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Speaking at a podium in front of his home dressed in a suit, Trudeau went to get his coat after his prepared remarks and before taking questions, saying he has to “model healthy behaviour.”

Trudeau was asked about people who cross the border illegally at Roxham Rd. In Hemmingford, for example and said they will be immediately placed in quarantine for 14 days.

Trudeau also added that his wife is recovering after having tested positive for COVID-19 last week. His children are feeling well.

COVID-19 and Canada: The full list of economic and financial measures announced this morning by the federal government. #cdnpoli #cdnecon #cdnhealth pic.twitter.com/Q5MUjrvYyC — Andrew Thomson (@thomsonian) March 18, 2020

Donald Trump tweets that border to be shut to non-essential travel

U.S. President Donald Trump tweeted Wednesday that he is working with the Canadian government to restrict travel between both countries to non-essential trips. Trade will be maintained, but traffic across the land border between both countries is expected to be seriously curtailed.

We will be, by mutual consent, temporarily closing our Northern Border with Canada to non-essential traffic. Trade will not be affected. Details to follow! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 18, 2020

Wife of COVID-19 patient speaks about her experience

Radio-Canada is reporting the testimony of a woman whose husband returned to the country on March 1 and is now suffering from COVID-19.

The man, in his 50s, returned from an area that was apparently not affected by the virus, and it took healthcare professionals a few days to test him for the virus. They were surprised when the test came back positive.

His illness started with mild flu symptoms, but by the sixth day, he was having difficulty breathing.

He is still on a respirator and being kept asleep, but the woman, who didn’t want to give her name, said he’s in a stable condition. The couple’s son has also contracted the virus, but he’s only suffering mild symptoms.

Read the full story here.

Montreal Gazette’s own ‘influencer’ invites young people to stay home

Responding to a request from Christopher Skeete, the CAQ government’s point-man for relations with the anglophone community, the Montreal Gazette’s Christopher Curtis, and cat Ulysses, made a TikTok.

Hello fellow young people! Ulysses and I recorded a public service announcement about COVID-19. And not just cause @Cskeete said he’d give us tickets to Limp Bizkit. We care and junk. pic.twitter.com/uY9zCFSUDy — Christopher Curtis (checkmark) (@titocurtis) March 18, 2020

Blood donations climb after appeal from premier

Héma-Québec, Quebec’s blood services agency, has reported a spike in donors after an appeal from Premier François Legault on Monday.

Legault said during a news conference that the best way Quebecers can help during the current health crisis is to stay home, and to donate blood if they are eligible. Héma-Québec had noted a 75 per cent drop in donors. The agency needs 1,000 blood donations per week to keep up with the demands of the healthcare sector, during normal times. After the appeal, the number of donations went back up to their normal level, the agency told CBC News.

The agency said it is respecting its traditional guidelines to bar anyone who has travelled outside the country for the last 14 days to donate blood. Anyone who travelled outside the continental U.S. or Europe must wait 21 days.

Héma Québec said there is no evidence COVID-19 can be transmitted through a blood transfusion. The agency is stepping up hygiene measures by disinfecting the beds in between blood donations.

Héma-Québec sees surge in blood donations after premier's appeal https://t.co/R4bsxyGVf9 — CBC Montreal (@CBCMontreal) March 18, 2020

Air Transat cancels flights until April 30

Montreal-based Air Transat announced in a news release Wednesday that the sale of flights to most destinations in Europe and the U.S. have been immediately suspended until April 30. The carrier is paring down the rest of its flights, and offering “repatriation flights” to customers who would otherwise be stranded, over the next two weeks.

Transat announces a gradual suspension of its flights.



Details here: https://t.co/BzHYmzL9zw — Air Transat (@airtransat) March 18, 2020

U.S. and Canada working on ways to restrict visitors

Several news outlets are reporting Canada and the U.S. are expected to reduce all non-essential travel over its shared land border. A deal is expected to be announced by the end of the week.

Canada and U.S. poised to restrict tourists, visitors from crossing border https://t.co/O4I8jUlq1m pic.twitter.com/ufv0V7e7cG — CTV News (@CTVNews) March 18, 2020

U.S. death toll climbs over 100

More than 100 people have now died of the novel coronavirus in the U.S., CNN is reporting. The news network broke down all the deaths in the country, and they are people mostly in their 70s and 80s, though some in their 50s and 60s have also died.

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