How do Lethbridge’s past pandemics compare to COVID-19?

Lethbridge historian, Belinda Crowson, says there are many similarities between the approach to COVID-19 and to the Spanish Influenza more than a century ago.

“Every pandemic and epidemic has had something different about it,” Crowson said. “When we look at the 1918 -1919 one, there’s a lot of similarities because the government tried many of the same things.”

Mainland China reports 22 new coronavirus cases

SHANGHAI (REUTERS) – Mainland China reported 22 new coronavirus cases for April 28, up from six reported a day earlier, putting its total number of Covid-19 infections to date at 82,858.

The National Health Commission said in a statement on Wednesday (April 29) that the number of imported cases involving travellers from overseas rose to 21 on Tuesday from three a day earlier.

New asymptomatic cases, involving patients infected with the virus but not showing symptoms, fell to 26 from 40 the previous day.

The total number of deaths in the mainland from Covid-19 remained unchanged at 4,633.

Coronavirus: As Saskatchewan plans its reopening, can history offer lessons?

The world was at war the last time a pandemic, like the once caused by the novel coronavirus, swept across the planet.

The 1918 Spanish flu killed millions of people and 50,000 Canadians, 5,000 of whom were in Saskatchewan.

Australia's Crown Resorts says Blackstone bought near 10% of its shares

April 29 (Reuters) – Australia’s Crown Resorts Ltd said on Wednesday that U.S. private equity firm Blackstone Group Inc had bought some of its shares from Macau casino operator Melco Resorts & Entertainment Ltd.

Crown said an entity controlled by Blackstone had bought about 67.7 million of its shares from Melco, which in February had shelved a bid to raise its holding in the Australian firm due to a plunge in traveller numbers.

The stake that changed hands represented about 9.99% of the issued capital of Crown, it said. (Reporting by Rashmi Ashok in Bengaluru)

Tips on housecleaning from viral experts during COVID-19 crisis

From the large spotless windows of the backyard sun room to the tidy, organized garage, David Evans and Mary Hitt’s home is impeccably clean. The couple jokes, you can blame it on the day job. Evans, a virologist, is researching COVID-19 contamination and vaccination. Hitt researches how to develop viruses that will replicate and kill cancerous tumours without harming normal cells.

Boyd Gaming Slips To Loss In Q1

Boyd Gaming Corp. (BYD) reported a preliminary net loss of $18.3 million, or $0.16 per share, for the first quarter of 2020, compared to net income of $45.5 million, or $0.40 per share, for the year-ago period. The results were severely impacted by closure of all properties in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The company’s first-quarter 2020 income tax provision included a $7.4 million charge to establish a valuation allowance for certain deferred tax assets.

Adjusted loss was $2.4 million or $0.02 per share, compared to adjusted earnings of $48.9 million or $0.43 per share, for the same period in 2019.

Revenues were $680.5 million, down from $827.3 million in the first quarter of 2019.

Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters expected the company to report earnings of $0.26 per share and revenues of $775.17 million for the quarter. Analysts’ estimates typically exclude special items.

Chemed Q1 Profit Rises

Chemed Corp. (CHE) reported that its first-quarter net income rose to $55.89 million from $44.67 million in the prior year. GAAP Earnings-per-Share of $3.38, an increase of 25.2% from the previous year.

Adjusted earnings per share were $3.68, an increase of 26.0% from the prior year.

Service revenues and sales grew to $515.80 million from $462.03 million last year.

Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters expected the company to report earnings of $3.65 per share and revenues of $520.18 million. Analysts’ estimates typically exclude special items.

Management anticipates providing updated 2020 earnings guidance in July 2020.

Hanover Insurance Slips To Loss In Q1

Hanover Insurance Group Inc. (THG) reported a first-quarter net loss of $40.0 million, or $1.04 per basic share, compared to net income of $122.4 million or $2.97 per share, in the prior-year quarter.

Operating income was $86.8 million or $2.23 per share, up from $80.7 million or $1.96 per share, in the prior-year quarter.

Premiums earned were $1.14 billion, up from $1.10 billion in the prior year.

Total revenues declined to $1.06 billion from $1.22 billion last year.

Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters expected the company to report earnings of $2.03 per share and revenues of $1.15 billion. Analysts’ estimates typically exclude special items.

Highwoods Properties Q1 FFO Rises; Cuts FY FFO/shr Outlook

Highwoods Properties Inc. (HIW) reported that its funds from operations available for common stockholders for the first quarter of 2020 rose to $98.8 million or $0.93 per share, from $76.5 million or $0.72 per share in the first quarter of 2019.

Net income available for common stockholders was $185.5 million or $1.79 per share compared to $7.3 million or $0.07 per share last year.

Rental and other revenues grew to $192.80 million from $172.36 million in the previous year.

Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters expected the company to report earnings of $0.34 per share and revenues of $187.44 million. Analysts’ estimates typically exclude special items.

The company now expects FFO per share for the full year 2020 to be in the range of $3.55 to $3.68, excluding potential lost rental revenues and non-cash straight line rent credit losses due to COVID-19. Previously, it expected FFO per share to be in the range of $3.60 to $3.72.