Morning Update for April 6, 2020

NANAIMO —Today is the day people can start applying for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit. The benefit provides up to $2000 a month for those who have lost their jobs, are self-employed or cannot work because of COVID-19. Those already on Employment Insurance or who have applied, do not need to apply for the Emergency benefit. The Prime Minister is asking Canadians to apply on certain days, according to their birth month. Justin Trudeau says that it will prevent the system from being overwhelmed. Those born January to March should apply today. From April to June, apply on Tuesday. From July to September, apply on Wednesday and October to December, apply on Thursday. Trudeau says you can expect your direct deposit within 5 days of applying or within 10 days if by mail.

BC is also offering a one-time payment of $1000 but its application website will not be set up until mid-April.

However, those eligible for three months' worth of free hydro will be able to apply on the BC Hydro website by mid-week.

BC's Provincial Health officer says she is concerned that Canadians returning home from international travel could cause a spike in COVID-19 infections. Dr. Bonnie Henry believes BC is starting to flatten the curve, thanks to measures taken since mid-march, but she warns there could be large spikes if international travellers do not obey the 14-day quarantine order. Henry says so far, no one has been fined for disobeying health orders. But she says RCMP officers have the authority to do so,

On Saturday, Henry reported 2 new cases of COVID-19 in the Island Health Region, bringing the total to 76. Five people remain in critical care in hospitals on the island. Across the province as of Saturday, there were 29 new cases of the virus, totalling 1203. There were three more deaths, bringing the fatalities to 38. Henry will update the numbers early this afternoon.

RCMP are warning COVID-19 scams are spreading like the virus itself. The scams include test kits that are inaccurate, door to door sales offering fake decontamination and Fraud involving fake police officers issuing on the spot fines for wearing face masks in public. Health Canada is investigating a Vancouver company that offers an immune booster for COVID-19. It says the company has not applied for a license to sell the unproven product.

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Lisa Cordasco

Senior Reporter and News Director — Lisa is responsible for creating the station's first morning news current affairs show on CHLY. She is also deeply involved in training and mentoring student and citizen journalists who volunteer their time at the station. Before joining CHLY, Lisa spent 35 years in various roles at CBC Radio, from host to reporter. Her passion for journalism and radio has led her to Nanaimo, where she intends to provide CHLY listeners with news they can use, in an alternative radio environment. Her other not-so-secret passion is costuming for any occasion.

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