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What do we really know about the Omicron variant? And what's the best way to stop it?

The Big Story
The Big Story
Episode • Dec 2, 2021 • 26m

It's only been a few days since the world learned of a new variant of Covid-19. There is a ton of data we don't have yet. But when the world's leading epidemiologists look at what we do know, they see some worrying signs. How worried should we be? That still depends. What can we do to stop it? We already know that, and there is one thing we still haven't really done in Canada that could make a huge difference...

Have our public health officials tell Canadians clearly that Covid-19 is airborne, and adapt our public health guidelines right now to reflect that, even if it means admitting we've been wrong. Scientists have known this for 18 months. Our federal government reluctantly admitted it, just barely, a month ago. Why?

GUEST: David Fisman, epidemiologist, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto

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