Torontonians Concerned About the Spread of COVID-19 Pandemic

By Neil Armstrong

Photo contributed        Adaoma Patterson, president of the Jamaican Canadian Association

Within hours of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s announcement of a more than $1 billion COVID-19 Response Fund and the World Health Organization declaring the disease a pandemic, the Jamaican Canadian Association (JCA) held a board meeting to put a plan in place to curb the spread of the virus at its centre.

The government’s comprehensive approach includes measures already underway to respond to the outbreak, as well as new investments to limit the spread of the virus in Canada and prepare for its possible broader impacts on our people, our economy, and our small businesses.

“Experts indicate that our approach has been very effective to date. The announcement of $1 billion is very welcome news and we hope that some of the funds will be used to protect and support those most vulnerable, such as precarious workers and people experiencing homelessness,” says JCA president Adaoma Patterson, about the federal government’s efforts to minimize the impact of COVID-19.

The JCA Board is putting a plan in place to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on the JCA Centre.

“You will see increased signage reminding people to wash and sanitize hands, increased number of sanitizer stations, more frequent wiping of common areas, door handles and other surfaces, and we encourage people to contact us by phone to book the halls, especially if they have a cough,” says Patterson.

Since taking those precautionary measures the JCA has subsequently cancelled or postponed activities at the centre.

"The COVID-19 pandemic has become a cause for concern globally and has been impacting activities all over. In keeping with health authorities and government orders we have cancelled or postponed a number of activities. Further to this, the JCA is not considered an essential service which means we will be closed as per provincial requirements," said the organization in a email sent to members and friends on March 25.

Among the measures announced by Prime Minister Trudeau are investments to provide support to workers in quarantine or who have been directed to self-isolate who will claim Employment Insurance (EI) sickness benefits by waiving the mandatory one-week waiting period so they can be paid for the first week of their claim. 

“We are exploring additional measures to support other affected Canadians, including income support for those who are not eligible for EI sickness benefits.”

There will also be an introduction of enhancements to the Work-Sharing program to help support employers and their workers who are experiencing a downturn in business due to COVID-19.

Work-sharing helps keep workers employed and able to receive income support even as their hours of work may be reduced. These enhancements will double the length of time that employers and workers are eligible to use work-share from 38 to 76 weeks, and streamline processes so help can be accessed as soon as possible.

Martin Thame, a human resources manager, views the government’s response as a positive move.

“I’m very happy to see that the federal government has thought about several elements around a response to the coronavirus. One, the employer is covered in terms of how it is that the employer will be financed and some guidelines to the employers as to how it is that they can support the employees during this case. The employees are also supported as to what benefits are available to them in the event that they are unable to work and the policies are being flexed to accommodate these changes.”

He said it seems the government recognizes that this is only a temporary measure and any further measures will depend on how things progress.

Meanwhile, Canute Lawrence, a teacher in Toronto, the COVID-19 is “affecting all of us directly or indirectly.”

 “I am always in close proximity to many students throughout the day. If any of those students were exposed to the novel coronavirus, then you can imagine how easy it would be for the disease to be transmitted throughout a school.”

Lawrence is also the staff advisor for the DECA club, which prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs, and over twenty students have qualified to participate and compete in Nashville, Tennessee for the International Career Development Conference (ICDC), the international competition from April 27 to May 4.

“Many parents and students are deeply concerned about going to the US where the cases of COVID-19 are increasing steadily. I am also concerned that if we go, we may end up in a situation where we are quarantined in our hotel, and I prefer to be quarantined in Canada rather than in the USA," said Lawrence earlier in the month.

The DECA/ICDC trip was subsequently cancelled in light of the pandemic.

“I have become more aware of things I touch and I sanitize often. I also will avoid crowded spaces as much as possible,” said Lawrence.

Photo contributed      Hassan Yussuff, president of the Canadian Labour Congress

The federal government said it is working closely with local, provincial, territorial, and international partners to minimize its health, economic, and social impacts in Canada and around the world.

Meanwhile, Canada’s unions are calling on the federal government to implement all measures necessary to protect jobs and ensure public health measures stop the spread of COVID-19.

“Canadian workers are in a very tenuous situation right now. The majority have no paid sick leave and low cash reserves to buffer against unemployment. For many, missing work is not an option,” said Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) president Hassan Yussuff.

 “No one should be fired for self-quarantining or recovering from infection. We need to make sure the needs of all workers are moved to the top of the priority list as we position ourselves to respond to this evolving threat.”

Noting that the prime minister acted quickly to form a cabinet committee to respond to the spread of the virus, the unions are calling on the minister of labour to be included in this response unit.