The Current

The Current for May 4, 2020

Today on The Current: Italians ease lockdown; Minister Bill Blair on ban of 'assault-style' firearms; Loneliness in the pandemic; Canada’s economic outlook; International remittances drying up during pandemic; Musicians offering virtual concerts for hospital patients
Matt Galloway is the host of CBC Radio's The Current. (CBC)

Full Episode Transcript

Today on The Current:

After weeks and weeks of a strict lockdown, Italians are poised to enjoy new "freedoms," like exercising outside and sitting in a park. We talk to people poised to step outside for the first time in weeks.

Then, if lockdown has brought on feelings of loneliness, you're not alone. We hear from Marci Stepak — who has battled loneliness for years — and get tips on how to cope from clinical psychologist Susan Pinker.

Plus, how secure is Canada's economic future, and what will it look like post-pandemic? We look at what is happening with your money, from the price of oil to what the eventual rebound could look like.

And Minister of Public Safety Minister Bill Blair discusses the Liberals' ban on certain models of 'assault-style' firearms, and the fierce response from gun control advocates and gun owners.

The science around COVID-19 is being published and reported on at a dizzying speed, prompting concerns that ideas that are not being properly peer reviewed could later prove to be unsound — and damage public faith. We discuss finding the balance between good science and the urgency to quash the pandemic. 

Then, less money in your pocket might mean less money to send to relatives and dependents elsewhere. What happens when international remittances dry up because of COVID-19?

Plus, Vancouver musician Matthew Li is playing private, virtual concerts for hospital patients across the country. He shares why, and how patients are reacting.

And we talk to Dr. Kenneth Fung, one of the researchers behind PROTECH, a new initiative aimed at helping Chinese-Canadian communities deal with the social and mental health challenges of COVID-19.