deonandia

28Feb

2023

Raywat / blog, COVID-19 / 0 comment

COVID-19: The Looming Challenge of Long COVID

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)

In 2020, Harvard economist Dr David Cutter estimated that the cost to American society of so-called Long COVID would be a staggering $2.6 trillion, representing 17% of GDP. For comparison, total US health care spending historically is around 18% of GDP.

This post-viral condition is poised to be one of, if not the, most impactful health conditions for coming years and possibly decades. Some believe that the pandemic is over. (It’s not.) But COVID will continue to render its horrors upon us for some years to come.

Later today, I will join Fahad Razak and Jennifer Frontera on a panel discussion on TVOntario’s The Agenda, about some of the challenges posed by Long COVID. In preparation for that session, I’ve decided to briefly jot down a summary of what is known about this syndrome. (more…)

01Jan

2023

Raywat / blog, me / 0 comment

2023

Welcome to the year of Zardoz, my droogies. Yes, that epic Sean Connery flick was set in 2023. I’m sad that Connery didn’t get to see its reality. I’m further sad that his sartorial prediction has not yet come to pass:

Mind you, as I continue to work from home, there’s no reason that I can’t make this my new official office attire.

(more…)

20Dec

2022

Raywat / blog, me / 0 comment

Getting Free Voicemail

Confession: I’m writing this post only so I can have a record of this information when I need it.

Here’s the thing: I’m a cheap bastard. I don’t like paying for services when I know there’s a free workaround. One such service is voicemail on my cell phone plan. Yeah, I can afford the couple of bucks per month. But why do it when I don’t need to?

Here’s my solution for free voicemail. All you need is two things: (1) a free virtual phone number, and (2) forwarding services on your cell phone, usually provided by your carrier at no cost. (more…)

21Nov

2022

Raywat / blog, COVID-19, epidemiology / 0 comment

COVID-19: Do Masks Work?

As I write this, much of the Northern hemisphere has been struck with a wave of multiple childhood respiratory diseases, COVID-19, RSV, and influenza prime among them. Pediatric hospitals are being overrun. Right now in Ontario, we are beyond 100% capacity, with (I’m told) some ICU beds doubling up kids:

One proposal to help slow the traffic into the ERs is to reinstate masking in most, if not all, public indoor settings. This possibility has triggered that tired debate of (a) whether masks work at all, and (b) whether they are harmful at all. (more…)

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