COVID-19 Deconfinement Expert Series

[2:34] - Should you be wearing a mask? Why? And if so, when? Do you need to wear one outside?

[5:33] - Do you need to wear N95 or surgical masks? What are the best options otherwise?

[9:31] - How do you safely and properly put on and take off a mask?

[14:20] - Should you wear other protective equipment, like gloves and face shields?

[18:17] - As people start to expand their social bubbles, how should they think about PPE?

[21:33] - Is it as effective to use hand sanitizer that is not alcohol-based?

[24:07] - Do you still have to stay 6 feet (2 metres) away from others if you're wearing a mask?

[25:15] - How old should an infant/child be before you put a mask on them? Should young children wear masks to camp?

[28:36] - Should you wear a mask if you go outside for a run?

[32:25] - Do reusable cloth masks have to be washed between every use? Can you reuse disposable masks?

Featured Experts:

Dr. Tim Evans (Director & Associate Dean, McGill School of Population & Global Health; leader of Health Canada’s external secretariat for the COVID-19 Task Force)
Dr. Marc Robin (Medical Director at Dialogue & Family Physician)

This interview will discuss how to safely start to reintroduce social gatherings into our daily lives as more and more policies allow us to move out of confinement. Tune in to learn about how you can safely choose to expand (or not expand) your social bubble.

[0:59] - How can we safely expand our social bubbles? What safety precautions should we take for social gatherings?

[3:46] - What are safe activities to do with family and friends while social distancing?

[6:25] - What advice do you have for people experiencing anxiety with regards to reintroducing social gatherings?

[8:11] - Are food deliveries/take-out safe? What precautions should you take when ordering in or having people over?

[13:05] - Can people at higher risk participate in social gatherings?

[17:35] - Can parents bring their children to playgrounds?

[20:28] - Are there any guidelines for determining who is safe to go back to the workplace?

[22:24] - Should we expect a 'second wave' in the fall? What will this mean for confinement?

[27:00] - From the audience: How can I safely go on dates at this time?

[28:27] - From the audience: Are houseguests allowed to enter my house to use the washroom?

Featured Experts:

Dr. Tim Evans (Director & Associate Dean, McGill School of Population & Global Health; leader of Health Canada’s external secretariat for the COVID-19 Task Force)
Dr. Marc Robin (Medical Director at Dialogue & Family Physician)

Join Dialogue's co-founder Anna as she interviews experts on the topic of COVID-19 testing. What testing is available? When should you get tested (or not get tested)? Should you get the antibody test? We’ll answer these questions, and more!

[0:46] - What are the various COVID-19 testing options available in Canada right now?

[3:30] - What are the symptoms to look for to determine if you should get tested for COVID-19?

[5:13] - If you have one but not all of the symptoms (e.g., cough but no fever), should you be tested?

[7:36] - How should you think about being tested if you are in an at-risk category (e.g., underlying health conditions)?

[9:31] - Is it an issue if not all symptomatic patients get tested?

[12:45] - If you test positive for the virus, does quarantine still end after 14 days? When can you deconfine?

[14:40] - There are stories in the news about mothers unable to see their newborns for extended periods of time without testing negative - how do you reconcile stories like that with the recommendation to quarantine for 14 days?

[18:32] - Is 'immunity' lasting or can you get COVID-19 again?

[23:00] - What are the ethical considerations with regards to 'immunity passports' or similar concepts discussed?

[31:35] - How should people think about reassessing their symptoms as they de-confine and head back to work?

Featured Experts:

Dr. Tina Montreuil (Asst. Professor, Department of Educational & Counselling Psychology; Associate member, Department of Psychiatry at McGill)
Boris Lesar (Registered Psychologist)

COVID-19 can impact your physical and mental health. In this episode, learn the signs of stress and anxiety to look out for in yourself and your children, as well as how to help your family better cope with the pandemic. Find out how to set a solid routine for your kids, organize playdates, and help your family through the transition out of confinement.

1:00] - How has COVID-19 been impacting children's mental health?

[3:00] - What are the signs of stress and anxiety to look for in youth (from infants to adolescents)?

[5:42] - How can parents help lessen the effects of stress and anxiety in their children?

[10:43] - How much COVID-19 information should parents share with children? Is it causing stress?

[13:49] - Do you have advice for how parents working at home can create routine for their children?

[19:10] - How beneficial is it for children to interact with other children? How can you safely organize a playdate?

[22:40] - As we move out of confinement, how can parents explain to their kids that it's now okay to go out?

[26:30] - How can parents maintain their own mental health in these circumstances?

[33:32] - My boss isn't understanding that having kids at home can impact my work and productivity - how should I approach a conversation about this?

[38:07] - Can stress in pregnant women affect the fetus? What is your advice or guidance on this?

Learn more about our experts

Craig Pearce has worked in infection prevention and control for nearly 10 years. He has a Bachelors in Microbiology and a Masters in Hospital Epidemiology. As an Infection Control Professional, Craig is responsible for surveillance for multi drug resistant organisms and reportable communicable diseases, policy consultation and development. He is also extensively involved in hand hygiene education, auditing and training.

Dr. Daniel Lalla is a telemedicine physician at Dialogue and a Faculty Lecturer at McGill University. He was actively practising in hospital, ICU, and long term care during the H1NI and C Difficile outbreaks, adapting guidelines into practical tools for colleagues. He also has experience monitoring SARS virus via satellite broadcasts from the World Health Organization (WHO). Dr. Lalla has a medical clinic in Quebec’s Eastern Townships.

Dr. Tim Evans is the Inaugural Director and Associate Dean of the School of Population and Global Health (SPGH) in the Faculty of Medicine and Associate Vice-Principal (Global Policy and Innovation) at McGill University. Previously, he was Senior Director of the Health, Nutrition and Population Global Practice at World Bank and Assistant Director General at the World Health Organization (WHO).

Dr. Marc Robin is the Medical Director at Dialogue, as well as a practicing family physician who has been in practice for 20 years. Dr. Robin has spent much of his career as a physician and educator for major teaching hospitals in both the U.S. and Canada.

Dr. Tina Montreuil is an Assistant Professor in the department of Educational and Counselling Psychology and an Associate Member of the department of Psychiatry at McGill University. She is also a Regular Investigator of the Research Unit of Children’s Psychosocial Maladjustment (GRIP) at McGill. As a licensed member of the Quebec Order of Psychologists and a credentialed member of the Canadian Association of Cognitive-Behavioural Therapies, she practices privately with children and family, focusing on cognitive-behavioural and mindfulness approaches.

Boris Lesar is a Registered Psychologist with 25+ years of experience working in the human services field. He has been practicing psychology in Calgary for six years and provides counselling addressing anxiety, depression, relationships, parenting, and work problems (among other areas as well). He is an adjunct faculty teaching various graduate level courses in counselling psychology, including child and adolescent psychology.