(*)
>> Andrew: GOOD EVENING, I'M
ANDREW CHANG.
ADRIENNE IS ON ASSIGNMENT.
>>> TONIGHT, CANADA'S BLEAK
COVID-19 NUMBERS.
UNPRECEDENTED JOB LOSSES.
AND FATALITY PROJECTIONS IN THE
BALANCE.
>> Prime Minister Justin
Trudeau: WE'RE IN A FORK IN THE
ROAD BETWEEN THE BEST AND THE
WORST POSSIBLE OUTCOMES.
>> Andrew: "AT ISSUE" LOOKS
IT'S THE GOVERNMENT'S RESPONSE.
>> I JUST WORRY ABOUT MY DAD AND
MY UNCLE.
>> Andrew: WHAT'S GOING ON IN
CANADA'S LONG-TERM CARE
FACILITIES?
>>> ALSO, THE BLOOD TEST THAT
DOCTORS SAY THEY NEED BUT THE
ONE THAT CANADA ISN'T USING.
>>> AND WORDS OF WISDOM FOR
STRESSED OUT PARENTS OF SCHOOL
KIDS.
>> THE KEY IS TO ENGAGE THEM IN
THE THINGS THAT THEY'RE
INTERESTED IN.
>> Andrew: COPING STRATEGIES
FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY.
>>> THIS IS "THE NATIONAL."
(*)
>>> NO MATTER WHERE YOU LIVE OR
WHAT YOU DO, COVID-19 IS HITTING
HARD TONIGHT ON THREE FRONTS --
ON HEALTH, JOBS, AND THE WAY
THAT YOU GET AROUND.
THE NEWS IS TOUGH, THE
PREDICTIONS BLUNT, AND ALL ABOUT
A PANDEMIC THAT IS YET TO HIT
ITS PEAK IN CANADA.
FROM STATISTICS CANADA, JOB
LOSSES, THE LIKES OF WHICH
CANADA HAS NEVER RECORDED.
FROM HEALTH OFFICIALS, NEW
MODELING SHOWING TENS OF
THOUSANDS COULD DIE.
AND FROM THE PRIME MINISTER, A
TIMELINE THAT IS HARD TO
PROCESS, ABOUT JUST HOW LONG
THIS NEW NORMAL COULD LAST.
CATHERINE CULLEN STARTS THERE.
>> Prime Minister Justin
Trudeau: WE CAN DO THIS
TOGETHER.
>> Reporter: HE'S TRYING TO
REASSURE, BUT AT ITS HEART THE
NEWS IS BRACING.
THERE'S A LONG ROAD AHEAD.
>> Prime Minister Justin
Trudeau: THE INITIAL PEAK, THE
TOP OF THE CURVE, MAY BE IN LATE
SPRING, WITH THE END OF THE
FIRST WAVE IN THE SUMMER.
>> Reporter: AND MORE TO COME.
>> Prime Minister Justin
Trudeau: THERE WILL LIKELY BE
SMALLER OUTBREAKS FOR A NUMBER
OF MONTHS AFTER THAT.
THIS WILL BE THE NEW NORMAL
UNTIL A VACCINE IS DEVELOPED.
>> Reporter: MEANING THE NEW
NORMAL COULD LAST FOR MONTHS,
EVEN YEARS.
>> WE ARE IN A VERY CRITICAL
TIME PERIOD.
>> Reporter: AS THEY UNVEILED
THEIR PROJECTIONS ONCE AGAIN A
WARNING -- HOW CANADIANS BEHAVE
NOW WILL DETERMINE HOW DEADLY
THIS OUTBREAK IS.
IF NO CONTAINMENT MEASURES HAD
BEEN TAKEN, AN ESTIMATED 300,000 
CANADIANS COULD DIE THROUGH THE
COURSE OF THE OUTBREAK.
WITH PHYSICAL DISTANCING AND
TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS THE RANGE IS
FROM 4,400 TO 22,000 DEATHS FROM
THE VIRUS.
AND SO 4,400 DEATHS HAS BECOME
THE SCENARIO THEY'RE HOPING FOR.
>> I WOULDN'T SAY THE MOST
PROBABLE, BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW
THAT YET.
I WOULD SAY THAT IS THE
ASPIRATIONAL AND OUR AMBITIOUS
GOAL.
>> Reporter: TO REACH THAT
GOAL SHE SAYS THAT IT WILL TAKE
MORE TESTING AND MORE WORK TO
TRACK EVERYONE WHO IS IN CONTACT
WITH AN INFECTED PERSON.
DIFFERENT PLACES IN THE COUNTRY
WILL PEAK AT DIFFERENT TIMES,
OFFICIALS WARNED, AND EVEN
THEN --
>> ON THE DOWNWARD SIDE OF THE
CURVE WE CANNOT LET GO OF ANY OF
OUR PUBLIC HEALTH MEASURES.
THE MOMENT YOU RELEASE ANYTHING,
THE CHANGE OF THE TRANSMISSION
IS GOING TO IGNITE.
>> Reporter: THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT IS RELEASING THESE
NUMBERS TODAY, YES, BECAUSE OF
PUBLIC PRESSURE, BUT ALSO AS A
REMINDER TO EVERYONE ON THIS
HOLIDAY WEEKEND TO STAY HOME.
BECAUSE THE NUMBERS SHOW THAT
THOUSANDS OF LIVES COULD BE AT
STAKE.
CATHERINE CULLEN, CBC NEWS,
OTTAWA.
>> Andrew: IT'S HARD TO
OVERSTATE HOW SEVERELY COVID-19
HAS
DAMAGED THE ECONOMY.
YOU SEE THOSE STREETS EMPTIER
THAN EVER AND NOW THE WORST
UNEMPLOYMENT FIGURES IN DECADES.
NOW KEEP THIS IN MIND AS YOU
LOOK AT THE NUMBERS.
A TYPICAL MONTH SEES ABOUT
15,000 JOB LOSS CLAIMS, BUT IN
MARCH MORE THAN ONE MILLION
CANADIANS LOST THEIR JOBS.
AT LEAST TWO MILLION HAD THEIR
SHIFTS OR HOURS REDUCED.
THE HARDEST HIT, THE SALES AND
THE SERVICE SECTOR, 635,000 JOBS
GONE.
AND JUST LIKE THAT THE
UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IS 7.6%.
AARON SALTZMAN SPEAKS WITH
CANADIANS DEALING WITH THE
DAMAGE.
>> Reporter: PEOPLE WHO WERE
LAID OFF WERE MORE LIKELY TO BE
FEMALE, YOUNGER, WORKING IN LESS
SECURE LOWER PAYING JOBS.
IN OTHER WORDS, THOSE WHO COULD
LEAST AFFORD IT.
>> IT REALLY HIT ME HARD.
>> Reporter: NADINE CLEANS
ROOMS AT THE HYATT REGENCY IN
VANCOUVER.
ON A SINGLE INCOME SHE WAS
HELPING
TO SUPPORT HER FAMILY BACK IN
THE PHILIPPINES.
UNTIL SHE AND HER CO-WORKERS
WERE SENT HOME MARCH 15th.
>> A LOT OF US WERE PANICKING,
HOW ARE WE GOING TO SURVIVE AND
HOW ARE WE GOING TO PAY OUR
RENT?
>> Reporter: NEARLY ONE-THIRD
OF ALL OF THE JOB LOSSES IN
CANADA WERE IN THE HOSPITALITY
INDUSTRY.
>> A MAJORITY OF OUR MEMBERS ARE
PEOPLE OF COLOUR, IMMIGRANTS,
AND, YOU KNOW, THEY DO LIVE
PAYCHEQUE TO PAYCHEQUE.
>> Reporter: OF THE 8,000
WORKERS HE REPRESENTS, 90% WERE
LAID OFF.
ONTARIO AND QUÉBEC WITH THE
LARGEST POPULATIONS HAD THE MOST 
PEOPLE LOOKING FOR WORK.
BUT NO REGION AND ALMOST NO
SECTOR WAS SPARED.
>> WE REACHED A POINT WHERE OUR
ECONOMIC ANALYSIS FALLS TO THE
WAYSIDE AND WE CAN'T HELP BUT
THINK THAT THIS IS A DISASTER,
SUCH A TRAGIC SITUATION.
>> Reporter: ALBERTA, WITH AN
ECONOMY THAT HAD ALREADY BEEN
LAGGING FOR YEARS, IS DEALING
WITH BOTH THE PANDEMIC AND
COLLAPSING OIL PRICES.
>> PEOPLE ARE JUST PLAIN SCARED
AND DON'T KNOW WHETHER OR NOT
THEY'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO HAVE
A GOOD PAYCHEQUE, TO BE ABLE TO
PAY THEIR MORTGAGE.
>> I'M AT THE END OF MY CAREER.
>> Reporter: THE SELF-EMPLOYED
ALSO STRUGGLING.
AT 57 THIS PILATES INSTRUCTOR
WORRIES THAT SHE MAY NOT BE ABLE
TO PICK UP AGAIN.
>> SO THIS MIGHT BE THE END FOR
ME.
I MIGHT JUST BE LIMPING ALONG IN
POVERTY FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE.
>> Reporter: EVEN PEOPLE STILL
WORKING HAD THEIR HOURS CUT.
ONE SMALL POSITIVE NOTE -- MOST
WHO WERE LAID OFF SAID THEY
EXPECTED TO GET THEIR JOBS BACK
WITHIN SIX MONTHS.
AARON SALTZMAN, CBC NEWS,
TORONTO.
>> Andrew: SO WHERE DO WE GO
FROM HERE?
LET'S BRING IN OUR NATIONAL
BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT PETER
ARMSTRONG.
PETER, PEOPLE ARE ALREADY
STRUGGLING, BUT HOW BAD DOES
THIS GET?
>> Reporter: WE CAN ONLY SAY,
ANDREW, THAT IT WILL GET WORSE.
I MEAN, THE SURVEY REALLY ONLY
LOOKED AT THE STATE OF THINGS
THROUGH MARCH 31st.
AND, REMEMBER, THAT IT GOT
REALLY BAD AFTER THAT.
FROM AN ECONOMICS PERSPECTIVE,
REMEMBER THIS ISN'T JUST SOME
DOWNTURN.
THIS IS A SHUTDOWN, A UNIQUE
AND UNPARALLELED EVENT.
AND EVERY TIME THAT SOMEONE
FORECAST HOW BAD IT WOULD BE,
THE END RESULT COMES IN WAY
WORSE THAN EVEN THE PESSIMISTS
HAD PREDICTED.
>> Andrew: THE PRIME MINISTER,
JUSTIN TRUDEAU, TRYING TO
REASSURE CANADIANS ABOUT ALL OF
THIS.
LET'S LISTEN TO WHAT HE HAD TO
SAY TODAY --
>> Prime Minister Justin
Trudeau: THINGS WILL GET
BETTER, AND ONCE THEY DO, YOU
CAN BE SURE THAT OUR COUNTRY
WILL COME ROARING BACK.
>> Andrew: SO THE QUESTION,
PETER, HOW REALISTIC IS THAT?
>> Reporter: WELL, THINK TO
YOURSELF WHAT THINGS ARE GOING
TO LOOK LIKE ON THE OTHER SIDE
OF THIS MONTHS FROM NOW.
ALL OF THOSE PEOPLE THAT AARON
SALTZMAN TALKED TO AND
RESTAURANT WORKERS AND THE
PILATES GYM, WHEN WILL YOU START
GOING BACK TO THOSE PLACES?
PROBABLY NOT RIGHT OUT OF THE
GATE.
THEY TALK ABOUT A V-SHAPED
RECOVERY, A SHARP DROP DOWN AND
A SHARP MOVE UP.
AND THAT MAYBE WITH A LARGE
GRADUAL
RESUMPTION AND THAT WILL POLICY
IMPLICATIONS NOT JUST FOR THOSE
WORKERS BUT FOR THE GOVERNMENT
AS WELL.
>> Andrew: GOOD INSIGHT.
PETER, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> Reporter: YOU BET.
>> Andrew: CANADIANS ARE ALSO
HUNGRY FOR ANY NEWS ON A VIABLE
VACCINE AS THE PRIVATE AND
PUBLIC RESEARCHERS WORK AROUND
THE CLOCK.
AT LEAST 115 VACCINE CANDIDATES
ARE NOW IN DEVELOPMENT IN LABS
AROUND THE WORLD.
INCLUDING AT VETO INTERVAC, A
RESEARCH FACILITY IN SASKATOON.
AND THEY'RE ONE OF THE FIRST TO
REACH
THE ANIMAL TESTING STAGE.
IF SUCCESSFUL, HUMAN TRIALS
COULD BEGIN BY THE FALL.
WITH THAT LONG WAIT FOR A
VACCINE, WE CAN EXPECT THE
NATIONAL CASE LOAD TO KEEP
CLIMBING AND TODAY'S SURGE WAS
DRAMATIC.
1,474 MORE CANADIANS HAVE TESTED
POSITIVE FOR COVID-19.
THE TOTAL NOW CLOSING IN ON
21,000.
AND REMEMBER THAT BECAUSE
TESTING IS LIMITED, THE ACTUAL
NUMBER OF CASES IS LIKELY MUCH
HIGHER.
ALSO RESEARCH BY CBC NEWS HAS
CONFIRMED A PRETTY ALARMING
FACT -- OF THE 544 DEATHS IN
CANADA SO FAR, ABOUT HALF ARE
LINKED TO RETIREMENT HOMES AND
LONG-TERM CARE HOMES FOR THE
ELDERLY.
ONE OBVIOUS REASON, OLDER PEOPLE
ARE MORE VULNERABLE.
BUT THERE ARE OTHER REASONS TOO.
CAROLYN DUNN LOOKS AT ONE HOME
WHERE STAFF ARE SPEAKING OUT.
>> Reporter: THIS IS AS CLOSE
AS NINA VAUGHAN CAN GET TO HER
81-YEAR-OLD MOM, DOROTHY.
VAUGHAN KNOWS THAT SHE COULD
SURELY USE A HUG.
>> I HAD TO TELL HER ABOUT HER
SISTER'S PASSING ON FACETIME.
IT'S JUST REALLY AWFUL.
>> Reporter: DOROTHY'S TWIN
SISTER, DEENA, DIED THIS WEEK
FROM COVID-19.
TWO MORE FAMILY MEMBERS ARE
AMONG THE DOZENS OF INFECTED
RESIDENTS AND STAFF INSIDE OF
THE McKENZIE TOWNE CENTRE, AND
VAUGHAN'S FATHER, LORNE AND HER
AUNT'S HUSBAND.
>> I WORRY ABOUT MY DAD AND MY
UNCLE.
ARE THEY CONFUSED?
ARE THEY GETTING GOOD CARE?
>> Reporter: VAUGHAN WONDERS
HOW IT GOT SO OUT OF CONTROL.
TWO NURSES ON DUTY DURING THE
FIRST WEEK OF THE OUTBREAK TELL
CBC NEWS THAT IT WAS CHAOS WHEN
THE FIRST CASE WAS CONFIRMED ON
MARCH 23rd, PANICKED WORKERS
STOPPED COMING IN.
UNDERSTAFFING GOT WORSE AS STAFF
BEGAN FALLING ILL.
WE'VE AGREED TO HIDE THE
IDENTITY OF ONE LICENSED
PRACTICAL NURSE BECAUSE SHE
FEARS FOR HER JOB BY SPEAKING
OUT.
SHE SAYS ESSENTIAL CLEANING WAS
NON-EXISTENT AT FIRST.
>> FOR THE WHOLE FIRST WEEK
THERE WASN'T ANY HOUSEKEEPING AT
ALL.
ACTUALLY WE HAD TO EMPTY GARBAGE
FROM
THE RESIDENTS' ROOMS.
>> Reporter: REVERA, THE
COMPANY THAT RUNS THE CARE HOME,
INSIST THAT THERE WERE ALWAYS
CLEANERS ON DUTY.
THE NURSES SAY THEY WERE NOT
USING ADEQUATE PERSONAL
PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT WHEN
CARING FOR RESIDENTS SHOWING
SYMPTOMS.
>> WE WERE TOLD BY OUR
MANAGEMENT THAT WE WOULD ONLY
USED P.P.E. AFTER IT WAS
CONFIRMED THAT THEY WERE A
POSITIVE CASE.
>> Reporter: REVERA DISPUTES
THAT TOO, SAYING STAFF
USED PERSONAL PROTECTIVE
EQUIPMENT WITH CONFIRMED AND
SYMPTOMATIC RESIDENTS.
IT HAS SINCE INCREASED STAFFING
LEVELS.
ALBERTA HEALTH SERVICES SAYS
THAT IT'S MONITORING AND
SUPPORTING THE LONG-TERM CARE
FACILITY.
IT'S ALSO REVIEWING THE MEASURES
THAT THE OPERATOR REVERA TOOK
BEFORE THE OUTBREAK BEGAN.
CAROLYN DUNN, CBC NEWS, CALGARY.
>> Andrew: NOW EVER SINCE
CANADA'S PANDEMIC FIRST TOOK
ROOT IN A B.C. CARE HOME,
THERE HAS BEEN A GROWING OUTCRY
TO
ADDRESS THE SUSCEPTIBILITY OF
PEOPLE WHO LIVE AND WORK IN
SIMILAR PLACES.
STARTING TODAY THE ONTARIO
GOVERNMENT REQUIRES THAT ALL
CARE HOME STAFF WEAR SURGICAL
MASKS ON THE JOB, EVEN IF
THERE ARE NO CONFIRMED COVID-19
CASES IN THE BUILDING.
THAT'S ONE MEASURE.
BUT WHAT ELSE CAN BE DONE?
ELLEN MAURO LOOKS AT THE HAZARDS
AND WHY OLDER HOMES ARE THE
HARDEST HIT.
>> Reporter: OUTSIDE SO MANY
CARE HOMES NOW, SIGNS OF
REMEMBRANCE, OF GRATITUDE, AND
OF WARNING.
>> WE'VE LOST A LOT OF PEOPLE
AND, GUYS, I TELL YOU, WE LOVED
THEM.
>> Reporter: REBECCA PIIRONEN
WORKS AT A HOME WHERE AT LEAST
EIGHT PEOPLE HAVE DIED.
SHE'S SURE THAT SHE HAS THE
VIRUS TOO.
WE SPOKE TO HER RIGHT AFTER HER
TEST.
PIIRONEN SAYS IN OLDER
FACILITIES LIKE WHERE SHE WORKS,
IT'S AN UNFAIR FIGHT SINCE MANY
HAVE SHARED ROOMS.
>> THE PERSON IN THE BED NEXT TO
YOU COULD BE SICK WITH THIS
VIRUS.
ALL THE REST OF THE THREE OF
THEM HAVE NO CHOICE, NO CHANCE.
>> Reporter: NEW HOMES IN
ONTARIO HAVE A MAXIMUM OF TWO
PEOPLE TO A ROOM.
IN OLDER FACILITIES LIKE
PINECREST NURSING HOME, AROUND
SINCE THE 1960s, FOUR PERSON
ROOMS ARE COMMON, MAKING IT
EASIER FOR THE VIRUS TO SPREAD.
>> IN ONTARIO WE CERTAINLY KNEW
THAT THESE OLDER HOMES NEEDED TO
BE REDEVELOPED.
THEY NEEDED TO COME UP TO THE
NEW DISCIPLES.
THEY HAVE
BEEN TALKING ABOUT IT FOR MANY,
MANY YEARS.
>> Reporter: CARE WORKERS ARE
FALLING ILL TOO, MAKING CHRONIC
UNDERSTAFFING CHALLENGES EVEN
WORSE.
>> MANY OF THEM WORK PART-TIME
AND DON'T HAVE PAID SICK LEAVE
AND THAT NECESSITATES THEM TO
WORK AT MULTIPLE FACILITIES
WHICH CONTRIBUTES TO THE SPREAD.
>> Reporter: AND SPREAD MEANS
LOSS.
>> IT'S KIND OF SURREAL THAT
WE'RE CAUGHT UP IN THIS
INTERNATIONAL STORY.
>> Reporter: MIKE MCCARROLL'S
MOTHER, RUBY, A TEACHER OF 30
YEARS, DIED LAST WEEK.
>> SHE TOUCHED A LOT OF LIVES,
PEOPLE THAT SAID THAT SHE WAS
THE BEST -- THEIR BEST TEACHER
THEY EVER HAD.
>> Reporter: SO MANY LIVES
WELL LIVED AND NOW LOST TO
COVID-19.
ELLEN MAURO, CBC NEWS, TORONTO.
>> Andrew: ONTARIO EXPANDED
ITS TESTING CRITERIA TODAY TO
TRY TO GET MORE DONE.
THE FOCUS -- HEALTH CARE WORKERS
AND LONG-TERM CARE RESIDENTS.
EVEN THOSE WITH A-TYPICAL
SYMPTOMS.
>> NURSES, DOCTORS, P.S.W.s,
CLEANERS, ANYONE THAT IS
INVOLVED IN THE HEALTH CARE
SYSTEM.
BUT THERE HAS TO BE A PRIORITY.
OUR PRIORITY IS TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE TARGET THE
LONG-TERM CARE RESIDENTS AND THE
WORKERS THERE.
>> Andrew: THAT INCLUDES THOSE
WITHOUT SYMPTOMS BUT WHO HAVE
HAD A CONTACT WITH A CONFIRMED
CASE.
TESTING IS KEY TO TRACKING THE
SPREAD OF THE VIRUS AND TRYING
TO CONTAIN IT, BUT ONTARIO HAS
BEEN FALLING FAR SHORT OF ITS
LAB CAPACITY OF 13,000 TESTS PER
DAY.
NOW AROUND THE WORLD DIFFERENT
KINDS OF TESTS ARE BEING USED TO
FOLLOW THE VIRUS' PATH AND AS
VIK ADHOPIA SHOWS US, THERE IS
ONE FROM CANADA FINDING SUCCESS,
JUST NOT IN CANADA.
>> Reporter: AT SPECIAL
CLINICS LIKE THIS ONE, IT'S
PEOPLE WITH SEVERE SYMPTOMS WHO
ARE GETTING TESTED.
USUALLY A NASAL SWAB WHICH NEEDS
TO GO TO A LAB.
THIS NEW PINPRICK BLOOD TEST
TAKES JUST 15 MINUTES.
BUT THE CANADIAN COMPANY MAKES A
$10 VERSION.
ITS CUSTOMER BASE IS HOSPITALS
AND LABS IN THE U.S. AND THE
EUROPEAN UNION.
HEALTH CANADA SAYS THAT IT'S
JUST NOT READY FOR USE HERE.
>> WE HAVE A SISTER COMPANY IN
THE U.K. THAT IS LITERALLY
SELLING THIS IN THE MILLIONS.
>> IT WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE A
BASE IN YOUR HOME COUNTRY.
>> Reporter: THE TEST DOESN'T
DETECT THE VIRUS ITSELF BUT,
RATHER, THE ANTIBODIES PRODUCED
TO FIGHT IT.
ABOUT A WEEK AFTER A PERSON GETS
INFECTED.
EVEN IN PEOPLE WHO HAVE NEVER
HAD SYMPTOMS.
A GROUP OF DOCTORS IS URGING
HEALTH CANADA TO FAST TRACK THE
APPROVAL OF THE TEST.
>> YOU JUST HAVE TO LOOK AT THE
DATA COMING FROM OTHER COUNTRIES
TO SEE HOW WONDERFULLY COUNTRIES
ARE DOING WHO ACTUALLY KNOW
WHAT'S GOING ON, LIKE SOUTH
KOREA.
>> Reporter: HEALTH CANADA
SAYS THAT IT'S JUST FOLLOWING
THE W.H.O.'S ADVICE WHICH
RECOMMENDS THE USE OF THESE NEW
TESTS ONLY IN RESEARCH SETTINGS.
THEY SHOULD NOT BE FOR CLINICAL
DECISIONMAKING UNTIL EVIDENCE
SUPPORTING USE FOR SPECIFIC
INDICATIONS IS AVAILABLE.
EVEN SO, GERMANY IS USING THE
TEST WIDELY ON A TRIAL BASIS TO
FIND OUT WHO'S NOW IMMUNE TO THE
VIRUS.
THIS INFECTIOUS DISEASE
SPECIALIST SAYS THAT IF IT'S
PROVEN RELIABLE IT COULD FREE US
FROM STRICT QUARANTINE MEASURES.
>> IT WOULD ALLOW US TO BACK OFF
FROM THE SLEDGEHAMMER AND WE
COULD BE MUCH MORE SELECTIVE IN
THE KIND OF CONTROL MEASURES
THAT WE'RE BRINGING INTO PLAY.
>> Reporter: LIKE THE SCIENCE
OF THIS CORONAVIRUS, TESTING IS
STILL A WORK IN PROGRESS.
VIK ADHOPIA, CBC NEWS, TORONTO.
>> Andrew: NOW AS THE VIRUS'
IMPACT CONTINUES TO BE FELT
AROUND THE WORLD, SOME GOOD NEWS
IN BRITAIN TODAY.
PRIME MINISTER BORIS JOHNSON HAS
BEEN MOVED OUT OF INTENSIVE
CARE.
>> HE CONTINUES TO MAKE POSITIVE
STEPS FORWARD AND HE'S IN GOOD
SPIRITS.
>> Andrew: JOHNSON TESTED
POSITIVE FOR COVID-19 TWO WEEKS
AGO AND WAS HOSPITALIZED ON
SUNDAY AND TAKEN TO THE I.C.U. A
DAY LATER.
HE'S NOW SAID TO BE BACK IN A
WARD WHERE HE'LL CONTINUE TO BE
MONITORED CLOSELY.
>> THE POLICE OFFICERS
ENTERED THE RUBY PRINCESS TO
GATHER EVIDENCE.
>> Andrew: AUSTRALIAN POLICE
IN FULL PROTECTIVE GEAR WERE
SEEN BOARDING A CRUISE SHIP FROM
WHICH HUNDREDS OF VIRUS-INFECTED
PASSENGERS DISEMBARKED LAST
MONTH.
OFFICERS SAY THEY'VE TAKEN THE
BLACK BOX AND INTERVIEWED THE
CAPTAIN AS PART OF A HOMICIDE
INVESTIGATION INTO THE COUNTRY'S
DEADLIEST INFECTION SOURCE.
AT LEAST 15 DEATHS AND 600 CASES
HAVE BEEN
LINKED TO THAT SHIP.
>>> FOR A THIRD DAY, NEW YORK
STATE HOSTED A RECORD-BREAKING
NUMBER OF CORONAVIRUS DEATHS.
NEARLY 800.
AND SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE DIED IN
NEW YORK THAT THE GOVERNOR IS
BRINGING IN MORE FUNERAL
DIRECTORS.
>> IF YOU EVER TOLD ME THAT AS
GOVERNOR I WOULD HAVE TO TAKE
THESE ACTIONS, I COULDN'T EVEN
CONTEMPLATE WHERE WE ARE NOW.
>> Andrew: THIS IS A MASS
GRAVE BEING DUG ON NEW YORK'S
HEART ISLAND.
IT'S LONG BEEN THE PLACE THAT
THE CITY BURIES UNIDENTIFIED OR
UNCLAIMED BODIES, USUALLY ABOUT
25 A WEEK.
NOW IT'S 25 A DAY.
IN THE CITY, THE STREETS ARE
EMPTY, FEARFUL.
SUSAN ORMISTON IS THERE.
>> Reporter: TIMES SQUARE,
EMPTY.
EVEN NEW YORK COPS STRUCK.
ONE IN FIVE HAS CORONAVIRUS.
NEW YORK IS STRONG, BUT THIS
TEST IS MONSTROUS.
WITH BROADWAY SHUT DOWN, THIS IS
THE SOUNDTRACK -- [SIREN]
ANOTHER GRIM RECORD OVERNIGHT.
NEARLY 800 DIED STATE-WIDE,
ALMOST DOUBLE CANADA'S TOTAL
DEATHS.
>> WE HAVE NEVER SEEN DEATH LIKE
THIS.
>> Reporter: THIS PARAMEDIC IS
CONVINCED THAT THE ACTUAL DEATH
RATE IS EVEN HIGHER.
>> I THINK THAT WE HAVE 300
CARDIAC ARRESTS IN A DAY LAST
WEEK, YOU KNOW, WE ARE UP THERE.
YOU HAVE TO ADD THAT TO THE
TALLY.
THEY'RE NOT BEING COUNTED.
SO THE ACTUAL NUMBERS IS
DEFINITELY MUCH HIGHER THAN WHAT
THEY'RE REPORTING.
>> Reporter: MASKS ARE
EVERYWHERE.
ALL KINDS OF THEM.
EVEN THE GUARDS AT TRUMP TOWER
ON A DESERTED 5th AVENUE.
AS THE MAYOR OF NEW YORK
CONFIRMED TODAY THERE IS STILL
WIDESPREAD TRANSMISSION WHICH
CAN'T BE TRACED.
COUNCILLOR MARK LEVINE'S
HOMEMADE MASK IS REALLY FOR
OTHERS.
HE'S RECOVERED FROM COVID AND
URGES VIGILANCE.
>> I'M ACTUALLY WORRIED THAT
REPORTS THAT THIS MIGHT BE
SLOWING WOULD LEAD NEW YORKERS
TO LET THEIR GUARD DOWN, TO LEAD
THEM TO COME OUT OF THEIR HOUSES
MORE, TO LEAD THEM TO TAKE THEIR
MASKS OFF AND TO SOCIALIZE MORE.
>> Reporter: ANY LOOSENING OF
THE RESTRICTIONS IN CROWDS
AND NEIGHBOURHOODS BRINGS REAL
FEAR
FOR THOSE WHO HAVE TO WORK
OUTSIDE LIKE ARIAL.
>> I WORRY BECAUSE IT'S VERY
NECESSARY BECAUSE WE NEED TO PAY
THE RENT.
IF IT WAS MY PREFERENCE, I WOULD
STAY AT HOME.
>> Reporter: A FRAGILE BUT
HOPEFUL SIGN THAT HOSPITAL
ADMISSIONS ARE DRAMATICALLY
LOWER TODAY.
IF THAT CONTINUES, ONE SIGN THE
FLATTENING THE CURVE.
BACK AT TIMES SQUARE, AT BEST A
NEW YORK MOMENT, A NAKED COWBOY
STILL OUT HERE IMPERVIOUS.
>> CORONAVIRUS 2020.
>> Reporter: AS NEW YORKERS
STRUGGLE TO RECLAIM THEIR CITY.
>> Andrew: SUSAN IS IN TIMES
SQUARE TONIGHT.
SUSAN, NEW YORK HAS BEEN AT THE
EPI-CENTRE FOR WEEKS NOW.
HOW ARE PEOPLE RESPONDING TO THE
MOUNTING DEATH TOLL AND THE
UNCERTAINTY?
>> Reporter: YOU KNOW, THERE
IS UNRELENTING HEARTBREAK, AND
THE FURTHER YOU GO OUT OF
MANHATTAN TO THE BOROUGHS,
BROOKLYN AND THE BRONX AND WORSE
IN QUEENS.
EVERYONE KNOWS SOMEONE WHO HAS
HAD IT OR DIED FROM IT.
THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE IN
THE STREETS, LOTS OF MASKS.
IT JUST TAKES THAT MANY TO JUST
KEEP THIS CITY STILL GOING.
BUT THEY SHARE
ONE ABIDING FEAR AND IS THAT
THEY'LL PICK IT UP STILL IN THE
COMMUNITY HERE AND TAKE IT HOME
TO THEIR FAMILIES.
THE ONE THING THEY'RE LOOKING
FOR IS THOSE HOSPITAL ADMISSIONS
TO KEEP GOING DOWN, ANDREW.
AND ONLY THEN WILL THEY FEEL
LIKE THEY'RE EMERGING FROM THIS
VICE-LIKE GRIP OF THE
CORONAVIRUS.
>> Andrew: SUSAN ORMISTON IN
TIMES SQUARE, THANK YOU.
>>> WELL, VANCOUVER'S MOST
VULNERABLE NEIGHBOURHOOD HAS ITS
FIRST CONFIRMED CASE OF
COVID-19.
>> IT'S GOING TO SPREAD LIKE
WILDFIRE.
>> Andrew: UP NEXT, WE TAKE
YOU TO THE DOWNTOWN EASTSIDE AND
HOW HEALTH CARE WORKERS WHO WERE
ALREADY DEALING WITH THE OPIOID
CRISIS ARE GETTING READY FOR
COVID-19.
>>> PLUS, AS THE HOUSE OF
COMMONS GETS READY FOR A WEEKEND
DEBATE, ROSIE AND "AT ISSUE"
DISCUSS HOW TO KEEP POLITICIANS
ACCOUNTABLE IN THE MIDST OF A
CRISIS.
>>> PLUS, TRYING TO FIGURE OUT
HOMESCHOOLING?
YOU'RE NOT ALONE.
>> I DON'T WANT TO HAVE THAT
FIGHT WITH MY KIDS, ESPECIALLY
NOT NOW.
>> Andrew: MAKING IT WORK FOR
YOU AND YOUR KIDS.
WE'RE BACK IN TWO.
(*)
>> Andrew: WELCOME BACK.
OTHER COVID-RELATED STORIES
MAKING NEWS ACROSS THE
COUNTRY -- AN OUTBREAK IS
REPORTED AT A FEDERAL PRISON IN
BRITISH COLUMBIA'S FRASER
VALLEY.
CORRECTIONAL SERVICES CANADA SAY
THAT
THERE'S 24 CONFIRMED CASES AT
THE MISSION INSTITUTION, A
MEDIUM-SECURITY PRISON WITH A
CAPACITY OF 216.
THEY ARE ALL NOW IN LOCKDOWN.
>>> THREE PEOPLE AT THE NATIONAL
MICROBIOLOGY LABORATORY IN
WINNIPEG ARE IN ISOLATION AFTER
TESTING POSITIVE FOR COVID-19.
THAT LAB IS CENTRAL TO CANADA'S
EFFORTS TO HELP TO FIND A
VACCINE.
MANITOBA HEALTH IS NOW
INVESTIGATING.
>>> AND ONE OF THE COUNTRY'S
MOST VULNERABLE NEIGHBOURHOODS
HAS CONFIRMED ITS FIRST POSITIVE
CASE.
IT HAPPENED AT A TRANSITIONAL
HOME
AND ADDICTIONS TREATMENT CENTRE
IN VANCOUVER'S DOWNTOWN
EASTSIDE.
IT'S NOT CLEAR HOW THE PERSON
CONTRACTED THE VIRUS, BUT OTHER
CLIENTS AND STAFF ARE NOW BEING
TESTED.
NOW EVEN WITHOUT THE PANDEMIC,
MANY PEOPLE IN THAT PART OF
VANCOUVER'S DOWNTOWN ARE
FIGHTING ADDICTION, THEY'RE
FIGHTING POVERTY AND OTHER
HEALTH CONCERNS.
BRIAR STEWART SHOWS US HOW THE
LATEST THREAT WILL ONLY MAKE
THINGS WORSE.
>> Reporter: THE LINE KEEPS
GROWING AT THE UNION GOSPEL
MISSION.
>> HOW ARE YOU DOING THERE?
THERE YOU GO.
>> NUMBER 13...
>> Reporter: ONE OF THE ONLY
PLACES HANDING OUT A HOT MEAL
THESE DAYS.
>> THERE YOU GO.
>> WE'RE SEEING NEW PEOPLE WHO
NEVER BEFORE HAVE ASKED US FOR
HELP IN OUR LINE BECAUSE THEY
LOST THEIR JOB, THEY DIDN'T HAVE
SUPPORTS, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN
NOW THEY'RE IN THE DOWNTOWN
EASTSIDE OF VANCOUVER ASKING FOR
FOOD OR FOR SHELTER.
>> Reporter: BECAUSE OF
COVID-19, MANY COMMUNITY CENTRES
AND LIBRARIES HAVE CLOSED.
>> MY MAIN CONCERN IS THAT THESE
PEOPLE IN THE STREET HAVE
LITERALLY NO PLACE TO GO NOW.
NO PLACE.
>> Reporter: SIDEWALKS AND
ALLEYS REMAIN CROWDED DESPITE
THE PLEAS FROM PUBLIC HEALTH.
AND EVEN THE POLICE.
>> FROM WHAT I SEE, PEOPLE DON'T
SOCIAL DISTANCE.
MYSELF, IF I WAS STILL ACTIVELY
USING DRUGS, COVID-19 WOULD BE
THE LAST THING THAT I CARED
ABOUT.
THESE ARE PROVIDED BY VANCOUVER
COASTAL HEALTH.
>> Reporter: TREY HELTON WORKS
IN PREOVERDOSE PREVENTION.
HE SAYS
THAT SITES ARE RUNNING AT
REDUCED CAPACITY BECAUSE THEY
DON'T WANT TOO MANY PEOPLE
INSIDE AT ONE TIME.
OTHERS FEAR THE THREAT OF
COVID-19 IS ALSO KEEPING SOME
AWAY FROM THEM.
>> THAT REALLY CONCERNS US
BECAUSE WE DON'T THINK THAT
THERE'S A LOT OF COVID
CIRCULATING IN THE DOWNTOWN
EASTSIDE BUT WE KNOW THAT THE
DRUGS ARE STILL VERY
CONTAMINATED.
>> Reporter: IT'S REPORTEDLY
HARDER TO GET DRUGS NOW BECAUSE
OF BORDER CLOSURES.
THAT'S ONE REASON WHY B.C. HAS
EXPANDED A PROGRAMME TO GET A
SYNTHETIC OPIOID TO ADDICTS.
THEY DON'T WANT PEOPLE ON THE
STREETS TRYING TO BUY DRUGS,
PARTICULARLY IF THEY SHOULD BE
ISOLATING.
>> YEAH, IT'S SCARY.
>> Reporter: MATT PARIS HOPES
TO GET OPENYODS THROUGH THE
PROGRAMME IS TRYING TO AVOID THE
STREETS AS MUCH AS HE CAN.
>> TO KEEP MYSELF A LOT SAFER
AND TO KEEP MORE DISTANCE AND
STUFF.
>> Reporter: BUT FOR MANY DOWN
HERE, THAT'S HARD TO DO.
DAILY LIFE INCLUDES A LOT OF
HIGH RISKS AND COVID-19 IS JUST
ONE MORE.
BRIAR STEWART, CBC NEWS,
VANCOUVER.
>> Andrew: OKAY, NEXT ON "THE
NATIONAL," OUR NIGHTLY SEGMENT
POSING YOUR QUESTIONS TO OUR
PANEL OF DOCTORS, QUESTIONS THAT
WOULD INCLUDE -- IF I'M BIKING
OR JOGGING IN SOMEONE'S WAKE,
COULD I GET SICK?
>>> BUT FIRST, AN ANSWER TO
ANOTHER QUESTION THAT WE HAVE
GOTTEN MORE THAN A FEW TIMES.
THESE ARE HARD TIMES, MAYBE
DOUBLY SO IF YOU'RE EXPECTING.
BUT THE QUESTION FOR PREGNANT
WOMEN IF THEY'RE TWICE THE RISK.
WELL, FIRST, CONSIDER THE
FOLLOWING, WITH THE CAVEAT THAT
THIS IS
WHAT WE KNOW TODAY --
>> IT APPEARS FROM VERY
PRELIMINARY RESEARCH THAT THE
VIRUS DOES NOT PASS FROM
PREGNANT WOMEN TO THEIR FETUSES,
SO THAT'S GOOD NEWS.
>> Andrew: THOUGH, OF COURSE,
THAT'S ONLY HALF THE EQUATION.
A PREGNANCY IS TAXING AND CAN
WEAKEN THE IMMUNE SYSTEM.
BUT --
>> FORTUNATELY, PREGNANT WOMEN
DO TEND TO BE YOUNGER AND WOMEN
SEEM TO BE LESS AFFECTED BY THIS
THAN MEN.
>> Andrew: SO THE BOTTOM LINE
TO KEEP YOURSELF HEALTHY?
>> WOMEN SHOULD FOLLOW THE SAME
ADVICE AS FOR EVERYONE ELSE BUT
PERHAPS BE A LITTLE BIT MORE
MINDFUL OF SOCIAL DISTANCING AND
SELF-ISOLATING UNTIL THE
FREQUENCY AND THE AMOUNT OF THIS
VIRUS IN THE COMMUNITY
DIMINISHES.
(*)
(*)
>> Andrew: WELCOME BACK.
IT'S THAT TIME IN THE PROGRAMME
WHERE WE TAKE MORE OF YOUR
COVID-19 QUESTIONS.
SO LET'S GET RIGHT TO IT AND GET
THROUGH AS MANY AS WE CAN.
TONIGHT WE HAVE INFECTIOUS
DISEASE SPECIALIST DR. LYNORA
SAXINGER AND RESPIROLOGIST
DR. SAMIR GUPTA.
HELLO TO THE TWO OF YOU.
DR. GUPTA, WHY DON'T YOU START
US OFF.
HERE'S THE FIRST QUESTION COMING
AT YOU -- IF I'M BIKING OR
JOGGING IN SOMEONE'S WAKE, COULD
I GET SICK?
AND I GUESS THAT THEY'RE
THINKING IF THEY SMELL THEM OR
THEIR SWEAT OR EVEN THEIR
PERFUME?
I DON'T KNOW.
>> WELL, I MEAN, IF YOU SMELL
SOMEONE,
YOU'RE NOT GOING TO CATCH THE
VIRUS FROM SMELLING THEM.
THE SMELL IS TRANSPORTED BY
CHEMICALS.
THE VIRUS IS TRANSPORTED BY
THOSE
DROPLETS THAT WE TALKED ABOUT.
A COUPLE THINGS WHEN YOU ARE
JOGS, YOU ARE BREATHING HEAVIER
AND SO THE DROPLETS GO FURTHER.
AND THE OTHER THING IS THAT IF
YOU ARE JOGGING ON A WINDY DAY,
YOU REALLY HAVE TO THINK ABOUT
HOW FAR
THE DROPLETS ARE CARRIED ON THE
WIND.
THAT SIX-FOOT RULE IS A GOOD
IDEA, BUT UNDER CERTAIN
CONDITIONS THEY
PROBABLY COULD GO FURTHER, SO
THINK ABOUT THAT ON A WINDY DAY
MOSTLY.
>> Andrew: DR. SAXINGER,
THAT'S INTERESTING, AND IS BEING
OUTSIDE A RISK FACTOR IN AND OF
ITSELF?
>> BEING OUTSIDE ACTUALLY IS
ACTUALLY MAYBE PROTECTIVE.
WE DON'T KNOW FOR SURE.
BUT OUTSIDE YOU HAVE REALLY GOOD
AIR EXCHANGE SO YOU WON'T BE
SHARING AIR SPACE IN THE SAME
WAY THAT YOU WOULD WITH A REALLY
ENCLOSED SPACE.
AND ALSO THE EXTRA U.V. LIGHT
AND STUFF MIGHT ALSO BE USEFUL.
SO COMPARED TO OLD-TIME DISEASES
LIKE T.B. AND
INFLUENZA, IT WAS THOUGHT TO BE
USEFUL TO BE OUTSIDE.
SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO
BE RESPONSIBLE BUT TO GO
OUTSIDE.
AND IF YOU'RE SICK THOUGH, STAY
HOME.
>> Andrew: RIGHT.
DR. SAXINGER, WHY DON'T YOU TAKE
THIS NEXT QUESTION.
IS IT SAFE TO WEAR CONTACT
LENSES AND TOUCHING YOUR EYES?
>> NOW EYES ARE A PLACE WHERE
YOU COULD THEORETICALLY GET
INOCULATED WITH THE VIRUS.
THE WAY TO PROTECT AGAINST
THAT CONCERN IS TO ACTUALLY WASH
YOUR HANDS EXTREMELY WELL WITH
SOAP AND WATER FOR 20 SECONDS
BEFORE HANDLING YOUR CONTACTS
AND
PUTTING THEM IN.
I WILL CONFESS THAT I HAVE BEEN
WEARING MY GLASSES MORE OFTEN
WHEN I'M AT WORK BECAUSE IT IS A
MEASURE OF PROTECTION AGAINST
DROPLETS IN CLOSER QUARTERS.
BUT IF YOU'RE DISTANCING THERE'S
NO DISADVANTAGE TO CONTACTS.
JUST WASH YOUR HANDS.
>> Andrew: I WAS WONDERING
THAT VERY QUESTION WHETHER
GLASSES SORT OF CONVERSELY, AS
YOU'RE POINTING OUT, DO ACTUALLY
OFFER
PROTECTION.
IS THERE A STUDY TO THAT EFFECT?
>> I THINK THAT IT'S JUST
UNDERSTOOD THAT WEARING A
BARRIER IN FRONT OF YOUR EYES
MIGHT DECREASE THE RISK OF AN
INFECTIOUS DROPLET TO THE EYES.
NOW GLASSES ARE NOT GOGGLES AND
THEY DON'T ACTUALLY BLOCK YOU
FROM ALL SIDES.
SO THE PROTECTION IS ONLY
PARTIAL.
SO HEALTH CARE WORKERS, FOR
EXAMPLE, ARE NOT RELYING ON
THEIR GLASSES AND THEY SHOULD
STILL USE THE FACE SHIELD.
BUT FOR EVERYDAY USE, GLASSES
MIGHT BE A LITTLE BIT OF A
BENEFIT.
AND, OF COURSE, THE OTHER THING
IS THAT
WHATEVER YOU DO, DON'T BE
TOUCHING YOUR EYES OR YOUR
CONTACTEDS OR ANYTHING
EXCESSIVELY OR
UNNECESSARILY.
>> Andrew: REALLY INTERESTING
ANSWERS TO THE QUESTIONS.
DR. SAXINGER AND DR. GUPTA,
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
>> THANK YOU.
>> Andrew: AS WE MENTIONED WE
WILL BE ASKING YOUR QUESTIONS
ABOUT COVID-19 EVERY NIGHT GOING
FORWARD.
SO SEND US THE QUESTIONS THAT
YOU HAVE.
YOU CAN MESSAGE US DIRECTLY ON
INSTAGRAM @CBCTHENATIONAL OR
YOU CAN
SEND US AN EMAIL AT
COVID@CBC.CA, JUST PUT "THE
NATIONAL" IN THE SUBJECT LINE.
>>> STILL AHEAD ON "THE
NATIONAL," FIGURING OUT
HOMESCHOOLING.
COMING UP, WHAT TWO PARENTS WHO
ARE ALSO TEACHERS ARE DOING.
YOU MIGHT BE SURPRISED.
BUT FIRST, ROSIE IS HERE WITH
"AT ISSUE."
>> Rosemary: ANDREW, TONIGHT
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT JUST HOW
SUSTAINABLE THIS NEW REALITY.
RECORD JOB LOSSES NOW AND
MILLIONS RECEIVING GOVERNMENT
AID AND MAYBE VIRTUAL
PARLIAMENT?
ANDREW, CHANTAL AND ALTHIA WILL
JOIN US RIGHT AFTER THE BREAK.
(*)
(*)
>> Prime Minister Justin
Trudeau: WE'VE ALL SEEN THE
IMPACT OF COVID-19.
WE ALL KNEW THIS WAS GOING TO BE
A TOUGH TIME.
THAT'S NO COMFORT IF YOU ARE OUT
OF A JOB, YOU'RE HAVING
DIFFICULTY MAKING ENDS MEET.
>> Rosemary: COVID-19 IS
CREATING, OF COURSE, A STARK
ECONOMIC PICTURE FOR THIS
COUNTRY.
MORE THAN ONE MILLION CANADIANS
LOST THEIR JOB JUST LAST MONTH.
MORE THAN 5 MILLION HAVE APPLIED
FOR THE CERB, AND THE IMPACT,
OBVIOUSLY, FAR FROM OVER.
HOW SUSTAINABLE IS THIS NEW
REALITY?
IT'S THURSDAY AND I'M HERE WITH
"AT ISSUE."
CHANTAL HEBERT IS IN MONTRÉAL.
ANDREW COYNE IS IN TORONTO.
AND ALTHIA RAJ IS IN OTTAWA.
ALL WORKING REMOTELY FROM THEIR
HOMES.
THIS IS THE ONLY WAY THAT I KNOW
THAT IT'S THURSDAY, I HAVE TO BE
HONEST WITH YOU.
OKAY.
THE PRIME MINISTER TALKED TODAY
MOST
BLUNTLY ABOUT THESE TIMELINES
AND TALKING ABOUT A NEW NORMAL.
HOW LONG COULD A NEW NORMAL
EXIST IN TERMS OF TRYING TO
SUSTAIN THE ECONOMY AND A STRONG
ECONOMY?
ANDREW, MAYBE I'LL START WITH
YOU THIS WEEK.
>> WELL, THIS, IF YOU MEAN THIS
LEVEL OF LOCKDOWN IS NOT
SUSTAINABLE FOR VERY LONG.
WHAT WE SAW TODAY IN TERMS OF
THE UNEMPLOYMENT NUMBERS IS JUST
THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG.
THAT WAS A PART OF MARCH.
THE APRIL NUMBERS ARE GOING TO
BE MUCH WORSE.
AND EVERY DAY THIS CARRIES ON
THE JOBLESSNESS WILL MOUNT AND
THE FAILING CORPORATIONS ARE
GOING TO MOUNT UP, THE DEATHS TO
THE PUBLIC SECTOR, TO THE
PROVINCIAL AND PARTICULARLY THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ARE GOING TO
MOUNT.
AND IT'S JUST THE HUMAN TOLL IN
TERMS OF THE PSYCHOLOGICAL
CONSEQUENCES AND PEOPLE WITH
MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES.
IT'S NOT SUSTAINABLE IN THE LONG
RUN.
THE GOOD NEWS IS AT LEAST FROM
THE COUNTRY'S PERSPECTIVE IS
THAT THE RATE OF GROWTH OF THE
EPIDEMIC IS SLOWING AND SLOWING
QUITE MARKEDLY.
THAT'S A CHALLENGE FOR THE
GOVERNMENT BECAUSE THEY DON'T
WANT PEOPLE TO LOOK AT THAT DATA
AND SAY, OKAY, NOW WE CAN LET
DOWN OUR GUARD, NOW WE CAN EASE
OFF AND NOW WE CAN BACK SLIDE.
>> Rosemary: YEAH, AND THAT'S
PROBABLY NEEDED BECAUSE THE BACK
SLIDE, AS YOU POINT OUT,
CHANTAL, WOULD PROBABLY BE THE
WORST THING FOR EVERYBODY.
>> YES, EXCEPT AT SOME POINT IF
YOU WANT OUT OF THIS -- AND, NO,
I DON'T THINK THAT THE CURRENT
SITUATION IS SUSTAINABLE FOR 18
TO 24 MONTHS.
AND I DON'T THINK
THAT IS WHAT GOVERNMENTS HAVE IN
MIND IN ANY WAY, SHAPE OR FORM.
BUT IF YOU WANT TO START GETTING
OUT OF IT, QUÉBEC, FOR INSTANCE,
HAS BEEN TALKING ABOUT
RESTARTING THE ECONOMY, THAT'S
REALLY HARD TO DO IN A SERIOUS
FASHION UNLESS YOU RE-OPEN
SCHOOLS OR YOU MAKE CHILD CARE
AVAILABLE AGAIN.
AND ONCE YOU SAY THAT, I WAS
LISTENING TO PREMIER LEGAULT
TALKING ABOUT MAINTAINING THE
TWO-METRE DISTANCE.
WELL, THERE'S ONE PLACE AS YOU
KNOW AND I KNOW WHERE TWO METRE
DISTANCE IS NOT GOING TO BE
MAINTAINED, AND THAT'S A
CLASSROOM.
>> Rosemary: THAT'S FOR SURE.
ALTHIA, HOW DO YOU MAKE -- WHAT
DO YOU MAKE OF HOW THEY'RE
DEALING WITH THIS IN TERMS OF
THE LENGTH THAT WE MIGHT BE
LOOKING AT?
>> WELL, AS THE PRIME MINISTER
WAS SAYING TODAY WHEN SPEAKING
IN FRENCH, THE PRIME MINISTER
WAS SUGGESTING THAT THIS COULD
BE A NEW NORMAL FOR
A YEAR, A YEAR AND A HALF.
HE DIDN'T OUTLINE EXACTLY WHAT
HE MEANT BY THE NEW NORMAL
DURING THAT TIMEFRAME.
I THINK THAT THERE WOULD BE A
LOT OF FILLING IN THE GAPS IN
THE DAYS AHEAD IN TERMS, YOU
KNOW, OF JUST LEAVING THAT
COMMENT HANGING.
I DON'T THINK THAT IS
SUSTAINABLE.
I MEAN, IT'S VERY INTERESTING
THAT NOW YOU'RE ACTUALLY HEARING
DIFFERENT THEMES EMERGING FROM
THE PROVINCES AND THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT.
LIKE THE PROVINCES ARE DIFFERENT
AND DISTINCT FROM EACH OTHER IN
TERMS OF WHEN WE THINK THAT WE
CAN GET THE ECONOMY ROLLING
AGAIN.
WHEN YOU THINK THAT THE BUSINESS
SUBSIDY HAS NOT BEEN PASSED YET
AND MONEY IS CERTAINLY NOT GOING
OUT THE DOOR.
>> Rosemary: THAT BRINGS UP
THE WAGE SUBSIDY.
SO IT SEEMS AS THOUGH PARLIAMENT 
IS NOW GOING TO COME BACK ON
SATURDAY.
THEY'VE AGREED TO COME BACK AND
TO LOOK AT THAT LEGISLATION.
AS THE GOVERNMENT SAYS, THIS IS
SORT OF THE BIGGEST PACKAGE THEY
SAY IN HISTORY, THE ECONOMIC
PACKAGE IN HISTORY.
HOW IMPORTANT IS THAT TO SHORING 
UP BUSINESSES FOR THE FUTURE OF
THE ECONOMY, ANDREW?
>> OH, IT'S VITALLY IMPORTANT,
THEY'VE MADE THAT VERY CLEAR,
BUSINESS HAS.
THE IDEA TO KEEP PEOPLE
CONNECTED TO THEIR EMPLOYERS
INSTEAD OF DRIFTING AWAY FROM
THE FIRM AND HAVING TO FIND NEW
PEOPLE ALL OVER AGAIN ONCE THE
ECONOMY STARTS GOING AGAIN.
SO A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE BEEN OF
THE VIEW THAT EVEN TAKING INTO
ACCOUNT THE POTENTIAL FOR WASTE
AND FRAUD IN THAT POTENTIAL
PROGRAMME, IT'S WORTH DOING.
BUT WE DON'T NEED TO JETTISON
PROCEDURES EITHER AND SOME
INGENUITY AND THE WILLINGNESS TO
ESTABLISH NEW PRECEDENCE, WE
SHOULD BE ABLE TO FIND A WAY
THAT WE COULD STILL HAVE
PARLIAMENTARY SCRUTINY OF THE
GOVERNMENT AND THE ABILITY FOR
PEOPLE TO CRITICISE THE
MINISTERS OF THE DAY.
I MEAN, IF NOT ONLY THE
PROCEDURES THAT WE HAVE TO KEEP
INTACT, WE ALSO HAVE TO KEEP
INTACT THE IDEA THAT IT'S
LEGITIMATE
TO CRITICISE PEOPLE IN AUTHORITY
EVEN IN THE MIDDLE OF A CRISIS.
YOU GET SOME PEOPLE SAYING OH,
RALLY AROUND THE FLAG -- ANY
CRITICISM IS
OFF BASE, THAT'S NOT TRUE.
>> Rosemary: GO AHEAD,
CHANTAL.
>> ALTHOUGH I BELIEVE THAT THE
MORE VIGOROUS DISCUSSIONS ABOUT
THE WAY FORWARD -- BECAUSE THERE
WILL HAVE TO BE VIGOROUS
DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THE WAY
FORWARD -- IS NOT PREEMPTED BY
HAVING PARLIAMENT SIT FOR A DAY
AT THIS POINT.
THE OTHER ISSUE ABOUT INGENUITY,
I BELIEVE THAT, YES, A
PARLIAMENT SHOULD HAVE SOME FORM
OF LIFE, BUT I DON'T THINK THAT
IT SHOULD BE RESTRICTED TO
PEOPLE WHO COULD DRIVE TO
PARLIAMENT HILL.
>> Rosemary: I WILL SAY THAT
THE GOVERNMENT IS, AGAIN,
SENDING A PLANE TO PICK UP A FEW
CONSERVATIVES, INCLUDING ANDREW
SCHEER, BUT, OBVIOUSLY, IT'S NOT
GOING TO
FLY ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO GET A
GOOD REPRESENTATION.
AND SOME VERSION OF PARLIAMENT
DOESN'T SEEM TO BE THE MOST
WELCOME IDEA, ALTHIA.
>> I MEAN, IT'S A LITTLE BIT
ODD.
YOU KNOW, I HAVE A POINT ON THIS
THAT IS A BIT CONTRARIAN TO WHAT
I WOULD NORMALLY ARGUE, BUT I
DON'T THINK THAT THE OPPOSITION
IS BEING STIFLED.
I MEAN, WE HAVE THE PRIME
MINISTER
HAVING A 45-MINUTE PRESS
CONFERENCE EVER DAY.
AND THE
MINISTERS HAVING ANOTHER PRESS
CONFERENCE FOR ABOUT AN HOUR.
AND THE LEADER OF THE
OPPOSITION, WHENEVER HE SPEAKS
IT IS COVERED BY THE MEDIA, IT
IS ON NATIONAL TELEVISION.
I LISTENED TO TWO HOUSE OF
COMMONS COMMITTEE MEETINGS FOR
HOURS TODAY.
I'M NOT SAYING THAT THERE'S NOT
COMMONS COMMITTEE MEETINGS FOR
HOURS TODAY.
I'M NOT SAYING THAT THERE'S NOT
A TIME FOR QUESTION PERIOD, BUT
RATHER THAT SHOULD REALLY BE A
NEGOTIATION TACTIC FOR GETTING
MONEY OUT THE DOOR WHEN PERHAPS
WHAT THE OPPOSITION PARTIES
SHOULD BE FOCUSED MORE ON IS THE
CONTENT OF THE LEGISLATION.
>> Rosemary: LAST POINT.
>> AND HAVING TO HAVE A
DISCUSSION ABOUT POLICY,
RATHER THAN HAVING A DISCUSSION
ABOUT POLITICS.
I DON'T THINK THAT ANYBODY
OUTSIDE OF OTTAWA REALLY CARES
ABOUT POLITICS.
>> Rosemary: LAST POINT TO
ANDREW.
>> I WOULD SAY THAT PART OF THE
DEMOCRATIC ACCOUNTABILITY IS
POLITICS, THE THEATRE OF
PARLIAMENT.
NOW MAYBE WE CAN'T HAVE THEM
PHYSICALLY PRESENT, MAYBE IT HAS
TO BE DONE VIRTUALLY, BUT IF
THAT'S WHAT CONCENTRATES THE
PUBLIC ATTENTION, THAT'S WHY
PARLIAMENT WAS INVENTED.
WE DON'T JUST HAVE DUELING NEWS
CONFERENCES.
WE ACTUALLY HAVE THEM MEETING
EACH OTHER, WHETHER VIRTUALLY OR
PHYSICALLY, IN A WAY THAT THE
PUBLIC CAN BE DRAWN INTO.
>> Rosemary: ONE MORE POINT TO
CHANTAL.
I CAN SEE THAT SHE WANTS TO SAY
SOMETHING.
>> WELL, I'M NOT CONVINCED THAT
THAT MESSAGE THAT ANDREW IS
COMMUNICATING IS THE WAY THAT
THE PUBLIC PERCEIVES IT.
TO MANY CANADIANS, THIS IS MORE
ABOUT GAMES THAN IT IS ABOUT
WHAT REALLY NEEDS TO BE DONE.
SO WHETHER IT WOULD DRAW THE
PUBLIC'S ATTENTION TO THAT
DEBATE AT THIS PARTICULAR
JUNCTURE IN THAT WAY, WITH THE
GOVERNMENT SHARING ITS BILLS
WITH THE OPPOSITION AND ACTUALLY
PUTTING IN THE OPPOSITION IDEAS
IN THE BILL, I'M NOT CONVINCED
THAT THE THEATRE AT THIS POINT
WOULD BE WELL ATTENDED.
>> Rosemary: ALL RIGHT, GOT TO
LEAVE IT THERE.
THANK YOU ALL FOR DIALLING IN
FROM YOUR HOMES.
BEFORE WE GO, SUBSCRIBE TO "AT
ISSUE" THE PODCAST.
WE DO THIS AND THERE'S ALWAYS
EXTRA CONTENT TOO.
THIS WEEK WE'LL TALK A LITTLE
BIT ABOUT THOSE NATIONAL
PROJECTIONS AND HOW IMPORTANT
THOSE NUMBERS ARE TO CANADIANS.
LOOK FOR IT ON ANY MAJOR PODCAST
APP AND OUR WEBSITE
cbcnews.ca/thenational.
FOR NOW BACK TO ANDREW IN
TORONTO.
>> Andrew: COMING UP ON "THE
NATIONAL," THE BIG QUESTION THAT
MANY PARENTS ARE GRAPPLING WITH
RIGHT NOW -- ARE MY KIDS GOING
TO FALL BEHIND?
>>> BUT, NEXT, COMFORTING ADVICE
FROM MOMS WHO ARE ALSO TEACHERS.
>> WHETHER WE'RE PLAYING A
SCRABBLE GAME AND THEY'RE DOING
LANGUAGE AND MATH, ADDING UP
THEIR SCORES --
>> Andrew: THEIR STORIES AND
SOLUTIONS RIGHT AFTER THIS.
BUT FIRST, COVID-19 HAS CHANGED
EVERYTHING FOR EVERYONE.
AND WE'VE BEEN ASKING PEOPLE TO
SHARE A LITTLE BIT OF WHAT LIFE
LOOKS LIKE RIGHT NOW.
HERE'S TONIGHT'S "PANDEMIC
DIARY."
(*)
>> I'M AN INTERNATIONAL STUDENT
FROM INDIA.
I HAVE BEEN SO ANXIOUS IN THE
PAST TWO WEEKS.
MY CLASSES MOVED ONLINE.
AND SOME OF MY MAJOR COURSES GOT
CANCELLED.
AND THEN I GOT LAID OFF AT WORK.
MY LIFE WAS SUDDENLY UPSIDE
DOWN.
I SOMETIMING JUST FEEL VERY
HELPLESS.
MOST OF US ARE ALL ALONE BY
OURSELVES HERE.
MY LANDLADY IS -- SHE'S EXACTLY
WHAT I WAS TOLD THAT CANADIANS
ARE LIKE.
SHE TOOK $100 OFF MY RENT AND
SUPPORTING ME WITH MY GROCERIES
AND PROVIDING ME WITH FOOD
BECAUSE SHE CARES.
AND I THINK THAT I'M SEEING
EXACTLY WHAT I WAS EXPECTING
>>> Andrew: AS COVID-19
CONTINUES TO SPREAD, IT'S
LOOKING LESS AND LESS LIKELY
THAT CANADIAN SCHOOLS WILL
RE-OPEN ANYTIME SOON.
IN NEW BRUNSWICK THE WHOLE
SCHOOL YEAR IS ALREADY CALLED
OFF.
QUÉBEC AND ONTARIO SCHOOLS ARE
AMONG THOSE CLOSED AT LEAST INTO
MAY.
MANY OTHERS DON'T EVEN HAVE A
RETURN DATE IN MIND.
THAT PUTS PARENTS IN A VERY
DIFFICULT POSITION HAVING TO
JUGGLE FAMILY, HEALTH, WORK,
FINANCES AND NOW THEIR
CHILDREN'S EDUCATION.
BUT THERE IS A SCHOOL OF THOUGHT
THAT EVEN THOSE WHO TEACH FOR A
LIVING ARE EMBRACING,
PARTICULARLY WHEN IT COMES TO
YOUNGER KIDS.
(*)
* WE'RE STAYING HOME 
* WE'RE STAYING HOME 
* WE'RE STAYING HOME 
* WE'RE STAYING HOME 
>> Andrew: IT'S BEEN AN
ADJUSTMENT FOR EVERYONE.
>> * BECAUSE IT'S THE RIGHT
THING TO DO *
>> Andrew: EVEN THE KREELTOR
OF CBC'S "GARY THE UNICORN" HAS
HAD TO ADAPT.
>> ALOHA, GARY HERE!
>> Andrew: EDUCATIONAL
PROGRAMME LIKE THIS ARE THE
RESOURCES THAT PARENTS HAVE BEEN
POINTED TO, AND ONE COMMON
THREAD -- THEY'RE ALL JUST
MAKING DO, PRECISELY THE WAY THE
REST OF US ARE.
>> LET'S GO.
>> Andrew: A MOTHER OF TWO IS
ALSO AN ELEMENTARY
SCHOOLTEACHER.
>> I'M SUE.
>> Andrew: SHE STARTED A
FACEBOOK PAGE, SHARING WAYS TO
KEEP KIDS LEARNING AT HOME FROM
VIRTUAL FIELD TRIPS TO CELEBRITY
STORYTIMES AND EVEN LEARNING
WITH LEGO.
>> I REALISED THAT AS EDUCATORS
THAT THERE COULD BE A DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN THE RESOURCES WE WOULD
USE IN THE CLASSROOM AND DELIVER
THE CURRICULUM AND RESOURCES
THAT WOULD BE VALUABLE TO
PARENTS.
>> Andrew: SO YOU DON'T THINK
THAT IT'S SUCH A GOOD IDEA FOR
PARENTS TO TRY TO TAKE ON THIS
ROLE OF FULL-TIME TEACHER AND
TEACH IN A MORE FORMAL WAY,
MATH, ENGLISH, HISTORY AND
GEOGRAPHY AND SO ON.
>> IT WOULD BE VERY CHALLENGING
EVEN FOR A TEACHER AT HOME WITH
THEIR KIDS.
>> Andrew: SO SUE AND HER KIDS
PLAY.
>> WHETHER WE'RE PLAYING A
SCRABBLE GAME AND THEY'RE DOING
LANGUAGE AND MATH, ADDING UP
THEIR SCORES.
OR JUST EVEN A SIMPLE GAME OF
CRAZY 8s.
>> Andrew: CAN YOU TILT YOUR
CAMERA DOWN?
THIS IS
STEPHANIE LAFAVE, ALSO A MOTHER
AND ALSO A TEACHER, THOUGH NOT
RIGHT NOW.
>> I DON'T WANT TO HAVE THAT
FIGHT WITH MY KIDS, ESPECIALLY
NOT NOW WHEN THINGS ARE SO
STRESSFUL ANYWAY.
SO I THINK THAT THE KEY IS TO
ENGAGE THEM IN THE THINGS THAT
THEY'RE INTERESTED IN.
>> THE STEM PROJECT IDEA IS A
MODEL --
>> Andrew: SO WHETHER IT'S A
COUNTERTOP CRANE --
>> WHEN YOU POUR THE SOLUTION
INTO THE OIL --
>> Andrew: OR A LITTLE BIT OF
KITCHEN
CHEMISTRY, SHE SAYS THAT
ALLOWING KIDS TO DICTATE THE
CURRICULUM AND PURSUE IT AT
THEIR OWN PACE GOES A LONG WAY.
AND SHE'S NOT WORRIED THAT HER
KIDS OR YOURS ARE FALLING
BEHIND.
>> WHEN SCHOOLS DO START AGAIN,
ALL OF THE STUDENTS WILL BE IN
THE SAME BOAT.
SO TEACHERS ARE GOING TO HAVE TO
MEET THEIR STUDENTS WHERE
THEY'RE COMING IN AT.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE DO ALL THE
TIME.
>> Andrew: AND WHILE THE
LIGHTS MIGHT HAVE TEMPORARILY
DIMMED HERE AT STUDIO K, THEY'RE
STILL TRYING TO HELP KIDS TO
UNDERSTAND THE CHANGES THAT THE
WORLD AROUND THEM ARE GOING
THROUGH.
>> * WE'RE STAYING HOME 
>> Andrew: YOU'RE A
PROFESSIONAL, RIGHT, LIKE YOU
UNDERSTAND HOW KIDS' MINDS WORK
AND YOU UNDERSTAND HOW TO REACH
THEM.
WHAT IS THE ADVICE THAT YOU
WOULD GIVE TO PARENTS?
>> TRY TO NOT SHIELD CHILDREN
FROM THE TRUTH BECAUSE SHIELDING
DOES NOT SORT OF HELP.
BUT TO INFORM THEM AND ALSO KNOW
THAT EVERYTHING IS GOING TO BE
OKAY.
>> THIS ONE IS FOR YOU...
>> Andrew: SO AT LEAST WHERE
EDUCATION IS CONCERNED, JUST
TAKE A BREATH AND TAKE THINGS
DAY-BY-DAY.
>>> NOW KEEPING KIDS ENTERTAINED
AT HOME IS A CHALLENGE.
WE ASKED HOW YOU AND YOUR FAMILY
ARE PASSING THE TIME AND HERE'S
A TASTE OF WHAT YOU TOLD US --
>> HAVE A BEACH PARTY.
(*)
>> [indiscernible]
>> BALLOONS!
>> WATERMELON.
(*)
>> HOORAY!
>> DID YOU HAVE A GOOD TIME?
>> WE HAVE MUSIC.
WE LOVE IT SO MUCH.
(*)
>> WEEEE!
>> GO, MADDIE GO!
(*)
[laughter]
>> Andrew: OKAY, NEXT ON "THE
NATIONAL," ANOTHER IDEA FOR THE
KIDS -- HAVE THEM WRITE A LETTER
TO SOMEONE THEY ADMIRE, YOU
KNOW, LIKE A PROVINCIAL HEALTH
OFFICER.
IN OUR "MOMENT," THE LITTLE GIRL
WHO HAS B
>> Andrew: WELL, YOU MIGHT
THINK THAT DR. BONNIE HENRY,
B.C.'S MEDICAL HEALTH OFFICER,
WOULD HAVE HER HANDS ENTIRELY
FULL WITH HANDLING THE COVID-19
AND ALL.
BUT WHEN A SURPRISE REQUEST CAME
HER WAY SHE MANAGED TO FIND SOME
TIME TO ANSWER.
A YOUNG GIRL REACHED OUT,
WORRIED ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT HER
BIRTHDAY PARTY COULD GO ON.
AND TO HER SURPRISE AND DELIGHT,
DR. HENRY RESPONDED.
AND THAT IS OUR "MOMENT."
(*)
>> FIRST I WROTE TO JUSTIN
TRUDEAU.
BUT I DIDN'T GET THE ANSWER THAT
I WAS LOOKING FOR BECAUSE HE WAS
TOO BUSY.
>> WE DECIDED THAT MAYBE WE
COULD TRY DR. BONNIE HENRY.
>> HI, DR. HENRY, IT'S MY
BIRTHDAY NEXT MONTH.
HOW WILL THE CORONAVIRUS AFFECT
MY BIRTHDAY?
WILL I BE ABLE TO HAVE A NORMAL
BIRTHDAY PARTY?
I GOT AN ANSWER AND I WASN'T
EXPECTING ONE.
>> SO HER RESPONSE WAS... HELLO,
SASHA, THANK YOU FOR YOUR NOTE.
I DO KNOW HOW HARD IT CAN BE FOR
YOUNG PEOPLE DURING THESE
DIFFICULT TIMES.
I HOPE THAT YOU HAVE A VERY
SPECIAL DAY DESPITE THE
CORONAVIRUS.
MY BEST, BONNIE.
EVERY DAY FOR A FEW DAYS SHE
WONDERED WHAT WILL HAPPEN, IT'S
MY BIRTHDAY AND HOW THINGS WOULD
GO.
AND AFTER WE GOT A RESPONSE AND
HAD A SORT OF A STRATEGY FOR
MOVING FORWARD, I THINK THAT IT
RELIEVED A LOT OF THAT ANXIETY.
I HAVEN'T BEEN ASKED SINCE.
>> Andrew: I WILL SAY THAT,
YOU KNOW, LETTERS FROM PEOPLE
THAT YOU ADMIRE HAVE THIS WEIRD
WAY OF LEAVING A PERMANENT MARK
ON THE MIND.
I STILL REMEMBER AS A KID I GOT
A LETTER FROM MY CITY'S MAYOR
THAT I WAS TO WIN A MUSIC AWARD,
OF ALL THINGS.
I STILL HAVE NO IDEA WHAT
HAPPENED TO THAT AWARD BUT I
FRAMED THE LETTER AND I THINK
ABOUT IT ALL THE TIME.
>>> THAT'S "THE NATIONAL" FOR
THIS THURSDAY, APRIL 9th.
HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.
(*)
