In episode eight of his podcast on the pandemic, Vivek 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 how contact tracing works and why it will be an important tool to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

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.

Producer: Lisa Lightbourn

Host & Writer: Vivek Goel

Photo: DKosig/Getty Images

In episode seven of his podcast on the pandemic, Vivek 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 it’s important to get outdoors and how to do it safely.

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.

Producer: Lisa Lightbourn

Host & Writer: Vivek Goel

Photo: Johnny Guatto

In episode six of his podcast on the pandemic, Vivek 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 what the latest stats show here at home and around the world, why we need to look at trends over time and how, despite this “glimmer of hope,” much work remains to be done.

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.

Producer: Lisa Lightbourn

Host & Writer: Vivek Goel

Photo: Johnny Guatto

In episode five of his podcast on the pandemic, Vivek 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 how experts model disease, what kind of variables they take into account, and how these models can become very complicated, very quickly.

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.

Producer: Lisa Lightbourn

Host & Writer: Vivek Goel

Photo: Can Pac Swire/Flickr

Newscast audio: Global News

In episode four of his podcast on the pandemic, Vivek 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 how the virus is spread, why surgical masks should be left for health-care professionals and what you should keep in mind if you choose to wear a home-made mask.

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.

Producer: Lisa Lightbourn

Host & Writer: Vivek Goel

Photo: Sebastien Condrea/Getty Images

Newscast audio: Global News

Vivek Goel – a renowned public health expert and founding head of Public Health Ontario, which was set up in response to the 2003 SARS outbreak – talks about various aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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

Producer: Lisa Lightbourn

Host & Writer: Vivek Goel

Photo: Nick Iwanyshyn

Vivek Goel – a renowned public health expert and founding head of Public Health Ontario, which was set up in response to the 2003 SARS outbreak – talks about various aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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

Producer: Lisa Lightbourn

Host & Writer: Vivek Goel

Photo: Diana Tyszko

Vivek Goel – a renowned public health expert and founding head of Public Health Ontario, which was set up in response to the 2003 SARS outbreak – talks about various aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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

Producer: Lisa Lightbourn

Host & Writer: Vivek Goel

Photo: Johnny Guatto

Newscast audio: PBS News Hour, WHO

Brail describes the issues she's most looking forward to tackling in her new role as U pf T's Presidential Advisor on Urban Engagement. Brail is a Senior Lecturer in the Urban Studies Program at the University of Toronto. She holds a BA in Urban Studies / Geography, an MA in Urban Planning and a PhD in Geography. Brail enjoyed a career in management consulting and as a senior policy advisor to the Ontario provincial government following the completion of her PhD, and prior to joining the University of Toronto. She is cross-appointed to the Department of Geography and Program in Planning and is a Research Fellow at the Munk School’s Innovation Policy Lab. As part of her teaching, and through the incorporation of experiential learning initiatives in the Urban Studies Program, she has placed more than 500 U of T undergraduate students in internships and service learning placements at urban-focused organizations across the city over the past ten years.

John Broadhead talks about the issues that top his to-do list in his new role as Special Advisor to the President, Urban Issues, at U of T. Brodhead is the first executive director of CityWorks, a strategic initiative of Evergreen. Prior to joining CityWorks, he was deputy chief of staff for policy and cabinet affairs for Premier Dalton McGuinty and served in other roles in the Office of the Premier, including executive director of communications and senior policy advisor. Brodhead was also vice president for strategy and communications for Metrolinx. Prior to joining the provincial government, John served in various capacities in the federal government, including the Ministries of Infrastructure and National Defence. Brodhead is currently an executive fellow at the Mowat Centre for Public Policy at the University of Toronto.