COVID-19: Here's the situation in the Sault today

COVID-19: Here's the situation in the Sault today

Ottawa announces $50 million for farmers, food processors to secure temporary foreign workers; Ontario Premier Doug Ford wants to extend state of emergency for another 28 days

On Monday, the federal government announced it's providing farmers and food processors $50 million to aid them in hiring temporary foreign workers.

Migrant workers will be granted travel exemption to Canada and will be subject to the mandatory 14-day isolation period up arrival to the country.

Seniors minister Deb Schulte also urged long term care facilities to adhere the federal government's new guidelines to slow the spread of COVID-19, which includes restricting access to essential workers and visitors only and limiting long term care workers to a single facility.

In provincial news, Ontario is reporting another 421 positive cases of COVID-19 in the province Monday.

The total number of confirmed cases in Ontario is 7,470, which includes 291 deaths, 3,357 recoveries, and 760 patients hospitalized.

There are 203 patients in Ontario currently on ventilators.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford is looking to extend the province's state of emergency by another 28 days when legislature resumes for a one-day session Tuesday.

Ford also used Monday to announce a donation of 250,000 N95 masks, 50 ventilators and a shipment of procedural masks from Alberta.

In local news, Garden River First Nation has donated nearly $20,000 to Sault Area Hospital and local social service agencies.

A sign thanking frontline healthcare workers and emergency responders has appeared on the front lawn of the St. Joseph Township volunteer fire department.

In municipal news, a member of city council is proposing a temporary suspension of the city sewer surcharge as a relief measure during the COVID-19 pandemic.

And in case you missed it over the weekend, here's a photo gallery highlighting a handful of the Sault's frontline workers.

Here are the latest COVID-19 numbers from Algoma Public Health: