Afternoon Update for April 1st, 2020.
Photo: Screenshot from BC Hydro Website April 1st 2020.
NANAIMO —BC Hydro customers who have lost their income due to COVID-19 are about to receive a gift of free hydro. Residential customers will receive a credit, equalling three times their average monthly bill over the past year. That adds up to an average credit of $477. Some customers may also be eligible for Hydro's Customer Crisis Fund, which provides access to grants of up to $600 to pay their bills. All businesses, forced to close because of the pandemic will have their power bills forgiven for three months. Large industrial users, like pulp mills or mines, will be allowed to defer half of their bill payments for 3 months. The Minister responsible for Hydro, John Ralston says the program will cost $90 million. Customers must apply to BC Hydro for the benefit before the end of June. The utility has also halted all disconnections for non-payments and Hydro rates for all residential and business customers will decrease by one percent, starting today.
BC's Provincial Health officer says restrictions affecting gatherings, social distancing and self-isolation are the new normal, although some health directives might be eased by the end of May or June if the weather is warm enough. That's because the virus does not survive in higher temperatures. Dr. Bonnie Henry hopes for a reprieve from the virus over the summer months, but she says the second wave of infection will likely hit in the fall. She says the restrictions will not be permanently lifted until there is a vaccine for COVID-19. Henry will update the coronavirus numbers later this afternoon.
The BC Nurses Union is sounding the alarm over personal protective equipment. The president of the union says she's hearing from members who are being discouraged from changing their masks with each new patient. Christine Sorenson says most hospitals have gone through their regular supply, and the pandemic supply is being rationed. She says that has nurses frustrated and concerned.
Meanwhile, the province hopes to ease the supply pressure with the creation of an on-line platform that will coordinate, source and deploy medical supplies and protective equipment to provincial health authorities. The COVID-19 Supply Hub will gather donations from businesses and other organizations that have offered to help. The Supply Hub will be part of a larger Provincial Supply Coordination Unit that was announced last week. The Unit will also receive and distribute medical supplies purchased by the federal government and the Ministry of Health.
The Prime Minister has clarified some rules in applying for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit. It is for people who have lost their job, are sick, quarantined, or taking care of someone who is sick with COVID-19, as well as working parents who must stay home without pay to care for children. It also applies to wage earners, as well as contract workers and the self-employed, who would not otherwise be eligible for Employment Insurance. Starting next Monday, Canadians can apply on-line on the federal government website. This taxable benefit will provide $2,000 a month for up to four months. Those who have already applied for EI do not need to register.
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