The latest news on the COVID-19 global pandemic (all times Eastern):

12:27 p.m.

The federal government has purchased 157 million surgical masks and more than 60 million N95 masks, used by health-care professional to stop the spread of COVID-19.

There are also 1,570 ventilators on order, with officials looking to secure 4,000 more.

Public Services and Procurement Minister Anita Anand laid out the state of the government's bulk buy efforts today.

12:24 p.m.

Canada's chief public health officer says there have now been 236,000 tests in Canada for COVID-19.

Dr. Theresa Tam says 3.5 per cent are confirmed positive, and more than 93 per cent confirmed negative.

She says adults under 40 represent about 10 per cent of hospitalizations.

Tam says the greatest concern at the moment is the introduction and spread of the virus in places where high-risk populations reside, including long-term care homes, remote First Nations and prisons.

12:20 p.m.

The Manitoba government is closing elementary, junior high and high schools indefinitely due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The province originally planned a three-week shutdown that was to end Monday, April 13th.

But the education minister now says schools will be closed for the remainder of the school year unless health officials say they can be reopened.

Kelvin Goertzen says assignments and learning will continue as teachers conduct their work remotely.

12:09 p.m.

Nova Scotia is reporting 20 new cases of COVID-19 for a total of 147 confirmed cases in the province.

Health officials say most cases are connected to travel or a known case, with one case the result of transmission within the community.

The affected individuals range in age from under 10 to over 80.

Public Heath officials say four people are currently in hospital, while 10 have now recovered.

11:40 a.m.

The prime minister says the government is preparing for worst-case scenarios when it comes to the purchase and distribution of crucial medical equipment to treat and prevent COVID-19.

Justin Trudeau says however that Canadians do have some control over how much equipment will be required.

He says the more people choose to stay home to curb the spread of the virus, the less urgent the demand will be on the health-care system.

11:23 a.m.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the government is moving forward with the private sector on agreements to purchase equipment for the response to COVID-19.

He says production of ventilators, masks and test kits is now underway.

One company, Thornhill Medical, says it is making 500 ventilators and hopes to have them ready within weeks.

Trudeau says the government has signed letters of intent with five other firms to bolster the national stockpiles of badly needed equipment.

The government is also allocating $2 billion to purchase personal protective equipment for health care professionals.

10:45 a.m.

Ontario is reporting 260 more COVID-19 cases today, for a total of nearly 2,000 in the province.

The 1,966 cases Ontario has seen includes 33 deaths and 534 that are resolved.

The number of people awaiting test results continues to drop — to 4,280 today — as Ontario adds more testing capacity and clears a backlog that was once nearly 11,000.

10:15 a.m.

The federal government is waiving the monthly rent paid by airport authorities to Ottawa for the rest of the year as revenues plummet amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Finance Minister Bill Morneau says the measure will provide support worth up to $331.4 million in ground lease rents from March through December.

The move applies to 21 airport authorities as well as PortsToronto, which operates Billy Bishop airport and pays a charge to the federal government.

Morneau says the air transportation sector has "suffered tremendously," as airlines cancel the vast majority of their flights and lay off thousands of staff.

8:45 a.m.

Officials in Florida are meeting later today to decide whether to let the infection-plagued cruise ship MS Zaandam dock after more than two weeks at sea.

The Zaandam and its sister ship the MS Rotterdam have about 2,700 passengers and crew on board, including 248 Canadians.

The two ships were stranded off the coast of Panama after the novel coronavirus made its way on board.

On Monday they passed through the Panama Canal after being anchored on the west side of the canal with four dead and nearly 200 passengers and crew exhibiting flu-like symptoms.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has said the state's health care resources are stretched too thin to allow the ship to dock.

8:10 a.m.

Ontario's education minister is expected to announce an e-learning plan for the province's students during COVID-19 school closures.

Earlier this month, Stephen Lecce ordered schools closed for two weeks following March break, but as the end of that draws closer, the premier has said schools will not be re-opening April 6.

Lecce and Colleges and Universities Minister Ross Romano are set to join Premier Doug Ford for an announcement today.