The Canadian government will reveal within days how it plans to support businesses and workers hit by the economic impact of COVID-19, the illness caused by the new coronavirus.

Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland spoke with reporters in Ottawa on Tuesday following a meeting of the new cabinet committee on the new coronavirus and said the focus was on the need to act as global cases rise above 115,000, with 79 confirmed or presumed cases in Canada.

There have been 4,000 deaths worldwide so far, including one in Canada.

“I believe that we’re now at a stage where we have to take concrete action,” said Freeland.

Freeland said the committee will meet again on Thursday but it’s not clear if the support measures will be announced before that.

The House of Commons is set to rise on Friday though for a one-week break period from legislative activity.

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