The Dose

Throughout the pandemic, Ontario and Quebec have consistently had the highest number of infections in the country. But now, Canada’s unexpected COVID-19 hotspot is Manitoba. After seeming to successfully keep the virus at bay during the first wave, things have taken a disastrous turn for the worse. Health-care workers have called on the Manitoba government to take urgent action, saying the pandemic has spiralled out of control in the province. Jason Kindrachuk, a Canada Research Chair in emerging and re-emerging viruses at the University of Manitoba, explains what's happening and the lessons we can all learn as we grapple with this phase of the pandemic.

There’s been a lot of talk about gyms lately. A COVID-19 outbreak that infected dozens of people was recently tracked back to a fitness studio in Hamilton, Ont., even though the operators had taken precautions. At the same time, several gym owners in COVID hot spots argue that not all fitness facilities pose the same risk. Plus, we know exercise is key to physical and mental health during these stressful times. Infectious disease specialist Dr. Zain Chagla explains how we can reduce our risk and stay well.

COVID-19 has turned every aspect of our lives upside down. Right now, there’s a burning question on the minds of countless kids and parents across the country: Is Halloween still happening? Public health guidelines vary depending on where you live and have sparked a lot of discussion on social media. Pediatric infectious diseases specialist Dr. Caroline Quach helps us make sense of this tricky issue.

In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, public health officials say getting a flu shot is more important than ever this year. The flu and COVID are different diseases caused by different viruses, so why does it matter? Just in time for flu season, infectious disease specialist Dr. Danuta Skowronski joins us on The Dose to explain -- and to set the record straight on some common misconceptions.

We’re heading into Thanksgiving weekend in the midst of a resurgence of COVID-19 in Canada. Many of us are craving a gathering with the people we love, but we’re also in a critical phase of this pandemic -- and the decisions we make about gathering with others now have big consequences. Infectious diseases specialist Dr. Lynora Saxinger talks us through the risks and offers her insight on how we can flatten the curve in time for the holidays.

Although the majority of people recently infected with COVID-19 have been younger adults, the virus has already made its way back into long-term care and retirement homes, with about 100 active outbreaks and counting across Canada. Dr. Samir Sinha, director of geriatrics at Sinai Health and University Health Network in Toronto, returns to The Dose with guidance on how we can use what we've learned about COVID-19 to keep our elderly loved ones safe while cases continue to rise outside the walls of long-term care homes.

As many experts feared, the number of COVID-19 cases is rising after flattening out during the summer. The biggest climb is among people under 40, especially adults who are 20-29 years old. The reasons this is happening are more complex than you might think. Infectious disease epidemiologist Ashleigh Tuite explains why and delves into what this means for all of us, no matter what our age.

The number of new COVID-19 cases has been rising in several parts of Canada and health experts are worried. But what do these daily and weekly totals really mean? What's a "reproduction number" and why is it important? Epidemiologist Dr. David Fisman, one of Canada's top experts on the mathematics of infectious disease, joins us on The Dose to explain what these numbers say about how COVID-19 will affect our lives this fall and what we can do to change them.

Dr. Lynora Saxinger, an infectious diseases specialist and associate professor of microbiology and immunology at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, answers questions about how you can return to work safely.

Dr Nisha Thampi, medical director of infection prevention and control at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario, answers the question: How can I send my kids back to school safely for them and for us?