COVID-19 March 29

869 new Canadian cases on March 29th.  Mainly in Ontario (362) and Quebec (342).

Likely (hopefully) the result of clearing some of the testing backlog.  Time will tell....

[As always, click the graphs to zoom in.]

 And here is how the provinces are faring.  Not much of a change from yesterday.

Except Canada's rate increased from 144  cases per million population to 168.

Other countries:

• Spain 1,822
• Italy   1,616
• USA     431  (New York: 3,068!)

The impact on Canada?

The fact that everybody is "staying home" is having a major impact on world crude prices.  That and the Saudi/Russian price war.

The benchmark WTI (West Texas Intermediate) Crude is at $20/barrel.  In January it was $60!

What's worse for Canada - as our economy is so dependent on revenue from the oil and gas sector, whether you like it or not -  is the price of Canadian crude.

Unbelievably, Western Canadian Select is now selling for $6 a barrel! 

$6!!

That's less than a frickin' cup of coffee at Starbucks!!

This may not end well for the Canadian economy.

What's the expression: the cure may kill the patient...