The Current

The Current for April 28, 2020

Today on The Current: Domestic violence in the pandemic; André Picard on getting back to normal; Mental health and COVID-19; Grooming your dog at home; Comedians find humour in pandemic’s absurdity; Lawrence Wright on when truth is stranger than fiction
Matt Galloway is the host of CBC Radio's The Current. (CBC)

Full Episode Transcript

Today on The Current

What happens when home isn't a safe place to shelter in place? We discuss the gaps in protection for people facing domestic violence during COVID-19, and ask Minister for Women and Gender Equality Maryam Monsef what the government will do to help.

Then, will grocery stores be forever changed by the pandemic? We discuss the measures stores are taking to meet safety requirements, and the business changes that may outlast COVID-19 — such as online ordering and home deliveries.

Plus, as provinces begin to look at easing physical distancing restrictions, health writer André Picard assesses the long walk back to the way things used to be.

And as the pandemic amplifies the mental health problems that many people live with, therapist and Other People's Problems podcast host Hillary McBride gives us a glimpse into the coping mechanisms used by her clients and fellow therapists.

Have you tried to shear your dog in isolation? Or is your pooch now more hair than hound, a tumbleweed on a leash? A vet gives us grooming tips.

Then, what's a stir-crazy comedian to do during COVID-19? Aurora Browne from the Baroness von Sketch Show and Canadian comedian Leonard Chan talk about finding the humour in an absurd situation.

And Lawrence Wright's new novel is about a killer virus sweeping the globe — sound familiar? He joins us to discuss how truth can be stranger than fiction, and how the U.S. government's response to COVID-19 compares to his worst imaginings.