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Will we look back on the prime minister’s COVID-19 press conference as a missed opportunity to slow the spread of the virus?

I fear we might.

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The package of measures unveiled was underwhelming – $1 billion in funding for provinces, vaccine research and personal protective equipment, among other things.

Justin Trudeau said the government is ready to do more to provide credit for businesses and workers hit by the virus.

“No-one should be worried about their job if they need to be quarantined. No employer should feel they have to lay off a worker because of the virus,” he said.

Bill Morneau, the finance minister, said businesses are not yet reporting credit challenges but added he is preparing credit availability measures, presumably in the spring budget on March 30.

His British equivalent just announced a $53 billion package to help the U.K. economy through coronavirus, including a reduction in property tax rates, extended sick pay, increased health funding and $31 billion in “fiscal loosening” to support the economy.