As Canada prepares to transition from summer to fall and winter, the hope is that the COVID-19 pandemic can be controlled enough to prevent a severe spike in infections that could overwhelm the health-care system.

"The scenario that we're in, and that is likely the best-case scenario for some time to come, is what's known as the slow burn – where we continue to have sporadic cases and occasional outbreaks but we don't get to the point where our health-care system is overwhelmed," says Vivek Goel, a professor at the University of Toronto's Dalla Lana School of Public Health and a special adviser to the president and provost, helping to guide the university's COVID-19 planning efforts.

In episode 24 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 – says the 'slow burn' scenario will mean learning to live with COVID-19 for some time to come, as it could be years before a global immunization campaign is completed.

"We have to get back to our usual activities with the necessary precautions – staying home if we have symptoms, practicing regular hand hygiene, respiratory etiquette and wearing a mask when necessary and recommended."

The COVID-19: What's Next podcast is created by Goel, the founding head of Public Health Ontario, which was set up in response to the 2003 SARS outbreak, 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.