Dr. Jennie JohnstoneWhat can early Canadian experience with COVID-19 teach us about how to prepare for a pandemic? Dr. Jennie Johnstone, Medical Director of Infection Prevention and Control at Sinai Health, along with the colleagues from eight other Toronto area hospitals analyzed the data available from suspected COVID-19 cases to answer that question.

The article, published by the Canadian Medical Association Journal, addresses the growing concern that a potential pandemic can place on Canadian health care resources. It also discusses some of the potential factors contributing to emergency department visits by those investigated that could inform policies for future appropriate handling of the COVID-19 outbreak. The paper suggests that Canada needs to urgently establish the capacity to assess and test people with symptoms of possible COVID-19 in their homes or in special clinics outside of acute care hospitals.