(*)
>> Ian: TONIGHT, A HARROWING
EXPERIENCE IN A LONG-TERM CARE
FACILITY RAVAGED BY COVID-19.
>> WE WALKED INTO REAL MAYHEM.
IT WAS REALLY DIFFICULT TO SEE.
>> Ian: HOW RESIDENTS' FAMILIES
STEPPED IN TO HELP.
>>> PREPARING FOR A SURGE IN
CASES.
HOW CANADA PLANS TO PROTECT MOST
VULNERABLE.
>> Prime Minister Justin
Trudeau: WE ARE PREPARING FOR
EVERY EVENTUALITY.
>> Ian: SHOULD PEOPLE BE MAKING
CLOTHE MASKS?
WE'LL PUT THAT AND MORE OF YOUR
QUESTIONS TO DOCTOR.
>>> PLUS, GERMANY HAS A LOWER
FATALITY RATE THAN MOST.
>> I THINK WE SAW A MUCH BIGGER
TIP OF THE ICEBERG THAN OTHER
COUNTRIES, ITALY, FOR EXAMPLE.
>> Ian: WHAT THEY'RE DOING
DIFFERENTLY.
>>> THIS IS "THE NATIONAL."
(*)
>>> AS CANADIANS KNOW FULL WELL
BY NOW, WE ARE ALL VULNERABLE TO
COVID-19.
NEWS TODAY ABOUT A GROWTH IN
SO-CALLED COMMUNITY SPREAD
DRIVES THAT HOME, AS DOES THE
LATEST FROM THE WORLD'S
HOTSPOTS.
WE'LL GET TO THAT.
BUT LET'S START TONIGHT WHERE
THE PRIME MINISTER STARTED THIS
MORNING WITH THOSE ESPECIALLY
VULNERABLE TO WHOM JUSTIN
TRUDEAU SPOKE DIRECTLY --
SENIORS AND CHILDREN.
>> Prime Minister Justin
Trudeau: YOU'RE WATCHING THE
WORLD YOU KNOW CHANGE RADICALLY.
IT'S A SOURCE OF ANXIETY.
IT'S A SOURCE OF TENSION.
MAYBE THERE'S EXTRA TENSION IN
YOUR FAMILY.
BUT THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO CAN
HELP.
>> Ian: AND WITH THAT HE
ANNOUNCED TWO INITIATIVES --
$7.5 MILLION TO KIDS' HELP PHONE
TO HIRE MORE COUNSELLORS AND
$9 MILLION FOR THE UNITED WAY TO
ENSURE THAT VULNERABLE SENIORS
GET FOOD AND MEDICATION AT HOME.
OF COURSE, MANY SENIORS DON'T
LIVE AT HOME.
THEY LIVE IN LONG-TERM CARE
HOMES.
NEARLY FOUR IN 10 DEATHS IN
NEARLY FOUR IN 10 COVID-19
DEATHS IN CANADA HAVE BEEN
CONNECTED TO
SENIORS' FACILITIES, INCLUDING
THE FIRST IN NORTH VANCOUVER.
OTHERS DIED THERE SOON AFTER.
MAY MICKAEL KNOWS ALL ABOUT IT.
HER MOTHER WAS ONE OF THEM.
AND SHE SPOKE TO DAVID COMMON.
>> Reporter: IF THERE IS ANY
DOUBT ABOUT THE SPEED OF COVID
INFECTION, CONSIDER HOW CALM
THINGS WERE JUST A MONTH AGO AT
LYNN VALLEY CARE HOME.
ONE OF ITS RESIDENTS,
94-YEAR-OLD ISABELLE MICKAEL, AN
ADVENTURER AND BORN IN EGYPT AND
EMGREATING TO VANCOUVER AND EVEN
MOVING TO ALBERTA IN HER 70s.
HERE SHE WAS IN HER FINAL
CHAPTER.
>> SHE DID REALLY WELL AND MADE
A LIFE HERE.
>> Reporter: BUT EIGHT BLOCKS
AWAY ONE OF HER TWO DAUGHTERS, A
REGULAR VISITOR TO THE CARE HOME
WAS IN FOR A SHOCK ONCE COVID
ARRIVED.
>> WE WALKED INTO REAL MAYHEM.
IT WAS REALLY DIFFICULT TO SEE.
THERE WERE HARDLY ANY STAFF
MEMBER THERE IS.
I THINK THAT THERE WERE TWO OR
THREE THAT SHOWED UP TO WORK.
6:00 p.m. MY MOTHER WAS STILL
IN BED.
>> Reporter: MAY MICKAEL
RECOUNTS TO US HOW ONE AFTER THE
OTHER RESIDENTS WOULD TEST
POSITIVE AND THEN STAFF, 21 OF
THEM, LEAVING THE FACILITY
SHORT.
HER MOTHER UNSEEN.
>> HER LUNCH WAS ON HER BEDSIDE
TABLE AND SHE'S NOT ABLE TO FEED
HERSELF.
SHE -- HER PADS HAD NOT BEEN
CHANGED ALL DAY.
SHE WAS SHIVERING AND COLD.
THERE WERE FIVE OR SIX DAUGHTERS
WHO BANDED TOGETHER AND WE
SUPPORTED ONE ANOTHER AND SOME
OF THEIR PARENTS.
>> Reporter: TAKING
PRECAUTIONS BETWEEN ROOMS AND
RELYING ON A SMALL NUMBER OF
STAFF DIVERTED FROM ELSEWHERE --
>> I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THOSE
THAT DID COME IN AND DID WORK
DOUBLE SHIFTS, YOU KNOW, FOUR OR
FIVE IN A ROW -- AMAZING PEOPLE
IN THERE THAT WORKED TIRELESSLY
DAY IN AND DAY OUT THROUGH THIS.
AND THEY'RE STILL LOOKING AFTER
PEOPLE.
>> Reporter: BUT NOT ISABELLE.
SHE IS AMONG AT LEAST 10 TO DIE
AT THE HOME.
MAY'S MOTHER MOST ENJOYED
GATHERING FAMILY AND FRIENDS IN
THE KITCHEN.
BUT NOW EVEN A NORMAL FUNERAL
ISN'T POSSIBLE.
MAY IS SELF-ISOLATING, THOUGH
TESTS HAVE SHOWN THAT SHE IS
HERSELF NOT INFECTED.
JUST MOURNING.
DAVID COMMON, CBC NEWS, TORONTO.
>> Ian: HUNDREDS HAVE BEEN
HOSPITALIZED BY THE VIRUS ACROSS 
THE COUNTRY, AND THAT INCLUDES
MANY SENIORS BUT ALSO CANADIANS
OF ALL AGES.
ASHLEY BURKE SHOWS HOW THE
COUNTRY IS PREPARING ITSELF FOR
A POTENTIAL SURGE IN SERIOUS
CASES.
>> Reporter: THIS IS NOT A
NORMAL PART OF THE HEALTH CARE
SYSTEM, BUT THESE AREN'T NORMAL
TIMES.
>> TO THE AREA --
>> Reporter: THIS COMMUNITY
CENTRE HAS BEEN TURNED INTO A
MAKESHIFT ISOLATION CENTRE.
A PLACE FOR HOMELESS PEOPLE,
ACUTELY AT RISK.
>> IT'S NOT POSSIBLE TO CREATE
PHYSICAL DISTANCING IN THE
SHELTERS AS THEY CURRENTLY ARE
AND IT'S NOT POSSIBLE TO ALLOW
PEOPLE TO ISOLATE IN THE
SHELTERS.
>> Reporter: IT'S HAPPENING
ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
>> Prime Minister Justin
Trudeau: WE ARE PREPARING FOR
EVERY EVENTUALITY.
>> Reporter: PIECE BY PIECE,
CANADA IS READYING ITSELF FOR A
WORST-CASE SCENARIO, A POTENTIAL
SURGE OF COVID-19 CASES.
>> Prime Minister Justin
Trudeau: IT IS APPROPRIATE AND
NECESSARY THAT WE LOOK AT HOW TO
EXPAND OUR HEALTH SYSTEM TO
HANDLE UNPRECEDENTED NUMBERS IN
AN UNPRECEDENTED CRISIS.
>> Reporter: ACROSS COUNTRY
PROVINCES AND
TERRITORIES ARE PREPARING.
>> LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ARE BEING
ASKED TO IDENTIFY AND TO MAKE
AVAILABLE ANY PUBLICLY OWNED
FACILITY THAT MAY BE USED FOR
PANDEMIC RESPONSE, INCLUDING
FACILITIES FOR SELF-ISOLATION,
MEDICAL CARE AND TESTING.
>> Reporter: HOSPITALS IN
QUÉBEC ARE FREEING UP BEDS BY
USING EMPTY HOTELS TO HOUSE
PATIENTS WITH OTHER CONDITIONS.
ONTARIO IS CONSIDERING TREATING
PEOPLE IN HEATED WAREHOUSES AND
GARAGES IF THE HOSPITALS BECOME
OVERWHELMED.
AND EDMONTON IS ALREADY USING
ITS EXPO CENTRE AS
A DROP-IN FOR HOMELESS PEOPLE.
AND IS CONSIDERING USING
RECREATIONAL FACILITIES AS
FIELD HOSPITALS.
>> WE HAVE SEEN HORRIFYING
ACCOUNT, YOU KNOW, OF ICE RINKS
CONVERT MORGUES IN SPAIN,
AND WE WANT TO AVOID AND STAY
AHEAD OF THAT.
>> Reporter: THE ADVANTAGE FOR
CANADA IS THAT IT HAS TIME TO
PREPARE.
AND LIVING EXAMPLES TO LEARN OF
WORST-CASE SCENARIOS UNFOLDING
IN OTHER AREAS OF THE WORLD.
THIS WEEK COULD BE KEY.
IT'S THE FIRST TIME THAT CANADA
COULD SEE THE EFFECT OF SO MANY
SNOWBIRDS AND SPRING BREAKERS
TRAVELLING HOME AND IF THEY
ACTUALLY LISTENED TO PUBLIC
HEALTH ADVICE.
ASHLEY BURKE, CBC NEWS, OTTAWA.
>> Ian: IN CANADA, THE DAYS WHEN
CONFIRMED COVID-19 CASES CAME
MOSTLY FROM OUTSIDE OF THE
COUNTRY ARE AT LEAST FOR NOW
OVER.
TOTAL KNOWN CASES IN THE COUNTRY
TONIGHT, AT LEAST 6,320.
THE GOVERNMENT FIGURES RELEASED
THIS WEEKEND SUGGEST THAT ABOUT
65% OF CANADA'S CASES ARE FROM
WHAT IS CALLED COMMUNITY
TRANSMISSION.
CAUGHT HERE, NOT LINKED TO
TRAVEL.
AND OF THE CASES FROM THE PAST
WEEK, COMMUNITY TRANSMISSION
REPRESENTS 90%.
TALIA RICCI EXPLAINS HOW THOSE
NUMBERS ARE BASED ON INFECTIONS
THAT OCCURRED UP TO TWO WEEKS
AGO.
WHAT THE VIRUS IS DOING NOW AND
HOW SUCCESSFUL WE ARE IN
FIGHTING IT WILL TAKE DAYS TO
COME INTO FOCUS.
>> JUST NOT BEING ABLE TO
BREATHE.
THE AMOUNT OF PRESSURE IN MY
CHEST.
>> Reporter: ERIN LEE IS
RECOVERING FROM THE VIRUS IN A
CALGARY HOSPITAL.
SHE DIDN'T TRAVEL.
>> I DON'T KNOW ANYONE THAT HAS
TESTED POSITIVE FOR COVID.
>> Reporter: EXPERTS SAY THAT
COMMUNITY SPREAD IN ALL REGIONS
OF CANADA IS LIKELY SOONER OR
LATER.
>> I'M CERTAINLY WATCHING VERY
CLOSELY WHAT'S HAPPENING IN
QUÉBEC AND ONTARIO IN
PARTICULAR.
BUT ALSO ALBERTA, OF COURSE.
>> Reporter: MANITOBA AND NOVA
SCOTIA HEALTH OFFICIALS AREN'T
SEEING COMMUNITY SPREAD YET.
>> AT THIS TIME NO CASES SHOW
CLEAR EVIDENCE OF COMMUNITY
SPREAD.
BUT WE ALL NEED TO BE PREPARED
THAT THIS WILL HAPPEN AND IT MAY
BE HAPPENING RIGHT NOW.
>> Reporter: BECAUSE THE DATA
COMING IN ISN'T IN REAL-TIME.
>> MY SUSPICION IS THAT IT'S
PROBABLY HAPPENING EVERYWHERE.
A LOT OF THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE
BEEN STUDYING THIS FIELD
ACTUALLY HAVE HAD IT GOING ON
FOR A WHILE BUT WE WEREN'T ABLE
TO CONFIRM IT.
>> Reporter: IT'S UNCLEAR HOW
WIDESPREAD COVID-19 IS.
OFFICIALS IN TORONTO AT LEAST
CONFIRMED THEY ARE STILL
INVESTIGATING EVERY CASE AND
TRACKING CONTACT WITH INFECTED
INDIVIDUALS.
BUT WE'RE STILL DAYS AWAY FROM
KNOWING HOW MUCH THESE EMPTY
STREETS HAVE SLOWED THE SPREAD.
>> WE KNOW THAT THIS VIRUS CAN
TAKE UP TO 14 DAYS TO PRESENT
ITSELF AND WE'RE CERTAINLY NOT
14 DAYS IN
TO A REALLY AGGRESSIVE SOCIAL
DISTANCING MEASURE.
SO SOME OF THE CHANGES THAT
WE'RE SEEING IN THE DATA MAKE
THREE DAYS OUR RECENT EFFORT.
>> Reporter: HE SAYS THAT
NUMBERS COMING IN THIS WEEK ARE
GOING TO BE TELLING.
RIGHT NOW A PLEA FROM A PATIENT.
>> I WOULD BEG THAT PEOPLE DO
PLEASE LISTEN
TO WHAT THE GOVERNMENT IS ASKING
US TO DO AND STOP THE SPREAD,
SINCE ONE PERSON CAN INFECT SO
MANY PEOPLE.
>> Reporter: TALIA RICCI, CBC
NEWS, TORONTO.
>> Ian: SO THIS IS A BIG COUNTRY
AND THE PANDEMIC IS DEVELOPING
DIFFERENTLY, DEPENDING ON WHERE
YOU LIVE.
LIEN YEUNG IS LOOKING AT WHAT IS
HAPPENING IN COMMUNITIES ACROSS
CANADA TONIGHT.
>> Reporter: IAN, SOME
DEVELOPING NEWS TO START.
A MAJOR OIL REFINERY IN
NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR IS
SHUTTING DOWN TO KEEP THE STAFF
SAFE.
THE COME BY CHANCE REFINERY IS
SENDING THE BULK OF ITS
EMPLOYEES HOME, ONLY ENOUGH
PEOPLE TO MAINTAIN STORAGE
SERVICES.
AND IN QUÉBEC SOME ENCOURAGING
SIGNS.
OFFICIALS SAY THAT THE NUMBER OF
NEW
CASES THERE APPEARS TO BE
STABILIZING.
>> WHAT IS HAPPENING IS THAT WE
ARE EXTENDING THE CURVE.
THE CURVE THAT WE PROJECTED
ACTUALLY WE ARE UNDER, OKAY?
WE ARE STILL HAVE NOT OBTAINED
THE PLATEAU.
>> Reporter: THE PROVINCE SAW
342 NEW CASES TODAY.
IT'S 14% MORE THAN YESTERDAY.
BUT LAST WEEK'S DAILY INCREASES
AVERAGED MORE THAN 20%.
AND IN ONTARIO, EIGHT
FIREFIGHTERS HAVE TESTED
POSITIVE FOR THE VIRUS.
THE TORONTO FIREFIGHTERS' UNION
SAYS THAT 200 OF ITS MEMBERS ARE
IN SELF-ISOLATION, EITHER FROM
POSSIBLE EXPOSURE OR TRAVEL.
BUT THEY SAY THAT CONTINGENCY
PLANS ARE IN PLACE SO IT WON'T
AFFECT SERVICE.
AND CHECKPOINTS ARE GOING UP AT
A SOUTHERN ONTARIO FIRST NATION
AFTER TWO PEOPLE FROM THE SIX
NATIONS OF THE GRAND RESERVE
TESTED POSITIVE.
THEY ARE IN SELF-ISOLATION.
MEANWHILE, IN NOVA SCOTIA
AUTHORITIES ARE GETTING VERY
FRUSTRATED.
>> I'M HEARING STORIES OF
GROCERY STORES PACKED WITH
PEOPLE.
GROUPS OUT PLAYING SPORTS.
YOU ARE THE RECKLESS FEW.
YOUR FELLOW NOVA SCOTIANS ARE
UPSET WITH YOU.
WE'VE HAD IT.
>> Reporter: THAT'S PREMIER
STEPHEN McNEIL SCOLDING THE
FEW PEOPLE IN HIS PROVINCE WHO
STILL AREN'T LISTENING.
HE'S ASKED POLICE TO STEP UP
ENFORCEMENT.
VIOLATORS COULD HAVE VEHICLES
TOWED AND BE FINED $1,000.
IAN?
>> Ian: LIEN, THANK YOU.
>>> THOSE PUBLIC TRIBUTES THAT
WE HAVE SEEN TO HEALTH CARE
WORKERS AROUND THE WORLD HAVE
BEEN EMBRACED BY PEOPLE HERE IN
CANADA.
TINA LOVGREEN SHOWS US THE NEW
NIGHTLY RITUAL IN VANCOUVER AND
HOW IT'S PERCEIVED IN THE
PROVINCE'S BIGGEST HOSPITAL.
>> WOO!
>> Reporter: A DAILY SHOW OF
APPRECIATION.
[Applause]
GETTING LOUDER BY THE DAY.
A CITY SAYING THANK YOU TO
FRONTLINE WORKERS.
IT STARTED IN VANCOUVER'S WEST
END WITH JUST A FEW LONE
CLAPPERS.
>> PEOPLE THOUGHT THAT WE WERE A
LITTLE CRAZY AND WERE CLOSING
THEIR WINDOWS AND DOORS.
BUT THEN BY THE SECOND NIGHT IT
SORT OF REALLY GOT ROLLING.
>> Reporter: AND NOW BLARING
SIRENS HAVE BECOME A RITUAL AT
7:00 p.m..
>> IT'S FOR ALL ESSENTIAL
WORKERS.
IT'S FOR OUR JANITORS, IT'S FOR
OUR
GROCERY STORE CLERKS AND OUR
FOOD WORKERS.
>> Reporter: THE MESSAGE WELL
RECEIVED BY NURSES AND DOCTORS.
>> IT'S INCREDIBLE.
IT GIVES US SO MUCH INSPIRATION,
SO MUCH JOY.
AND THE ABILITY TO KEEP GOING.
>> Reporter: BUT THEY WARN
THAT THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING.
>> WE HAVE NOT PEAKED AND WE
DON'T KNOW WHEN WE WILL PEAK.
>> Reporter: IF B.C., 64% OF
THOSE HOSPITALIZED ARE IN I.C.U.
SO FAR HOSPITALS LIKE VANCOUVER
GENERAL ARE COPING.
BUT IMAGES FROM NEW YORK AND
ITALY ARE TERRIFYING.
>> WE'RE NOT THERE.
WE DON'T WANT TO BE THERE.
BUT THERE'S CERTAINLY A SENSE OF
STRESS AND ANXIETY THAT IS
AROUND RIGHT NOW AND DEFINITELY
WE'RE SEEING THE CASES.
AND IT IS PUSHING OUR CURRENT
INFRASTRUCTURE FOR SURE.
>> Reporter: HOSPITALS ARE
PREPARING, OPENING UP BEDS AND
CHANGING PROTOCOLS.
>> FLOW WITHIN THE UNITS IS VERY
DIFFERENT.
SO THERE'S SOME COHORTING OR
PUTTING PATIENTS TOGETHER AND
PROVIDING THAT EXTRA BARRIER OF
SAFETY.
>> WE HAVE PUT PRECAUTIONS IN
PLACE TO PROTECT OURSELVES AND
OTHER PATIENTS BY WEARING A MASK
FOR THE WHOLE SHIFT.
>> Reporter: THE EMOTIONAL
STRESS, PERHAPS THE MOST TAXING
PART OF IT ALL.
>> WE DO OUR JOBS, WE KNOW HOW
TO DO IT WELL.
WE HAVE BEEN TRAINED IN THIS AND
WE WENT TO SCHOOL FOR THIS.
BUT NOW IT'S JUST ABOUT
NAVIGATING EMOTION.
>> Reporter: WHILE THE CHEERS
LIFT SPIRITS, DOING YOUR PART BY
STAYING APART MIGHT JUST BE THE
BEST WAY TO SAY THANKS.
TINA LOVGREEN, CBC NEWS,
VANCOUVER.
>> Ian: JUST DAYS AGO, DONALD
TRUMP HOPED TO HAVE CHURCHES
FULL FOR EASTER SERVICES, BUT
TONIGHT HE'S PREDICTING THAT
WILL BE THE PEAK OF THE
PANDEMIC.
SO HE'S EXTENDED PHYSICAL
DISTANCING GUIDELINES TO THE END
OF APRIL.
THE NUMBER OF AMERICAN
CORONAVIRUS CASES IS APPROACHING
140,000.
BUT MORE THAN 2,400 LIVES ARE
LOST.
BUT A MEMBER OF THE CORONAVIRUS
TASK FORCE SAYS THAT THERE COULD
BE BETWEEN 100,000 AND 200,000
DEATHS IN THE UNITED STATES.
HERE'S PAUL HUNTER.
>> Reporter: EVER SINCE HE
FLOATED THE IDEA OF EASING WHITE
HOUSE GUIDELINES ON SOCIAL
DISTANCING SO AS TO RE-START THE
U.S. ECONOMY, DONALD TRUMP HAD
TAKEN FIRE.
TONIGHT A STEP BACK.
>> President Donald Trump: WE
WILL BE EXTENDING OUR GUIDELINES
TO APRIL 30th TO SLOW THE
SPREAD.
>> Reporter: THE GUIDELINES,
WHICH HAVE ENCOURAGED PEOPLE TO
STAY HOME TO SOCIALLY DISTANCE
THEMSELVES, WERE SET TO EXPIRE
TUESDAY, BUT WITH THE ECONOMIC
PRICE OF A COUNTRY AT A
STANDSTILL, TRUMP HAS SUGGESTED
THAT MAYBE THEY'D END THAT
ADVICE BY EASTER.
>> President Donald Trump:
THAT WAS AN ASPIRATIONAL NUMBER, 
AND I DIDN'T SAY EASTER.
I SAID IT WOULD BE A GREAT THING
IF WE COULD DO IT BY EASTER.
AND WE KNOW MUCH MORE NOW THAN
WE DID TWO OR THREE WEEKS AGO.
>> Reporter: AS THE U.S.
GRAPPLED WITH THE OUT-OF-CONTROL
SPREAD OF THE VIRUS, TRUMP'S
MEDICAL EXPERTS GAVE HIM
STAGGERING NUMBERS.
THEIR BEST GUESS ON HOW MANY
AMERICANS WILL DIE EVEN IF THEY
DO EVERYTHING RIGHT?
>> IT'S ANYWHERE IN THE MODEL
BETWEEN 80,000 AND 160,000,
MAYBE EVEN POTENTIALLY 200,000
PEOPLE SUCCUMBING TO THIS.
THAT'S WITH MITIGATION.
>> Reporter: BUT IF, FOR
EXAMPLE, SOCIAL DISTANCING WOULD
BE ARE YOUR TAIL THE, THOSE
NUMBERS COULD
SKYROCKET.
>> BETWEEN 1.6 MILLION TO
2.2 MILLION FATALITIES IF WE
DIDN'T MITIGATE.
>> Reporter: IN THE END, TRUMP
LISTENED.
>> THE DECISION TO PROLONG, NOT
PROLONG -- BUT TO EXTEND THIS
MITIGATION PROCESS UNTIL THE END
OF APRIL I THINK WAS A WISE AND
A PRUDENT DECISION.
>> Reporter: MEANWHILE IT
STILL SPREADS.
JUST THIS WEEKEND OUTSIDE OF
WASHINGTON, D.C., WORD OF
ANOTHER NURSING HOME AND DOZENS
OF ELDERLY RESIDENTS NOW TESTING
POSITIVE WITH ONE DEAD ALREADY.
TRUMP'S CORONA EXPERTS UNDERLINE
A BRUTAL TIME LIES AHEAD, BUT
THEY ALSO SAID THAT SOCIAL
DISTANCING IS HELPING AND
TONIGHT'S DECISION TO EXTEND THE
GUIDELINES ON THAT COULD WELL
SAVE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF
LIVES.
PAUL HUNTER, CBC NEWS,
WASHINGTON.
>> Ian: THERE'S ANOTHER POSSIBLY
DANGEROUS CONSEQUENCE IN THE
U.S.
ASIAN-AMERICANS ARE WORRIED
ABOUT DISCRIMINATION AS A RESULT
OF COVID-19.
AS KATIE SIMPSON EXPLAINS, THAT
FEAR HAS SOME PREPARING TO
DEFEND THEMSELVES.
>> Reporter: IN TIMES OF
CRISIS, YOU CAN COUNT ON
AMERICAN GUN SHOPS TO BE BUSY.
>> RIGHT NOW WE'RE CLOCKING
ABOUT 300% MORE THAN NORMAL.
>> Reporter: THE CO-OWNER OF
THIS STORE IN SUBURBAN MARYLAND
SAYS HE SOLD A QUARTER OF A
MILLION ROUNDS OF AMMO AND
NEARLY ALL OF HIS GUNS IN A
MONTH.
WITH A NOTICEABLE UPTICK IN
SALES, HE SAID, TO
ASIAN-AMERICAN CUSTOMERS.
>> THEY'RE JUST AFRAID, EITHER
TO PROTECT THEIR FAMILIES OR
FROM THE BACKLASH AGAINST
ANTI-CHINESE SENTIMENT.
>> I'M PART OF THE COMMUNITY
THAT'S LIVING IN FEAR.
WE'RE JUST LIVING IN FEAR.
>> Reporter: HE RUNS A THEATRE
NOT FAR FROM THE GUN SHOP.
HE SAYS THAT THE CORONAVIRUS
OUTBREAK HAS TRIGGERED
ANTI-ASIAN SENTIMENT.
THERE ARE WIDESPREAD REPORTS AND
DOCUMENTED CASES OF RACIST
INCIDENTS, SHOUTING, SPITTING
AND THREATS OF VIOLENCE.
>> THE BIGGEST THING IS REALLY
SUBTLE, WHICH ALL OF THESE DIRTY
LOOKS THAT WE'VE BEEN GETTING.
IT COMES TO A POINT OF, LIKE, IT
REMINDS US THAT WE NEVER REALLY
BELONGED HERE.
>> Reporter: IN PART, KONG
BLAMES THE U.S. PRESIDENT FOR
THIS EMERGING TREND.
>> President Donald Trump: WE
CONTINUE OUR RELENTLESS EFFORT
TO DEFEAT THE CHINESE VIRUS.
>> Reporter: WHEN YOU HEAR HIM
SAY THAT, WHAT DOES IT MAKE YOU
THINK?
>> IT'S IGNORANT.
>> Reporter: THIS FATHER OF
TWO SAYS THAT HE'S NOT
EXPERIENCED ANY CORONA BACKLASH
BUT IS AFRAID FOR HIS SAFETY.
SO HE BOUGHT A GUN.
>> I THINK I JUST WANTED PEACE
OF MIND TO
PROTECT MY FAMILIES BECAUSE
THERE'S SO MANY UNCERTAINTIES
GOING ON.
>> Reporter: TRUMP MAY NO
LONGER BE SAYING CHINESE VIRUS,
BUT
MEMBERS OF HIS ADMINISTRATION
PUSH THE SENTIMENT.
SECRETARY OF STATE MIKE POMPEO
BROUGHT A G7 MEETING TO A HALT
WHEN HE INSISTED THAT FELLOW
FOREIGN MINISTERS CALL IT WUHAN
VIRUS IN A JOINT STATEMENT.
THE IDEA WAS FLATLY REJECTED.
KATIE SIMPSON, CBC NEWS,
WASHINGTON.
>> Ian: ANXIETY CONTINUES TO
SPREAD OUTSIDE OF THE UNITED
STATES TOO.
BRITAIN WARNS ISOLATION
PROTOCOLS MIGHT LAST SIX MONTHS.
WHILE IRAN FEARS THAT
INTERNATIONAL SANCTIONS ARE
CRIPPLING ITS COVID-19 RELIEF
EFFORTS.
HERE'S A LOOK AT THE GLOBAL
SITUATION STARTING WITH TRAGEDY
IN THE PHILIPPINES.
A PHILIPPINES AIR AMBULANCE
PLANE, BELIEVED TO BE FLYING A
COVID-19 PATIENT TO JAPAN,
EXPLODED DURING TAKEOFF
IN MANILA TODAY, KILLING ALL
EIGHT ON BOARD, INCLUDING A
CANADIAN.
THREE MEDICAL WORKERS WERE AMONG
THE VICTIMS.
>>> GOOD NEWS IN HARD-HIT SPAIN
WHERE MUCH-NEEDED MEDICAL
EQUIPMENT CONTINUES TO ARRIVE
JUST AS OTHER PLANES HEAD TO
CHINA TO BRING BACK MORE.
>>> WHILE IN NAPLES, ITALY,
PRIESTS DELIVERED MASS FROM THE
SAFETY OF THE ROOFTOPS.
AND 200 KILOMETRES AWAY IN
NORMALLY BUSTLING ROME, VIRTUAL
SILENCE.
ITALIAN AUTHORITIES ARE NOW
USING HELICOPTERS TO ENFORCE
QUARANTINE.
IT'S FAR FROM QUIET IN INDIA
THOUGH.
HUGE NUMBERS OF MIGRANT WORKERS
NOW SCRAMBLE TO GET HOME ANYWAY
THEY CAN AFTER A MANDATORY
LOCKDOWN ANNOUNCEMENT.
IT'S NOT GOING WELL.
BUT IN THE FIRST EPI-CENTRE OF
THIS CRISIS, CAUTIOUS SIGNS OF
NORMAL LIFE RETURNING.
AS TRAVEL IN AND OUT OF HUBEI
PROVINCE RESUMES.
>>> HOSPITALS ACROSS THE COUNTRY
ARE
GETTING READY IN CASE THERE'S A
SURGE OF COVID-19 CASES.
NEXT ON "THE NATIONAL"... THE
RACE TO GET DOCTORS AND NURSES
THE PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT THEY
NEED IN TIME.
>>> AND YOUR QUESTIONS,
INCLUDING ARE HOMEMADE MASKS
SAFE?
>>> AND KEEPING FAMILIES HEALTHY
BY KEEPING THEM APART.
THE DIFFICULT DECISION TO
LOCKDOWN LONG-TERM CARE CENTRES.
>>> YOU WOULDN'T BELIEVE WHAT
YOU CAN DO FROM HOME THESE DAYS.
>> GENTLEMEN, START YOUR
ENGINES.
>> Ian: WE'RE BACK RIGHT AFTER
THIS.
(*)
(*)
>> Ian: WELCOME BACK TO A
REGULAR FEATURE THAT I KNOW THAT
A LOT OF PEOPLE LOOK FORWARD TO
WHERE WE HAVE DOCTORS ANSWERING
YOUR QUESTIONS.
AND TONIGHT WE'RE JOINED BY
DR. ISSAC BOGOCH, AN INFECTIOUS
DISEASE SPECIALIST IN TORONTO
WITH THE UNIVERSITY HEALTH
NETWORK.
AND DR. MICHAEL CURRY, AN
EMERGENCY DOCTOR FROM DELTA
HOSPITAL JUST OUTSIDE OF
VANCOUVER.
AND DR. BOGOCH, LET'S START WITH
A QUESTION TO YOU FROM A VIEWER
WHO SAYS THAT "I HAVE AN ELDERLY
RELATIVE WHO LIVES ON HER OWN
AND NEEDS MY ASSISTANCE.
HOW DO I SAFELY VISIT TO HELP
WITH HER NEEDS?"
>> THAT'S A VERY CHALLENGING
SITUATION BECAUSE WE'RE TOLD TO
SPREAD APART AND KEEP OUR
DISTANCE.
AND WE'RE ALSO AWARE THAT THE
ELDERLY ARE CERTAINLY THE MOST
VULNERABLE POPULATION AMONGST US
AND WE NEED TO DO WHATEVER WE
CAN TO PREVENT THEM FROM GETTING
INFECTED.
BUT, OF COURSE, AND PEOPLE LIVE
ALONE AND TRULY NEED HELP.
SO THIS IS WHERE SOMEONE NEEDS
TO BE EXTREMELY
CAREFUL WHEN ENTERING THAT
HOUSE.
YOU KNOW, IMPECCABLE HAND
HYGIENE, IT'S CRUCIAL.
AND, OF COURSE, DO NOT GO INTO
THAT HOUSE IF YOU'RE FEELING ANY
SYMPTOMS WHATSOEVER.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE SOMEONE
ELSE GO TO THE HOUSE TO ASSIST
IF YOU FEEL UNWELL.
>> Ian: GREAT CLEAR ADVICE.
THANK YOU.
AND LET'S GO TO DR. CURRY NOW,
AND HERE'S A QUESTION FROM A
VIEW MORE SAYS, "I AM
MAKING CLOTH MASKS FOR PEOPLE IN
MY COMMUNITY WHO WORK IN
ESSENTIAL BUSINESSES.
IS THIS A GOOD IDEA?"
>> IT'S HEARTWARMING TO HEAR
THAT.
AND IT SEEMS LIKE A GOOD IDEA.
BUT THE EVIDENCE IS AT BEST
MIXED WHETHER MASKS HELP TO
PREVENT PEOPLE IN THE GENERAL
POPULATION FROM GETTING UNWELL.
AND THAT IS WITH MASKS THAT ARE
PROFESSIONALLY FABRICATED WITH
SPECIAL FILTRATION MATERIAL.
IT'S A BIT DIFFERENT IN HEALTH
CARE.
WHEN I'M AT WORK I HAVE PEOPLE
COUGHING IN MY FACE ALL THE DAY
LONG.
BUT FOR THE
GENERAL POPULATION THERE'S A
SUGGESTION THAT PEOPLE SPEND
MORE TIME FIDDLING WITH THE
MASKS AND TOUCHING THEIR FACE
AND THAT IT ACTUALLY MIGHT EVEN
LEAD TO HIGHER RATES OF
INFECTION.
SO FOR RIGHT NOW IT SEEMS LIKE A
GREAT IDEA, HOWEVER, I DON'T
THINK THAT THE EVIDENCE REALLY
SUPPORTS THAT FOR THE GENERAL
POPULATION.
IN COUNTRIES WHERE YOU SEE
PEOPLE WEARING MASKS, IT'S NOT
TO PREVENT HEALTHY PEOPLE FROM
GETTING SICK, BUT IT'S TO
PREVENT SICK PEOPLE FROM
INFECTING OTHERS.
AND WITH COVID-19, IF YOU'RE
SICK, DON'T WEAR A MASK, STAY
HOME.
>> Ian: I DON'T KNOW THAT THIS
IS YOUR EXPERIENCE, BUT I HAVE
TO
TELL THAT YOU WALKING AROUND IN
VANCOUVER INCREASING NUMBERS OF
PEOPLE ARE WEARING ALL KINDS OF
MASKS FROM PROFESSIONAL ONES TO
WHAT LOOKS LIKE HOMEMADE ONES.
LET'S GO ON TO THE NEXT QUESTION
NOW WITH DR. BOGOCH.
WHEN A PERSON INFECTED WITH
COVID-19 SPEAKS OR EXHALES, HOW
LONG DOES THE COVID-19 STAY IN
THE SURROUNDING AIR?
>> THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.
THESE ARE LARGE DROPLETS AND
THEY FALL TO THE GROUND OR THE
SURFACE WHEREVER ONE IS COUGHING
OR SNEEZING OR BREATHING VERY,
VERY QUICKLY.
THEY DO NOT STAY SUSPENDED IN
THE AIR FOR VERY LONG.
SO THEY'LL CONTAMINATE THE
SURFACE AROUND THE PERSON VERY
QUICKLY, BUT
THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE FLOATING
IN THE AIR FOR PEOPLE TO CATCH
MINUTES OR HOURS LATER.
>> Ian: YEAH, BUT LET ME ASK A
FOLLOW-UP QUESTION AND KEEPING
IN MIND THE TWO METRE AND
SIX-FOOT RULE.
IF YOU'RE ON A CITY STREET AND
YOU'RE WALKING BY SOMEBODY, WHAT
IS THE INFECTION RISK THERE?
>> IT'S EXTRAORDINARILY SMALL.
OBVIOUSLY, WE HAVE TO AVOID
SITUATIONS WHERE PEOPLE ARE VERY
CLOSE TO EACH OTHER AND, OF
COURSE, WE HAVE TO GOOD COUGH OR
SNEEZE HYGIENE, TO COUGH INTO
OUR ARM AND NOT INTO THE AIR
AROUND US.
BUT FOR VERY SMALL PERIODS OF
TIME
WHEN PEOPLE ARE PASSING EACH
OTHER ON THE STREET OR CYCLING
PAST EACH OTHER, THE RISK IS
EXTRAORDINARILY SMALL.
>> Ian: I SAID THIS LAST WEEK
THAT WE HAVE MORE QUESTIONS BUT
WE HAVE RUN OUT OF TIME.
BUT I KNOW THAT ANDREW AND
ADRIENNE
WILL BE LISTENING TO THE
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS TOMORROW
AS WELL.
WE ASK YOUR COVID-19 QUESTIONS
EVERY NIGHT, SO SEND THEM TO US.
YOU CAN MESSAGE US DIRECTLY ON
INSTAGRAM AT @CBCTHENATIONAL OR
YOU CAN SEND US AN EMAIL TO
COVID@CBC.CA.
>> THOSE MASKS ARE PART OF THE
PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT
THAT HEALTH CARE WORKERS NEED.
AND CANADIANS ARE HELPING OUT.
INDUSTRIES HAVE PIVOTED
PRODUCTION AND COMMUNITIES ARE
STEPPING UP.
A DRIVE IN HAMILTON INCLUDED
DONATIONS FROM A TATTOO SHOP
NETTING MORE THAN 13,000 ITEMS.
TONIGHT NEWS OF A DONATION FROM
A
COUNTRY THAT CANADA IS AT ODDS
WITH.
ANGELINA KING HAS THAT.
>> WE HAVE GOWNS IN HERE.
WE HAVE GOGGLES IN HERE.
MASKS ARE OVER HERE.
>> Reporter: PACKED IN THESE
BOXES, 30,000 SURGICAL MASKS,
50,000 PAIRS OF GLOVES AND
THOUSANDS OF GOGGLES AND GOWNS,
ALL COMING FROM CHINA.
>> IT ARRIVED QUICKLY.
AND THE NEED IS RIGHT NOW.
SO IT'S GOING TO MAKE A REAL
DIFFERENCE.
>> Reporter: THE DONATION
COMES FROM THE BANK OF CHINA
THROUGH AN ONTARIO-BASED
NON-PROFIT MEDICAL GROUP WHICH
WORKS CLOSELY WITH HEALTH
WORKERS IN CHINA.
AT THE BEGINNING OF THE MONTH
THE BETHUNE MEDICAL ASSOCIATION
OF CANADA MADE A SIMILAR
DONATION TO HOSPITALS IN WUHAN
AND NOW THE FAVOUR IS RETURNED.
>> THAT'S EXTREMELY HELPFUL BUT
IT'S STILL A BAND-AID SOLUTION.
AND REALLY THE KEY THING HERE IS
FIGURING OUT THE SUPPLY CHAIN,
NOT JUST FOR THE NEXT WEEK OR
MONTH BUT FOR THE FORESEEABLE
FUTURE.
>> Reporter: TODAY THE PRIME
MINISTER SAID DONATIONS FROM
CHINA MUST MEET CANADIAN
STANDARDS AND THAT THE WORLD
SHOULD BE WORKING TOGETHER.
>> Prime Minister Justin
Trudeau: IT IS A GLOBAL
PANDEMIC AND COUNTRIES NEED TO
SET ASIDE THEIR DIFFERENCES.
>> Reporter: OVER THE NEXT TWO
DAYS THE SUPPLIES WILL BE
DELIVERED TO AT LEAST FIVE
HOSPITALS.
THE ASSOCIATION SAYS THAT
THEY'LL BE DISTRIBUTED AS
EQUALLY AS POSSIBLE BASED ON
WHAT IS NEEDED THE MOST AND
WHERE.
>> WE CAN'T WAIT IN TERMS OF
TIMES TO PROTECT THE FRONTLINE
WORKERS IN HEALTH CARE.
>> Reporter: THE MEDICAL
ASSOCIATION HERE SAYS THAT MORE
DELIVERIES LIKE THIS ONE ARE
EXPECTED NEXT WEEK FROM CHINA,
INCLUDING 30,000 N95 MASKS.
ANGELINA KING, CBC NEWS,
MARKHAM, ONTARIO.
>> Ian: STILL AHEAD ON "THE
NATIONAL," WHAT IS GERMANY DOING
RIGHT?
THE COUNTRY HAS SIGNIFICANTLY
FEWER COVID-RELATED DEATHS THAN
ITS NEIGHBOURS.
SO WHAT CAN WE LEARN?
PLUS --... [BELLS TOLLING]
>>> A UNIFYING MESSAGE TAKES
OVER QUÉBEC -- IT'S GOING TO BE
OKAY.
>>> BUT FIRST --
>> GENTLEMEN, START YOUR
ENGINES!
>> Ian: THIS MAY SOUND LIKE THE
START TO ANY REGULAR NASCAR
SUNDAY, BUT THIS IS NASCAR'S NEW
NORMAL.
FOR A SECOND WEEKEND IN A ROW, A
REMOTE ANTHEM --
>> * OH, SAY CAN YOU SEE 
>> Ian: HORSE REPLICAS AND
VIRTUAL
RACING.
THE FAN FAVOURITES WILL STILL BE
BEHIND THE WHEEL BUT NOW THEY'RE
DOING IT FROM THEIR HOMES.
>> WE'RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER
AGAIN.
LOOKING FOR
>> Ian: AMONG THE MANY
QUESTIONS THAT SWIRL AROUND THE
COVID-19 PANDEMIC IS HOW DEADLY
THE VIRUS IS.
DEPENDING WHERE YOU LOOK, THE
ANSWER SEEMS TO VARY WIDELY.
IN EUROPE, ITALY, SPAIN AND
GERMANY ALL HAVE HUGE OUTBREAKS
WITH
TENS OF THOUSANDS OF CASES.
IN ITALY, THE TOLL IS
HORRIFYING, MORE THAN 10,000
DEAD.
IN SPAIN, DEATHS CONTINUE TO
SURGE TO MORE THAN 6,800.
BUT IN GERMANY, THE DEATH TOLL
IS ABOUT 500.
SO WHY HAS GERMANY FACED A
DRAMATICALLY LOWER DEATH RATE
THAN ITS NEIGHBOURS?
TERENCE McKENNA FOUND SOME
ANSWERS.
(*)
>> Reporter: THE COVID-19
OUTBREAK CAME TO GERMANY ON
JANUARY 19th WHEN A BUSINESS
WOMAN FROM SHANGHAI ARRIVED FROM
TWO DAYS OF MEETINGS NEAR MUNICH
WITH HER GERMAN PARTNERS.
AFTER SHE WAS DIAGNOSED A FEW
DAYS LATER HER CONTACTS WERE
QUICKLY TRACED AND CONTACTED AND
THE FIRST CLUSTER OF INFECTED
GERMANS WAS
IDENTIFIED AND ISOLATED.
THE LEADER OF THE INTENSIVE CARE
AND EMERGENCY
MEDICINE ASSOCIATION --
>> SHE INFECTED THIS MAN AND
THIS MAN INFECTED FIVE OTHERS
AND IN THE END WE HAD 16
PATIENTS.
AND THEN NOTHING HAPPENED.
>> Reporter: THEN CAME SPRING
BREAK WHEN MANY GERMAN AND
ITALIAN STUDENTS MAKE THEIR WAY
TO THE ALPINE VILLAGES OF
AUSTRIA TO GO SKIING.
IT TURNS OUT THAT THERE WAS ONE
SUPER SPREADER IN THE TOWN, A
BARTENDER WHO THOUGHT THAT HE
HAD A COLD AND WAS NOT ILL
ENOUGH TO SKIP WORK.
HE INFECTED HUNDREDS OF YOUNG
PEOPLE, INCLUDING MANY GERMANS.
MARTIN STERMER IS A GERMAN
BIOCHEMIST WHO HIMSELF WAS
CAUGHT UP IN THE EPIDEMIC.
>> WE HAVE BEEN TO AUSTRIA FOR
SKIING AND TWO DAYS BEFORE WE
LEFT OUR HOLIDAYS WE GOT A
MESSAGE THAT THE COMPLETE REGION
IS CALLED A RISK AREA.
AND WHEN WE CAME BACK BECAUSE MY
WIFE AND I -- WE WORK FOR A
MEDICAL LAB -- AND THEY SAID
BEFORE YOU COME BACK TO THE LAB
YOU HAVE TO BE IN QUARANTINE AND
YOU WILL HAVE TO DO A TEST.
SO WE DID A TEST AND IT WAS
POSITIVE.
>> HE KEPT GOING TO WORK AND I
GUESS THAT HE DIDN'T FEEL SICK
ENOUGH TO STAY HOME.
THERE WAS NO UNDERSTANDING
OF WHAT COULD HAPPEN.
UP TO 50% OF THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE
THE VIRUS DON'T SHOW ANY
SYMPTOMS AT ALL AND A LARGE
NUMBER OF PEOPLE SHOW VERY, VERY
MILD SYMPTOMS.
IT DEPENDS ON THE CAPACITY OF
THE COUNTRY TO TEST HOW MANY
PEOPLE CAN THEY CAN TEST PER
DAY, SO ISOLATE THE PEOPLE THAT
ARE INFECTED AND TO ISOLATE THEM
FROM THE REST OF THEM.
>> Reporter: CHANCELLOR ANGELA
MERKEL, A SCIENTIST BY
PROFESSION, WAS THE FIRST
WESTERN LEADER TO TAKE ACTION
ABOUT COVID-19.
>> [Speaking Foreign Language]
>> Reporter: SHE ESTIMATED
THAT UP TO 70% OF THE GERMAN
POPULATION WOULD CONTRACT THE
VIRUS.
>> THAT WAS THE FIRST TIME THAT
FOR ME MY PERCEPTION OF THE
WHOLE SITUATION CHANGED.
WHEN SHE SAID UP TO 70%, I MADE
A QUICK CALCULATION AND 1% OF
INFECTED PEOPLE DIE WHICH AT THE
TIME WAS ASSUMED FATALITY RATE,
ALL RIGHT, 70%, AND 1% DIES AND
MEANS ROUGHLY HALF A MILLION
PEOPLE WOULD DIE IN GERMANY.
THAT WAS FOR ME LIKE, WHOA, IT
IS NOT JUST THE FLU.
THIS WILL CHANGE A LOT OF THINGS
FOR A LONG TIME.
>> Reporter: GERMANY QUICKLY
BEGAN DEVELOPING THOUSANDS OF
TEST KITS, FAR MORE THAN ANY
OTHER WESTERN COUNTRY.
GERMANY HAS RAMPED UP QUICKLY
AND IS NOW TESTING 500,000
PEOPLE PER WEEK.
>> FOR INSTANCE, EVERYBODY CAME
FROM ITALY OR FROM SKIING OR THE
RISK AREA IN ITALY, THEY WERE
ISOLATED AND THEY WERE TESTED.
AND EVERYBODY SURROUNDING --
SURROUNDING THE FAMILY WAS
ISOLATED.
SO I THINK THAT AT THE MOMENT
THIS LED TO THE POINT THAT WE
DON'T HAVE SO MANY OLD PEOPLE
GETTING INFECTED.
>> SO IF YOU LOOK AT OUR OVERALL
TESTED, POSITIVE TESTED
POPULATION, YOU SEE MANY YOUNGER
PEOPLE BELOW THE AGE OF 60 WHICH
HAVE BEEN TESTED POSITIVE.
AND THAT WE HAVE NOT SO MUCH
SEVERE PEOPLE IN OUR TESTING
POPULATION.
>> EVERYONE JUST STARTED TO
TEST, TO ESTABLISH THE TEST.
>> Reporter: MELANIE BRINKMAN
IS A GERMAN VIROLOGIST.
>> I THINK THAT IS THE BIGGEST
ADVANTAGE THAT WE HAD.
I LIKE TO COMPARE IT TO AN
ICEBERG.
SO I THINK WE SAW THE MUCH
BIGGER TIP OF THE ICEBERG THAN
OTHER COUNTRIES.
ITALY, FOR EXAMPLE.
AND I THINK THAT WE HAVE GAINED
A LOT OF TIME AND NOW HAVE TIME
TO PREPARE THE HOSPITALS FOR THE
PATIENTS THAT WILL COME
EVENTUALLY.
>> Reporter: ONCE THE WAVE OF
INFECTION ARRIVES, GERMANY WILL
BE FAR BETTER PREPARED THAN
OTHER WESTERN COUNTRIES TO
HANDLE IT.
FOR EXAMPLE, GERMANY HAS
INVESTED IN A GREATER PER CAPITA
PROPORTION OF INTENSIVE CARE
BEDS AND VENTILATORS.
ALMOST THREE TIMES AS MANY AS
CANADA.
>> IN GERMANY THERE ARE A LOT OF
HOSPITAL BEDS PER CAPITA AND A
LOT OF I.C.U. BEDS PER CAPITA.
FOR EXAMPLE, IN GERMANY, WE HAVE
34 I.C.U. BEDS PER 100,000
INHABITANTS.
THAT'S A LOT.
BY COMPARISON, IN ITALY, WE HAVE
8.4 PER 100,000.
SO THIS IS FOUR THE TIMES OF
BEDS.
SO I THINK WE CAN HANDLE THIS
SITUATION A LITTLE BIT BETTER
THAN THE ITALIAN PEOPLE DID.
>> Reporter: MANY GERMAN
EXPERTS FEEL THAT THE COUNTRY'S
LOW FATALITY RATE OF COVID-19
PATIENTS HAS A LOT TO DO WITH
THE RELATIVELY LOW NUMBER OF
SERIOUS CASES THEY ARE DEALING
WITH.
BUT THAT COULD CHANGE.
DR. CARL LAUTERBACH IS AN
EPIDEMIOLOGIST AND A MEMBER OF
THE GERMAN PARLIAMENT.
>> I THINK THAT THE TIDAL WAVE
IS COMING AND WE WILL SEE THAT
THERE'S A SHARP INCREASE IN THE
NUMBER OF INFECTED PEOPLE AND
ALSO THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WITH
SEVERE DISEASE AND PEOPLE DYING,
UNFORTUNATELY.
SO THAT WILL HAPPEN.
BUT I COULD ASSUME THAT WE WILL
NOT GET CLOSE TO THE NUMBERS.
I HOPE, UNFORTUNATELY, THAT WE
ARE CURRENTLY
OBSERVING IN FRANCE, SPAIN OR
ITALY.
>> SO I WAS LUCKY AT THE END
AND, YEAH, BUT I THINK THAT IT
HAS CHANGED MY POINT OR MY VIEW
ON THE COMPLETE EPIDEMIC.
WE SHOULD RESPECT THE VIRUS, WE
SHOULD RESPECT THE ILLNESS, BUT
WE DON'T HAVE TO BE IN A PANIC
MODE AND WE DON'T HAVE TO FEAR
THIS INFECTION.
>> Reporter: RIGHT NOW GERMANY
HAS MANY FEWER COVID-19 DEATHS
PER CAPITA COMPARED TO THEIR
NEIGHBOURS.
ALMOST SEVEN TIMES FEWER THAN
FRANCE.
30 TIMES FEWER THAN SPAIN.
35 TIMES FEWER THAN ITALY.
BUT EXPERTS HERE INSIST THAT
DOES NOT LEAD TO OVERCONFIDENCE.
>> WE ARE NOT BECOMING
OVERCONFIDENT AT ALL.
WE ARE VERY WELL AWARE THAT IN A
COUPLE OF WEEKS WE MAY BE IN
RECOVERY.
>> Reporter: IN THE TOWN OF
MENDEN, A SYMBOL OF GERMANY'S
DETERMINATION TO WIN THE BATTLE
AGAINST THIS VIRUS, THE SCHOOL
GYM HAS BEEN OUTFITTED TO
RECEIVE ANYONE WHO IS CAUGHT
DISOBEYING QUARANTINE
RESTRICTIONS.
FIRST ALDERMAN SEBESTIAN ALCH
SAYS THAT THE FORCIBLE
CONFINEMENT WILL BE ACCOMPLISHED
IF NECESSARY WITH THE HELP OF
THE POLICE.
>> [Speaking Foreign Language]
>> Reporter: GERMANY HAS GIVEN
THE WORLD A POSITIVE LESSON IN
HOW TO DEAL WITH THIS PANDEMIC.
TERENCE McKENNA, CBC NEWS,
TORONTO.
>> Ian: NEXT ON "THE NATIONAL,"
FINDING WAYS TO BE TOGETHER WHEN
BEING APART IS SO HARD.
>> EVERY DAY IT GETS WORSE AND
WORSE AND WORSE.
>> Ian: EVERY MOMENT IS PRECIOUS
FOR THOSE IN LONG-TERM CARE.
NEXT, HOW FAMILIES ARE COPING
WHILE BEING SEPARATED.
>>> BUT FIRST...
[BELLS TOLLING]
>> Ian: CHURCH BELLS RANG IN
UNISON TODAY IN QUÉBEC, A SYMBOL
OF UNISON IN THIS TIME.
BUT IT'S NOT THE ONLY WAY.
INSPIRED BY RAINBOW ARTWORK SEEN
IN ITALY DURING THE CRISIS,
QUÉBECERS ARE MAKING THEIR OWN
WITH THE SAME SIMPLE MESSAGE --
IT'S GOING TO BE OKAY.
(*)
(singing).
>>> ON WINDOWS AND ON SIDEWALKS,
KIDS ARE GETTING CREATIVE.
THEIR GESTURE IS ECHOED IN
HOSPITALS AND AT THE AIRPORT,
EVEN ON CLOTHING LINES AND BAKED
GOODS.
AND TONIGHT THIS -- A SIGN OF A
COMMUNITY STICKING TOGETHER.
>> Prime Minister Justin
Trudeau: OUR SENIORS ARE
PARTICULARLY VULNERABLE TO
COVID-19.
WE ALL KNOW THAT.
AND IT'S FOR THEM THAT SO MANY
OF US ARE STAYING HOME, ARE
SELF-ISOLATING AND ARE FOLLOWING
THE RULES.
>> Ian: THE PRIME MINISTER IS
SPEAKING TODAY WHILE ANNOUNCING
$9 MILLION IN NEW FUNDING TO
HELP LOCAL ORGINISATIONS TO
DELIVER GROCERIES AND MEDICATION
TO ISOLATED SENIORS.
BUT AS SO MANY CANADIAN FAMILIES
KNOW VERY WELL, MANY SENIORS
LIVE IN CARE FACILITIES.
MEASURES TO MINIMIZE THEIR RISK
TO EXPOSURE OF COVID-19 ARE
KEEPING THEM FROM AN IMPORTANT
SOCIAL SUSTENANCE, CLOSE CONTACT
WITH LOVED ONES.
IOANNA ROUMELIOTIS REACHED OUT
TO FAMILIES SHE'S INTERVIEWED
BEFORE.
(*)
>> I WANT TO GIVE THEM THAT
MOMENT OF HAPPINESS, AT LEAST
FOR THEM TO FORGET THIS WHOLE
CRISIS THAT IS HAPPENING.
>> Reporter: VERA HAS PLAYED
FOR HER GRANDMOTHER SINCE SHE
WAS A CHILD.
IT'S ALWAYS BEEN ABOUT BRINGING
HER JOY, NOW MORE THAN EVER.
>> SHE KIND OF UNDERSTANDS A
LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT IS GOING
ON.
OBVIOUSLY, SHE UNDERSTANDS
THE SAFETY THAT IS INVOLVED WITH
THIS.
BUT AT THE SAME TIME I HEAR HER
CRYING ON THE PHONE THAT SHE
MISSES US AND FOR THEM TO TRY TO
EXPLAIN TO THEM WHAT QUARANTINE
MEANS, EVEN SOCIAL DISTANCING,
THEY'RE SORT OF AWARE WHAT IT
IS, BUT THEY DON'T REALLY
UNDERSTAND BECAUSE THEY HAVE
NEVER EXPERIENCED SOMETHING LIKE
THIS BEFORE.
(*)
>> Reporter: THIS IS AN
EXTRAORDINARY ACT OF LOVE.
AND WHILE THE PRECAUTIONS BEHIND
IT ARE NECESSARY, THEY'RE
HEARTBREAKING TOO.
ISOLATING THE MOST VULNERABLE.
>> THIS HAS BEEN SHEER HELL,
REALLY.
>> Reporter: THE THOUGHT THAT
HER HUSBAND IS LOOKING FOR HER
AND CAN'T FIND HER.
FROM A DISTANCE AND FROM A
DEVICE, MARTHA FARNELL TELLS US
THAT IT'S TEARING HER APART.
>> HE MUST BE LOOKING FOR ME
BECAUSE HE ALWAYS DID.
HE WAS ALWAYS LOOKING TO SEE IF
I'M COMING AND IF I'M GOING TO
BE THERE.
SO I OFTEN WONDER WHAT AM I
GOING TO DO WHEN HE DOESN'T SEE
HE AND HE CAN'T SEE ME AND HEAR
ME.
>> Reporter: BEFORE COVID-19,
MARTHA SPENT HOURS BY HER
HUSBAND WILLARD'S SIDE.
HE HAS ADVANCED DEMENTIA AND
LIVES IN A LONG-TERM CARE HOME.
HIS AGITATION EASES WHEN SHE IS
NEARBY.
BUT THE LAST TIME SHE SAW HIM
SHE HAD TO TELL HIM THAT SHE
DIDN'T KNOW WHEN SHE'D BE BACK.
>> IT JUST BROKE ME UP.
AND HE WAS CRYING AND I WAS
YING.
HE DIDN'T SEEM TO UNDERSTAND.
I KEPT TELLING HIM THAT THEY
DON'T WANT ME TO COME IN HERE
ANYMORE.
AND HE CRIED.
AND I WENT HOME.
IT WAS SO HARD TO GO HOME.
THAT WAS THE LAST TIME I SAW
HIM.
>> Reporter: POWERLESS IN A
PANDEMIC.
MIKE WALKER CAN'T VISIT HIS WIFE
KAREN ANYMORE EITHER.
>> HELLO, KAREN, HOW ARE YOU
DOING TODAY?
>> Reporter: A FACILITY SHE'S
IN OFFERS HIM AN iPAD TO
CONNECT WITH HIS WIFE.
>> IT'S A NEW WAY OF
COMMUNICATING FOR NOW, IT'S
BETTER THAN NOTHING.
>> Reporter: HE'S AS CLOSE AS
HE CAN GET AND HE'S AFRAID FOR
HOW LONG.
>> THERE YOU GO.
COME ON, SMILE.
WE'RE GETTING THERE.
MY WIFE HAS DEMENTIA SO IT'S
HARD BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW HOW
LONG IT'S GOING TO BE TO THE
POINT WHERE WHEN I WALK IN AND
SHE JUST LOOKS AT ME AND HAS A
BLANK FACE OR KNOWS ME OR DON'T
KNOW ME.
AND EVERY DAY IS TICKING ALONG
IS ANOTHER DAY THAT IT'S GOING
TO GET WORSE.
IT'S NOT A BACKWARD DISEASE AND
THAT'S PROBABLY THE HARD PART
ABOUT IT, KNOWING THAT
EVERY DAY IT'S GETTING WORSE AND
WORSE AND WORSE.
>> Reporter: THE BAN ON
VISITORS IN HOMES AND HOSPITALS
IS MEANT TO PROTECT THE ELDERLY
FROM A DISEASE THAT COULD KILL
THEM.
YET EVERYONE AT BAYCREST IS
ACUTELY AWARE OF THE TOLL THAT
LONELINESS CAN TAKE.
DOES IT CONCERN YOU?
>> OF COURSE IT CONCERNS ME.
IT CONCERNS EVERYBODY.
WE'RE ALWAYS VERY MINDFUL OF OUR
CLIENTS' MENTAL HEALTH.
AND THIS IS NOT GREAT.
>> Reporter: DR. ADRIANA
SCNAUL SAYS THAT IT'S WHY
EMPLOYEES HERE HELPED TO
ORGANIZE THIS
BIRTHDAY PARTY FOR A RESIDENT.
>> WHEN THE FAMILY WENT OUTSIDE
OF THE WINDOW AND THE RESIDENTS
STOOD INSIDE AND THEY WERE ALL
THERE AND THEY HAD BALLOONS AND
THEY CELEBRATED.
THESE ARE THE TIMES NOW THAT IT
IS SO MEANINGFUL
FOR EVERYBODY TO BE AROUND.
>> Reporter: AND YET OTHERS
CAN'T WAVE FROM THE WINDOW OR
DON'T HAVE A SMARTPHONE.
85-YEAR-OLD STEPHEN PARKER WAS
HOSPITALIZED WITH PNEUMONIA A
COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO.
HIS DAUGHTER MARY ANN PARKER,
CALLS HIM EVERY DAY.
>> HI.
>> HI.
>> Reporter: BUT NO ONE KNOWS
WHEN THIS WILL BE OVER,
ESPECIALLY HER FATHER.
>> HOW ARE YOU?
>> I'M VERY WELL.
WE'RE ALL KEEPING SAFE --
HE SAID THAT THE HARDEST TIMES
ARE WHEN YOU HAVE ALL OF THAT
TIME TO YOURSELF.
THE 3:00 a.m. WAKE-UPS WHERE
YOU LIE THERE AND IMAGINE WHAT'S
HAPPENING.
AND I THINK THAT ALL OF US WOULD
GO DOWN THAT ROUTE OF IMAGINING
THE WORST.
AND AM I GOING TO SEE ANYONE
AGAIN.
OR IS THIS IT?
IS THIS WHAT I'M FACING.
AND IT'S JUST -- IT'S SUCH A
LONELY PLACE TO BE.
OKAY, DAD.
>> OKAY.
>> BYE.
(*)
>> Reporter: THE NEED TO BE
WITH THE ONES YOU LOVE, IT'S
EVEN STRONGER NOW.
VERA'S GRANDMOTHER CAN'T SEE
WELL AND WHILE MUSIC IS A
POWERFUL BRIDGE... VERA JUST
WISHES THAT SHE COULD GET EVEN
CLOSER.
>> ARE YOU OKAY?
YOU OKAY?
>> I HAVE MIXED FEELINGS AND IT
MAKES ME KIND OF FEEL ANGRY, TO
BE HONEST.
I'M NOT ANGRY BECAUSE THEY'RE
TAKING
PRECAUTIONS.
I'M ANGRY WHEN IT COMES TO TIME
ONLY BECAUSE OUR TIME TOGETHER
IS LIMITED AND I CAN'T
PHYSICALLY BE WITH HER.
YOU KNOW, MY GRANDMOTHER IS 94
YEARS OLD AND I FEEL LIKE TIME
HAS BEEN TAKEN AWAY FROM US,
ESPECIALLY AT A TIME WHEN SHE'S
SO FRAGILE.
(*)
AND SO IT'S TRYING TO KEEP A
BRAVE FACE DURING THE TIME WHEN
THERE'S CRISIS AND TRYING TO DO
WHAT I CAN TO BRING HER
HAPPINESS AT LEAST.
>> Reporter: EVEN IF SHE CAN
ONLY DELIVER THAT HAPPINESS FROM
A DISTANCE.
(*)
>> Reporter: IOANNA
ROUMELIOTIS, CBC NEWS,
MISSISSAUGA, ONTARIO.
>> Ian: NEXT ON "THE NATIONAL,"
OUR "MOMENT."
>> NOT TOO MANY PEOPLE REACH OUT
TO THEIR TRUCK DRIVERS.
>> Ian: THE STORY OF ONE
RESTAURANT OWNER AND ONE
COMMUNITY MAKING A HUGE IMPACT.
>> Ian: TRUCK DRIVERS SAY
THEY'RE BEING REFUSED SERVICE AT
SOME OF THE ROADSIDE RESTAURANTS
THAT ARE STILL OPEN OVER THE
CONCERN OF DRIVERS CARRYING AND
SPREADING THE CORONAVIRUS.
IN COMES NOVA SCOTIA'S CRYSTAL
BLAIR.
SHE RUNS A RESTAURANT JUST OFF
THE HIGHWAY NEAR THE BORDER WITH
NEW BRUNSWICK AND SHE'S SERVING
UP FREE MEALS.
SHE'S EVEN PROVIDED A PLACE FOR
DRIVERS TO TAKE A SHOWER.
AND HER STORY IS TONIGHT'S
"MOMENT."
(*)
>> THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU'RE
DOING.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
RIGHT NOW I'M TRYING TO GET
THESE GUYS A HOT MEAL AND A
PLACE TO SHOWER.
>> THE FIRST WARM MEAL IN 11
DAYS.
>> I'M GOING TO GET A BIG SIGN
FOR THE DOOR, LEAVE YOUR CASH
AND YOUR CARDS OUTSIDE, GUYS.
BECAUSE THEY DON'T EXPECT IT FOR
FREE, AND I
CAN'T MAKE THEM UNDERSTAND HOW
MUCH SUPPORT THAT I'M GETTING.
I TELL THEM, LISTEN, WHEN WE
HAVE TO
START CHARGING WE WILL.
>> NOT TOO MANY PEOPLE REACH OUT
TO THE TRUCK DRIVERS.
WE'RE HERE TO DO OUR JOB.
AND, WELL, WE APPRECIATE WHAT
THEY DO FOR US.
>> EVERYTHING IS CLOSED.
AND THEY'RE THE ONES ON THE
ROADS, LIVING IN THEIR TRUCKS,
TRYING TO
SUPPLY THE WORLD WITH ESSENTIAL
GOODS.
YOU KNOW, WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN
WHEN THESE TRUCKERS SAY I CAN'T
TAKE THIS ANYMORE?
>> Ian: SO DONATIONS ARE ROLLING
IN TO HELP TO PAY FOR ALL OF
THOSE MEALS.
IT'S A REMINDER OF THINGS
THAT MAYBE DIDN'T SEEM ESSENTIAL
TO A LOT OF US UNTIL THE LAST
COUPLE OF WEEKS.
THE TRUCK DRIVERS FOR SURE AND
THE PEOPLE WHO WORK IN
WAREHOUSES.
I SAW A CABDRIVER TODAY IN
VANCOUVER JUST WAITING PATIENTLY
FOR THE NEXT FARE AND, OF
COURSE, IN HIS CASE, YOU KNOW,
WHOEVER COMES IN THERE IS GOING
TO BE SITTING PROBABLY LESS THAN
TWO METRES AWAY.
SO A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT WE
SHOULD BE THANKFUL FOR.
>>> THAT IS "THE NATIONAL" FOR
THIS SUNDAY, MARCH 29th.
GOODNIGHT.
