Local epidemiologist highlights what governments should be doing for latest COVID-19 wave
Posted Jul 7, 2022 06:00:00 PM.
An Ottawa based epidemiologist is highlighting what different levels of government should be doing during the latest wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Dr. Raywat Deonandan told The Sam Laprade Show on Thursday, July 7 that governments should be subsidizing or making KN95 or N95 masks free in order to provide people with the tools needed to stay safe.
“This way, your income doesn't gate whether you become infected,” he said. “Otherwise we have a situation where the low income are the ones most likely to be infected assuming everyone chooses to mask up and that's simply not fair. The low income are most likely to be in jobs where there is transmission.”
Dr. Deonandan, who is also an associate professor at the University of Ottawa said fourth doses of COVID-19 vaccines need to be available to anyone who wnts them.
“You want that fourth dose to lower your chances of infection and lower your chances of transmitting the disease onward,” he added.
Dr. Deonandan suggested governments mandate paid sick days and change messaging about COVID-19 to highlight that the virus is still present in communities.
Listen to the full interview with Dr. Raywat Deonandan below:
