Can, pigs, poultry and other livestock become infected with COVID-19? That’s the question the Western Producer recently asked of Prof. Scott Weese, the head of infection control at U of G’s Ontario Veterinary College (OVC). Weese explained that while some viruses, such as rabies, can infect nearly all mammals, other viruses infect a narrow group …
Federal officials are warning that Canada’s meat supply could be disrupted by COVID-19 related labour shortages in processing plants. Prof. Evan Fraser, director of the Arrell Food Institute at the University of Guelph, is quote in media reports on the subject. In an April 16 CBC News story, Fraser said Canadians shouldn’t panic if they …
Prof. Evan Fraser, the director of U of G’s Arrell Food Institute, says Canada is now in what he thinks is phase 2 of the disruption of Canada’s food supply due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In phase 1, he explained, Canadians were engaged in panic buying, trying to stock up on items ahead of the …
With several meat processing facilities in Canada reducing production because of outbreaks of COVID-19 among staff, will Canada soon see meat shortages and possible price hikes? The University of Guelph has experts who can offer comment. Prof. Mike von Massow is a food economist with U of G’s Department of Food, Agricultural and Resource Economics. …
As Ontario shifted from classroom to online learning due to COVID-19, a deficit revealed itself: some rural communities have insufficient internet access. U of G’s Prof. Helen Hambly Odame, School of Environmental Design and Rural Development, is quoted in a recent London Free Press story that explores the inequality in internet access in southern Ontario. …
Prof. Simon Somogyi, the Arrell Chair in the Business of Food, spoke to the Financial Post about what Canadian growers can do to increase domestic food security and reduce our reliance on imports. Somogyi suggested ramping up production in shuttered greenhouses would help to extend the growing season in Canada. “If there are more research dollars dedicated to optimizing …
North America’s seafood economy has taken a big hit from the COVID-19 pandemic, with fresh fish markets closed along with the seafood restaurants that are the source of so many sales. But a University of Guelph expert sees signs that fishers are adapting by moving to a new (or new again) business model. Prof. Philip …
U of G Prof. Marion Joppe, School of Hospitality, Food and Tourism Management, is quoted in a Globe and Mail article about the threat COVID-19 is posing to the Indigenous tourism industry. That industry has grown rapidly in recent years, but the pandemic is forcing the widespread cancellation of events and bookings. Businesses are seeking …
COVID-19 physical distancing measures appear to be hastening online relationships, according to a guest column by Jen Kirsch in the Toronto Star. The author quotes U of G professor emeritus Serge Desmarais. Kirsch writes there is a higher level of intensity to online romantic conversations and things may be moving too fast for some. In …
Veterinary disease expert Prof. Scott Weese appeared on TVO’s The Agenda with Steve Paikin, discussing why animals are vulnerable during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as how veterinarians are responding. He was joined by experts from the Toronto Humane Society and Grey Wolf Animal Health. Weese is the chief of infection control at U of …
The federal government has announced $50 million to help farmers and fish processors bring temporary foreign workers to Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic. The University of Guelph has experts who can offer comment. Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau announced the new funding on Monday, explaining the funds will help farm operators cover the costs of having …
Ashleigh Weeden, a PhD candidate in rural studies in the School of Environmental Sciences, spoke to CTV News Kitchener about why many small towns in cottage country want city dwellers to stay home. Weeden warned that many of the health care facilities in these small towns simply don’t have the capacity to handle an influx …
The head of the UFC says his league is still planning to stage televised fights to empty arenas by month’s end. So will other professional sports try to follow their lead? The University of Guelph has an expert who can offer comment. Prof. Norman O’Reilly is the director of International Institute for Sport Business and …
Prof. Amy Greer, holder of the Canada Research Chair in Population Disease Modelling, spoke to the Toronto Star about recent research she co-authored that proposes cycling on and off physical distancing requirements. The study found that imposing physical distancing restrictions when hospital intensive care units are at capacity and relaxing them when the pressure eases …
Religion plays a role in many people’s lives, but that role becomes much broader when faced with a global crisis like COVID-19, says a University of Guelph expert. Prof. Andrea Paras says religious communities’ wide networks and moral authority put them in a unique position when it comes to influencing how people respond to the …
Prof. Steve Newmaster, from U of G’s Biodiversity Institute of Ontario (BIO), appeared on CBC Radio Kitchener’s Morning Edition program on Tuesday, April 14, to discuss the new COVID-19 diagnostic kit he helped develop. U of G research helped lead to the creation of the portable test kit, which is currently being used to confirm novel coronavirus infection in patients across Europe. The device can analyze DNA from …
In an article offering 12 ways to become a more positive person, O, The Oprah Magazine quotes U of G’s Prof. Jamie Gruman, Gordon S. Lang School of Business and Economics. Gruman is the author of Boost: The Science of Recharging Yourself in an Age of Unrelenting Demands. In the article, Gruman said if you’re …
With warmer weather coming, many are making plans to head to cottage country to escape cramped quarters back in the city. But a University of Guelph expert on rural studies is warning that cottage country should not be the place where Canadians choose to “ride out the pandemic.” “In short, this is a very bad …
Physical distancing is not just for people but for pets, too, says a University of Guelph expert in zoonotic diseases. With more people, including dog walkers, populating trails and sidewalks to get exercise and fresh air, Prof. Scott Weese warns we should avoid interacting with other people’s pets. Weese, who is the chief of infection …
With Easter and Passover upon us, is it safe to drop off food and treats to family members and friends? What’s the safest way to deliver these items and what are the risks of cooking for others? U of G food microbiologist Jeffrey Farber, the director of the Canadian Research Institute for Food Safety and …