The Current

The Current for May 14, 2020

Today on The Current: First registered nurse in Canada dies from COVID-19; Video games helping people pass time in lockdown; Redesigning public washrooms for a post-pandemic world; The 10-4 model to getting us back to work; Former Democratic primary candidate Andrew Yang on universal basic income; What can Churchill teach us about crisis leadership?
Matt Galloway is the host of CBC Radio's The Current. (CBC)

Full Episode Transcript

Today on The Current:

On Monday, Brian Beattie became the first registered nurse in Canada to die from COVID-19. We hear from nurses about their fears and the moral choices they face as they head to work, particularly as the pandemic conversation shifts to reopening.

Then, are you one of millions of people with an island on Animal Crossing? We get the lowdown on the lockdown sensation, and discuss whether the big business of video games means it's time we see them as more than just a distraction. 

Plus, do public washrooms need a redesign for the post-pandemic world? We discuss whether COVID-19 will lead to just that.

10 days working from home, four days back in the office — that's the two-week model being suggested to get the economy back on track. We speak with economics professor Eran Yashiv, from the team who designed the model, and associate professor of biology Erin Bromage about how to protect ourselves when it's time to step back into our workplaces.

Then, former U.S. Democratic primary candidate Andrew Yang made universal basic income the centre of his platform. He joins us to explain why the pandemic is the time to finally make it happen.

Plus, author Erik Larson discusses what Winston Churchill's first year as British prime minister during the Blitz can teach us about crisis leadership amid COVID-19.