It’s becoming an increasingly ambiguous scenario: the elevator door opens and someone is already inside.
Now, in the face of the novel coronavirus outbreak, do you go in, or do you wait for the next one?
Public health officials have been urging Canadians to maintain physical distance and avoid high-traffic areas since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic weeks ago. But for those living in large cities across the country — especially those in apartment buildings or condo clusters — that can be easier said than done.
“The risk is high in those spaces simply because of the population density,” said Kevin Coombs, an infectious disease researcher and professor of medical microbiology at the University of Manitoba.
“At the same time though, it’s a bit of a double-edged sword — if you have a large cluster of people, and none of them are infected, well then there’s nothing to be transmitted.
“The danger of course, is that we don’t know who is and who isn’t infected because not everyone is getting tested. So it’s always best to be cautious.”
Many residential buildings across the country have been implementing more safety measures since the outbreak was classified a pandemic by the World Health Organization on March 11.
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