That's a great question. I think one of the problems is that PHAC and other public health agencies in Canada, and the WHO as well, don't have the kind of diverse knowledge and expertise that we need. They have very good knowledge in terms of epidemiology, but they really need to have broader knowledge on worker safety expertise, and also expertise on aerosols and aerosol transmission. For example, two of the top people in the world on aerosol transmission are Canadians. They are Dr. Raymond Tellier in Montreal and Dr. Lydia Bourouiba at MIT. They should be at the table. They should be involved with PHAC in developing the kinds of policies and procedures that could protect our workers.
I would recommend that there be a real review to ensure that PHAC's expertise is expanded and really reflects the latest science. A lot of the science that PHAC and WHO are relying on when it comes to disease transmission dates back to the 1930s and 1940s, when instruments were not good enough, sensitive enough, to measure aerosol transmission. The science has made incredible progress in looking at small aerosol transmission, but that expertise is not at the table at either PHAC or WHO. I would recommend that they really expand their knowledge base.
My last point is that we should look at the CDC. The CDC has two components. One is NIOSH. NIOSH is dedicated to worker safety. PHAC should have the same type of independent, very strong, very well-resourced and well-staffed expertise to look at this. We have Canadians who can do that, and we should bring them on board.