Health | The Walrus

Illustration of small cartoon people moving freely atop small green platforms––cartwheeling, dancing, and holding hands.

Health

Fat Shaming Shouldn’t Be Part of Our “New Normal”

August 25, 2020August 25, 2020 - by Erika Thorkelson

Even in a pandemic, our culture is obsessed with controlling our bodies

Black and white photo of a group of newspaper carriers wearing masks.

The Spanish Flu Rewrote History. Will This Pandemic Do the Same?

July 16, 2020July 17, 2020 - by Simon Lewsen

Disease magnifies inequality, brings social turmoil, and offers a shot at meaningful change

Photograph of a public men's restroom with sinks and mirrors against a wall. Urinals can be seen in the reflection of the mirrors.

COVID-19 / Health

Why Are Canada’s Public Bathrooms So Inadequate?

July 8, 2020July 8, 2020 - by Lezlie Lowe

Access to clean, safe facilities is crucial for public health—especially during a pandemic

A man in a checkered shirt stands inside a large, barn-shaped building surrounded by chickens. He is holding a chicken in his hands and leaning towards it.

Health

A Warning from the Chickens of the World

July 6, 2020July 8, 2020 - by David Waltner-Toews

How our reliance on mass-produced food increases the risk of pandemics

A pair of hands points at a black and white photo containing a woman and seven young children.

COVID-19 / Health

The North Knows What It’s Like to Fight a Pandemic

May 26, 2020May 27, 2020 - by Elaine Anselmi

The region isn’t equipped to fight infectious diseases. That doesn’t mean it’s not prepared

Photo illustration of a waterfront boardwalk with a thin crowd of people. Some people are encased in translucent bubbles to maintain social distancing.

COVID-19 / Health / July/August 2020

How to Lift a Lockdown

May 13, 2020December 1, 2020 - by Danielle Groen

From immunity passports to mass testing: the science, logistics, and ethics of recovering from COVID-19

Illustration of two bottles of bleach with large red X's behind them and yellow letters saying, in all capitals, "DO NOT DRINK." The background is turquoise blue.

COVID-19 / Health

Don’t Drink the Bleach

April 29, 2020May 1, 2020 - by Justin Ling

Medical scams are bad enough in ordinary situations. During a pandemic, they can be deadly

Psychedelic-style illustration of a man wearing a white coat and large goggles to protect his eyes. In the goggles' reflection, we see two hands pouring brightly-coloured material from one into the other. His hair is a spectrum of brightly-coloured waves.

Health / May 2020

Why It’s So Hard to Legalize Recreational Drugs

April 28, 2020June 10, 2020 - by Jonah Brunet

Scientists believe that newly invented psychoactive substances might have untapped health benefits. Too bad none of us will ever get to try them

Health

Record of a Pandemic

April 7, 2020February 12, 2021 - by The Walrus Staff

COVID-19 has transformed our world. The Walrus explores these changes and asks what comes next

Illustration of a small bird, perched inside a glass vase on the stem of a flower. The background is a light turquoise blue.

April 2020 / Health

When Is a Senior No Longer Capable of Making Their Own Decisions?

March 18, 2020July 24, 2020 - by Sharon J. Riley

How our medical systems strip elders of their autonomy