COVID-19 | The Walrus

A shielded worker cleans in an empty warehouse

COVID-19

How Much Is the Life of an Essential Worker Worth?

April 29, 2021April 30, 2021 - by Lauren McKeon

The pandemic turned retail and food workers into heroes, but most face risks that they never signed up for

A woman sitting alone on a desert island, looking at the clouds

Science

Blah Blah Blah: The Lack of Small Talk Is Breaking Our Brains

April 22, 2021April 22, 2021 - by Hannah Seo

Chit-chat is often dismissed as mindless and boring. But its absence over the past year is affecting you more than you think

COVID-19

Coronavirus Toys Are Going Viral

April 8, 2021April 9, 2021 - by Anne Thériault

Plague doctor plushies and COVID-19 collectables are flying off the shelves. Why are we drawn to cutesified versions of the things that scare us most?

Illustration of a kitchen on fire, with a man sitting at the kitchen table, holding a phone to his ear, with a laptop in front of him.

May 2021 / Memoir

When Death Is Preferable to Taxes

April 6, 2021April 7, 2021 - by Ken Babstock

The Canada Emergency Response Benefit helped me survive COVID-19’s first wave. Then the government tried to claw back the cash

An illustration of a woman singing alone in her living room.

Society

This Pandemic Isn’t Over until Everybody Sings

April 5, 2021April 5, 2021 - by Mel Woods

When the world reopens, karaoke may be the saviour that unites us all

A photo of a woman working on various electronics

Society

Housebound and Bored? Turn Yourself into a Human Guinea Pig

March 22, 2021March 26, 2021 - by Bruce Grierson

During a time of endless lockdowns, self-discovery sometimes means self-experimentation

An illustration of a person stands on a bridge looking out on a snow-covered green space

The Longest Winter

How Parks Got Us Through a Tough Winter

March 18, 2021March 18, 2021 - by Tannara Yelland

The pandemic showed just how important green spaces are to our mental health. How can we keep them accessible during the coldest months?

A comic alternating between people engaging in lockdown activities and close-ups of the virus

March/April 2021 / The Facts

Ask an Economist: How Bad Are Lockdowns Really?

February 25, 2021February 26, 2021 - by Rob Gillezeau

Government restrictions may not always be popular among businesses, but they can work

An illustration, in different shades of purple, of people through the windows of their apartment buildings, all doing solitary activities.

Language

What Does “Lockdown” Even Mean Anymore?

February 15, 2021February 17, 2021 - by Jonah Brunet

One year into COVID-19, our definitions are constantly changing. But, when politics distort our language, people can die

A figure walking along a path in an otherworldly twilight

The Longest Winter

Having a Miserable Winter? Go for a Walk

February 4, 2021February 10, 2021 - by Dan Rubinstein

Getting your daily steps is the perfect winter activity, now more than ever