Daily Media Digest March 17, 2020

Canada can – and should – play a bigger role in preventing future pandemics
National Observer
COVID-19 is a global crisis, and Canada is not only uniquely positioned to help end the current crisis but to prevent future ones.
TAGS: coronavirus, pandemic, prevention

COVID-19 vaccine test begins as volunteer patient administered 1st shot
CBC News
U.S. researchers gave the first shot to the first person in a test of an experimental coronavirus vaccine Monday — leading off a worldwide hunt for protection even as the pandemic surges.
TAGS: coronavirus, vaccine, United States

Canada: Handling patient data in artificial intelligence
Mondaq
There has been a vast expansion in the use of AI in healthcare. There are many privacy issues that accompany unlocking the potential of AI.
TAGS: artificial intelligence, patient data, privacy

Calls to distress lines jump as COVID-19 sparks dislocation and anxiety
Global News
Dr. Peter Selby, a clinician-scientist with the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto, said previous pandemics such as SARS in 2003 have tended to lead to an increase in mental health issues and self-harming. It’s critical people find supports …
TAGS: coronavirus, mental health

‘The time is now to act’: COVID-19 spreading in Canada with no known link to travel, previous cases
CBC News
Widespread community transmission of COVID-19 is likely underway in Canada, experts say, warning that Canadians need to heed advice from public health officials and do their part to prevent it from getting out of control.
TAGS: coronavirus, Dr. Theresa Tam

Scientists see no quick end to the coronavirus battle
The Globe and Mail
The COVID-19 pandemic in Canada could continue for months, but what happens in the next few weeks will be crucial in determining the character of the outbreak and the toll it takes.
TAGS: coronavirus, pandemic