Domestic Politics
US Attorney General William Barr has called on prison officials at federal facilities affected by the coronavirus to maximize early release programs in order to protect vulnerable inmates. Citing examples of facilities in Louisiana, Connecticut, and Ohio, which have been severely impacted by the pandemic, Barr said that they are looking to use “home confinement, where appropriate, to move vulnerable inmates out of these institutions.” [CNN]
US President Donald Trump defended his firing of Michael Atkinson, the intelligence community inspector general who notified Congress about the whistleblower complaint that led to Trump’s impeachment trial. Trump stated that Atkinson did an “absolutely terrible” job by giving “a fake report” to Congress. While Democrats have slammed Trump for engaging in a political fight during a public health crisis, many Republicans have also stated that the dismissal requires more explanation from the White House. [CNN]
International Relations
The United States has been accused of diverting a shipment of masks meant for the German police, and outbidding other countries amidst severe shortages of protective equipment. According to German authorities, about 200,000 N95 masks were diverted to the US while being transferred between planes in Thailand. [The Guardian]
Health
Canada’s chief public health officer, Dr. Theresa Tam, said on Sunday that the country is looking into whether or not some personal protective equipment (PPE) can be reused during the coronavirus pandemic, amidst severe shortages. She stated that officials are exploring ways to preserve Canada’s stock of equipment by seeing if there might be a way to properly disinfect medical masks. [Global News]
According to experts from the US National Academy of Sciences, current research–though limited–shows that the coronavirus can spread not just through sneezes or coughs, but also by talking and breathing. [CNN]
Business
Canadian banks have been engaged in intensive discussions with Ottawa to confirm the details of a program that will give interest-free loans to small businesses impacted by the novel coronavirus. Though banks have urged the government to make it possible for them to disburse funds immediately, authorities are pushing for a 5-day waiting period in order to verify borrowers’ details and ensure that businesses are not applying more than once. [The Globe and Mail]
Environment
Following in America’s footsteps, the Alberta government has suspended multiple environmental reporting requirements, stating that the industry is likely to be severely impacted during the coronavirus pandemic if forced to comply with these rules. The current order waives reporting requirements under the Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act (EPEA), the Water Act and the Public Lands Act, except in cases of drinking and wastewater facilities. [CBC]
A 4-year old Malayan Tiger named Nadia has tested positive for the novel coronavirus at the Bronx Zoo in New York City. Nadia, along with six other big cats is thought to have been infected by an asymptomatic zookeeper. The cats developed symptoms that included a dry cough, but are expected to make a full recovery. According to zoo officials, this may be the first case of a human infecting an animal and the animal getting sick. [BBC]
Image Source: Vox
US and Canada in Review: April 06, 2020
Read more about the latest events from the United States and Canada.
April 6, 2020
