Coronavirus Upate Mar 6 2020

The federal government is increasing funding for COVID-19 research from the initial seven-million-dollar level to 27-million-dollars

Health Minister Patty Hajdu (HY'-doo) says applications for the initial amount were overwhelming. Forty-seven research teams will now receive money to work on everything from treating the new coronavirus to getting useful information out on it.

Finance Minister Bill Morneau says the government is going to announce support for Canadians who are quarantined to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus known as COVID-19.

He told the Canadian Club of Toronto this morning that the government will increase its risk adjustment provision in its next budget to ensure it is ready and able to respond to the virus.

March 6 - latest numbers

Canada's first apparent case of community transmission was reported in British Columbia last night.
There are 51 confirmed and presumptive cases of COVID-19 in the country. (10)

President Donald Trump on Friday signed an $8.3 billion measure directed at the public health system to help tackle the coronavirus outbreak. Certain industries focused on travel and tourism have been hard hit. The International Air Transport Association says the virus outbreak that began in China late last year could cost airlines as much as $113 billion in lost revenue.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson says it looks like the U.K. will face a "substantial period of disruption" from the new coronavirus outbreak and the government plans to put aid for affected businesses in the national budget. The number of people in Britain infected with the virus increased to 163, the government reported Friday.

France will likely move to the highest level of epidemic alert "in the coming days" as the new coronavirus keeps spreading. French Health authorities reported 577 confirmed cases of the virus, including nine deaths. The virus is known to affect the elderly and the sick more than other groups of people.

Italy is the epicenter of Europe's virus outbreak with 148 virus deaths and over 3,800 infections.
Virus cases rose to 423 in France, 345 in Spain and 109 in Belgium.

Japan has more than 1,000 cases of infection, including about 700 from a cruise ship.
 

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