Coronavirus Update: Ontario tightens restrictions in three hot spots as new COVID-19 case tally hits 939

Good evening, here are the coronavirus updates you need to know tonight.

Top headlines:

1. Ontario imposes “modified stage 2”; Quebec asks people to “make sacrifices”
2. Trump to resume campaigning, less than a week after hospitalization
3. Canada’s economy added 378,000 jobs in September

In Canada, there have been at least 177,998 cases reported. In the last week 14,882 new cases were announced, 22 per cent more than the previous week. There have also been at least 149,420 recoveries and 9,585 deaths. Health officials have administered more than 8,773,664 tests.

Open this photo in gallery:

Worldwide, there have been at least 36,515,563 cases confirmed and 1,061,877 deaths reported.

Sources: Canada data is compiled from government websites, Johns Hopkins and COVID-19 Canada Open Data Working Group; international data is from Johns Hopkins University.

Coronavirus explainers: Coronavirus in maps and charts • Lockdown rules and reopening • Mask-wearing rules • Back to school guide • Essential resources

Photo of the day

Open this photo in gallery:

Coronavirus in Canada

• Ontario announced new restrictions in three hot-spot areas – Toronto, Ottawa and Peel region – closing indoor restaurants, bars, gyms, limiting sports, and asking people not to travel. The “modified stage 2” closures come into effect on Saturday. Cases in the province rose to 939 today, the highest figure recorded. Meanwhile, the number of nursing homes declaring an outbreak has tripled over the past month in the province.
• Quebec Premier François Legault urged people in the province to “make sacrifices” and avoid seeing friends and family over Thanksgiving to help protect the vulnerable. The province reported 1,102 new cases today – the seventh time in eight days the province has reported more than 1,000 new daily cases.
• In Alberta, Premier Jason Kenny said his government will take a “lighter approach” in response to rising COVID-19 numbers, urging “personal responsibility” over new public-health restrictions that might carry negative social or economic consequences.

In Ottawa, the government announced an updated rent relief program for businesses to replace a widely criticized, ineffective program, which expired last month.

• The new program, the Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy, enables entrepreneurs to apply for aid, rather than their landlords – correcting a common frustration with the previous program.
• As well, businesses will no longer have to meet the revenue loss threshold of at least 70 per cent compared with prepandemic levels. Instead, the funding will be available on a sliding scale depending on a company’s revenue loss.
• Recipients of the program will get up to 65 per cent of their rent or mortgage interest payments subsidized until Dec. 19 if they lost more than 70 per cent of their revenue. If they lost less than that amount, the rent subsidy is less.

Also, the federal government said it has committed to providing another $100-million to the country’s food banks, following an initial investment of $100-million in April. A report in July said new food bank clients tripled during the pandemic.

“Give thanks, not COVID": Universities across the country are asking students not to return home over the Thanksgiving long weekend.

Coronavirus around the world

• In the United States, President Trump – who tested positive for COVID-19 and was hospitalized last week – said he is set to return to the campaign trail with events at the White House on Saturday and in Florida two days later.
• The government of Spain reimposed a partial lockdown for the 3.8-million people living in and around the capital city, Madrid. With 723 cases per 100,000 people, Madrid is the second densest cluster in Europe, after Andorra.

Coronavirus and business

The Canadian economy added 378,000 jobs in September, well above the median prediction made by economists of 150,000 new positions.

• The economy has recovered roughly 76 per cent of three million positions lost in the first few months the pandemic, according to Statistics Canada. The unemployment rate declined to nine per cent from August’s 10.2 per cent.
• September’s new jobs came mostly from full-time work, with back-to-school helping return employment for both mothers and fathers to pre-crisis levels.
• However, for low-wage employees (those earning less than $16.03 an hour), employment is down 22.1 per cent, compared to a year ago.

Also today: Front-line retail workers call for return of COVID-19 pay bump as cases spike

And: Strong performance prompts two of Canada’s largest law firms to reverse pandemic pay cuts for staff.

Globe opinion

• Andrew Coyne: How to raise taxes, without wrecking the economy [For subscribers]
• Gary Mason: The pandemic is no excuse for blank-cheque vote-buying

More reporting

• Toronto will limit indoor recreational programs, affecting 20,000 registrants.
• The Ontario Real Estate Association calls for halt to open houses amid rising case numbers.
• Report urges keeping schools open and prioritizing mental-health if COVID-19 leads to lockdown.
• Eight members of Sherbrooke Phoenix test positive for COVID-19 in second QMJHL team outbreak.

Distractions

For the holiday-maker: We may not be gathering with loved ones this weekend but you can still make the holiday feel special with some new dishes or a nice bottle of wine. We’ve gathered up recipes for the main event, dessert, and have tips on how to safely host.

• Dessert first: Advice for making a great apple pie, or break with tradition by serving spiced pumpkin puddings or pecan butter tart cheesecake.
• The main event: 10 vegetable recipes that are sure to be a hit, along with recipes for sweet potatoes and tips to help you up your cranberry sauce game.
• How to host: Tips on how to safely host Thanksgiving in a pandemic while following public-health guidelines. We also have advice on hosting virtual gatherings and a breakdown of the tech you’ll need. And virtual dinner party etiquette.

Information centre

• Rob Carrick’s 10-point checklist of things you should have done by now to protect or improve your money situation. Tips for minimizing damage to your credit score; how to manage retirement anxiety during difficult times; and things to think about if you’re considering home delivery.
• Here are the expectations for self-isolation; tips for managing anxiety and protecting your mental health; and what to do if you think you have the virus. Wash your hands. How to break a bad habit (like touching your face). Is flying safe?
• The best foods to eat to maintain an immune system-friendly diet; and how to keep a healthy diet while working from home; four eating tips when working from home; and five mistakes that might cause you to gain unwanted weight. Here are the essentials to stock up on and how to shop safely for groceries; the best pantry staples and how to stop stress-eating. What to cook with rhubarb (aside from pie).
• Here’s what you should do if you are newly laid off; how to apply for CERB, EI, and other financial benefits; how the CRA might identify CERB fraud; and other coronavirus and employment questions answered. What to do if your employees don’t return to work because they want to collect CERB.

Sources: Canada data are compiled from government websites, Johns Hopkins University and COVID-19 Canada Open Data Working Group; international data are from Johns Hopkins.

What are we missing? Email us: audience@globeandmail.com. Do you know someone who needs this newsletter? Send them to our Newsletters page.