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The AIH Transcript for March 18, 2020

Hosts: Carol Off and Chris Howden

Prologue

CO: After years of advocating for his wife's release from Iran's Evin Prison, his wish is granted, at least temporarily. Iran has released thousands of prisoners in the face of the coronavirus outbreak. But our guest says it's no get-out-of-jail-free card.

CH: Purchase orders. Australia's prime minister takes panic buyers to task. And calls on consumers to practice good citizenship during the coronavirus crisis.

CO: Plan B? The North East Frontier Railway in northern India is trying a novel solution to keep elephants off the tracks. And we'll give you a hint. It's all about that buzz.

CH: And spinning their bottles. Faced with dropping liquor sales, a Nova Scotia liquor company is trying out a new recipe: hand sanitizer.

CH: As It Happens, the Wednesday edition. Radio that's distilled going strong.

Part one: Canada COVID-19 relief, Ontario worker EI, Nova Scotia hand sanitizer

Canada COVID-19 relief

Guest: Navdeep Bains

CH: Justin Trudeau is fighting Covid-19 with cold hard cash. This morning, the Prime Minister announced more than 80 billion dollars to help Canadian workers and Canadian businesses survive, while we take measures to contain the spread.

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JUSTIN TRUDEAU: No matter who you are or what you do, this is a time where you should be focussed on your health and that of your neighbours. Not whether you're going to lose your job. Not whether you're going to run out of money for things like groceries and medication. In these extraordinary times, our government is taking extraordinary measures. The measures we're announcing today will provide up to 27-billion dollars in direct support to Canadian workers and businesses, plus 55-billion to meet liquidity needs of Canadian businesses and households through tax deferrals to help stabilize the economy.

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CH: That was Prime Minister Treadeau this morning in Ottawa. Navdeep Bains is the Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry. We reached him in Mississauga.

CO: Minister Bains, first of all, for Canadians who are today without work because of COVID-19 and without regular employment insurance and wondering how they're going to make it, what was the message today for them?

NAVDEEP BAINS: The message, as you heard from the prime minister, is that we're all in this together. We're with you every step of the way. And it's all hands on deck. We're working together with different levels of government to support Canadian workers and our businesses.

CO: Okay. What is the money? Let’s start with there’s two different packages, I guess. 27-billion in direct supports for people. What does that provide?

NB: So there's different aspects to that. But fundamentally, it's about providing direct income support to Canadians, as the prime minister mentioned. People shouldn't worry about purchasing their groceries or purchasing medicine or paying their rent or worried about their mortgage. It's about making sure people have enough cash on hand. Because when we're dealing with a crisis of this nature, one of the things we're asking Canadians is to stay at home, to self-isolate, to keep social distancing. So that has an enormous impact on people's lives and the economy as well. What people need is cash. So what we today introduced was measures to assist them in that. For instance, boosting the Canada Child Benefit. So this is a program that already exists. We're boosting it by an additional $300 per child, up to $300 per child. That's a two-billion-dollar investment that we're making in Canadian families, that they should get the money as soon as possible. We've also introduced an emergency care support benefit. This is a $900 bi-weekly payment for individuals that aren't eligible for assistance in the EI program. So this is about individuals that are self-employed, contractors, part-time workers, people in the gig economy. So we're trying to cover all Canadians that are impacted by this as well. We also provided some additional assistance to the GSD credit and refund, which is a five-point-five-billion dollar investment. And this again translates to about up to 400 dollars of savings per person.

CO: Okay. If you're a dishwasher in a hotel, and you've been told there's no work for you, you have no EI, you have no other supports, but you have a family, people who are depending on you, maybe someone else in the family is also working a minimum-wage job, similarly. How quickly are you going to be able to give people like that the money they need to actually buy groceries and pay their rent?

NB: Well, that's a great example of the hospitality business. For example, the retail business are gonna be the hardest hit with these issues around self-isolation and people staying at home. So the introduction of the Emergency Care and Support Benefit will be up and running by the end of this month, where people can go online, provide some basic information and attestation, and they should receive that $900 on a bi-weekly basis. And we've also provided measures for businesses as well. A wage subsidy of up to 10 per cent. So this means if you have an employee and there is still some work where you want to keep them on the payroll, you can do so by the government subsidizing up to 10 per cent of that wage. So this is a up to 25-five thousand dollars per employee. So this is another measure to protect people's jobs and to make sure that companies can keep people employed, keep them on their payroll above and beyond the support that we've just highlighted in terms of direct support for consumers and for Canadians.

CO: Do you have any idea, any estimation how many people, how many in numbers, millions of people who are going to need the support?

NB: So the workforce is roughly around 19-million people. And so depending on the sector of the economy, depending on your income levels. This will benefit millions and millions of Canadians. We recognize that we needed to get the money out quickly. So the employment insurance changes that we provided in terms of waiving the one week time period for sickness leave was important to get that money out more quickly. And these additional measures as well should identify those groups or individuals that are unnecessarily eligible to the EI program. So we're trying to cover all Canadians through this in the vast majority of workers. And so this will benefit millions of Canadians right across Canada.

CO: Okay, that’s millions of forms that will be submitted and millions of claims to be processed. And you have all kinds of civil servants who are working from home, who are where some of them may be getting sick themselves. So can you really deliver on this promise, given the fact that you're going to need a lot of people to help you do that?

NB: Look, I think Canadians will rise to this occasion. We recognize, as I said from the outset, that we're all in this together. The public service has done a tremendous job. And actually, if I may take this opportunity, Carol, I just want to also acknowledge the frontline workers, the health care professionals, people in the telecommunications sector, the fact that they're keeping our networks up and running so we can stay connected. People at the grocery stores and pharmacies. And I have full confidence in our public services as well to step up to make sure that we're able to deliver through and execute on these programs to assist Canadians.

CO: Okay, but you think that can… I'm sure they are hard-working, and I know that they will want to make this work. But can you deliver on the promise of putting this money in the pockets in the hands of people within weeks?

NB: Yeah, that is our intention. As we designed these measures, the aspect was to get the money out there as quickly as possible. And so we're confident that this online portal, which will be designed for people to go quickly, go on to provide this information to them, is essential. If they have any further questions, they can always go to www.canada.ca/coronavirus, so all this information will be available as well.

CO: This could go on for a very long time. How can you continue to support these businesses and people, not only so they can survive this, but that we're in a position where when this is over, and I'm looking forward to that, things can get started again. I mean, can you keep the financial taps open until such time?

NB: We have the fiscal capacity. We have the strongest balance sheet amongst the G7 countries. We're taking a phased approach. We introduced a few days ago a billion dollars of support to our health care system, and through additional funding for research. We just announced today a very comprehensive economic response plan built on the additional announcements made by the minister of finance, the Bank of Canada and OPC. And going forward, we will not hesitate to put forward measures that will help stimulate the economy and help with the recovery. We're taking this one day at a time. We're evaluating the situation. But I want to assure the listeners that the government of Canada has the fiscal capacity and the firepower to make these investments.

CO: We will leave it there. Minister. Bains, thank you.

NB: Thank you very much.

CH: Navdeep Bains is the Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry. We reached him in Mississauga. Now, here's Minister Bains colleague, Finance Bill Morneau as he laid out details of today's financial package.

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BILL MORNEAU: Our government is prepared to do whatever it takes to keep our economy strong and stable. Whatever it takes. Usually, my job is to ensure that we maintain our fiscal track. But right now, as minister of finance, my only job is to make sure that Canadians can keep food in the fridge. That they can keep a roof over their heads. That they can afford the medicine that they need. As you've heard me say many times before, we've entered this challenge in a very strong fiscal position. Canada's balance sheet is the envy of the world. And it means we have the fiscal firepower to respond. We're now prepared to use it.

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CH: That was Finance Minister Bill Morneau in Ottawa earlier today.

Ontario worker EI

Guest: Amani Sabry

Amani Sabry is the manager of the Toronto cafe Saving Mondays. We reached her in Toronto.

CO: Amani, how stressful is your own work situation right now?

AMANI SABRY: It's pretty stressful. Yeah, I feel like everyone at my shop right now, since we are still open, I'm not sure how long we will be open for. That's a bit of a stressful topic for everybody. But on top of that, it's kind of like we're torn between do we ask to be temporarily laid-off so that we can care for our health and the health of others because it's a spreadable disease? Or do we continue to work and try and get any form of money that we possibly can at this time and also kind of ensure that we have job security for once things blow over. So it's just like really stressful.

CO: The prime minister said this morning that it's exactly that situation that he says he wants to to help people through, which is that you shouldn't have to choose between your health and your job. And that's what this package is supposed to do. What kind of a relief would you require in order to be able to make the decision favouring your health and not your work?

AS: Well, I mean, I don't really know what the package is going to entail in the sense of like how much people are going to get based on how much they were getting during their work like while they were working.

CO: Okay. So I can tell you a bit about what you're going to get, possibly if you qualify for it.

AS: Okay.

CO: This Emergency Care Benefit will be $900 bi-weekly for up to 15 weeks. And that's possible that will be renewed. So 900 dollars every two weeks for people who don't qualify for regular employment insurance. I think there's some other packages that are available, too, for childcare and whatnot. So does that answer some of your concerns?

AS: Yes. Yeah, I feel like the package, then it would definitely help. Obviously, there is a bit of worry in the back of my mind, like what will the economy be like afterwards? But at this point, like, I just really want to be able to buy groceries for however long I need to buy groceries for. And like pay whatever bills I do need to pay. Or just simply survive. So I understand the worry about the economy is big. But at this point, it's kind of everybody in the same boat.

CO: Are you supporting just self or do you have dependents?

AS: No, I'm just supporting myself, which is very like I'm very lucky for. And, thankfully, I do split rent, so I don't have to worry about paying a full bill on my own or supporting someone else.

CO: And what about people you're working with, your fellow employees. What are their needs and do they have dependents?

AS: Yeah, there are people that do have dependents. There are people who are also applying for permanent residency and aren't completely citizens yet. So they're having issues with figuring out their EI and stuff like that as well. So it is kind of like every person has a different situation that they're going through.

CO: Why is the cafe still open, given that in Ontario, they've said that I guess restaurants and bars should close? What business are you staying open for?

AS: So we do have like retail coffee beans. So we've just kind of been hoping that that would help save some of our sales. And we also are still doing takeout like coffee. We don't offer anything for here. We don't have seating available anymore either. Business is definitely declining very quick. And I obviously you know why. And as a small business, it's kind of hard to make that snap decision of do we close and not make money, or do we stay open and make almost no money, right?

CO: [slight chuckling] And the owner, are they talking about closing it? What are the considerations?

AS: Yeah, definitely. So they've already closed one shop. And we have management meetings every day where we call in and we go over all of our options. And we already wrote in the minutes for tomorrow that this is probably going to be something that we need to close because, today, like we saw a pretty significant drop from yesterday, which was already pretty low. So now it's like, okay, it's not going to study out anytime soon. It's not going to be something that retail can save us from because people just they're saving their money for the essentials now. And what we do is a luxury at this point.

CO: But the government has said, the prime minister said, various levels of government said, stay home. That's the only safe thing to do. Not just for yourselves, but for…

AS: Everybody.

CO: For everybody. And now, does it look like you'll be able to exercise that option?

AS: Yes, definitely. And it's definitely something that I've kind of had my own battles with in my head. I feel morally wrong leaving my house and going to work and interacting with people. Because I'm young and I'm pretty healthy. But I don't know if this person I'm talking to has a compromised immune system. Or if they're going to come into contact with someone else. So it has been a very hard thing for me to be like, okay, this feels wrong. But then I don't know how I’m going to make money. And so it's been this back and forth thing in my head. So the fact that now it's just kind of settling into everyone's mind that, no, this is not working. Like no one is going… No small business that stays open right now is going to benefit from staying open. And if anything, they would benefit from closing. It would suck so much, obviously, financially. But health-wise, it will definitely be a benefit.

CO: I really appreciate speaking with you, Amani. And I hope everything settles, and you'll be back serving coffee by the summer.

AS: Thank you.

CO: Take care.

AS: Bye.

CH: Amani Sabry is the manager of the café Saving Mondays, in Toronto.

[Music: Jazz]

Nova Scotia hand sanitizer

Guest: Thomas Steinhart

CH: Well, we were wringing our hands anyway. Hand sanitizer just gives us the opportunity to do that while cleansing them of everything we've touched in the thirty seconds since we last cleansed them. So it's a popular product nowadays. Which has given one Nova Scotia business a chance to make a clean restart. The owner of Steinhart Distillery was already worried about dropping liquor sales, as a result of social distancing measures recommended by the province. So Thomas Steinhart decided to venture into something new — hand sanitizer production. Mr. Steinhart is the owner of Steinhart Distillery. We reached him in Arisaig, Nova Scotia.

CO: So, Thomas, what's it been like to transition from making booze to making hand sanitizer?

THOMAS STEINHART: In one word, crazy [laughing]. The phone hasn't stopped ringing yet.

CO: Okay. What were you making? What was Steinhart Distillery making before? Or usually, what do you make?

TS: We make vodka. We make gin. If you have gin drinker, you probably have mine. Fantastic stuff.

CO: [chuckling] Yeah. Uh-Huh. And so, normally, you're making that. And then now you're making the hand sanitizer. So how do you do that?

TS: You basically mix alcohol with some kind of oil to keep your skin soft. You put in some essential oils, so people cannot drink it. Yeah. You basically keep your alcohol up to I think CDC 60 per cent is the minimum in order to kill corona and other viruses. But we are doing it 70 per cent.

CO: Is it the same alcohol as you have for your vodka and gin? [trying not to laugh]

TS: No. Well, it's technically, yes. But no, we have a second product line, but we just blend in those. We make rum. And like the East Coast Spirit line. In order to keep the costs down, we just get it in bulk and blend it and bottle it. Like the standard is made from scratch and the East Coast Spirit is blended and bottled.

CO: Okay. So the alcohol that you're using for the hand sanitizers, you're not distilling that?

TS: No, we are not. We brought that in, since that would raise the price quite a bit more.

CO: You're mixing it with olive oil or aloe vera?

TS: No, either olive oil or coconut oil. We do both.

CO: Okay. And what does it smell like?

TS: Delicious. [CO laughs] The coconut, everybody just loves it. There's a little drawback. If it gets too cold, the coconut oil will solidify. So you have to heat it up again in your pocket or in some warm water.

CO: Uh-huh.

TS: People love it. How afterwards, how smooth your skin is.

CO: What about do you have pump bottles? Do you have the right way for people to…

TS: We have little bottles. There's no pump bottles. We have little 100ml bottles. They have the little hole in the top. And we have two 200ml glass bottles. Most people buy a couple of the big glass bottles at 200ml and just keep on refilling the little one.

CO: Okay so what would a mikie of your hand sanitizer cost me?

TS: $15, taxes in.

CO: Okay, but I can bring the bottle back and get it refilled again?

TS: Yeah.

CO: What's it been like? What kind of business are you getting for your hand sanitizer?

TS: Crazy. Like, I had phone calls, you know, people want to buy everything we have. They don't care how much it is. Like, bigger companies. I'm telling everybody the same. Everybody gets X amount. And I’d rather have them buying, you know, twenty cases today. Twenty cases in two days. Twenty cases in three days. I want it to go around.

CO Uh-huh. And is that working? So you’re rationing these hand sanitizers.

TS: Yeah, kind of. Like, I'm trying not to people buying it for $15 and trying to sell it for $30.

CO: Right.

TS: Most people were on board with distribution, they sell it for $15. And they're happy with, you know, when this is all blown over, that's gonna be big thank you for everybody. Since 20 per cent of everything I make goes to local food banks. We did the first drop-off this morning in New Glasgow. And, you know, if you if the stores in Cape Breton sell a thousand bottles, I will donate 200 bottles to the food bank in Cape Breton. If I sell a thousand bottles in Antigonish, that’s 200 bottles going to the food bank there.

CO: Just since you're going to those communities, can you give us a snapshot of how people are dealing with this pandemic places like Arisaig, Antiganish, Isle Madam

TS: Well, Arisaig, it’s, you know, nobody comes to visit. I don't go to visit my neighbours. People working there, they basically go from home to work. And from work to home. In town, I haven't gone in somewhere. Yes, I did the delivery. I walked in there, you know, dropped it off. Stores are fairly empty. But it's still on the streets, it’s fairly busy. All the bars are shut down.

CO: Right. And the schools are closed. Francis Xavier, the university, is shut, I would imagine?

TS: Yes.

CO: And so if the bars are closed, are you getting much business for the other thing you make, which is alcohol?

TS: Not a whole lot. Like, all my orders for bars and whatever have stopped. And, otherwise, there are some local sales. And we're probably going to plan to, it’s going to happen probably next week, doing home deliveries. You buy it online. We drop it off at your doorstep, so we don't have human-to-human contact.

CO: Right. By next week, I think that’s going to become really necessary.

TS: Yeah, well, we already we probably sent 50 cases out today by Canada Post.

CO: Okay. But for the time being, though, you're doing both. And so that means you haven't had to lay people off like they've had to elsewhere?

TS: No, no, no, no, absolutely not. We completely stopped distilling anything. We’re just doing hand sanitizers. We had all winter; winter is always slow, so we always try in winter to fill up our warehouse.

CO: I guess your employees are keeping their hands clean?

TS: Oh, yes.

CO: Well, are you looking forward to the summer, and we hope the summer is a time when things get back to some kind of normalcy. Are you looking forward to selling gin and vodka for people to have on their patios?

TS: Oh, yeah. Gin and Vodka and schnitzel. In summer, we have our restaurant open. And pretty much always we have a schnitzel. That's a German meat cutlet, and people love it. We have a beautiful view at the distillery. And it’s, as far as I know, we are the only place in the county where you sit outside, look at the ocean, can have a drink, can have a bite to eat.

CO: Thomas, I look forward to that. And that time when we can actually do things like that again. And thanks for speaking with us.

TS: Thank you very much for having me. You have a great day.

CO: You, too. Bye.

TS: Bye-bye.

CH: Thomas Steinhart is the owner of Steinhart Distillery. We reached him in Arisaig, Nova Scotia. Which is about two hours north of Halifax. And you can find more on this story on our webpage at: www.cbc.ca/aih.

[Music: Sombre]

“My Heart Will Go On”

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[Music: “My Heart Will Go On” by Celine Dion played on accordion]

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CH: A lone accordion player roaming the empty streets of San Francisco — playing Celine Dion's ballad, "My Heart Will Go On". About seven million people in the San Francisco Bay Area will now be "sheltering in place" for at least three weeks — meaning they're only supposed to leave their houses to do "essential" things. But near, far, wherever we are, it's pretty clear that our hearts are going on. As evidenced by the heartfelt voices raised in song from balconies in COVID-affected cities all over the world Last night Julie Nesrallah — mezzo-soprano & host of CBC Music's Tempo — added her voice to that chorus. She performed a song she calls "one of the most famous shower songs of all time" — in a slightly more public setting than usual. Here she is, from her balcony in Toronto.

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[Music: "one of the most famous shower songs of all time" by Julie Nesrallah]

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CH: Mezzo-soprano and host of CBC’s Tempo, Julie Nesrallah serenading, inspiring and possibly startling, her neighbours [CO and CH laughing] with a performance on her balcony in Toronto last night.

[Music: Jazz]

Part two: Italy doctor, Iran prisoner release

Italy doctor

Guest: Giovanni Guaraldi

CH: Italy just recorded more deaths in a single day from COVID-19 than at any time since the start of the outbreak. Yesterday, 475 people died, the vast majority of them in Northern Italy. Doctors and nurses are at a breaking point, working long hours with no breaks. They're being forced to make life or death decisions on which patients to prioritize. There isn't enough medical equipment. Not to mention the isolating impact the deaths are having on families, who aren't permitted to be with their loved ones in the final moments of their lives. Giovanni Guaraldi is an infectious disease specialist in Modena, Italy. We reached him there.

CO: Dr Guaraldi, we've heard doctors comparing the situation in Northern Italy to being in our war zone. How would you describe it?

GIOVANNI GURALDI: Well, of course, we know that the epidemic is still rising. And we are very worried because we are very close to the full capacity of our hospital and our beds. But, of course, what worries us most is the capacity to be able to offer mechanical ventilation to all the people that need it. Most of our intensive care unit place are full. We need to understand how to better use our resources in order to offer the best treatment for the person who’ve got the most chances to survive.

CO: How do you do that? I mean, when you have to actually make life and death decisions like that, between who’s going to survive this, what toll does that take on you?

GG: Every day, in each time of the day, you need to have a big picture of what is happening in all the hospitals. And that you need to be wise whenever to decide these patients need low intensity of care. And this patient need a high intensity care, and need intubation. But, of course, it's very difficult for us because we would like to offer the best to all.

CO: So you’re saying that you have to keep the big picture in mind while you're making these decisions. Can you give us some of the small snapshots, the examples, of these decisions that you've had to make?

GG: This morning, I had one old person. He was almost 81, 82 years old. He's got some co-morbidities, and she was doing bad with we call a non-invasive ventilation that is still a machine that brings you the air inside your mouth. And we know that, actually, these old people will not survive if the mechanical ventilation is in place for two or three days. And so, actually, we've got younger person coming in that needed ventilation, and we had no other ventilation at all. And so actually what we did was try to discuss with the family, actually, to make the family come and make the the family be able to visit the father. And so I speak with the daughter of this old man. This old man was semi-unconscious, Okay? I dress this lady during my visit so that not make her at risk. And I made her visit the father. And I hope that she may have recognized her.

CO: So this woman, you could dress her up in all the gear, the protective gear, so she could say goodbye?

GG: Yes. Yes. This is very touching. It’s very emotional, because actually this is very part of this disease, because these patients die alone without the support of the family. So we are trying to do our best in order to humanize what is happening inside our isolation room. Most of the time, people die in the bed next to a person that maybe he may still be okay. This morning, I was happy to be able to discharge one patient of mine. He stayed in the hospital ten days only. But in this ten days, three people died in the bed nearby him. And so we need to give support, psychological support, to this patient. One important thing is really to make them feel to be in contact with their family. And so, for instance, something that was very, very useful regarding their many donation we have was something simple that is providing like iPads and like mobile phone that offer us the possibility to make these people that most of the time cannot speak to make them be visually in contact with a Skype call, with a WhatsApp call to their relatives. They can hear many sweet words that may come from the family that encourage them to resist. This is something that really touch us. And is also something that is good for us as a health care worker to say what we are doing is good.

CO: I can imagine it is especially difficult, given everything you have been doing, to try and get past this epidemic in Northern Italy. And then to be faced with 475 deaths in a single day. And so I am hearing your voice, and I am wondering how you keep your energy? I mean, your health care workers are even getting sick. How do you maintain your own strength at this point, Doctor?

GG: I'm lucky, really to be back and find my kids at home. And that's that's where I find my energy. This is really true. The other issue is that we've got lots of support from friends, even people we don't know that encourage us. But let me say, I don't know what will happen if this story will turn out to be too long, how we will survive [chuckling], regarding this continuous emotional stress that we have. But let me say, I say from my heart, it’s really privilege for me to stay in this position, to be near to these people, to use all my brain to understand what are the best treatment we can do. Also, think that we have hope that this will end up. We are doing lots of studies of research to test new drugs. And I am confident we will be able to have a vaccine that will protect all the population. So now is maybe a very difficult situation, but really, day-by-day, something can be done. And so the epidemic is still in its peak. But since a couple of weeks now, we are better organized. We can control better this situation. We've got lots of new health care worker working with us. And we are teaching them how to do it. The volume of people is huge. Nevertheless, we want to manage it. We want to give hope to these patient. And we want to have help ourselves. In order to understand, we will be able to cope with this situation. And we will win. We are sure about it.

CO: Dr Guaraldi, we're going to leave it there. And I wish you strength and perseverance. I hope this breaks soon for you. And thank you for speaking with us tonight.

GG: Goodnight. Ciao.

CH: Giovanni Guaraldi is an infectious disease specialist in Modena, Italy. We reached him in Modena.

[Music: Folksy Weastern]

Australia PM COVID-19

CH: New restrictions — with a firm reprimand on the side. Today, Australia stepped up its response to the coronavirus outbreak, with new bans on travel, large gatherings and more. But Prime Minister Scott Morrison took didn't stop at announcing the new measures. He also directed some stern words at his fellow Australians.

[sc]

SCOTT MORRISON: Stop hoarding. I can't be more blunt about it. Stop it. It's not sensible. It's not helpful. And I've got to say, it's been one of the most disappointing things I've seen in Australian behaviour in response to this crisis. That is not who we are as a people. It is not necessary. It is not something that people should be doing. What it does is it is distracting attention and efforts that need to be going into other measures to be focussing on how we maintain supply chains into these shopping centres. There is no reason for people to be hoarding supplies in fear of a lockdown or anything like this. As I've said, we are putting in place scalable and sustainable measures. I am seeking Australia's common sense cooperation with the very clear advisory positions. Stop doing it. It's ridiculous. It's un-Australian. And it must stop. And I would ask people to do the right thing by each other in getting a handle on these sorts of practices. Also, do not abuse staff. We're all in this together. People are doing their jobs. They're doing their best. Whether they're at a testing clinic this morning. Whether they're in a shopping centre. Whether they're at a bank. Whether they're at a train station. Everybody is doing their best. So let's just support each other in the work that they are doing. And I encourage you, please. If you see someone who is doing that, just call it out. And ask them to just refrain from doing that. That's the right thing to do.

[/sc]

CH: Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison offering a little friendly advice to panic buyers.

[Music: Sombre]

Iran prisoner release

Guest: Richard Ratcliffe

CH: In what seemed like a stunning announcement today, Iran's Supreme Leader said he will pardon ten-thousand prisoners — including political prisoners. But Richard Ratcliffe isn't holding his breath. Mr. Ratcliffe's wife, Nazanin Zhagari-Ratcliffe, has been in Evin Prison since April 2016. She was convicted on charges of plotting to overthrow the regime. This week, the Iranian regime temporarily freed 85-thousand prisoners — including Ms. Zhagari-Ratcliffe — out of coronavirus fears. The regime now says more than 11-hundred people have died from the virus. Ms Zhagari-Ratcliffe is now forced to wear an ankle bracelet limiting her movements, as she spends the next two weeks of her furlough at her parents' home. Richard Ratcliffe spoke with her earlier today. We reached him in London, UK.

CO: Richard, is this the news you're hoping to get from Iran about your wife?

RICHARD RATCLIFFE: Look, it's certainly a good first step. I mean, I spoke to Nazanin this morning and yesterday and again a couple of hours ago. And, you know, there's just a big smile on her face. So being out of prison is an awful lot better than being inside prison.

CO: And she was able to make contact over the phone with your daughter, Gabriella. Is that right?

RR: Yes. Yes. So we didn't break the news until she managed to tell Gabriella herself face-to-face. So yesterday, after school, came back and I told Gabriella, listen, we’re going to make a phone call today. And who do you think it is? And took her a while to guess that it was Mummy. So, yes, she had a lovely chat yesterday, where she went around the flat and showed, on Skype, so, you know, with a picture, she was able to show Nazanin that this is my bedroom. This is my new bed. This is my new dolls. And got very excited. So that was lovely. Because, you know, obviously, since Gabriella has come back to the UK from Iran, she has spoken to Nazanin on the telephone. But it's from prison. And it's about a minute-and-a-half. And it doesn't work when you're five-and-a-half.

CO: Okay, so you say it's a good first step. But we know that Iran's Supreme Leader has announced that there are gonna be all these pardons for Persian New Year. So does that make you hope that there's going to be another step in the release of your wife?

RR: We certainly hope that there is another step. I think probably the next step for me is, well, the first step is just to make sure that she's safe while she's out. So the last time she came out on temporary release, there was all sorts of harassment and threats happening. So far, that hasn't happened this time. So that's an improvement. We've been scouring the news very, very closely. And the fact that the Supreme Leader has come out with this announcement, saying of many of the people that have been temporarily released, there'll be a number of them that are given permanent release, that's a great context to be to be looking in.

CO: But of those who have been released, half of them are political prisoners, which is also the case with your wife. I understand she was the only one who was forced to wear an ankle tag, limiting her movements. What does that tell you?

RR: What it was clear was that there were people battling, trying to get her out, and people trying to stop it. And those that in the end of allowed it to come out have done it under duress, and are keeping control and making sure she doesn't run away. What does that mean? It means that we’re not out of things yet. It's step-by-step. And the conversation I’m having with the British government is just to make it really clear to them their job is to make sure that this gets extended and then becomes permanent.

CO: So you're trying to manage your expectations. I can well imagine that your wife, Nazanin, is trying to do that. Given what she has to return to possibly that she is caught between these two things? And, as you point out, that there seems to be two forces in Iran that are competing to see if… one, wants to keep her there and continue this. The other, to fulfil what the UK government is asking them to do. So how is she coping right now?

RR: So she was just euphoric yesterday. And then this morning, woke up oddly feeling sad that she left behind all these friends were suffering still inside the prison and still worried about coronavirus and the rest of it. And then, actually, most of day she spent reconnecting with friends and relatives and people that she wasn't able to call or visit or write to because you weren't able to get any letters in or out. So enjoying freedom is what she's done so far. As the days go on, I think it'll become a big worry. I mean, in reality, I think it would be the last time she went back in, she had a nervous breakdown. You know, it's not going into a situation where she knows she's got another number of months to serve. It's going back into a situation where she's clearly being used as a bargaining chip. Those that let her out thought this was one way, and that, you know, all said goodbye to her and shook her hand and wished her good luck as though it was the end of the last time they’d see her. So for her to come back in, it means that something has gone wrong in that diplomatic relationship between the UK and Iran.

CO: We also know that in Iran, their response to the coronavirus and COVID-19 has been it seems to be inadequate, we get very bad information about what's happening. But expectations that because it was so unprepared for the pandemic that it could be hundreds of thousands, perhaps even millions who are going to get very sick or even die in Iran. What were the conditions like in Evin Prison for Nazanin? Was there concerns about the disease being inside?

RR: Yeah, the people in the prison have been terrified. It's clearly the case that it has swept through Iran, from the highest level of government, right down to all sorts of different places. And various different health centres and hospitals have just been overwhelmed. And lots of medical staff have lost their lives. It's also clear the full picture is not known because the government was suppressing the story. And certainly wouldn't test any of the prisoners. So, Nazanin, they wouldn't test her when she had all the symptoms of coronavirus, despite us putting quite a lot of pressure. I think we've probably had it and come out the other side. It is clear that this is a global crisis. It's particularly bad in Iran. And there is a way in which that challenges and changes priorities for all governments.

CO: Just a report of when Nazanin left Evin Prison, and the women saying goodbye to her, and exchanging little gifts they made. And then I guess they sang a bridal song as she left the ward as a tribute. What is that about?

RR: Yeah, it's one of the lovely things they do. Whenever any of the women leave, they sing songs like you would do before a young bride goes off to a new home. And it's sort of songs of goodbye and songs of encouragement and songs of, listen, you're leaving one home, you're going to a new one. And it's a tradition they have where they all sing and they'll, you know, just let them know that they miss her. You know, it’s part of hoping that this is a goodbye. But just saying you're not forgotten, and we’ll treasure you.

CO: And strange irony that they are hoping they don't see her back.

RR: Yeah. Yeah, I mean, I think there's obviously an experience they all gone through that, even as her husband, I couldn't possibly understand. And that's a kinship that stays with them for many years. And there's an understanding and a camaraderie and just sort of a having been there and survived it together, that, yeah, I think it's a really important bond.

CO: Richard, I hope that you and Gabriella are reunited with Nazanin very soon. And I thank you for speaking with us.

RR: Thank you. Thank you very much.

CH: Richard Ratcliffe is the husband of Nazanin Zhagari-Ratcliffe, a British-Iranian woman who is currently on a two-week-long furlough from Evin Prison. We reached Mr. Ratcliffe in London.

[Music: Sombre]

Train track bees

CH: Elephants are such majestic creatures. Really, really majestic. Smart, too. Also, they're very cool. Especially when they're wearing giant novelty sunglasses! Maybe they should go find some — I think I saw some down the hall! Nope, other way! Whew. Okay, it's gone. I don’t know how that elephant got past CBC security, but it's been nosing around our studio for the past hour or so. It's not doing any harm. Although it did eat all the peanuts we'd stockpiled. Thing is, we don't know how to get rid of it. Wait, hold on, this might work!

[sc]

[Sound: A bunch of bees buzzing]

[/sc]

CH: That's the sound of the Honey Bee Sound System. Currently in use by the Northeast Frontier Railway in northern India — to scare off elephants. Elephants are majestic, smart, and cool, but they're not the best at not getting hit by trains. So railways have tried various methods to save them — from reducing train speeds in certain areas, to monitoring sections of track and sending humans to shoo elephants away if they show up. But one low-tech technique seems to be working: when people see elephants on the rails, they contact the Northeast Frontier Railway, which fires up the speakers beside the tracks — engaging the Honey Bee Sound System.

[sc]

[Sound: Again with the bees!]

[/sc]

CH: And it’s ingenious. Also, just anecdotally, it worked on our elephant at well — it ran away so fast its sunglasses fell off. Sorry, elephant. Nothing personal! It's strictly — buzzness.

Part three: COVID-19 Regina shelters, frontline testing doctor, Sooke, B.C. wildlife camera

COVID-19 Regina shelters

Guest: Rochelle Berenyi

CH: The COVID-19 pandemic means a lot of Canadians are stuck in their homes. But not every Canadian has a home. And for those who don't, shelters are often the only option. But as health officials warn people against meeting in large groups, two places for the homeless in Regina say they have no choice but to close their doors. The local Salvation Army is closing its emergency shelter tomorrow. And Carmichael Outreach, which provides services during the day, closed down earlier this week. Rochelle Berenyi works for Carmichael Outreach. We reached her at her home in Regina.

CO: Rochelle, how difficult a decision was it for Carmichael Outreach to close its doors?

ROCHELLE BERENYI: It was extremely difficult. I know that a lot of people rely on us every single day for a wide range of different programs and services. But that being said, because there are so many people, we tend to have very crowded spaces in our centre. Our boutique is usually, you're basically shoulder-to-shoulder with anyone, looking down there for clothing. And then in our meal program, we can serve about 200 to 300 meals a day. And so we end up with people at very close quarters, not just standing around, but also eating. And so there is definitely a very high risk. The other thing that was important for us to consider is just how vulnerable the majority of people that we work with are when it comes to this virus. Between the people that use our services and then as well our staff and volunteers, we have a lot of folks who are seniors, individuals who are immunocompromised. And so it's very important to us to make sure that we're protecting the community as best as possible.

CO: Right. But how much more vulnerable are they if they have no place to go?

RB: Well, the thing about Carmichael is that we're not actually as a shelter, right? So we're just a place that people can come to access various programs. And so what we've done is, although the doors to our centre are closed, we're still offering the majority of our programming. Just in different ways. So rather than having 200 people crowding in our centre for meals, we’re serving meals through the front door of our building in more of a to-go style. So then individuals are still able to get their meals every day, but without having quite as much of a risk of crowding in and being in such close quarters.

CO: Okay. But the Salvation Army is also closing its emergency shelter. So that's two big hits for the homeless population of Regina, isn't it?

RB: Absolutely. And I'm sure that there's going to be a lot more, I would assume, based on there are so many organizations in the community that work with the same population. And when I say so many, I mean countless. And they're all really incredible and amazing groups of people. I know that a lot of the agencies have been in contact about what the plans are going to be going forward, how the different agencies are going to handle things and what the best, I guess, what the best decisions are?

CO: I just want to to imagine what these people are doing today, when it was a cold day, it was snowing. At some point, the wind chill was making it pretty chilly for people there. So how did they spend the day? I mean, they're normally having their meals in your centre. If there is a place where they can have some recreation, some relaxation for a moment to sit down, to get a shower, wash their hands, what did they do today?

RB: When it comes to our centre, the majority of people that access our centre are doing so for our specific programs, rather than for the space itself. But you're absolutely right. It's getting more and more difficult. And it's like that already. Even one thing that I want to stress, every single phone call or in-person interview I've had regarding this virus is that we need to remember that these are people that are experiencing these challenges every single day and not just during the pandemic. So we're dealing with people that already have an issue with finding somewhere to go, already have an issue with accessing employment, already have an issue with accessing food. And these are people that have been experiencing this for 365 days of the year, as opposed to just during this time of pandemic. And you hear all these recommendations, stay home, stay home. You need to socially isolate. But that's not an option for a lot of people. And so when it comes to shelters, we already see an overflow of shelters. Shelters are already usually at capacity in our city, regardless of this pandemic timeframe. And so we need to see more of an effort being made, which I know there was an announcement this morning. And we're still all waiting to hear about what that's going to look like as far as our community. But we need to see that increase in funding just to be able to support people and at least, for example, hotel rooms or things like that when they're the same sort of solutions that would happen when there's already no shelter space, just need that extra funding to be able to make sure that people have that security.

CO: Okay, but you already had a shortage. I know in November, you were asking for tents because you didn't have any place… There weren't places for people to stay. So it was already a situation for the homeless in Regina. So as you await this government funding, and I'm just wondering what these people, what are they doing in the meantime? Where are they going? If they're outside in this weather, They're vulnerable to begin with. Now, they're exposed to possible infections. Where are they going?

RB: Well, the main, I would hope, is for. So I guess one thing I'll say to stress as well, the majority of people that use our services aren't necessarily experiencing homelessness. They use our services to help because the costs of living are so expensive. They need to use our services in order to maintain that. So for those individuals, chances are, hopefully, they're staying home or they're staying with a family or a friend. For those individuals that don't have a home, those are the people that it's important for the government to step up and protect in this time.

CO: Okay, we'll leave it there. Thanks, Rochelle.

RB: No problem.

CH: Rochelle Berenyi works for Carmichael Outreach. We reached her in Regina. Shelters in other parts of the country are also closing because of COVID-19. Rafi Aaron is the co-chair at an Out Of The Cold Shelter in Toronto — which closed last week. Today on Metro Morning, he told host David Common that when shelters like his close, people have nowhere to go.

[sc]

RAFI AARON: Well, I mean, it's just, it's just many, many sleepless nights. Last night, on Tuesday, there would have been 90 mats available for our guests by the Out Of The Cold. And the city has only set up one site for 45 people. On most nights, you know, the Out Of The Colds are providing mats for over 100 people. So this is very, very disconcerting. And the one site that has been opened up is not 24/7 for them. So, as you said, you know, they're being pushed out in the morning at 7:30. And many of the drop-ins, food programs, etc that they would normally go to are closed, as are the libraries, the YMCA. So this is a really difficult situation.

DAVID COMMON: Some people have been, you know, as you're speaking about it, some people, of course, have been moving from one meal program and one shelter to another. How challenging is it under those circumstances for them to practice some hygiene things that many of us are doing, like washing our hands frequently?

RA: It's impossible. And that was another thing that had been pointed out to the health professionals that we had consulted. That the health protocols that the Toronto Public Health had said that we should all be practicing, you know, were highly difficult while we were still open for our guests. But it's impossible right now. I mean, where do you wash your hands when everything is closed?

[/sc]

CH: That was Rafi Aaron, co-chair of a shelter in Toronto that closed its doors last week because of COVID-19, speaking on CBC Toronto's Metro Morning today.

[Music: Up-tempo]

Frontline testing doctor

Guest: Naheed Dosani

CH: Amid ongoing outbreaks around the world, South Korea has emerged as a source of hope. Despite its proximity to China, the country has managed to keep new cases of Covid-19 down — largely thanks to widely available testing. That model that has inspired other jurisdictions — including Canada to try to prioritize testing. And it has hospitals like Peel Memorial in Brampton, Ontario enlisting doctors from all departments to help. Dr Naheed Dosani is ordinarily a palliative care physician there. But, this week, he did his first shift at a COVID-19 Assessment Centre. We reached him in Toronto.

CO: Dr. Dosani, can you describe the testing facility at your hospital? Just give us a sense of the atmosphere there?

NAHEED DOSANI: It felt like an honour and a privilege, actually, to be on the frontlines. There is this amazing sense of community. I, myself, am a palliative care doctor, actually. And beside me was a nurse from the emergency department. Our clerical staff from mental health and are housekeeping working from the medicine staff. And so we normally don't work on the frontlines together, but we are coming together around the pandemic. And it was truly a unique experience that way.

CO: Are you seeing anything that can be improved? The criticisms have been that there's too many people turning up an emergency wards looking for testing, jamming and bottlenecking systems. Do you think you've got a model here that can actually get people tested and out pretty fast?

ND: I can appreciate that criteria and information are changing in a dynamic way. It can sometimes cause confusion. But I had a unique perspective to see how it works. And I have to say, all the way from the public messaging that's gone out about what the specific criteria are, to, triage, to filtering into the assessment centre. I saw a very streamlined and very efficient and effective approach.

CO: As people arrive at this facility, are they calm? Are they anxious about what they're confronting?

ND: You know, you see a wide array of emotions, without a doubt. You know, we had a woman with a child who was very overwhelmed with some of the information she had read online and seen in the media. And when she was being assessed, she broke down crying. And normally, you know, as a palliative care doctor or any clinician in any field, we might use a therapeutic distance. We would get close. We would counsel. But this is a pandemic. You can't do that, right? And what was so amazing was to see how the team, the nurses, the staff kind of still kept their infection protocols. So we were all gowned-up and wearing our masks. But we all rallied to connect with this person, this woman, who was crying and overwhelmed and provided emotional support. And so that really stuck out for me. Another vignette that stuck out for me was the idea that I lost track of how many people were actually asking me, hey, doctor, I know you're you know, you're working at the centre and you're here to treat me and assess me. But are you kay? Can I get you a glass of water [chuckling]? I was just blown away at how people were so kind to us. And so we saw a wide array of emotion and we saw a lot of care as well.

CO: Now, of course, everybody wants to know if they've got it, even if they haven't got symptoms. So what happens when people arrive? We know that if you’re not showing symptoms, they don't test you. It's not effective. So what kind of reaction do you get from people when you turn away?

ND: Yeah. So, you know, at the William Osler House System Assessment Centre, currently the criteria for people who are experiencing symptoms of an upper respiratory tract infection or flu-like symptoms, and any of the following: temperature greater than 38 degrees Celsius. Individuals who are immunocompromised or whom you have, for example, cancer or advanced kidney disease, age over 60. Pregnant people, health care workers working on the frontlines. And folks who have been in touch with someone who is probable or confirmed diagnosis. We saw 198 individuals on that shift, and 124 received testing. When people didn't receive testing, they were respectful. They were understanding that there may not be enough test kits for everyone at this time. So overall, it had a real community feel to it.

CO: And now how quickly did they get results from the test?

ND: So what we were counselling people is that the results would be out within 48 hours. And a public health official would call them to provide further advice.

CO: As they’re awaiting the test results, should they be telling anybody they have come in contact with that this is going on, or is it too early before you know the test is?

ND: Yeah, absolutely. It's very important in that time period to let people in your circle know and let your workplace know so that other individuals can also be assessed as well.

CO: You said that there’s not enough test kits at this point, and that that's a great concern, isn't it? Because we heard from the head of the World Health Organization this week that he said you cannot fight a fire blindfolded. We cannot stop this pandemic if we don't know who is infected. We have a simple message for all countries: Test, test, test. We're seeing that in South Korea, where there's 270-thousand people who have been tested. Other places where it’s less. In Canada, we have just shy of 900 tests per million of people who've been tested in Canada. That's high, but not as high as perhaps other countries are doing. Do you think that that's a problem?

ND: You know, while I'm not a public health specialist or infectious disease specialist, my experience working on the frontlines at William Osler Health System was that we definitely had enough tests for the individuals who were meeting criteria as set out by our public health experts. While I can appreciate that there is a need for enhanced testing. I think given the current status, our public health professionals are doing the best they can and are hitting very important advice. And that criteria is constantly changing. For example, we were using travel assessments previously in our criteria. And that actually changed on the day I worked at the assessment centre, just speaking to how quickly things can change. So I think this is an important concern. But currently the way we are assessing, we are meeting the needs based on who is meeting criteria.

CO: Right, you’re talking about the guidelines that said you test people who have travelled or been in contact with those who have travelled. Now, they're saying that it's possible within the community that it's there. So that's the change, right?

ND: That’s correct.

CO: Now, but you're normally a palliative care doctor, so you've been all of you just recruited. And I wonder, though, what happens to the people, the patients, who need you? Are you pulled in two directions knowing that you have these other people who are probably hoping you come back soon?

ND: Yeah. Fair enough. And I'm so grateful to work with an excellent team that has agreed to cover some of my work, so that I can go and contribute in the assessment centres. So it definitely takes a community. And I think everyone in health care, no matter what background or discipline you're working in, everyone is chipping in and doing their part, even if it means covering for a colleague.

CO: We will leave it there. I know you got lots of work to do, Dr Dosani. But thank you for finding time for us.

ND: Thank you so much. It was a pleasure.

CH: Dr Naheed Dosani is ordinarily a palliative care physician at Peel Memorial Hospital in Brampton, Ontario. This week, he worked a shift in the hospital's William Osler Health System COVID-19 Assessment Centre. We reached Dr Dosani in Toronto. And you can find more on that story on our website: www.cbc.ca/aih.

[Music: Horns!]

Sooke, B.C. wildlife cams

Guest: Paul Homer

CH: You may be feeling a little stir crazy right now. A little cooped up. But while you're hanging around inside, the creatures that live outside are enjoying the freedom that comes with your absence. And thanks to Paul Homer, you can watch those creatures revelling in that freedom. Mr Homer has 13 cameras set up around his 36-acre property, recording the comings and goings of some of Vancouver Island's most elusive residents. And he's posting those pictures online. We reached Paul Homer in Sooke, B.C.

CO: Paul, what made you want to put your entire property under surveillance?

PAUL HOMER: [laughing]It was just an off kind of thing. Many years ago, we were down in Seattle at a lacrosse tournament. And went into one of those big Cabela’s stores, and thought we'd buy one of the trail cams and try it out.

CO: So the idea wasn't that you thought you were having human intruders on your property. You wanted to see the animals that were running around there?

PH: Yeah, that's right. We were curious. My kids were with me. They were quite young at the time, and just thought it'd be a fun thing to try.

CO: Okay. Now you have 13 cameras, is that right?

PH: Yes, 13. Yes.

CO: Wow! So what are you getting? What are the images that you're capturing?

PH: So the first image was a mouse. And then we've moved on to bears, cougars, there's been lots of smaller animals and birds, raccoons, pine martens, even a big rat [CO cuckles awkwardly]. Bird-wise, there's been owls, hawks, you know, the mallard ducks, a rare pigeon. And then all your other smaller ones, the blue jays and the pileated woodpeckers and that kind of thing.

CO: Wow! So lots of little ones. I have to ask about the big ones, the cougars, what did you see the cougars up to?

PH: The first really good capture was a cougar at about 11:30 a.m. in the morning. The camera went off. man, it must have been four or five or feet away. And it's just an incredible shot.

CO: And then you got some you know, there's a deer carcase that seemed to have attracted a lot of attention among the cougars.

PH: Yeah, that's right. On the other side of the creek there, of the 36 acres, we protected 25. And that is really just, you know, the wild wilderness. And what goes on over there, there's been lots of deer kills, you know, over the years. It's only been recently that I did run into one. And, yeah, put a camera on it, and I didn't get them, you know, so much eating it. But they kept coming back to it.

CO: Now, you have a kind of a walk bridge over some water I can see in one of the images. So that's a place where, I guess, any watering hole is going to attract animals. Is that where you caught some of the big prey?

PH: Yeah, that's right. That was a learning curve. We had a little bridge across our swamp where we get our garden water. And I thought one day, well, I’ll put a camera on that and see what I get. And yeah, I've got a cougar crossing back and forth over it. And numerous bears. That led me to put one in the swamp to catch the bears swimming in it.

CO: Now, I understand this is not channelled or broadcast into a camera in your house. That you go out and you collect the images, right?

PH: Yeah, that's right. The cameras are battery powered and motion censored. And they have little memory card in them. So it makes for a nice hike. I get out to have a look around and check the cameras. And I just download them right to my phone.

CO: How addictive is it to be watching all of these images that you're collecting?

PH: Oh, man. Yeah, I got pretty bad there for a while [CO chuckling]. I was checking them daily. In the winter, things slow down. So I got a little better in that side of things. But, in the heat of the summer, the swamp is super active. And it's hard not to check them every day.

CO: Now, not only are you getting you addicted to looking at these videos, but you're getting other people addicted on your Facebook page, is that right?

PH: Yes. I'm getting many questions on the site, Paul’s Game Cam Pics. You know, like, how do I get started? What cameras would I use? And where to place them?

CO: But, I guess, they're curious about what you're looking at, the actual animals that you're filming?

PH: Yeah, that as well. Just really lots of nice comments, lots of thank you for sharing, and, you know, just respecting the wildlife and letting them do their thing over there.

CO: And I'm sure you know where everybody is looking for something to do while in self-isolation, are you helping people get to this patch?

PH: Yeah, lots of positive comments about that, too, you know, just thank you for sharing and taking my mind off of what's going on in the world at the moment. And yeah, it's just been really great. I only had about 600 followers to start. And it will be up over 4,000 today.

CO: And any particular ones that you want to tell us about it? People who are spending their time watching your animals in order to get through their self-isolation?

PH: Yes, there was a sweet, sweet old lady. She was 80 years old that messaged me. I think, for mobility reasons, I think she said shut in her house. And her favourite channel was a nature on TV. And now she's following me, and was thrilled to be able to do it.

CO: Are you in self-isolation? Are you still going to work?

PH: I'm still going to work. I'm expecting that to change shortly. I'm a custodian. I work at a high school in Sooke. And there's just I don’t know four or five of us here kind of doing our own thing.

CO: All right. So I guess you know how you're gonna be spending your time when you have to do it from home?

PH: Absolutely. I'll be out in the forest exploring and moving some cameras around.

CO: Lucky you. Paul, thanks for speaking with us.

PH: Yeah. Thank you very much. Appreciate it.

CO: Bye.

PH: Bye.

CH: We reached Paul Homer in Sooke, B.C. And he and his co-workers will also be off work as of Friday.

[Music: Elevator music]

SOD: John Legend

CH: It wasn't like most of his concerts. There was no stage. He was at home. And he wasn't wearing any pants. But last night, John Legend sat down at his piano — in his underwear and robe — and live-streamed a nearly-hour-long concert on his Instagram page. The Grammy Award-winning singer and songwriter wrote, "Social distancing is important, but that doesn't mean it has to be boring. I did a little at-home performance to help lift your spirits." Over a million people have viewed the free concert so far. Here's how Mr. Legend started the video — with a cover of Stevie Wonder's "Love's in Need of Love Today". It's our Sound of the Day.

[sc]

JOHN LEGEND: Somebody requested this actually yesterday on my Twitter. And it's a good song to start with. It's by Stevie Wonder. It’s called “Love's in Need”.

[Sound: “Love's in Need of Love Today" by Stevie Wonder, as covered by John Legend]

JL: [singing] Good morning or evening, friends. Here’s your friendly announcer. I have serious news to pass on to everybody. What I'm about to say could mean the world’s disaster. This could turn your jaw and laughter to tears and pain. You know that love’s in need of love today. Don’t delay. Send yours in right away. You know that hate going round, breaking many hearts. Stop it, please. Before it’s gone too far.

[/sc]

CH: John Legend playing Stevie Wonder's "Love's in Need of Love Today". Last night, the singer and songwriter live-streamed a free concert on his Instagram page.

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March 18, 2020 episode transcript

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