New coronavirus modelling shows Canada continuing to make progress

Justin Trudeau – Prime Minister of Canada/YouTube

Canada will be releasing new COVID-19 modelling on Thursday, according to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

This morning, Trudeau said that the data shows that Canada is continuing to make progress in the fight against the virus, but “we’re not out of the woods yet.”

The prime minister said many communities’ numbers of new cases are low, and the government has been successful in tracing where the virus came from.

He said it is slowing, and in some cases “stopping.”

With economies slowly reopening nationally, Trudeau said “it’s even more important to keep two metres apart, wash our hands, and wear a mask where possible.”

During his briefing on Thursday, Trudeau announced that seniors eligible for the Old Age Security (OAS) pension and the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) will receive their special one-time, tax-free payment during the week of July 6. Through this measure and others, the government is providing nearly $900 more for single seniors and more than $1,500 for senior couples, on top of their existing benefits, to help these vulnerable Canadians with extra costs during the pandemic.

According to the federal government, seniors eligible for the OAS pension will receive a payment of $300, and those also eligible for the GIS will receive an additional $200, for a total of $500. Allowance recipients will also receive $500.

Trudeau said those who receive Old Age Security (OAS) will get an additional $300 to offset costs, and those on Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) will get an additional $200.

Additionally, the prime minister said single seniors are eligible for up to $900, and couples are eligible for up to $1500.

In May, Trudeau first announced $2.5 billion to support Canadian seniors during the COVID-19 pandemic.

At the time, the federal government said that this measure would give a total of $500 to individuals who are eligible to receive both the OAS and the GIS, and will help them cover increased costs caused by COVID-19.