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As the world learns more about the novel coronavirus, the advice to Canadians about how to manage risk – from wearing masks to wiping down groceries – has changed. 

“Early on, there was a study that suggested that the virus can live for up to 72 hours on surfaces,” says Vivek Goel, the University of Toronto’s vice-president, research and innovation, and strategic initiatives, and a professor at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health.

But that study showed only fragments of the virus lingered, he says, and “recently, the Centers for Disease Control have issued guidance that there's very low risk of transmission from inanimate objects.”

In episode 19 of his podcast on the pandemic, Goel – a renowned public health expert and founding head of Public Health Ontario, which was set up in response to the 2003 SARS outbreak – revisits how the virus is transmitted, whether you can go for a jog and why masks are recommended.

COVID-19: What’s Next is a podcast created by Goel in collaboration with a University of Toronto Communications team led by producer Lisa Lightbourn.

Note: The information in this podcast is current as of the posting date. Listeners should consult their local public health agency for the latest information in their jurisdiction.

See a complete list of all the podcast episodes