TORONTO, July 30, 2021 – In exploring what needed to happen to prevent a third wave of COVID-19 in Ontario, 91��ɫ researchers say the same principals apply to preventing a fourth wave – adequate testing, contact tracing and isolation.

“These measures are even more crucial given the predominance of the highly transmissible Delta variant,” says lead researcher Distinguished Research Professor Jianhong Wu of 91��ɫ’s Faculty of Science. “Had there been more testing, contact tracing and isolation after the second wave, Ontario may have been able to avoid a third wave. Now we have a very narrow window in which to prevent a fourth wave.”

The province needs to enhance its testing-to-tracing and tracing-to-quarantine/isolation to avoid a possible fourth wave. This is feasible even with the circulation of the Delta variant.

About 60 per cent of all new infections need to be traced and isolated, while for symptomatic individuals, 65 per cent should be tested and isolated. If only about 45 per cent of symptomatic people are diagnosed, then 75 per cent of new infections would need to be traced and isolated to avoid a fourth wave.

The , “A window of opportunity for intensifying testing and tracing efforts to prevent new COVID-19 outbreaks due to more transmissible variants,” was published in the current issue of the .

About 91��ɫ

91��ɫ��is a modern,��multi-campus, urban university located in Toronto, Ontario. Backed by a diverse group of students, faculty, staff, alumni and partners, we bring a uniquely global perspective to help solve societal challenges, drive positive change and prepare our students for success. 91��ɫ's fully bilingual Glendon Campus is home to��Southern Ontario's Centre of Excellence for French Language and Bilingual��Postsecondary��Education. 91��ɫ’s campuses in Costa Rica and India offer students exceptional transnational learning��opportunities��and innovative programs. Together, we can make things right for our communities, our planet, and our future.

Media contact:

Sandra McLean, 91��ɫ Media Relations, cell 416-272-6317,��sandramc@yorku.ca

The post Can Ontario avoid a fourth wave of COVID-19? appeared first on News@91��ɫ.

TORONTO, May 21, 2020 – Enhanced testing and contact tracing for the coronavirus in Ontario could allow physical distancing measures to be relaxed, while keeping the reproduction ratio under one and preventing a second wave of infections, says corresponding author of a new modelling study Distinguished Research Professor of 91��ɫ’s Faculty of Science.

The de-escalation would include three phases – a re-opening of workplaces, a resumption of public events and activities, followed by the opening of schools. The researchers modelled the requirement for testing, contact tracing and quarantine for each phase.

To be successful in the first two phases, the current time for diagnosis needs to be maintained and almost 60 per cent of exposed contacts would have to be traced, quarantined and isolated. Although, if some level of social distancing is maintained, that could counter any decrease in quarantining.

In the third phase, the researchers found that 70 per cent of exposed contacts would need to be isolated to avoid a rebound, a value they say is unrealistic. The use of masks and personal protective equipment during de-escalation, however, could be an important tool in helping to prevent a rebound.

“Our analysis can help inform public health and policy makers on best future actions and interventions to control the outbreak while relaxing physical distancing,” says Wu, director of the Advanced Disaster, Emergency and Rapid Response Simulation Program.

The researchers looked at different possibilities and scenarios involving de-escalation of the current physical distancing and isolation rules for all of Canada, but particularly in Ontario. The province closed schools on March 14 and declared a state of emergency on March 17 with the closure of non-essential workplaces as of March 24.

The study estimated the effectiveness of interventions in terms of contact rate, probability of transmission per contact, detection rate, and proportion of isolated contacts. They concluded that a feasible de-escalation approach is to reverse the steps taken that led to most workplace and school closures.

In the future, the researchers say a transmission model involving age-specific contact mixing could be used to determine logistic implementations of a wider range of de-escalation strategies that would be dependent on a person’s age and the setting, whether a school, workplace, the home or community.

The research was published in the journal

Find out more about how 91��ɫ is creating positive change in the COVID-19 pandemic��.

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91��ɫ champions new ways of thinking that drive teaching and research excellence. Our students receive the education they need to create big ideas that make an impact on the world. Meaningful and sometimes unexpected careers result from cross-disciplinary programming, innovative course design and diverse experiential learning opportunities. 91��ɫ students and graduates push limits, achieve goals and find solutions to the world’s most pressing social challenges, empowered by a strong community that opens minds. 91��ɫ U is an internationally recognized research university – our 11 faculties and 25 research centres have partnerships with 200+ leading universities worldwide. Located in Toronto, 91��ɫ is the third largest university in Canada, with a strong community of 53,000 students, 7,000 faculty and administrative staff, and more than 300,000 alumni. 91��ɫ U's fully bilingual Glendon Campus is home to Southern Ontario's Centre of Excellence for French Language and Bilingual Postsecondary Education.

Media Contact:

Sandra McLean, 91��ɫ Media Relations, 416-272-6317, sandramc@yorku.ca

The post Testing rate and contact tracing key to successful re-opening of Ontario appeared first on News@91��ɫ.

91��ɫ expert is available to explain how influencers are changing their game

TORONTO, April 27, 2020 – Influencers are known for using social media to flaunt their extravagant lifestyle of luxury trips, shopping hauls and fine dining but the COVID-19 shutdown has put a stop to most of their “aspirational” posts, says Mangala Rao-D’Sa, an influencer marketing expert in 91��ɫ’s School of Continuing Studies.

D’Sa, who is an instructor in 91��ɫ’s ��certificate program, says influencers, who earn money from brands by posting sponsored social media content, are having to pivot. With most people staying at home, paid influencers are switching it up to promote more of a back-to-basics lifestyle.

“Everyone is on their screens right now and they’re hungry for content so influencers are capitalizing on this by creating different content,” says D’Sa.

“Prior to COVID-19, influencers were sharing a lot of aspirational content like travelling the world and showing how they are leading their best life,” she says. “These influencers have now pivoted to more of a community focus and they’re sharing how they are leading their best COVID-19 life indoors – doing workout videos, cooking meals at home and giving back to their communities.”

The World Health Organization has even recognized the power of influencers. WHO has teamed up with influencers to spread safe practices to combat the virus and solicit donations to its COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund.

D’Sa says mega influencers, like celebrity Taylor Swift and media mogul Arianna Huffington,��are also using their Instagram accounts to urge millions of their fans to practice social distancing and follow the recommendations from public health officials. Canadian influencers are helping too, she says, citing the example of actor Ryan Reynolds amplifying Hockey Hall of Famer Hayley Wickenheiser’s Twitter call for medical supplies for front-line health care workers, which sparked a crush of donations.

For paid influencers, companies are still relying on them to keep their brands top of mind for consumers.

“Brands are using influencers to stay relevant to people so that when the stay-at-home order is relaxed, influencers will show their followers how to come back to their favourite brands,” explains D’Sa. “Brands still want to stay engaged and top of mind during this time with their community, but still in a way that is authentic to the brand.”

D’Sa is a senior marketing executive with more than 20 years of experience working in the food and retail sectors. She has an MBA in digital transformation and is an expert in influencer marketing, digital marketing and advertising

She can comment on:

• How influencers are changing their game during the COVID-19 pandemic
• Why brands are still using influencers to promote their products and services
• How mega influencers are using their voices to combat the virus
• The difference between mega, macro and micro influencers and why it matters
• How brands are planning to use influencers once the shutdown ends

91��ɫ champions new ways of thinking that drive teaching and research excellence. Our students receive the education they need to create big ideas that make an impact on the world. Meaningful and sometimes unexpected careers result from cross-disciplinary programming, innovative course design and diverse experiential learning opportunities. 91��ɫ students and graduates push limits, achieve goals and find solutions to the world’s most pressing social challenges, empowered by a strong community that opens minds. 91��ɫ U is an internationally recognized research university – our 11 faculties and 25 research centres have partnerships with 200+ leading universities worldwide. Located in Toronto, 91��ɫ is the third largest university in Canada, with a strong community of 53,000 students, 7,000 faculty and administrative staff, and more than 300,000 alumni.

91��ɫ U's fully bilingual Glendon Campus is home to Southern Ontario's Centre of Excellence for French Language and Bilingual Postsecondary Education.

Media Contact: Vanessa Thompson, 91��ɫ Media Relations, 647-654-9452,��vthomps@yorku.ca

The post Could the COVID-19 pandemic kill the influencer trend? appeared first on News@91��ɫ.

91��ɫ educator available to explain how to encourage learning while stressed

TORONTO, April 15, 2020 – Tomorrow is the one-month anniversary of Ontario's elementary school closures due to March Break and the COVID-19 pandemic, creating high anxiety for parents trying to teach their kids at home while juggling work and childcare.

, an assistant professor in 91��ɫ’s Faculty of Education, says many parents and educators are struggling with the shift to teacher-led online learning, and while we can’t expect parents to take on the role of teachers, we also have to change our expectations of teachers.

Some parents are helping their kids adjust to online learning which began last week, plus managing their household and the stress from working at home, she says. That stress is multiplied for parents who are essential workers, who are living in poverty, who have been laid off from their jobs and are worrying about food insecurity and paying their mounting bills.

“We are asking too much of parents and teachers and we need to pull back on what the expectations are for children learning at home,” said Shah, a former Toronto District School Board teacher who used to teach primary, junior and intermediate��classes.

“This is a time of tremendous fear and trauma,” she says. “As best as they can, parents are encouraged to connect with their children, focus on their social and emotional well-being and ask them how they’re doing.”

COVID-19 has changed life as we know it, with self-isolation being the new reality, so our approach to education has to adapt too, she says.

“Learning doesn’t happen because of a perfect, pre-packaged lesson,” says Shah. “Learning is happening everywhere and all the time – in the kitchen when you’re cooking, when you’re going for a walk and in conversation with your children about what’s happening on TV.”

“We as educators need to take the pressure off of parents who feel like they have to teach their children,” says Shah, who now teaches classes for prospective teachers. “We also need to recognize the tremendous work that teachers are doing in this time while navigating their own families, challenges and realities.”

With the new online learning at home, parents need to assess whether it’s supporting or hurting their children. For elementary students who need routines to feel safe and connected to the larger world, formal learning tasks make sense, explains Shah. But if schoolwork becomes overwhelming for kids and is damaging to their social, emotional or academic well-being, parents should feel empowered to let their teachers know, and ask for adjustments to deadlines and workload, she says.

Shah, an education expert on issues of equity and justice, says families living in poverty, many of which are racialized, are especially vulnerable in an environment of online learning.

“The current approach to online learning will exacerbate the inequities that have always existed in schooling systems and will inevitably create new inequities for children,” she says, citing the examples of varying access to a quiet work space, family stress, and lack of WiFi and technology access.

Shah is encouraging educators to focus on relationships (continuing to build deep connections with their students), student-led inquiry (encouraging students to ask questions based on their interests and engage in critical thinking to seek thoughtful answers to their questions), self-reflection (inviting students to reflect on their thoughts and feelings during these times) ��and structure (creating routines that help make students feel safe).

She can comment on:

• The best ways to support elementary school children in their at-home learning
• How to encourage kids to ask questions to foster learning opportunities
• Why it’s important for parents to focus more on their kids’ social and emotional well-being and less on education during stressful times
• How online learning has worsened inequities for populations of marginalized and racialized children

91��ɫ champions new ways of thinking that drive teaching and research excellence. Our students receive the education they need to create big ideas that make an impact on the world. Meaningful and sometimes unexpected careers result from cross-disciplinary programming, innovative course design and diverse experiential learning opportunities. 91��ɫ students and graduates push limits, achieve goals and find solutions to the world’s most pressing social challenges, empowered by a strong community that opens minds. 91��ɫ U is an internationally recognized research university – our 11 faculties and 25 research centres have partnerships with 200+ leading universities worldwide. Located in Toronto, 91��ɫ is the third largest university in Canada, with a strong community of 53,000 students, 7,000 faculty and administrative staff, and more than 300,000 alumni.

91��ɫ U's fully bilingual Glendon Campus is home to Southern Ontario's Centre of Excellence for French Language and Bilingual Postsecondary Education.

Media Contact: Vanessa Thompson, 91��ɫ Media Relations, 647-654-9452,��vthomps@yorku.ca

Find out more about how 91��ɫ is creating positive change in the COVID-19 pandemic��.

The post Should parents teach their kids at home during COVID-19 school closures? appeared first on News@91��ɫ.

91��ɫ researchers found much less support for economics as the primary driver

TORONTO, April 14, 2020 – Most Canadians believe scientific evidence (82%) and advice from medical doctors (78%) should be the key influences affecting government decisions for COVID-19, with only 48 per cent putting economic considerations among the top three, research led by 91��ɫ has found.

But when asked to select up to three things they thought were actually influencing government decisions, economic considerations (56%), scientific evidence (53%) and advice from medical doctors (53%) were all at the top.

“Canadians were in high agreement that medical and scientific evidence should be driving our response to the Coronavirus, but saw a wider range of factors as currently influencing the direction,” says Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies Assistant , who is leading the project, which from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council to track how Canadians understand and perceive the outbreak.

While Canadian put economics as the third consideration that should influence decisions, nearly half of those surveyed had experienced negative changes at work – including unpaid leave, reduced hours, or being laid off entirely – and 27 per cent said they would have money issues if asked to self-isolate for 14 days. That included the inability to pay rent or bills, such as electricity, or afford groceries.

The Canadian COVID-19 Social Impacts Survey looked at risk perceptions, trust, impacts and responses across the country from March 20 to April 12, and received some 2,029 responses. The team includes 91��ɫ Associate Professor of the Faculty of Health and Associate Professor of the University of Guelph. The team has also collaborated with other researchers across Canada, including Associate Professor at the University of Ottawa, to help track critical measures over the course of the outbreak.

“The report represents the first in a series of rapid dissemination efforts to share our findings with practitioners and decision-makers to support their response to this crisis,” says Kennedy. “Our survey is based on input and needs identified by public health practitioners and aims to support the long-term Canadian response.”

Another surprising finding is that compared to influenza, respondents were more concerned about the severity of COVID-19 and the likelihood of many Canadians being affected – but are less worried about personally getting sick. Some 85 per cent of respondents disagreed that “the Coronavirus will not affect very many people in Canada,” while only two per cent agreed. When asked the same question about influenza on a 2019 survey, 20 per cent agreed. In other words, Canadians are highly concerned about COVID-19 with 94 per cent either agreeing or strongly agreeing that catching the virus can be serious, but only 23 per cent of Canadians believe they are likely to become sick with it.

“This is a counterintuitive finding with important implications for public health agencies. Canadians are worried about the Coronavirus in general, but there is a chance that their views of personal risk don’t align with their views of risks to others,” says Kennedy.

The researchers also found 80 to 84 per cent of Canadians support government interventions to mitigate the COVID-19 outbreak, however, less than 60 per cent support mandatory Coronavirus vaccinations when available. Broadly supported interventions include cancelling public events, closing places of worship, encouraging people to stay home, mandatory home isolation for potential exposure, and closing schools.

“In general, this seems to suggest a relatively high degree of support for collective mitigation actions designed to help the hospitals maintain sufficient capacity,” says Kennedy. “Tracking these social dimensions over the long term is critical for informing policy as we attempt to flatten the curve for an extended period of time.”

The full report, Canadian COVID-19 Social Impacts Survey, is available on the website.

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91��ɫ champions new ways of thinking that drive teaching and research excellence. Our students receive the education they need to create big ideas that make an impact on the world. Meaningful and sometimes unexpected careers result from cross-disciplinary programming, innovative course design and diverse experiential learning opportunities. 91��ɫ students and graduates push limits, achieve goals and find solutions to the world’s most pressing social challenges, empowered by a strong community that opens minds. 91��ɫ U is an internationally recognized research university – our 11 faculties and 25 research centres have partnerships with 200+ leading universities worldwide. Located in Toronto, 91��ɫ is the third largest university in Canada, with a strong community of 53,000 students, 7,000 faculty and administrative staff, and more than 300,000 alumni. 91��ɫ U's fully bilingual Glendon Campus is home to Southern Ontario's Centre of Excellence for French Language and Bilingual Postsecondary Education.

Media Contact:

Sandra McLean, 91��ɫ Media Relations, 416-272-6317, sandramc@yorku.ca

Find out more about how 91��ɫ is creating positive change in the COVID-19 pandemic��.

��

The post Scientific evidence and medical advice should rule COVID-19 decisions appeared first on News@91��ɫ.

91��ɫ expert available to explain impacts of digital overconsumption on youth

TORONTO, April 2, 2020 – Young people in isolation at home during the COVID-19 pandemic are becoming so immersed in social media that it could be damaging their emotional, physical and spiritual well-being, says Faculty of Education Professor .

With the COVID-19 school closures across Canada, youths are using their newfound free time to post TikTok videos of themselves complaining about the virus, lamenting about the healthcare crisis and doing choreographed quarantine dances.

Tilleczek, an expert on global youth well-being and the social development of youth, says the COVID-19 crisis has left many young people missing everything from cancelled sports games to human contact with their friends. She’s most concerned that they’re overconsuming “digital junk food” online to cope.

“Young people are using apps like TikTok to laugh, share, find joy and be social with their friends, but at the root of it, they’re looking for hope and a sense of belonging,” says Tilleczek, who is Canada Research Chair in Young Lives, Education & Global Good.

“Before the COVID-19 pandemic, youth were already struggling to gain balance in this digital world. My fear now is that young people are glued to their phones longer and are consuming more online content that’s not educational, considered digital junk food, that will send them further out of balance in terms of their well-being,” she says.

Tilleczek says there’s growing evidence that TikTok is not an open and equitable platform for young people and may have policies that encourage discrimination and bias.

She is urging youth to investigate the digital platforms they’re using, and take online breaks to reclaim their time, relationships and connections to nature. Digital cleanses from social media – even for just a few hours a day – are beneficial to their emotional, physical and spiritual well-being, she says.

Tilleczek has been examining how young people are living for the past three decades. As founder and director of the , she and her team led a in which they analyzed in-depth interviews with 185 young people, ages 16 to 24. Part of the study involved an experiment with youths living without their phones for a week.

Their study found that young people have a deep love-hate relationship with technology. They also have a deeply ingrained connection to their phones, while simultaneously feeling despair that technology is taking over their lives. Tilleczek’s research also showed that young people welcome the experience of a digital break to reclaim their time and relationships outside of digital spaces and screens.

She can comment on:

• Why TikTok is so appealing to young people during the COVID-19 crisis
• Tips for young people to survive digital breaks
• Why taking digital cleanses are a good idea during the pandemic
• How youths are spreading misinformation about the virus on TikTok
• The best ways for young people to balance their real life and their digital world

91��ɫ champions new ways of thinking that drive teaching and research excellence. Our students receive the education they need to create big ideas that make an impact on the world. Meaningful and sometimes unexpected careers result from cross-disciplinary programming, innovative course design and diverse experiential learning opportunities. 91��ɫ students and graduates push limits, achieve goals and find solutions to the world’s most pressing social challenges, empowered by a strong community that opens minds. 91��ɫ U is an internationally recognized research university – our 11 faculties and 25 research centres have partnerships with 200+ leading universities worldwide. Located in Toronto, 91��ɫ is the third largest university in Canada, with a strong community of 53,000 students, 7,000 faculty and administrative staff, and more than 300,000 alumni.

91��ɫ U's fully bilingual Glendon Campus is home to Southern Ontario's Centre of Excellence for French Language and Bilingual Postsecondary Education.

Media Contact: Vanessa Thompson, 91��ɫ Media Relations, 647-654-9452,��vthomps@yorku.ca

The post Why are youth flocking to TikTok to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic? appeared first on News@91��ɫ.

91��ɫ expert available to explain impacts of digital overconsumption on youth

TORONTO, April 2, 2020 – Young people in isolation at home during the COVID-19 pandemic are becoming so immersed in social media that it could be damaging their emotional, physical and spiritual well-being, says Faculty of Education Professor .

With the COVID-19 school closures across Canada, youths are using their newfound free time to post TikTok videos of themselves complaining about the virus, lamenting about the healthcare crisis and doing choreographed quarantine dances.

Tilleczek, an expert on global youth well-being and the social development of youth, says the COVID-19 crisis has left many young people missing everything from cancelled sports games to human contact with their friends. She’s most concerned that they’re overconsuming “digital junk food” online to cope.

“Young people are using apps like TikTok to laugh, share, find joy and be social with their friends, but at the root of it, they’re looking for hope and a sense of belonging,” says Tilleczek, who is Canada Research Chair in Young Lives, Education & Global Good.

“Before the COVID-19 pandemic, youth were already struggling to gain balance in this digital world. My fear now is that young people are glued to their phones longer and are consuming more online content that’s not educational, considered digital junk food, that will send them further out of balance in terms of their well-being,” she says.

Tilleczek says there’s growing evidence that TikTok is not an open and equitable platform for young people and may have policies that encourage discrimination and bias.

She is urging youth to investigate the digital platforms they’re using, and take online breaks to reclaim their time, relationships and connections to nature. Digital cleanses from social media – even for just a few hours a day – are beneficial to their emotional, physical and spiritual well-being, she says.

Tilleczek has been examining how young people are living for the past three decades. As founder and director of the , she and her team led a in which they analyzed in-depth interviews with 185 young people, ages 16 to 24. Part of the study involved an experiment with youths living without their phones for a week.

Their study found that young people have a deep love-hate relationship with technology. They also have a deeply ingrained connection to their phones, while simultaneously feeling despair that technology is taking over their lives. Tilleczek’s research also showed that young people welcome the experience of a digital break to reclaim their time and relationships outside of digital spaces and screens.

She can comment on:

• Why TikTok is so appealing to young people during the COVID-19 crisis
• Tips for young people to survive digital breaks
• Why taking digital cleanses are a good idea during the pandemic
• How youths are spreading misinformation about the virus on TikTok
• The best ways for young people to balance their real life and their digital world

91��ɫ champions new ways of thinking that drive teaching and research excellence. Our students receive the education they need to create big ideas that make an impact on the world. Meaningful and sometimes unexpected careers result from cross-disciplinary programming, innovative course design and diverse experiential learning opportunities. 91��ɫ students and graduates push limits, achieve goals and find solutions to the world’s most pressing social challenges, empowered by a strong community that opens minds. 91��ɫ U is an internationally recognized research university – our 11 faculties and 25 research centres have partnerships with 200+ leading universities worldwide. Located in Toronto, 91��ɫ is the third largest university in Canada, with a strong community of 53,000 students, 7,000 faculty and administrative staff, and more than 300,000 alumni.

91��ɫ U's fully bilingual Glendon Campus is home to Southern Ontario's Centre of Excellence for French Language and Bilingual Postsecondary Education.

Media Contact: Vanessa Thompson, 91��ɫ Media Relations, 647-654-9452,��vthomps@yorku.ca

The post Why are youth flocking to TikTok to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic? appeared first on News@91��ɫ.

TORONTO, Thursday, March 26, 2020 – 91��ɫ researchers project that Canada will have 15,000 cases of COVID-19 by March 31 unless there are further public health interventions.

A rapid increase in public health interventions implemented now could reduce that number to 4,000, according to the research, which will be published in the journal Infectious Disease Modelling.

The research, “,” already online at SSRN, was led by Faculty of Science math modelling Professor , director of the at 91��ɫ.

“Prompt and farsighted interventions are critical to counteract the very rapid initial growth of COVID-19 in Canada,” says Wu. “That means plans for mitigation need to take into account the delayed effect of interventions by up to 14 days and that the doubling of cases can happen in just three to four days.”

The researchers, including Post-Doctoral Fellows Francesca Scarabel and Nicola Bragazzi looked at intervention measures in different countries and found that intervention measures have been effective in reducing the growth rate of the virus and delaying the doubling of cases. However, those effects can be delayed by up to two weeks.

The researchers in this preliminary analysis looked particularly at Italy’s results as Canada has a similar demographic. Although, they don’t believe Canada will be the next Italy, they do note that intervention measures are needed now to not overwhelm the health-care system.

-30-

91��ɫ champions new ways of thinking that drive teaching and research excellence. Our students receive the education they need to create big ideas that make an impact on the world. Meaningful and sometimes unexpected careers result from cross-disciplinary programming, innovative course design and diverse experiential learning opportunities. 91��ɫ students and graduates push limits, achieve goals and find solutions to the world’s most pressing social challenges, empowered by a strong community that opens minds. 91��ɫ U is an internationally recognized research university – our 11 faculties and 25 research centres have partnerships with 200+ leading universities worldwide. Located in Toronto, 91��ɫ is the third largest university in Canada, with a strong community of 53,000 students, 7,000 faculty and administrative staff, and more than 300,000 alumni. 91��ɫ U's fully bilingual Glendon Campus is home to Southern Ontario's Centre of Excellence for French Language and Bilingual Postsecondary Education.

Media Contact:

Sandra McLean, 91��ɫ Media Relations, 416-272-6317, sandramc@yorku.ca

The post Canadian cases of COVID-19 could climb to 15k by end of March, say 91��ɫ researchers appeared first on News@91��ɫ.

It’s not easy being a student, parent, or caregiver under normal circumstances, let alone during a pandemic. Torontonians have been here before. During the SARS outbreak of 2003, upwards of 23,000 people in the GTA were quarantined. Housebound, they were not allowed visitors or excursions into the community – even asked to restrict dog walks to their backyard.

For many, the combo of isolation and monotony is a hotbed for numerous psychological challenges, including the menace of boredom.

Assistant Professor, John Eastwood
Photo by Paola Scattolon Photography

But , an assistant professor in the department of psychology in 91��ɫ’s Faculty of Health, says there are ways to avoid the scourge of boredom or how to respond well when it strikes.

Here are eight tips to get you started:

1. Don’t panic
Boredom is such an unpleasant feeling, that in laboratory settings, some resort to shocking themselves with electrical current! In real life, overeating is a frequent response as we reach for yet another potato chip. We don’t like feeling bored! But, disagreeable feelings, like boredom, are normal and serve a purpose. Feelings help us meet our needs and keep us oriented towards what matters. For example, anger may signal that we are being taken advantage of, and fear tells us when we are in danger. Boredom tells us when we are at risk of stagnation. So despite being an uncomfortable feeling, we are the better for it. The challenge is to respond wisely.

The big bore, what is it good for? Boredom expert prof. John Eastwood explains the impact boredom can have on our ability to work in a special radio program on Boredom on

— 91��ɫ News (@91��ɫUnews)

2. Accept what you cannot change
You, your children, and other family members in self-isolation or quarantine are likely to experience boredom. Accept it. Don’t get worked up. Boredom doesn’t indicate a character flaw or poor planning – it’s just a part of life, especially life under quarantine. Let yourself feel bored long enough to listen and learn from it.

3. Find another gear
Typically, we’re propped up by routines. We rush to the 6:44 train, marching orders wait in our stuffed inbox, the kids have hockey tonight. All of a sudden, when in quarantine, all that changes. Quite simply, we are used to outsourcing the control of our attention and time. In quarantine, we may come to realize that we’re actually not that good at directing the focus of our attention – perhaps to the point of paralysis. ‘TV now and then laundry, or, tackle the laundry first?’ becomes a momentous decision. Quarantine pushes you out of a reactive gear and invites you to discover a self-determination gear.

4. Understand why you’re feeling bored
Boredom is not an absence of things to do. The bored person knows there’s stuff to do – that’s not the problem. Our smartphone is a virtual portal to the infinite; oh and there’s a lot to do in real life too. The problem is that the bored person desperately wants to be doing something but doesn’t want to do anything that is doable. When bored you can’t muster up an actionable desire or find any value in the available options. So boredom is born of disordered wanting and valuing, not an absence of possibility.

5. Take time to find clarity
Finding clarity about your desires and discovering value in possible activities might require a moment of self-reflection. Take that time. Many people report that some of the most transformative and fulfilling changes in their lives were sparked by a period of change that allowed them to reflect on their goals and values. Try journaling. Reflecting on the value of quarantine itself might help. Research shows that having a good reason for doing something makes it less boring no matter how monotonous. What’s your reason for going into isolation? Find the answer to why – why quarantine or why any activity – and you’ll be less bored.

Bored yet? That could be a good thing: Psychology prof. John Eastwood at 's explains why boredom doesn't have to lead to a productive activity: via

— 91��ɫ News (@91��ɫUnews)

6. Avoid passive entertainment
Early in quarantine, binge-watching Netflix can seem like a great plan. But eventually, you will become restless for something more. In fact, passively consuming entertainment – treating yourself like an empty vessel in need of filling – likely makes you ripe for future boredom. What you most need when bored is the ability to reclaim authorship of your life. Tragically, we often do the precise opposite; again outsourcing a solution. Resist the urge to find the quickest anaesthetic offering remedy without cure – or worst, blunting of the motivation to address the root issue. When bored, the key is to find activities that flow from and give expression to, your passions, creativity and curiosity. And while wrestling with these big questions, you could pause to have a cup of coffee and go for a vigorous walk in nature – simple generic strategies that reduce boredom.

7. Get by with a little help from your friends
An absence of human contact makes isolation and monotony even more unbearable. Research has shown that people are more likely to be bored when alone, compared to when with others. In quarantine direct human contact might be curtailed, and in such circumstances, online connection can help beat back boredom. It’s not all bad on the Internet. But maybe you should give up the Kardashians (they are not actually your friends anyway) and Skype with a real friend you haven’t seen for years. Play an online game with others. If stuck at home with your family, gather around the dining room table for a rousing board game. Social distancing does not have to mean an absence of social connection.

8. Look for the silver lining
Potentially boring situations – that we learn to navigate without becoming bored – are rewarding. Constantly scaffolded by external forces, kept busy by the demands of life, filled up by compelling experiences, it’s possible to become disoriented and lost. Moments of pause create a space to explore who we are and what we value. What’s more, figuring out the answers to such questions can point you towards important – boredom busting – life projects.

What Professor Eastwood's tips below

For interviews with Professor Eastwood contact: Anjum Nayyar, 91��ɫ Media Relations, cell 437-242-1547, anayyar@yorku.ca

For more information on Professor Eastwood’s research in boredom visit his Boredom Lab at:

The post 8 tips for coping with boredom during self-isolation: 91��ɫ U Expert appeared first on News@91��ɫ.

91��ɫ U theatre expert available on the role of performative leadership in COVID-19 containment effort

TORONTO, Friday, March 20, 2020��– The COVID-19 has created a new world order, in which heads of states, businesses and health organizations need to speak directly to their communities daily, and with transparency like never before.

Be it to convey to individuals the importance of social distancing and self-quarantine or to ask businesses to allow their employees to work from home to contain the spread of COVID-19 pandemic, effective communication is seen as crucial.

But can that be done without adding to the confusion and fear?

“Performative leadership can play a major role in reinforcing our collective responsibility, at the same time reducing panic,” according to in the Theatre Department of 91��ɫ’s School of the Arts, Media, Performance & Design. “For example, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s sombre tone when addressing the nation can offer reassurance and ease some fear in the current situation.”

She can comment on:

• How a leader’s performance contributes to collective action
• The effect of body language and gestures on audiences
• How political leaders are performing, to lead by example during coronavirus crisis

91��ɫ champions new ways of thinking that drive teaching and research excellence. Our students receive the education they need to create big ideas that make an impact on the world. Meaningful and sometimes unexpected careers result from cross-disciplinary programming, innovative course design and diverse experiential learning opportunities. 91��ɫ students and graduates push limits, achieve goals and find solutions to the world’s most pressing social challenges, empowered by a strong community that opens minds. 91��ɫ U is an internationally recognized research university – our 11 faculties and 25 research centres have partnerships with 200+ leading universities worldwide. Located in Toronto, 91��ɫ is the third largest university in Canada, with a strong community of 53,000 students, 7,000 faculty and administrative staff, and more than 300,000 alumni.

91��ɫ U's fully bilingual Glendon Campus is home to Southern Ontario's Centre of Excellence for French Language and Bilingual Postsecondary Education.

Media Contact:��Gloria Suhasini, 91��ɫ Media Relations, 647-463-4354,��suhasini@yorku.ca

The post What does it take for a leader to muster collective action? appeared first on News@91��ɫ.