employers keep people on the payroll.

• Ontario has yet to mandate that long-term care workers limit their work to one home, as a way to slow the spread of the virus. Many PSWs hold multiple jobs to make ends meet -- the NDP's proposal for saving lives in long-term care includes a call to immediately raise salaries for workers like PSWs and nurses to a minimum of $22/hour.

• We also called on the Ford government to fund accommodation costs for frontline health workers afraid to go home after their shifts each day because of a loved one at home who is immunocompromised. 

• There are more reports today that Ontario is still lagging when it comes to testing for COVID-19. CBC reports that shortages of swabs prompted testing centres to refuse to test 25 to 30 per cent of those who showed up this past week. We’re calling on Doug Ford and Health Minister Christine Elliott to immediately increase Ontario’s woefully low COVID-19 testing numbers, and broaden our tight testing criteria — the Ford government has spent weeks saying testing will be ramped up, but has yet to make that happen. 

• Models released this morning forecast how the COVID-19 pandemic could play out on a national scale, with numbers dependent on how rigorously Canadians maintain social distancing – Prime Minister Trudeau said we should expect to see multiple waves of COVID-19 over the coming months (likely involving various waves of social distancing measures), and that a return to normalcy will happen only once a vaccine is ready.

• Canada had prepared a report over a decade ago predicting a coronavirus-like pandemic, with steps to overcome it. The government clearly underestimated the implications of COVID-19. 

• My team is dealing with increasingly complex questions from the community about how various benefits impact them. We’re working as hard as we can to get people the information they need, and to share concerns back to the government as they come up. We’re also working closely with the Councillor and MP offices to make sure people get information and supports at the appropriate levels.

• I’m hearing from people with disabilities and their families who are anxious about their health and ability to pay their bills during the pandemic. Ontario's policy of clawing back supports like EI from a person's ODSP cheque means families who qualify for the Canadian Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) will see their ODSP support wiped out--the NDP is calling on the government to stop Ontario's clawback policy.  
   

Need help? 
 

211 information service is available by phone, chat or email to connect you with services and supports during this time.

City of Toronto Social Supports during COVID-19

The City of Toronto website has valuable resources on social supports in the city, including new food access supports and resources available for seniors and other vulnerable people experiencing hardship related to COVID-19.

https://www.toronto.ca/home/covid-19/covid-19-social-support/

Public Health Updates

COVID-19 self-assessment tool:
Use this to determine what steps you should take should you exhibit symptoms: https://covid-19.ontario.ca/self-assessment/#q0

Reminder that updates on the pandemic response are available daily on the following websites:

Toronto.ca/coronavirus

Information from Toronto Public Health on local cases, how to protect yourself and where to seek further medical support.

Ontario.ca/coronavirus

Information from Ontario’s Ministry of Health and Long Term Care

Find out how to protect yourself, what to do if you’re sick and how to recognize possible symptoms. Updated twice daily, in 30 languages.

Canada.ca/coronavirus

Information from the Government of Ontario and the Public Health Agency of Canada

Updates on the national response and access to emergency support benefits.