Many businesses, such as grocery stores, may now require you to wear a mask to shop in-person, but what kind of mask is best?  What is available in Canada?  Can I make one?  

Chief Medical Officer 07APR20 Communication: Use of Non-Medical Masks by The Public.

If you have COVID-19 and you're caring for yourself at home or you're caring for a loved one with COVID-19 at home, you might have questions. How do you know when emergency care is needed? What can you do to prevent the spread of germs? How can you support a sick loved one and manage your stress? Follow this advice to protect yourself and others in the home, as well as those in your community.

John MacLeod is a primary-care physician with 30 years of experience in HIV care.

Being a gay man in the 1980s was terrifying enough. Homophobia was pervasive at the time, and coming out came with substantial risks – including the threat of rejection and violence. This was a time before human-rights protections for gays. Many lived silently in shame.

When I started medical school in 1982, reports of gay men dying from an unknown illness started to appear in the news. HIV and I both came out in the early 1980s, and so my future path would be paved by an epidemic.

The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) may be stressful for people. Fear and anxiety about a disease can be overwhelming and cause strong emotions.  

Extraordinary measures have taken place in order to slow the spread of the virus in Canada.  Residents of Ontario have been asked to stay at home.  This can produce new stress and anxiety especially for those who live in close quarters.  

Stress during an infectious disease outbreak can include:

• Fear and worry about your own health and the health of your loved ones.
• Changes in sleep or eating patterns.
• Difficulty sleeping or concentrating.
• Worsening of chronic health problem.
• Increased use of alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs.