The Dose

This month, as we’ve faced a global pandemic, we've also seen an historic movement rise up to protest anti-Black racism. That movement and COVID-19 are coalescing at the same time for a number of reasons, and public health experts are coming to the forefront to explain why. Today on The Dose, Dr. Onye Nnorom the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Lead, in the Department of Family & Community Medicine at University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine joins Dr. Goldman to answer the question "How does systemic racism predispose people to COVID-19? Dr. Nnorum is also the President of the Black Physicians’ Association of Ontario.

Part two of Dr. Goldman's conversation with Dr. Lynora Saxinger, who joined us to talk about navigating all things summer. Yesterday we covered swimming, backyard parties, sports, patio drinks and more. Today, the great indoors: from cottages to weddings, malls, libraries, day camps, gyms and more.The infectious diseases specialist and associate professor of microbiology and immunology at the University of Alberta in Edmonton helps evaluate the risks.

This week: After a long, hard winter and spring, summer is almost here. After months of being cooped up inside, you may be desperate to have friends on your back deck, hit a hiking trail or go for a swim. But what are the risks during a pandemic? Dr. Lynora Saxinger, an infectious diseases specialist and associate professor of microbiology and immunology at the University of Alberta joins Dr. Goldman to answer the question "How safe are my favourite summer activities?"

On Season 3 of Other People’s Problems, host Hillary McBride takes you where microphones rarely go, into her therapy office where her clients hurt, heal, and ultimately thrive. This is what people sound like when they talk with someone they trust about difficult childhoods, ongoing mental health struggles, and the sudden changes we’re all facing right now living through a pandemic. Here’s the first bonus episode of Season 3 of the CBC podcast, Other People’s Problems. More episodes are available at hyperurl.co/otherpeoplesproblems

As we continue to grapple with the COVID-19 pandemic, most of us are anxious to return to normal life, when we can hug our elderly parents or grandparents and once again gather in large groups. Many experts say that can't happen safely until a coronavirus vaccine is developed. In this unprecedented time, researchers around the world are working toward that goal, but it has to be done safely and follow a careful scientific process. Dr. Natasha Crowcroft, a vaccine expert at the the Dalla Lana School of Public Health at the University of Toronto, joins host Dr. Brian Goldman to help explain how close we are to an effective vaccine against COVID-19, the barriers we must overcome to get there, and what we need to do in the meantime.

As physical distancing, handwashing and staying home have helped to reduce the spread of COVID-19, public health officials are starting to cautiously relax some of the self-isolation measures Canadians have been under for two months. But we're still in a pandemic, with no vaccine or treatment for the coronavirus.  Host Dr. Brian Goldman welcomes infectious disease expert Dr. Allison McGeer back to The Dose to give you the latest facts about the risks and advice on how to stay as safe as possible in these uncertain times.

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, along with stressors from physical isolation to home schooling to grief, many people may feel their ability to manage is reaching its limits. Canadians are suffering from so much anxiety that Kids Help Phone has started a dedicated service to support adults, in addition to children and youth. Alisa Simon from Kids Help Phone joins The Dose host Dr. Brian Goldman to talk about issues you might be struggling with and ways to cope mentally and emotionally.

Of all the things we don’t understand about COVID-19, how it affects children is at the top of the list. There’s still a lot of confusion and misinformation about what role kids play in spreading the virus. That’s in part because there’s not a lot of strong science out there yet. In the meantime, parents are left to wonder about rare reports of severe cases and strange symptoms such as “COVID toes.' Meanwhile an Australian study published this week (not yet peer reviewed) suggests transmission of COVID-19 between teachers and students is rare in schools. So what does that mean for a potential return to the classroom, and does it signal anything about when it's okay to hug a grandparent or play with a friend? This week on The Dose, Dr. Goldman is joined by infectious disease specialist Dr. Shaun Morris from SickKids hospital in Toronto to answer the question “What do we really know about kids and COVID-19?” Dr. Morris is also a professor of paediatrics and public health at the University of Toronto.

Since the beginning of the pandemic in mid-March, patient visits to hospital emergency room have dropped by up to a half. It's not surprising since leaving the house, let alone a trip to see the doctor, is now one of many activities that Canadians may question, as we all try to avoid exposure to COVID-19. But emergency physicians are concerned people are too afraid to seek medical attention and that it could have a serious impact on their health. So today on The Dose, we’re asking the question, 'Is it safe to go to the ER during COVID-19?' Dr. Goldman is joined by Dr. Ken Milne, Chief of Staff at South Huron Hospital in Exeter Ontario. He is an adjunct professor in Emergency and Family Medicine at the Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry. He also teaches at Western University and is the creator of The Skeptics’ Guide to Emergency Medicine.

The question of how COVID-19 spread to humans has been circulating widely this week. One theory making the rounds is that the deadly virus originated and escaped from a lab in China. It gained steam when U.S. President Donald Trump validated the idea, saying China could face consequences if it is “knowingly responsible" The Wuhan Institute of Virology has dismissed the notion. So where did the deadly virus begin and how did that rumour start? Today on The Dose Dr. Goldman is joined by Professor Jason Kindrachuk, an Assistant Professor and Canada Research Chair in the Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases,at the University of Manitoba, to tackle the question: 'Is there any truth to rumours that the coronavirus came from a lab in China?’