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8:50 a.m.

7-Eleven stores are the latest to install Plexiglas ‘sneeze guards’

Photo by Scott Olson / Getty Images

All 636 7-Eleven stores in Canada will be getting Plexiglas sneeze guards at the front sales counters, according to a release from the company.

“Our stores recognize the need to provide Canadians with access to essential products during this time, however we continue to take precautionary measures to keep our employees and customers safe,” said 7-Eleven Canada Vice President and General Manager Norman Hower in the release.

“We continue to monitor the evolving situation daily to prioritize the health of Canadians alongside Canada Health recommendations.”

The company hopes to have all work done by next Tuesday.

8:20 a.m.

Bank of Canada cuts key interest rate target to 0.25 per cent

Photo by GEOFF ROBINS/AFP/Getty Images

The Bank of Canada cut its key interest target by half a percentage point to 0.25 per cent in an unscheduled rate announcement Friday.

The central bank said its decision to lower rates is aimed at cushioning the economic shocks from COVID-19 and a sharp drop in oil prices by easing the cost of borrowing.

Read more.

8:00 a.m.

International roundup: How COVID-19 is affecting other countries

Photo by Veronique de Viguerie/Getty Images

No country is immune from the effects of COVID-19, and as the virus spreads they’re tackling it in different ways. Below are some stories from the wire.

Irish intensive care units set to hit capacity within days, PM says

New York veterans hospital, struggling with coronavirus outbreak, asked to help civilians

Paris hospitals near coronavirus breaking point

In Iraq, coronavirus terrifies even doctors hardened by conflict

7:45 a.m.

By The Numbers: Quebec sees a huge jump in COVID-19 cases

7:40 a.m.

Service Alberta sets windows to apply for emergency payments after site crashes again

Photo by Ian Kucerak / Postmedia

About 13,000 Albertans received emergency self-isolation payments from the province before a surge in web traffic forced the website to shut down again Thursday.

The government is periodically pausing access to the system in an effort to prevent further site crashes, said Darren Stadel, acting chief corporate information officer at Service Alberta in a statement Thursday.

Read more.

7:20 a.m.

British PM Boris Johnson tests positive for coronavirus

On Wednesday it was Prince Charles who had COVID-19. Today it’s British PM Boris Johnson.

Johnson has tested positive for coronavirus and is self-isolating at his Downing Street residence but said he would still lead the government’s response to the accelerating outbreak.

Johnson, 55, experienced mild symptoms on Thursday – a day after he answered at the prime minister’s weekly question-and-answer session in parliament’s House of Commons chamber.

Read more.

7:10 a.m.

Opinion: Record low oil and COVID-19 mean oilpatch survival is at stake

Photo by Reuters

In his latest column, Calgary Herald business columnist Chris Varcoe notes that Canada’s energy sector represents 11 per cent of the Canadian economy, and that the price of a barrel of oil is now approaching the price of a fancy latte – US$6.45.

Varcoe writes: “As federal Finance Minister Bill Morneau works on a financial assistance package that would help the country’s oilpatch, jobs and a key part of the economy will depend on the Trudeau government making the right decisions in the coming days.

“No pressure, minister. But the stakes are enormous.”

Read more.

Yesterday

67 new cases

Alberta has 67 confirmed cases of COVID-19, making a total of 486. 13 symptomatic people at the MacKenzie Towne long-term care home have tested positive. #COVID19 — Madeline Smith (@meksmith) March 26, 2020

In addition, 13 people at the McKenzie Towne Continuing Care Centre in Calgary have now tested positive for #COVID19.



Yesterday, the operator of the facility said up to 19 residents had symptoms and were self-isolating.#COVID19AB https://t.co/Fiv5QzIsfB — Sammy Hudes (@SammyHudes) March 26, 2020

Breakdown of #COVID19 cases in Alberta (as of March 26) by region:



-300 cases in the Calgary zone

-111 cases in the Edmonton zone

-37 cases in the Central zone

-12 cases in the South zone

-26 cases in the North zone#COVID19AB pic.twitter.com/lhoS3Hgl2Z — Sammy Hudes (@SammyHudes) March 26, 2020

There are currently 10 people in the ICU with 486 cases in Alberta overall, and Dr. Hinshaw says keeping an overwhelming number from heading to the ICU is also a priority. "If we wait until we're in a situation where our hospitals are overwhelmed, it's too late." #COVID19 — Madeline Smith (@meksmith) March 26, 2020

You can watch Dr. Deena Hinshaw’s update from yesterday below.

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Yesterday

An Alberta timeline of COVID-19

Photo by Larry Wong/Postmedia

Postmedia reporter Jason Herring compiled this timeline of events in Alberta’s fight against COVID-19.

Yesterday

Mayor Naheed Nenshi taking questions on Facebook live on Friday

Tomorrow at noon, I’m hosting a Facebook Live.



This is an experiment, given our physical distancing. We’ll take your live questions, but you can ask them here in advance.



I’ll have 40 minutes to get through as many as I can. Hope to see you there.https://t.co/fK5O6HSne8 — Naheed Nenshi (@nenshi) March 26, 2020

Yesterday

Calgary South Health Campus to convert pediatric beds to COVID-19 treatment space

Alberta Health Services is centralizing emergency-room space for children in preparation for a surge in COVID-19 hospitalizations, the province announced Thursday.

All nine pediatric emergency beds at southeast Calgary’s South Health Campus will immediately be converted into space for adults, and dedicated beds for those under the age of 18 will now only be offered at the Alberta Children’s Hospital.

Read more.

Yesterday

Where to make public health complaints related to COVID-19

Q: If you know someone who isn't self-isolating but they should be, what should happen?

A, from Dr. Hinshaw: Depends who the person is. If you know them personally, can remind them of rules/support them to isolate. If that doesn't work, report them to AHS via an online form. — Madeline Smith (@meksmith) March 26, 2020

If you’re aware of businesses or individuals not complying with public health orders, AHS wants you to file a complaint through its online form available here.