by Raywat Deonandan, PhD
Epidemiologist & Associate Professor
University of Ottawa
(I add my credentials to these COVID-19 blog posts in case they get shared. I want readers to know that my opinion is supposedly an educated and informed one)

Here we are, about two weeks into isolation. Has it been two weeks? I could look up the actual date of this country’s retreat to housebound safety, but I think it might depress me. I’d rather enjoy the haze of uncertainty, the arguably more natural state of literally not knowing the date. My passage of time is marked now only by inconstant circadian rhythms, the Prime Minister’s ritualistic morning briefing, and my dog’s need to go outside to do his business. Continue reading COVID19: Test, test, test…. But Why? →

by Raywat Deonandan, PhD
Epidemiologist & Associate Professor
University of Ottawa
(I add my credentials to these COVID-19 blog posts in case they get shared. I want readers to know that my opinion is supposedly an educated and informed one)

We are now several days into widespread social distancing in Canada, though it feels like weeks. Cases of COVID-19 continue to mount, as expected, and we watch Italy and Spain for signs of when our society might be cast into crisis and chaos. Health care workers, the heroes of our time (and of all times, really), gird themselves for a possible flood of respiratory distress cases. Physicians and nurses of all specialties are being asked to update their ventilator training in anticipation of being called to the front lines for service. Yet many fear that they will not have sufficient weapons for this fight, such as masks and ventilators. Continue reading COVID-19: Our Salvation Lies in Testing →

by Raywat Deonandan, PhD
Epidemiologist & Associate Professor
University of Ottawa
(I add my credentials to these COVID-19 blog posts in case they get shared. I want readers to know that my opinion is supposedly an educated and informed one)

As the full extent of the present pandemic is finally being digested by most people, a feeling of dread has settled on many. My last post described the likely outcome of this crisis, which possibly did not do much to lighten that feeling.

So today I want to focus on some of the promising developments that might get us out of this mess faster than anticipated. Continue reading COVID-19: Give Me Some Good News! →

by Raywat Deonandan, PhD
Epidemiologist & Associate Professor
University of Ottawa
(I add my credentials to these COVID-19 blog posts in case they get shared. I want readers to know that my opinion is supposedly an educated and informed one)

Welcome to your new normal. We are a few days into uncharted waters for our species: a global pandemic, with many countries in near literal lock down or compelled isolation. Businesses are failing, relationships are fracturing, workers are losing their jobs, and everyone is panicking at least a little. Continue reading COVID19: What’s the End Game? →