Dr. Susy Hota on Getting Through the Second Wave

How can we keep the second wave from turning into a second lockdown?

Viruses spread when people spend time in close quarters, so lockdowns are good at slowing their transmission. But they come with a cost—a reality we know well, and don’t want to repeat.

Dr. Susy Hota is an infectious disease physician and medical director of infection prevention and control at University Health Network. She joins us this episode to talk about what we’ve learned since the outbreak began. She’s concerned that our pandemic fatigue may be contributing to the disease’s resurgence.

The mental and physical health consequences of the pandemic and efforts to curb it are very real. As is the economic damage. Dr. Hota says we need to remain vigilant and focused on controlling the pandemic to tame the second wave. To avoid a second lockdown, we need to make better use of the tools we already have: distance, hygiene, and masks.

We talk about how the pandemic has taught us what is important, as well as how it exposed areas that need attention. She says that we should focus on our common goal to get through the coming winter: short-term pain for long-term gain.

Follow Infection Prevention and Control Department at University Health Network on Twitter @ipacuhn.

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