Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced more help for the Canadian Red Cross. The federal government will give the aid organization $100 million to support both COVID-19, and natural disaster relief.
“Across Canada, national and community organizations are stepping up to support the most vulnerable in our fight against COVID-19. They are being asked to deliver the same services and support that we have always depended on, in much more challenging circumstances.,” Trudeau said. The funding includes $41 million to address immediate COVID-19 needs.
The Red Cross will use this funding to:
- recruit and train volunteers and staff
- adapt its operations to the COVID-19 context
- support quarantine and isolation sites
- acquire personal protective equipment for its personnel and volunteers
- provide training to the health care sector and other essential workers on using personal protective equipment, and maintaining infection prevention and control measures within facilities
- expand their roster of public health and infection prevention and control specialists
- procure and deploy, as necessary, emergency health supplies and equipment, including a mobile field hospital, to prepare for future waves and outbreaks of COVID-19
$59 million will be used to support relief and recovery this year related to COVID-19, as well as future floods and wildfires.
