Coronavirus: Everything you need to know in Vancouver today

Each day in Canada, a lot of news regarding COVID-19 comes out nationally and locally.

Now, we’re bringing you the top coronavirus headlines from Vancouver and across Canada all together in one place on a daily basis, to help you digest all the information and stay in the know with the biggest stories and developments.

Top COVID-19 stories for April 21 in Vancouver

Applications for the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy open next week

Early this morning, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy applications will open next week. Trudeau said the federal government is launching a calculator on the Canada Revenue Agency website to help businesses calculate what they are covered for through the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy. Applicants will be able to access the Subsidy starting on Monday, April 27, according to the prime minister. The subsidy amount is based on the number and type of eligible employees a business has, and the amount and type of pay they received before and during the crisis. The maximum benefit is $847 per employee each week.

New cases, another death in BC

Here in BC, health officials announced 25 new test-positive coronavirus cases and another death as a result of the virus. During a press conference, Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said the total number of recorded cases in the province now sits at 1,724. Broken down by health region, Henry said there are 707 cases in Vancouver Coastal Health, 715 in Fraser Health, 109 on Vancouver Island, 153 in Interior Health, and 40 in Northern Health. She added that 76 people associated with the Mission Federal Institution, including 65 inmates and 11 staff, have now tested positive for the virus. Out of the total number of cases, 109 people are in hospital, with 51 of those in intensive care. A total of 1,041 people “are now considered fully recovered,” said Henry.

Coronavirus outbreak declared at Vancouver food processing plant

Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) has declared a COVID-19 outbreak among the employees working at a food processing plant in Vancouver. According to VCH, more than two dozen employees at United Poultry Company Ltd. have tested positive for the virus. The chicken processing plant is located at 534 East Cordova, in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside neighbourhood.

Looking for more information and further updates? You can view all the day’s headlines in real-time here.