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Reopening society following the pandemic’s initial wave is often framed as a choice between the economy and people’s health – but what’s needed is a broader discussion of the many health issues arising from our response to COVID-19.

“There are many health consequences related to our public health measures. Most significantly are all the people that are waiting for postponed surgeries or medical appointments,” 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.

“We also know there are significant mental health consequences as a result of the isolation that people are experiencing. There are increases in domestic violence and child abuse.”

In episode 17 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 – explains why we need to carefully balance the consequences of continued public health measures aimed at slowing the spread of COVID-19 with the consequences of the illness itself.

COVID-19: What’s Next is a bi-weekly 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