Alberta has recorded its first death from COVID-19. Chief medical officer Dr. Deena Hinshaw says the man who died was in his 60s and had underlying health conditions. She says it appears he contracted the virus in the community and not through travel. Alberta is reporting 27 new cases of the infection for a total of 146. Alberta is the fourth province to record a death. British Columbia, Ontario and Quebec have all had people die from COVID-19.

The federal government is suspending its passport services until further notice. Canadians will only be able to obtain or renew passports if they need to travel for urgent reasons. This includes serious illness, the death of friend or family member, humanitarian work or would otherwise lose a job or business. Service Canada says anyone who does not meet the criteria for urgent travel, or is experiencing symptoms such as a fever, coughing, having trouble breathing, will have to wait. So would anyone who is in self-isolation. Social Development Minister Ahmed Hussen says that with travel restri

There are 871 confirmed and presumptive cases in Canada. British Columbia: 271 confirmed (including 8 deaths, 5 resolved) Ontario: 257 confirmed (including 2 deaths, 5 resolved) Alberta: 146 confirmed (including 1death) Quebec: 121 confirmed (including 1 death) Saskatchewan: 8 confirmed, 12 presumptive Manitoba: 9 confirmed, 8 presumptive Nova Scotia: 5 confirmed, 9 presumptive New Brunswick: 2 confirmed, 9 presumptive Canadians quarantined at CFB Trenton: 9 confirmed Newfoundland and Labrador: 1 confirmed, 2 presumptive Prince Edward Island: 2 confirmed The Territories: No confirmed cases Tot

The Toronto Transit Commission says one of their employees has tested positive for COVID-19. The agency says the employee worked at a TTC maintenance workshop for buses. It says between 130 and 170 employees are in self-isolation as a result. The TTC says the employee worked one shift on March 11 after returning from vacation.

There have now been 10 COVID-19 related deaths in the country.The Halton Region Public Health unit west of Toronto reports a man in his 50s with an underlying health condition died after receiving treatment at Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital and Milton District Hospital.Two of the 10 deaths have been in Ontario while the others have been in British Columbia.Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says it could be weeks or even months before the government will be able to lift measures designed to slow the spread of the virus.

The Canada-U.S. border will likely be closed to all non-essential travel in both directions as of Friday night.Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced the expected timing of the closure Thursday morning after leaders of the two countries revealed details of the plan Wednesday.Both countries have been in talks in recent days to negotiate a mutual ban on recreational travel without restricting the flow of two-way trade and commerce.Essential cross-border workers like health care professionals, air crews and others are to be permitted to cross.Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland says it was

Canada's top public health doctor says to expect the virus that causes COVID-19 to stick around for a long time. Dr. Theresa Tam says we need to be prepared for more than one wave of the novel coronavirus. She says we don't know whether COVID-19 will fade and resurge as seasons pass. But Tam says we can expect to learn a great deal from the current fight and get better and better prepared.

BC and Saskatchewan are the latest provinces to declare states of emergency in the face of the global novel coronavirus pandemic. BC Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General Mike Farnworth says it will better protect the public. He says the legislature will resume on Monday with a reduced number of members to pass legislation to ensure continuity of government and response to COVID-19. In Saskatchewan, fitness centres, casinos and bingo halls have been ordered to close until further notice.

The latest numbers of confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases in Canada as of 6:40 p.m. on March 18, 2020. There are 705 confirmed and presumptive cases in Canada. British Columbia: 231 confirmed (including 7 deaths, 5 resolved) Ontario: 212 confirmed (including 1 death, 5 resolved) Alberta: 97 confirmed Quebec: 94 confirmed (including 1 death) Saskatchewan: 2 confirmed, 14 presumptive Manitoba: 8 confirmed, 7 presumptive Nova Scotia: 3 confirmed, 9 presumptive New Brunswick: 2 confirmed, 9 presumptive Canadians quarantined at CFB Trenton: 8 confirmed Newfoundland and Labrador: No confirmed