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inthis
together.
tgwhf.ca/helpnow
416-603-
The world is an uncertain
place right now. But one thing
is for sure: our commitment to
making lives better.
To the frontline staff in our
Emergency Departments and
to the teams providing ongoing
care to our community’s most
vulnerable patients: we thank you.
If you’d like to say thank you
too, please consider making a
donation. We’ve established an
emergency COVID-19 fund to
support the most urgent needs
of Toronto General and Toronto
Western hospitals during
this pandemic.
‘W
ay better than a laptop, way better
than a phone,” was how Apple Inc.
chief executive officer Steve Jobs de-
scribed the company’s newest prod-
uct, the iPad, at its launch event in January, 2010.
Long rumoured, and actually in the works before
Apple introduced its signature iPhone in 2007, the
multitouch tablet was met with both anticipation
and skepticism. Clocking in at 1.5 pounds with a 9.7-
inch display, the aluminium build with square edg-
es was the device for those looking for something
between the handheld iPhone and a bulkier laptop.Priced at US$499, it was released for sale in the Unit-
ed States on this day in 2010 and within 80 days,
three million of the devices were sold worldwide.
The original iPad has spawned several generations
and different sized models, including the iPad Air,
Mini and Pro. It remains one of the top-selling tablet
devices on the market, having sold more than 400
million units since first launching. The tablets con-
tinue to get lighter, sleeker and more advanced, and
some models now even include one thing Jobs fa-
mously derided was needed to manipulate a touch
screen: a stylus.IAINBOEKHOFFAPRIL 3, 2010THEIPADISLAUNCHED
PAULSAKUMA/ASSOCIATEDPRESSA2 O THE GLOBE AND MAIL | FRIDAY, APRIL 3, 2020MOMENT IN TIME
AcolumninWednesday’sReport
onBusinessregardingpossible
governmentaidforAirCanada
incorrectlyspelledthelastnameof
ColumbiaUniversitylawprofessor
TimWu.AWednesdayobituaryonBruce
Littleincorrectlysaidthenow-
defunctNewfoundlandnewspaper
TheDailyNewsclosedin1969.AWednesdaynewsstoryincorrect-
lystatedVancouver’sHaroPark
CentrewasrunbyVancouver
CoastalHealthauthority.Itisrunby
anon-profitsocietyandregulated
bythelocalhealthagency.Ourtravelrestrictions
arehelpingstemthe
spreadofCOVID-19,
butthere’saweakspot:
theU.S.border ACoffee&Kareem
putsasubversivetwist
onanoldformulato
yieldarecklesslyfun
buddy-copmovie AWorkingfromhome
duringthepandemic?
Herearesomeexpenses
youmaybeableto
claimonyourtaxes B[CORRECTIONS]The new coronavirus has
spawned an increase in online
and telephone crime, targeting
anxious Canadians who are self-
isolating at home in front of their
computers, experts say.
The Canadian Anti-Fraud Cen-
tre has received more than 100 re-
cent complaints linked to CO-
VID-19, said Jeff Thomson, a se-
nior RCMP analyst.
The list includes false ads for
face masks, hand sanitizers or
home-testing kits, charity fraud,
extortion and “phishing” scams
in which dishonest e-mails are
sent out from what appear to be
reputable agencies.
“The Public Health Agency of
Canada, World Health Organiza-
tion, federal agencies, Canadian
government, you name it, they’re
mimicking anybody and everybo-
dy that is an authority on this mat-
ter,” Mr. Thomson said.
Crime that plays on public fear
isn’t uncommon, he said, point-
ing out that U.S. law-enforcement
agencies started charity-fraud
units after Hurricane Katrina in
2005.
Toronto police charged a man
with fraud last week after they
were tipped off by the U.S. Depart-
ment of Homeland Security about
an intercepted parcel, alleging it
contained 25 COVID-19 test kits.
Health-related products need
to be registered with Health Cana-
da and there are no approved
home test kits, Mr. Thomson said.“Just like there is no approved
vaccines or herbal remedies or
miracle cures, you know. You real-
ly need to go to your source to get
this information. In Canada’s
case, it’s the Public Health Agency
of Canada, Health Canada.”
The Better Business Bureau has
warned that social isolation may
make people more likely to be vic-
tims of crime.
Shawna-Kay Thomas of the
Better Business Bureau in south-
ern Alberta and east Kootenay
said criminals have been imitat-
ing legitimate organizations dur-
ing the pandemic.In Alberta, they’re posing as
health workers calling to tell peo-
ple they’ve tested positive for CO-
VID-19 and asking for credit-card
information, she said.
In some cases, Ms. Thomas
said, people who have been to
their doctor or had recent blood
work may be tempted to call.
The usual cautions apply: Re-
search where you’re buying
goods, don’t answer a phone
number you don’t know and bedoubly wary about clicking on at-
tachments.
Tamara Humphrey, an assist-
ant professor in the department
of sociology at the University of
Victoria, said strong leadership
can help prevent people from fall-
ing for scams. The daily updates
from public-health officials and
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau en-
sure people get the right informa-
tion about wearing masks or if
they should be tested, she said.
“What we need to be feeling is that
our safety is being looked after by
the government and the people in
charge are people that we can
trust.”
There has been no indication
the general crime rate has gone
up.
Halifax police say its average
number of calls hasn’t changed,
although it has received about 160
calls related to the COVID-19 out-
break since a state of emergency
was declared, mostly related to
physical distancing.
The Toronto Police Service says
there has been a decline in major
crime categories since March 16,
with the exception of homicides.
Vancouver police reported a 10-
per-cent drop in most crime as the
pandemic restrictions ramped
up. There was a spike in commer-
cial property crimes, with offices
and stores empty because of CO-
VID-19. Many retail and commer-
cial operations have since placed
plywood across their windows
and doors.THECANADIANPRESSFraudcomplaintsontheriseinCanadaas
scammerstakeadvantageofpandemicanxiety
TERRI THEODOREVANCOUVERYoureallyneedtogoto
yoursourcetogetthis
information.InCanada’s
case,it’sthePublic
HealthAgencyof
Canada,HealthCanada.JEFF THOMSON
SENIORRCMPANALYST[COLUMNISTS]BARRY
HERTZREVIEWGARY
MASONOPINIONTIM
CESTNICKOPINION