Guidelines

A new study shows that moist heat treatment of N95 masks eliminates severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and bacteria, which would allow reuse of these scarce resources. The study is published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).

We’ve hit the lazy days of summer and COVID-19 seems to be tamed for the time being. Now is the perfect time to start a discussion about influenza and pneumonia vaccination in adults 65 years of age and older

The influenza vaccination rate in Canada is moving in the right direction, but still well below target levels for high-risk groups.

Handwashing, disinfecting and distancing more important than PPE based on what's happening so far in Australia and New Zealand.

Povidone-iodine gargle–mouthwash might be useful in reducing the risk of COVID-19 transmission in dental practices

The Pharmacy Association of Alberta says 128 pharmacies have applied to participate in the pilot

Ontario's elementary students and many high schoolers will return to traditional classrooms full time in September, the provincial government announced Thursday. But the province's new back-to-school plan indicates that high school students at two dozen boards—including the Toronto District School Board—will only attend class half the time in an effort to curb the spread of COVID-19, with a maximum class size of 15.

Until recently, few had heard of this obscure code. Recently the Parliamentary Budget Office (PBO) disclosed that during the pandemic, a at least $623 million had been paid to civil servants—especially in the Canada Revenue Agency and Correctional Services. According to Yves Giroux of the PBO (Jennifer Chevalier, CBC News, July 24, 2020), this amount of lost productivity was the “absolute minimum.” Federal employees were permitted to stay at home during the pandemic and receive full pay while not working—all thanks to the pay code 699 policy. This involved at least 76,000 persons, or a quarter of all government employees. Randall Denley (Ottawa Citizen, July 29, 2020) put this number at 79,000. (By comparison, there are 86,000 practising physicians in Canada.)