Experts: Hot weather and heat waves
Environment Canada issued a special weather statement for the Montreal area, warning that temperatures are forecasted to reach between 30 and 33 C this week. (CTV News)
Here are some experts from McGill University that can provide comment on this issue:
Leighanne Parkes, Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases
“As summer approaches, many patients and health-care workers (HCWs) will request the use of air conditioners, coolers or electric fans to control the climate. Such climate control, as ambient temperatures dangerously rise, is important for the safety of patients and HCWs alike. Unfortunately, there is insufficient data on the impact of this equipment in patient rooms, particularly with respect to the spread of SARS-CoV-2. What limited evidence that does exist suggests that these devices might perpetuate outbreaks. Accordingly, risk mitigation strategies should be employed.”
Leighanne Parkes is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Medicine and an infectious disease specialist and microbiologist at the Jewish General Hospital. She is currently collaborating in a McGill-led clinical research initiative to test the efficacy of existing drugs against COVID-19, in the hopes they may improve outcomes as a vaccine is being developed.
leighanne.parkes [at] mcgill.ca (English)
Christopher Labos, MD, MSc and Associate, McGill Office for Science and Society
“I think people underestimate how dangerous extreme temperature, both hot and cold, really is. Every year we see spikes in death rates during heat waves or cold spells and the great tragedy is that a lot of these are preventable. Very simple things like air-conditioning and making sure you stay hydrated are extremely important especially for older individuals and those with pre-existing heart conditions and other medical problems.”
Christopher Labos is an associate with the McGill Office for Science and Society whose mission is to promote critical thinking and present science to the public. He is a cardiologist with a degree in epidemiology.
christopher.labos [at] mail.mcgill.ca (English, French)
