From 72 hour book quarantines to constant sanitation measures, experts are saying it’s time to move past “hygiene theatre” – cleaning behaviours that give people a sense of security, but are actually unlikely to reduce COVID-19 transmission.

tgam.ca/hygiene
Research has repeatedly shown that the risk of surface transmission is relatively low and can be addressed through conventional cleaning, the scientific director of Ontario’s COVID-19 Science Advisory Table said.

tgam.ca/hygiene
The environmental impact of disposable wipes, the cost of disinfecting supplies, and the burden on restaurant and retail employees are further reasons to start being pragmatic about hygiene practices

tgam.ca/hygiene
Cleaning protocols, however, are reassuring for some people – particularly in grocery stores.

“Honestly, I think it’s mentally … relaxing, a little bit,” a Toronto-based photographer and videographer said.

tgam.ca/hygiene
Others argue that surface disinfection takes away from more important measures. Ventilation in places with high risk of transmission such as long-term care facilities or workplaces, for example, is a more critical area that needs improvement.

tgam.ca/hygiene
While experts agree that hand hygiene should remain a lifestyle habit beyond the pandemic, it’s time for hygiene theatre to end, they say.

“I do think ... we probably can ease up on a lot of the cleaning of our environment,” one doctor said.

tgam.ca/hygiene
Do you feel more protected against COVID-19 when stores sanitize their surfaces?

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More from @globeandmail

25 May
Critic @HertzBarry has spoken. The best action movie of all time is (spoiler!): Mad Max: Fury Road.

Disagree? It's time to have your say.

Vote now in the the Globe's bracket of the 22 best action flicks of all time.
For each bracket, readers can vote in the polls in this Twitter thread. Voting is open for 7 days.

Catch up with the results here and read why each film made the cut here: tgam.ca/actionfilms

Voting for the first bracket in our film face-off starts now.
📽️ Baahubali: The Beginning VS. Baahubali 2: The Conclusion

Sublime, ridiculously delightful action abounds in this face-off between Baahubali instalments.

Which action flick wins this bracket?
Read 6 tweets
6 May
In the coming weeks, Britain will continue its gradual reopening, driven by mass uptake of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine – one of the fastest immunization efforts in the world

tgam.ca/AZ-Britain
While health officials in many countries, including Canada, have voiced reservations about the AstraZeneca vaccine due to the rare risk of blood clots, Britain built its immunization campaign around the shot.

tgam.ca/AZ-Britain
In recent weeks “more people have seen the news about the rare cases of blood clots but it hasn’t affected overall [vaccine] sentiment,” said Bobby Duffy, director of the policy institute at King’s College London.

tgam.ca/AZ-Britain
Read 6 tweets
5 May
Health Canada has approved the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for kids as young as 12.

theglobeandmail.com/canada/article…
The Pfizer vaccine was previously authorized for anyone 16+.

A trial of more than 2,200 youth in that age group in the U.S. recorded no COVID-19 cases among vaccinated kids. The trial used the same size doses, and the same two-doses as for adults.

theglobeandmail.com/canada/article…
Health Canada’s chief medical adviser Dr. Supriya Sharma says the evidence is there that the vaccine is safe and effective in that age group.

It's the first vaccine approved for children in Canada.

theglobeandmail.com/canada/article…
Read 6 tweets
22 Apr
Ontario Premier Doug Ford apologized and said his government moved “too fast” in bringing in tougher police measures as he vowed to move on a provincial sick pay program after a year of resistance.

theglobeandmail.com/canada/article…
But @fordnation resisted other calls to close more non-essential businesses where COVID-19 is spreading and allow outdoor recreational activities.

Ford said the government’s goal is to reduce mobility amid high case counts and rising hospitalizations.

theglobeandmail.com/canada/article…
In a press conference, Ford said he knows people are angry and that his government’s recent enforcement measures went “too far.”

“I know we got it wrong, I know we made a mistake. And for that, I’m sorry, and I sincerely apologize,” Ford said.

theglobeandmail.com/canada/article…
Read 6 tweets
22 Apr
Canada will cut its greenhouse gas emissions by up to 45% by 2030, Prime Minister @JustinTrudeau said today at a virtual Climate Summit hosted by U.S. President @JoeBiden.

theglobeandmail.com/politics/artic…
Trudeau said his government will set a new goal to cut emissions between 40-45% below 2005 levels by 2030.

That’s up to a third higher than the 30% reduction that Canada first signed on to under the Paris Agreement.

theglobeandmail.com/politics/artic…
The new target is far below goals set by the British government this week (78% by 2035 from 1990 levels), and those of the U.S. (52% by 2030 from 2005 levels) and EU.

theglobeandmail.com/politics/artic…
Read 6 tweets
21 Apr
Ontario says it is considering a #PaidSickDays policy for essential workers, an idea it has rejected for months.

Health experts are adamant that these measures could slow the spread of COVID-19 in crowded warehouses and factories.

theglobeandmail.com/canada/article…
Meanwhile, Toronto and Peel Region have issued orders that would close businesses for 10 days when at least 5 confirmed COVID-19 cases have been identified within two weeks that could “reasonably" have been acquired in the workplace.

theglobeandmail.com/canada/article…
The change in approach on sick days came as the province's COVID-19 Science Advisory Table issued a rebuke of Ontario’s recently announced pandemic measures.

The group called for closing non-essential workplaces and providing emergency sick pay.

theglobeandmail.com/canada/article…
Read 6 tweets

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