GUELPH POLITICAST #317 - Is the End of the Pandemic*?

*You might be forgiven to think this whole COVID-19 pandemic is in the bag. It’s been a week-and-a-half since the mask mandates were repealed in Ontario and in the Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health region, and like clockwork the number of COVID cases in the public, and in the hospital, are going up. You might be fed up, you might be fully vaccinated and boosted, but that doesn't mean the pandemic is over.

Since the announcement earlier this month that the mask mandates were coming to an end, the advise from all doctors and public health officials as been the same: Yes, you no longer have to wear a mask, but you should almost definitely be wearing a mask whenever you’re in an indoor public space. That's not the message being received though because there's a lot less masking going on.

We've got two guest on this week's podcast to help us make sense of this pandemic moment.

First, we're joined by Dr. Rose Zacharias, the President-Elect of the Ontario Medical Association. She will talk to us about what we should call this phase of the pandemic, and why the recent increase in new COVID cases is to be expected. She will also tell us when and why wearing a mask is still the best policy, and how best to judge your own health and safety in public indoor environments.

Second, we will talk to Dr. Jane Purvis, who is the President of the Ontario Rheumatology Association. Dr. Purvis will talk about how life has changed for people who are immunocompromised, and why masking is so important to make conditions safer for everyone, but especially people with immunity issues. Also, she will discuss the trouble with complex public health messaging, and trying to reach the people who are eligible for a fourth dose of a vaccine.

So let's talk about protecting yourself in a world without mandates on this week's Guelph Politicast!

You can learn more about the Ontario Medical Association and you can learn more about the Ontario Rheumatology Association at their websites, and you can also still get the latest case count and vaccine information in our region at out Public Health unit's website. If you have any question concerning medical advice or your own health, seek out the expertise and advice of your family physician. 

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Also, when you subscribe to the Guelph Politicast channel and you will also get an episode of Open Sources Guelph every Monday, and an episode of End Credits every Friday.

Image from The Brave Fighter of Sun Fighbird, aka: The "Is this a pigeon?" meme courtesy of Sunrise Studios.