Daily Media Digest May 6, 2020

CHEO handwashing song is taking off, here and around the world — putting safety first
CHEO
“Today, on World Hand Hygiene Day, a handwashing song created by Dr. Nisha Thampi, an infectious disease physician at CHEO, is featured in a cartoon series for kids called Spike and Toody and has now been translated into 27 different languages, reaching half of the world’s population in their native language.”
TAGS: COVID-19, public health, handwashing, pediatric health

Pandemic prompts emergency campaign to combat crisis of isolation for people with disabilities
Canada NewsWire (press release)
“”We are counting on Canadians to answer this urgent call.” March of Dimes Canada is a nationally registered charitable organization providing support …”
TAGS: COVID-19, public health

Lawson grants $200K to more than 14 local COVID-19 research projects
Globalnews.ca
“… turn over entirely to COVID studies,” said Lawson’s Scientific Director, Dr. David Hill, in an interview Tuesday. Story continues below advertisement.”
TAGS: COVID-19, public health, innovative research

CAMH enhances virtual capacity to respond to demand for mental health services
CAMH
“As Canadians grapple with the mental health effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, Cisco Canada and the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), Canada’s largest mental health teaching hospital, are announcing today the successful expansion of virtual care to meet the demand for mental health services.”
TAGS: COVID-19, public health, mental health, virtual health services

Queen’s-KHSC team develop in-house COVID-19 test
Queen’s Gazette
“Researchers from Queen’s and Kingston Health Sciences Centres have developed a test that provides results in just 24 hours.”
TAGS: COVID-19, public health, testing

Social, behavioural scientists have critical role to play in fighting COVID-19, says psychologist
CBC.ca
“… and why some people are adhering to physical distancing policies and others are not,” said Carleton University psychology professor Michael Wohl.”
TAGS: COVID-19, public health, psychology

Kids Come First helps vulnerable families during COVID-19 where they need it most – at home
CHEO
“Six partners of the Kids Come First Health Team are taking quick action to keep kids safe and provide home care to families who need it most. These are temporary but necessary emergency measures required in response to COVID-19.”
TAGS: COVID-19, public health

Our wildest dreams: The pandemic means more of us remember our dreams
Ottawa Citizen
“… sleep research at the Royal Ottawa’s Institute of Mental Health Research. … to keep your biological clock’s synchronization, said University of Ottawa …”
TAGS: COVID-19, public health, mental health, sleep

Scientists concerned focus on COVID-19 disrupting regular health research funds
National Post
“Researchers rely on that funding, and Dr. Tarik Moroy, president of the Canadian Society for Molecular Biosciences, said the delay is likely to disrupt …”
TAGS: COVID-19, public health, research funding