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NOVEMBER 2020VOL. 1 | N° 2SCIENCESMagJuniorTOGETHER TOGETHER AGAINST THE AGAINST THE Illustration: Tadens Mpwene

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ANDEDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Sophie GaulinSCIENTIFIC DIRECTOR: *Prof. Jean-Eric GhiaCOORDINATOR: Camille HarperWRITERS: Sophie GaulinProf. Jean-Eric GhiaCamille HarperLaëtitia KermarrecGRAPHIC DESIGNER:Véronique TogneriILLUSTRATORS: David MacNair Tadens MpweneCOLOURISTS: Marta GuerreroSonia RoussaultVéronique TogneriADMINISTRATION: Meggan BaultRoxanne BouchardLysiane RomainA special thank you to all the scientists and health professionals, as well as Danielle and Laure Ghia who graciously participated in this edition. Thanks also to Nancy Eibner, Dan and Patricia Harper for their friendly and attentive proofreading.*The title Professor (Prof.) used in the magazine includes all the different levels of professorship (assistant, associate and full).La Liberté’s Sciences Mag Junior was made possible with the support of …SCIENCESMagJuniorTHE TEAMTHE TEAMOUR PARTNERSOUR PARTNERSSILVERPOSTAL CONVENTION -PUBLICATIONS N° 40012102 | REGISTRATION 7996La Liberté and its Sciences Mag Junior are products of the publishing company Presse-Ouest ltée.Editorial address: 123 Marion Street - Unit 201Winnipeg (Manitoba) R2H 0T3Tel.: 204-237-4823sgaulin@la-liberte.mb.caMagazine unit cost:$4.50 + TaxesAnnual subscription to La Liberté:$65.90 (GST and provincial tax included)la-liberte.caISSN 0845-0455Copyright / © 2020 La LibertéAll rights reservedPrinted in CanadaBRONZE‘’The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent the views of the Public Health Agency of Canada."FRIENDSOUR MEDIA PARTNERS OUR MEDIA PARTNERS

3— SCIENCES MAG JUNIOR • NOVEMBER 2020 —As COVID-19 continues to wreak havocaround the world, the La Libertéteam has once again rolled up itssleeves to prepare a second 64-page-long youthscience magazine, six months after the first issueNo Mercy for the Coronaswhich was anational and international success. Many readersasked us: When will the next issue be published?Well, it’s here!Although researchers are making progress everyday in understanding this new virus, manyquestions still remain. For the children, many ofwhom went back to school in September, andtheir parents, the main question remains: Howcan I make sure I don’t catch and then transmitSARS-CoV-2, the COVID-19 virus?Once again, in this pandemic context where falsenews circulates faster than viruses, La Libertétakes its responsibility as a reliable news sourceseriously in order to publish a relevant scientificresource. It is nonetheless simple and fun anddeals with the tools at our disposal to fightagainst SARS-CoV-2. And while waiting forresearchers in the scientific world to findtreatments or a vaccine, this second magazineTogether against the Coronas!helps usunderstand how these tools, which anyone canuse, work.As you likely understand, we are convinced thatchildren need to know as much if not more thanadults if we hope to win this fight against COVID.I would like to thank all those who havecontributed to this magazine, whether throughtheir hard work, their talent, their expertise ortheir financial support. Without you, this secondissue of Sciences Mag Juniorwould not havebeen possible! It is thanks to this spirit of collaboration andsolidarity, so essential in these times of crisis, thattogether we will be able to resist the attacks ofthis virus and overcome this pandemic. Together,let’s be patient, vigilant and caring.Iwould like to thank my fellow Manitobanand Canadian scientists and healthcareprofessionals for answering the call toensure an optimal scientific presence in thismagazine.Each of you, in your own field, provided the mostreliable scientific content to explain to youngreaders the concepts related to COVID-19 and theactions to be taken to prevent it. In order to talkabout a virus, which we learn more about everyday, we need to rely on experts.I am very proud to have been able to participatein this magazine, as well as in the first issue,which was published in May 2020. As a professorand researcher, I believe it is essential to shareour scientific knowledge, while simplifying it, inorder to equip even the youngest children withthe necessary understanding of scientificconcepts. This way they can consciously adoptthe most up-to-date techniques in order to fightagainst COVID-19. And why not encouragescientific vocations at the same time!As coordinator of this magazine,I would like to acknowledge theexceptional work done by the entireteam. I would like to salute the talent andprofessionalism of the whole artistic team, whichhas not hesitated to deploy all its massive talentsand creativity in order to produce the bestpossible magazine: our illustrators TadensMpwene and David MacNair, whose artwork hasgiven life and realism to scientific concepts thatare sometimes quite abstract; our colouristsMarta Guerrero and Sonia Roussault, whomanaged to create a beautiful and welcominguniverse for the readers; and of course ourproduction manager and graphic designerVéronique Togneri who once again put heroverflowing creativity at the service ofinformation and science. I can’t forget LaëtitiaKermarrec, for her constant writing support andher precious advice in popularizing science.It was a great pleasure for me to work with thisteam, under the direction of Sophie Gaulin andin collaboration with Prof. Jean-Eric Ghia, tocombine the reliability of science, the power ofwords and the magic of illustrations; and to beable to contribute, in our own way, to the fightagainst COVID-19.PROF. JEAN-ERIC GHIASCIENTIFIC DIRECTOR OF THE MAGAZINESOPHIE GAULINEXECUTIVE DIRECTORAND EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OF LA LIBERTÉCAMILLE HARPERCOORDINATOR OF THEMAGAZINEMESSAGES FROMTHE EDITORIAL TEAM FOR THIS SPECIAL ISSUETHE TEAMTHE TEAMLAËTITIAKERMARRECWRITERDAVID MACNAIRILLUSTRATORTADENS MPWENEILLUSTRATORVÉRONIQUETOGNERIPRODUCTIONMANAGER AND GRAPHIC DESIGNERMARTAGUERREROCOLOURISTSONIAROUSSAULTCOLOURIST

4— SCIENCES MAG JUNIOR • NOVEMBER 2020 —The Centre de santé Saint-Bonifaceis pleased to support thischildren’s science magazine,Together against the Coronas! in orderto help young children and familiesunderstand the tools available to us tofight the spread of COVID-19.We are convinced that this resource,developed in collaboration with multipleresearchers and healthcare professionals,will help stimulate and support people intaking charge of their own health,especially in times of a pandemic. Preventive healthcare plays a key role inthis health crisis. And since prevention alsorequires relevant and quality information,our organization fully supports this typeof initiative.Finally, the availability of this resource inboth of Canada’s official languages isperfectly in line with one of our values,which is to provide equal access tohealthcare services in the preferredlanguage of our clients, either French orEnglish.On behalf of the Board of Directors,management and all professionals atCentre de santé Saint-Boniface, we arepleased to contribute to this innovativeproject as it will become part of the rangeof resources that promote the health andwell-being of our community.SERGE BISSONPRESIDENTMESSAGE FROMCENTRE DE SANTÉ SAINT-BONIFACE The Division scolaire franco-manitobaine (DSFM) is proud to beassociated with the second issue ofthe Sciences Mag Junior – Togetheragainst the Coronas! by La Liberté. Thefirst issue from the spring of 2020, No Mercyfor the Coronas, having proven to be aninstructive tool that was highly appreciatednot only by the community, but also by theteaching staff of the DSFM schools. It wasobvious for us to continue our support of theproject, by funding the creation and helpingwith promotion of this second publication. Presented in a creative, engaging andamusing way, the Sciences Mag Juniormagazine can easily reach a wide audience,including our school communities. Therefore,it has become an essential resource ineducation for professionals and parents alike,who are looking for the tools they need toanswer their children’s questions as well aspossible.At the DSFM, we believe that this resourceis a must-have tool, not only to inform thecommunity about COVID-19, but also togenerate discussion about its impact on thehealth and well-being of all. We wish another great success for thesecond edition of Sciences Mag Junior –Together against the Coronas! Thank you and congratulations to the entireteam at La Liberté for such professionalism,and especially thank you for supporting thelearning process of our students, ourparents, our staff and our community. Hats off to the whole team!ALAIN LABERGEGENERAL MANAGERMESSAGE FROM THEDIVISION SCOLAIRE FRANCO-MANITOBAINEThe St. Boniface Hospital is veryproud to be associated with thesecond issue of La LibertéSciences Mag Junior entitled Togetheragainst the CORONAS!Our commitment to the first magazinereleased in May 2020 has been greatlyappreciated by families, teachers and evenprofessionals in the field of research andhealth in general. We were thrilled to see that the digital andpaper versions had exceeded 173,000 copiesviewed to date.The leadership of La Liberté and theexpertise of our collaborators at theResearch Centre's Youth BIO Lab Jeunessehave been recognized not only in Canada,but also beyond our borders as the firstmagazine has been adapted and used inother countries around the world. Once again, the La Liberté Sciences MagJunior focuses on the major concerns ofCanadians and provides scientificallyreliable answers about the tools at ourdisposal to slow the spread of SARS- CoV-2while waiting for a treatment or a vaccine.We wish this second issue as much successas the first one. Once again, we areconvinced that health depends on thetransmission of reliable and qualityinformation. Understanding science will beour best tool while we go through and waitfor the end of the pandemic. Until then, let’sremain vigilant!MARTINE BOUCHARDPRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICERMESSAGE FROMST. BONIFACE HOSPITALAs a mom, I am concerned aboutthe impact of the COVID-19pandemic on my family, friends,and most of all, my children. I want tounderstand the best way to protect usfrom catching the virus.I understand that as a young person, youprobably have a lot of questions about thepandemic too. Scientists and doctors are learning moreabout the virus every day, but there is stilla lot that we do not understand. One of thebest ways to find answers to our questionsis through research, like the kind ourscientists do at St. Boniface Hospital. We are very lucky to have them, and aworld-class research and health facility likeours, here in Winnipeg. The Foundation –where I work – helps the Hospital in manyways to support the work of thesescientists and researchers. For example, byproviding them with microscopes andother lab equipment so they can do theirimportant work. St. Boniface Hospital Foundation is veryproud to support the work of La Libertéin providing young people like you withscientific resources, such as this magazine,to help you understand how to stop thevirus from spreading.Happy reading!KAREN FOWLERINTERIM PRESIDENT AND CHIEFEXECUTIVE OFFICER, AND MOM TO ERIKA AND HALLA MESSAGE FROMST. BONIFACE HOSPITALFOUNDATION

5Illustration: Tadens Mpwene— SCIENCES MAG JUNIOR • NOVEMBER 2020 —Six friends Asha, Emma, Idriss, Juan, Li-Na and Sam’s summers were turned upsidedown. Emma, Idriss and Sam were to visit their families in other countries. Asha, Juanand Li-Na had planned to travel to other provinces in Canada to visit their cousins. Butnone of these trips could take place because of COVID-19 (COrona VIrus Disease 2019),which is still prevalent around the world.ASHAEMMAIDRISSLI-NAJUAN SAM

Illustration: Tadens Mpwene6— SCIENCES MAG JUNIOR • NOVEMBER 2020 —And now it's already time to go back to school. A very unique back-to-school for them, as they unfortunately have to share it withSARS-CoV-2 (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome CoronaVirus 2),the famous virus that causes COVID-19…

7Illustration: Tadens Mpwene— SCIENCES MAG JUNIOR • NOVEMBER 2020 —Emma is a little anxious about the new school year. She wonders,"How are we going to be able to resist the Coronas' attacks?I'm so afraid of getting sick! »

Illustrations: Tadens Mpwene and David MacNair8— SCIENCES MAG JUNIOR • NOVEMBER 2020 —At school, Emma meets up with her classmates. She hopes to find an answer from them. Unfortunately, they just have some wild ideas.To exterminate the Coronas,Sam suggests using a special "Anti-Corona" laser gun!As for Asha, she pictures them devoured by a giant dinosaur who came from the bowels of the Earth...

9Illustration: Tadens Mpwene— SCIENCES MAG JUNIOR • NOVEMBER 2020 —The overflowing imagination of her friends allows Emma to relax a little beforegoing to class. She knows she will have Ms. Laura again this year. She will askher all her questions.The teacher presumed the children would come back to her class with manyquestions about the coronavirus because even though it has been present in Canadasince March 2020, it is still very new and we learn a lot about it every day.As she did last year, Ms. Laura asked several Canadian scientists to appear asguests via videoconference to explain to the children how to fight the spread ofSARS-CoV-2 while waiting for a reliable treatment or vaccine.Since her students love stories, she tells them the story of Terratum's fantasy world.

Illustration: David MacNair10— SCIENCES MAG JUNIOR • NOVEMBER 2020 —There once was a world named Terratum, in which majestic castlesstood, housing villages where the inhabitants lived in perfectharmony, mostly.Thanks to their very thickdefensive walls, deepmoats and well-guardedgates, the castles seemedindestructible to enemies.THE WORLD OF TERRATUMTHE WORLD OF TERRATUM

11Illustration: David MacNair— SCIENCES MAG JUNIOR • NOVEMBER 2020 —Inside each castle, each of the villagershad a role to play.Some were taking care of thefood, others were deliveringmessages, and others werecleaning, building or standingguard.

Illustrations: Tadens Mpwene and David MacNair12— SCIENCES MAG JUNIOR • NOVEMBER 2020 —Oh yes, I remember what we learned last year... Those castles are like our bodies!Remember friends, Li-Na says. In our bodies, there are about 30 million million cells of different shapes and sizes, all of which are so small that you have to use a microscope to see them.Our cells are like the inhabitants of the castle: they each have a role to play.Cells in the skin protect us, the ones in the muscleskeep us moving, those in the bloodvessels nourish our body and give it oxygen and those in the nerves transmit messages, etc.Blood vessels(arteries and veins) NervesMuscleSkin=

13— SCIENCES MAG JUNIOR • NOVEMBER 2020 —Illustration: Tadens MpweneName: Skin cellsLocation: Covering the whole surface of the body. Job: Protect us. Name: Muscle cellsLocation: Attached to the bones, in the digestive system,the blood vessels and the heart. Job: Squeeze or stretch to help move your body and some organs.Name: Blood cells Location: Floating in the blood.Job: Carry oxygen to the body (red cells), protect against germs (white cells) and repair injuries (platelets).Name: Nerve cells (neurons)Location: Brain and body (nerves).Job: Send messages from the brain to control the body, think and feel the outside world (see, hear, touch, taste and smell).

Illustrations: Tadens Mpwene and David MacNair14— SCIENCES MAG JUNIOR • NOVEMBER 2020 —SalivaryglandsNoseMucousMouthTracheaSalivaTongueŒsophagusProtectivecells Mucousproductioncells =That’s right!, Idriss exclaims. And the cells that protect us are like the walls of a castle, they prevent enemies from entering! Our enemies are the invisible germs.I remember it well now: the protective cells are the ones that make our skin, lungs, and many other organs. They are also in our nose and mouth, and in the middle of those cells, there are others that make spit (saliva) or snot (mucous). Saliva and mucous are like the moats of the castle: they block the path of intruders.

15Illustration: Tadens Mpwene— SCIENCES MAG JUNIOR • NOVEMBER 2020 —Then at the end of the tubes, there are small bags of alveoli that look like grapes: they take oxygen out of the air we breathe in and release used air when we breathe out.Besides, many germs get into our body through our mouthand nose, and that's why we sometimes get sore throatsand coughs, Asha reminds all her friends.Sometimes, germs can even get into our lungs through the trachea, which is a big tube connected to other smaller tubes called the bronchi and bronchioles. All these tubes look like an upside-down tree!!TracheaBronchiBronchioleLungsBlood vessels Alveoli

16— SCIENCES MAG JUNIOR • NOVEMBER 2020 —Illustration: Tadens MpweneYou are right, Asha, and actually we now know that the COVID-19 virus can not only attack the lungs, but also many other organs, such as the heart and blood vessels, liver, kidneys, skin andnervous system (taste, smell and hearing among others).The other problem with this virus is that it can spread very quickly within the population. It is estimated that one infected person can contaminate three others, each of which, in turn, can transmit the virus to three others, and so on. This multiplying effect can, over time, infect several tens or evenhundreds of people from just a single person.That’s why when things get out of hand and the spread of the virus increases very, very rapidly (exponentially), authorities are forced to ask people to reduce their contact with others.PROF. IBRAHIMA DIALLODept. Experimental SciencesUniversity of Saint-BonifaceManitoba1 group of 24 people2 groups of 12 peopleWhen a group is divided into two groups of the same size, the potential of transmission is reduced by 50% When a group is cut in half, the potential of transmission is reduced by about 75% = 264possibletransmissions= 552possibletransmissionsThe risks of transmissionGraphics based on a source by Prof. Dirk Brockmann of the Robert Koch-Institut, Berlin, Germany1 group of 24 people1 group of 12 people= 132possibletransmissions= 552possibletransmissions

17Illustration: David MacNair— SCIENCES MAG JUNIOR • NOVEMBER 2020 —One day, when all is quiet on Terratum, invaders named Coronas make theirappearance. They are merciless! They destroy a first castle, then another(epidemic). They cross borders and oceans. Little by little, they invade allthe countries in the world of Terratum (pandemic).A TERRIBLEENEMYA TERRIBLEENEMY

Illustration: David MacNair18— SCIENCES MAG JUNIOR • NOVEMBER 2020 —They are highly intentto find solutions to fightagainst the Coronas.The leaders ofTerratum, determinedto fight the invasionof Coronas, which is wreaking havoceverywhere, decide to meet in a secretlocation and hold agreat Crisis Council.

19Illustrations: Tadens Mpwene and David MacNair— SCIENCES MAG JUNIOR • NOVEMBER 2020 —Is this great Crisis Council a bit like the leaders of our countries that we see on television?Yes, we can see it like that, Ms. Lauraanswers. During these meetings, the heads of state search together for ways to protect their populations.

Illustration: David MacNair20— SCIENCES MAG JUNIOR • NOVEMBER 2020 —During the Crisis Councilmeeting, Paul shares with hiscolleagues the interestingdiscoveries his engineersmade. The first onehappened on a veryrainy day. Viruses fell on crates of soap storedoutside a castle. Totheir amazement,CRACK! the virusesexploded in just 20 seconds!Another day, on a sunny day this time, virusesaccidentally fell intobarrels of alcohol left at the entrance of a castle. Again, they disintegrated in an instant!SOAPTWO INGENIOUSTECHNIQUESTWO INGENIOUSTECHNIQUES

21Illustration: David MacNair— SCIENCES MAG JUNIOR • NOVEMBER 2020 —Inspired by these two discoveries, the great CrisisCouncil takes action. It sends its cleaning teams tokill the Coronas who have settled on the walls of thecastle. When the first team brushes the walls withsoap on rainy days, the Coronas burst and fall deadone after the other!The second team prefers to work on sunny days when the walls are dry. They spraythem with alcohol. There too, the enemies disintegrate by the thousands. Bothtechniques give great results: very few Coronas succeed in breaking through the wallsof the castle.SOAP

Illustration: Tadens Mpwene22— SCIENCES MAG JUNIOR • NOVEMBER 2020 —So we can manage to destroy the Coronas?Yes Juan, as long as the coronaviruses (SARS-CoV-2) have not entered our body, they are very fragile. If you cut one of them in half, you can see its skin, which is called "membrane" and is made of fat. Key(protein allowing the virus to enter the cells) Genome of the virus Membrane(fat)Without their membrane, the coronaviruseswould break into pieces and could no longermake you sick.DR. GUILLAUME POLIQUINNational MicrobiologyLaboratoryPublic Health Agency of Canada

23Illustration: Tadens Mpwene— SCIENCES MAG JUNIOR • NOVEMBER 2020 —SOAP MOLECULE TO WATER TO FATThat's why soap is our best friend! It is made of many identical molecules. Up close, thesemolecules are pin-shaped (they look just like the one in the magnifying glass), with one partthat likes water (hydrophilic) and the other part that doesn't like it at all (hydrophobic). The one that doesn't like water prefers fat (lipophilic), so it sticks to the membrane of the virus.“But how do you break the membrane of a virus?” Juan asks.

Illustration: Tadens Mpwene24— SCIENCES MAG JUNIOR • NOVEMBER 2020 —AFTER 20 SECONDSOR MOREBEWARE, some viruses have a membrane made of proteins, not fat. Soap does not bind to proteins as well, so these viruses are not as sensitive to soap. This is the case with the virus that causes polio, for example.“So what is the water for?,"Juan continues.When soap andcoronavirusesmeet, the fat-loving part of the soap attaches itself to the membrane of the virus.SOAP

25Illustration: Tadens Mpwene— SCIENCES MAG JUNIOR • NOVEMBER 2020 —When we wash our hands well, there is enough water to ensure the victory of the water-loving part. The result: CRACK! Lots of small pieces of coronavirusdisappear at the bottom of your sink.That's why in the story, soap only works on rainy days: you need water!Then once you rinseyour hands with water, the water-loving part of the soap will attach to it.Then there is a powerstruggle between the part of the moleculethat likes water and the one that likes fat!The temperature of the water has no effect on how the coronaviruses on your hands are killed.

Illustration: Tadens Mpwene26— SCIENCES MAG JUNIOR • NOVEMBER 2020 —I sometimes use hydro-alcoholic gel. I know there is water in it, but there is no soap. So how does it protect me?PROF. KEVIN COOMBS Dept. Medical Microbiology and Infectious DiseasesRady Faculty of Health SciencesUniversity of ManitobaGels contain different kinds of alcohol and other chemicals. These molecules attack viruses a few different ways. Alcohol makes the membrane of a virus more fragile by making small holes in it. It can also go inside the virus and "lock in place" the molecules that are essential for its survival. This makes it possible to kill the virus. Like soap, hydro-alcoholic gels do not kill all viruses, but they do kill the coronavirus. Gels are also more effective when hands are dry. That's why in the story, alcohol only works on sunny days!BEWARE, for your hydro-alcoholic gel to be effective, it must contain at least 60 % alcohol.

27Illustration: Tadens Mpwene— SCIENCES MAG JUNIOR • NOVEMBER 2020 —Here is the best way to get rid of coronaviruses by cleaning your hands with soap and water:1. hold your hands under running water;2. apply soap to the entire surface of your hands;3. rub your hands palm to palm;4. rub the back of each hand;5. rub between your fingers;6. rub your fingertips;7. rub your thumbs and between your thumbs and forefingers;8. rub your fingernails against your palms;9. after rubbing your hands together for 20 to 40 seconds, rinse them well with water;10. use a disposable towel to dry your hands;11. keep the same towel to turn off the faucet, then throw it in the garbage; 12. now, your hands are really clean!If you don't have access to soap and water, you can do the same thing with somehydro-alcoholic gel containing at least 60 % alcohol, or an alcohol-free gel certifiedby Health Canada. To be sure it is certified, look for your gel’s NPN or DIN number. When your gel has evaporated after rubbing all your fingers together, your hands aredry and virus-free!181011122345679

Illustration: David MacNair28— SCIENCES MAG JUNIOR • NOVEMBER 2020 —Rebecca,anotherTerratumleader, calls a newmeeting of the CrisisCouncil.PROTECTINGENTRANCESPROTECTINGENTRANCES

29Illustration: David MacNair— SCIENCES MAG JUNIOR • NOVEMBER 2020 —She shares with her colleagues that the scientists on hercontinent noticed that the Coronas liked to enter through the maindoor and windows of a castle.The scientists then experimented with several barricades to thecastle’s entrances.

Illustration: David MacNair30— SCIENCES MAG JUNIOR • NOVEMBER 2020 —The first scientist placed a cloth sheet over theentrance of the castle. The advancement of theCoronas was slowed down, but the texture of thecloth was a bit loose and some very strongCoronas were able to sneak through.The second scientist set up a thickerfabric, with a tighter mesh. Even fewerCoronas were able to get through, but afew smart guys still managed to overcomethe obstacle.As for the third scientist, he wasinspired by chain mail which soldiers usein battle, especially that of Knight N95,who has never been wounded. The scientist therefore had the largestand finest coat of chain mail ever seenon Terratum made, and he coveredthe entrance of the castle with it. The result was ground-breaking:almost no Coronas were able tomake it through!

31Illustration: Tadens Mpwene— SCIENCES MAG JUNIOR • NOVEMBER 2020 —You're absolutely right, Emma, there are indeed several kinds of facemasks. Facemasks are worn for two reasons: to protect us and also to protect others from us.ClothfacemaskYour mask should have at leastthree layers: two layers oftightly woven fabric (linen orcotton) and a third layer inbetween, such as a non-wovenpolypropylene fabric filter.PROF. EVELYN LOMedical Director for Infection ControlSt. Boniface HospitalManitobaMust be replaced as soon asit is dirty or wet, and washed after each use.Cross section of a cloth facemaskMost people use CLOTH FACEMASKS. These masks aremostly used to catch our germs and prevent them fromspreading to people close to us. The droplets from our sneezes,coughs, singing and talking that contain our germs get "caught"in the mask, so they usually cannot reach the people around us.Cloth facemasks are most effective when everyone wears them,especially when we can't be at least 2 metres away from eachother. Most people wear cloth masks to save the medical masks (theother 2 types of masks) for the healthcare workers, so that theycan safely care for sick people.This story reminds me of thefacemasks we have to wear! I've heard there are different kinds of masks and that they don't protect us the same way.

Illustration: Tadens Mpwene32— SCIENCES MAG JUNIOR • NOVEMBER 2020 —Healthcare workers often wear SURGICAL FACEMASKS.They are made of a special material that prevents mostdroplets from entering or leaving their nose or mouth. SurgicalfacemaskWear for amaximum of 4hoursAnd sometimes they wear N95 FACEMASKS. These masks are worn extra tight on the face. Theytoo are made of special materials, which prevent eventhe smallest particles (aerosols) carrying viruses fromgetting in. These masks are used in hospitals forspecial treatments or operations on sick patients.N95facemaskWear for amaximum of 8hoursCross section of a surgical facemaskCross section of an N95 facemask

33Illustration: Tadens Mpwene— SCIENCES MAG JUNIOR • NOVEMBER 2020 —COVID-19 is spread mostly by droplets that have the SARS-CoV-2 virus germ in them. We spread these droplets by coughing and sneezing, but also by singing and loud talking when we are infected by COVID-19. The problem with COVID-19 is that we can spread the virus before even knowing we are sick.That’s why in order to protect ourselves, but more importantly to protect others, we wear a facemask.Protecting others with our cloth facemasks?What do you mean by that?RISK OF TRANSMISSIONRISK OF TRANSMISSIONRISK OF TRANSMISSION

Illustration: Tadens Mpwene34— SCIENCES MAG JUNIOR • NOVEMBER 2020 —DR. JOSÉ FRANÇOIS Centre de santé Saint-BonifaceDept. Family MedicineRady Faculty of Health SciencesUniversity of ManitobaYou are right Li-Na, when you are sick it is very important to stay home. This is obvious when you are very sick. Some people even have to go to the hospital because they may have other illnesses that make them more fragile (co-morbidities) and that can really make COVID-19 worse.Other people are just a little sick. They have mild symptoms that can vary and may be reminiscent of other illnesses such as a cold or the flu: headache, fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose, stomach ache, diarrhea, loss of taste or smell, fatigue...Again, it is very important to stay home when you are experiencing any of these symptoms.The problem is when peoplecarry the virus without having any symptoms.They are called asymptomaticcarriers. Even though they are not sick, they are still contagious!Why don't people just stay home if they are sick? That would stop the virus!SymptomaticAsymptomatic

35Illustration: Tadens Mpwene— SCIENCES MAG JUNIOR • NOVEMBER 2020 —Asymptomatic carriers can unknowingly infect others, for example by breathing hard when they exercise.That's why it's really important that everyone wears their facemask around others, even if they feel well. It’s also important to go get tested if you think you're sick or if you've been in contact with someonewho thinks they're sick. It's the only way to know for sure if you've got COVID-19 or not.

Illustration: Tadens Mpwene36— SCIENCES MAG JUNIOR • NOVEMBER 2020 —I often see people wearing their facemasksin a weird way... I don't think it's the rightway to wear them.You're absolutely right, Idriss. It's very important to wear your facemask the right way, otherwise it won't be effective. It must cover both your nose and mouth, and go all the way down under your chin. With a well put on mask, you limit the quantity of droplets that you project around you. You can then store your mask in a small, clean plastic box, with the outside of your mask facing the bottom of the box.MARTINE BOUCHARDPresident and Chief Executive OfficerSt. Boniface HospitalManitoba

37Illustration: Tadens Mpwene— SCIENCES MAG JUNIOR • NOVEMBER 2020 —Yes there is. Before putting on your mask, you shouldfirst wash your hands.Then you need to holdyour mask by the strapson the sides.With clean hands,contour the top of yourmask to the shape ofyour nose, and pull thebottom of your maskunder your chin so thatno air can get through.Take your mask by the ends of its straps.If it's a single-use mask,dispose of it in a designatedarea (definitely not on thestreet or in nature, as it can take hundreds of years to decompose!).Place the straps behindyour ears.Before taking your maskoff, wash your handsagain.Remove your maskgently.After taking your mask off, don't forget to washyour hands again.“When I put on my mask, how do I keep itclean? Is there a special way to put it on and take it off?"132547698

Illustration: Tadens Mpwene38— SCIENCES MAG JUNIOR • NOVEMBER 2020 —Is it really safe to wear afacemask? Sometimes I get alittle headache when I wear minefor a long time and I feel like I'mrunning out of oxygen....DR. PHILIPPE LAGACÉ-WIENS Medical microbiologistSt. Boniface HospitalManitobaCALGARYAltitude : 1,045 mWINNIPEGAltitude : 239 mO2(Oxygen) O2(Oxygen)WinnipegBanffCalgaryWithout a maskWith a maskEverestDon't worry Juan, wearing a facemask isn't dangerous and it shouldn't give you a headache if you're healthy, because it has very little effect on the amount of oxygen your body cells get when you breathe.Worst-case scenario, it has the same effect as a very small change in altitude, such as betweenWinnipeg (239 metres) and Calgary (1,045 metres). And you can see that even when you go skiing in Banff (1,383 metres), you have no problem breathing! The vast majority of people, including those with mild breathing problems, can safely wear a mask.However, the stress and anxiety of this pandemic can certainly cause headaches!Now if someone has severe lung or heart disease, or severe asthma, facemasks can be a problem. If this is the case, you should talk to your doctor because each case is unique.

39Illustration: Tadens Mpwene— SCIENCES MAG JUNIOR • NOVEMBER 2020 —“What if I'm sick and I'm breathing in my own viruses in my mask, am I going to get sicker?," Juan worries...You know Juan, once a person is infected, there are thousands of viruses in every drop of their mucous and saliva. So they alwaysbreathe and swallow their own viruses in large quantities, whether they wear a mask or not.It is completely wrong to say that the facemask makes the disease worse.

Illustration: Tadens Mpwene40— SCIENCES MAG JUNIOR • NOVEMBER 2020 —“I'm afraid I'll get pimples too," Juan continues. “Last week I saw my cousinin a videoconference and he showed me that he had pimples on his face. He says it's because of his mask.Unfortunately, Juan, it's true that wearing a facemask can cause acne pimples and other skindiseases.Your skin has lots of tiny holes called pores that allow it to make oil to protect itself, like the moats of the castles. Sometimes these pores are clogged by small bacteria that live on your skin. When that happens, pimples appear.When you wear a facemask, it increases the humidity and temperature around your mouth, and therefore the sweat and oil production of your skin. Unfortunately, this creates an environmentmore conducive to clogged pores and the growth of bacteria. In some people like your cousin, pimples can appear. But it's not as bad to get a few pimples as it is to get COVID-19, or to pass it on to someone else!And don't worry, you can reduceyour chances of getting pimples.First you can take off your facemask every 2-3 hours, but only if you are more than 2 metres (6 feet) away from other people!You can also wear a mask that absorbs moisture better, like a cotton or linen mask. However, avoid masks made of synthetic materials such as polyester or plastic.And don't forget to wash your mask every night and take care of your skin. To do that, clean your face with a mild soap (noncomedogenic) that does not clog the pores.PoreOilDrop of sweatClogBacteria

Illustration: Tadens MpweneIf your mask is washable, it is important to wash it thoroughlyafter each use. Once removed from your face, you can put itin a bag provided for this purpose and then clean it in a washingmachine. Here is what to do: Machine-wash your mask with regular detergent,without fabric softener. You can wash it with something else (towels, bed sheets...). Wash your mask for at least 30 minutes at 60 degrees Celsius. Within 2 hours after washing, dry your mask (tumble dry, blow dry or air dry). Iron your mask at the warmest temperaturepossible for the type of fabric of your mask. Inspect your mask when it is clean and dry. If you can see a small tear, discard it.Never boil your mask, as it can weaken the fabric!Don't put your mask in your freezer, this levelof cold has no effect on the coronavirus!Don't iron your dirty mask without firstwashing it. You wouldn't think of ironing your dirty clothes, right?!1 2 3456 78At least 30 minutes/60˚ CMaximum2 hoursWhat not to do!41— SCIENCES MAG JUNIOR • NOVEMBER 2020 —

Illustration: David MacNairMissionaccomplished:the Coronascould not getthrough thisdense and very resistantmaterial.The Crisis Council met Walter the Enchanter: a scientistwho likes to invent completely new materials. The mostrecent one to date: "vinylatexus", which looks like rubber...Walter the Enchanter offers tothe members of the council towrap his "vinylatexus" on thetowers of the castles. He isconvinced that this will preventthe Coronas from entering!AN EFFECTIVE RECIPEAN EFFECTIVE RECIPE42— SCIENCES MAG JUNIOR • NOVEMBER 2020 —

Illustration: Tadens MpweneThe virus that causes COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) does not infect us directly through our hands but rather when we touch our mouth, nose or eyes. So if you touch a surface that has viruses on it with your gloves, your gloves will be contaminated (just like your hands would be if you didn't wear gloves), and then if you touch your face with your contaminated gloves, you can still get sick! We healthcare workers wear gloves when we care for patients who have COVID-19 to limit the amount of virus that can get on our hands. But for gloves to work, we have to put them on and take them off in a very specific way, like surgeons, being careful not to touch the outside of the gloves where there could be viruses. And most importantly, we ALWAYS wash our hands before putting them on, and after taking them off.REMEMBER: washing your hands often and for at least 20 seconds is the best way to protect yourself from viruses.1 23456743— SCIENCES MAG JUNIOR • NOVEMBER 2020 —You know Li-Na, wearing gloves does notprotect people against viruses. That’s because when people wear gloves, they think they can't get sick, but that's not true. BEWARE gloves can take several decades to decompose. Don't throw them anywhere!This product that Walter the Enchanter made is a bit like the latexgloves some people wear! Why can't we all wear gloves during a pandemic? Then we wouldn't have to wash our hands!DR. ISABELLE PAQUINHead of medical serviceCentre de santé Saint-BonifaceManitoba

Illustration: Tadens MpweneJuan, when dentists work on your teeth, they are physically very close to you and your mouth.And remember, when you're sick, you have lots of germs in your saliva.So dentists and other healthcare professionalsneed to take extra steps to protect themselves. That's why some of them wear a lab coat, a plastic mask that covers their entire face (face shield), or goggles.This also allows them to protect their patients from possible germs they may be unknowingly carrying.But it would be impossible to equip everyone with all of these protections!When I went to my dentist, I noticed that in addition to all those protections, he was wearing others. Why don't we also wear them? Are they only for dentists?Face shield GlovesLab coat N95Facemask 44— SCIENCES MAG JUNIOR • NOVEMBER 2020 —DR. MARC MOLLOT DentistManitoba Dental AssociationDon't forget: with their equipment, doctors and other healthcareprofessionals are looking out for your safety. Don't be afraid to go see them as you did before, it's important for your health!

Illustration: Tadens MpweneDo we have more ways to protect ourselves, then?DR. LAURA SLYBC Children's Hospital Research InstituteUniversity of British ColumbiaThere are many other things we can do to protectourselves, our families and our friends from COVID-19. When everyone does their part, we protect each other better.For instance, we can make sure to disinfect all surfaces and items we have touched. There is also something called "physical distancing". The droplets we project which can transmit COVID-19 are pretty heavy so they can't even travel 2 metres (6 feet).That’s why it is important to keep at least 2 metres (6 feet) away from other people.2 metres / 6 feet2 metres / 6 feet45— SCIENCES MAG JUNIOR • NOVEMBER 2020 —

Illustration: Tadens MpweneYes, and when physical distancing is not possible, everyone must act responsibly and wear a face mask. The other thing you have to do, which is even mandatory, is to "self-isolate" when you mayhave been exposed to someonewho has COVID.That means staying home for 14 days. That's how longit takes to make sure you won't infect someone else if you're sick. And since you can't even go to the grocery store, you have to get your groceriesdelivered to your place without any physical contact with the delivery person!46— SCIENCES MAG JUNIOR • NOVEMBER 2020 —“Sometimes physical distancing is not possible”, Idriss points out. “For example when we take a plane...”

Illustration: Tadens Mpwene47— SCIENCES MAG JUNIOR • NOVEMBER 2020 —I know it’s difficult to live with all these new rules, but I think you have been very creative in finding other ways to say hello to each other while respecting physical distancing!

Illustration: Tadens Mpwene48— SCIENCES MAG JUNIOR • NOVEMBER 2020 —Something worries me. I wonder how you can spot such a small virus in your body and know if you are sick, when there are so many other germs…DR. ABDELILAH SOUSSI-GOUNNIDept. ImmunologyRady Faculty of Health SciencesUniversity of ManitobaWe use a technique called “polymerase chain reaction” or PCRTo understand better, imagine if your friend had a megaphone to call you from across the playground.You would hear him better, wouldn't you? That's because his voice would have been amplified.

49Illustration: Tadens Mpwene— SCIENCES MAG JUNIOR • NOVEMBER 2020 —You see Sam, the PCR technique does the same thing: it amplifies small parts of the virus’ genetic materialyou're looking for, without affectingsurrounding viruses and bacteria.NAME/ID: CORONAVIRUSGENETIC BLUEPRINTTO CORONAVIRUSEXCLUSIVELY RESERVED NAME/ID: CORONAVIRUSGENETIC BLUEPRINTNAME/ID: CORONAVIRUSGENETIC BLUEPRINTNAME/ID: CORONAVIRUSGENETIC BLUEPRINTNAME/ID: CORONAVIRUSGENETIC BLUEPRINTYour teacher, Ms. Laura, uses a photocopier to duplicate the exam pages for your class. Likewise, the researchers use PCR to copy the genetic material of a virus from a sample taken from the back of your nose. What we use in the labs isn’t called a photocopier though, but a thermocycler.Genetic material is made of molecules that dictate how a virus lives and behaves. The PCR allows the researcher to reproduce this material in a test tube by heating, cooling and repeating cycles thousands and thousands of times.Finally the material has been amplified up to a billion times so we can easily recognize it.THE THERMOCYCLER

50— SCIENCES MAG JUNIOR • NOVEMBER 2020 —Illustration: Tadens MpweneWhat if the virus is no longer in my body?Is it still possible to know if I have beeninfected?To answer that, let’s go back to whatwe learned about the immune systemlast year. Who remembers that?PROF. JEAN-ERIC GHIA

51— SCIENCES MAG JUNIOR • NOVEMBER 2020 —51Illustrations: Tadens Mpwene and David MacNairI remember! There were B cellsthat threw Y-shaped antibodieson the viruses that had managedto get into the body.

52— SCIENCES MAG JUNIOR • NOVEMBER 2020 —Illustrations: Tadens Mpwene and David MacNairGood job Sam, you have a good memory! Indeed, if germs, or microbes, make it past the mouth or nose through saliva or mucus, we have special units of white blood cells called immune cells that can hunt down germs and destroy them.There are guards, such as neutrophils and natural killer cells; soldiers, such as some of the T lymphocyte cells which attack and destroy infected cells, and some of the B lymphocyte cells which produce Y-shaped antibodies. There are also garbage collectors, such as macrophages. And there are memory B and T lymphocyte cells which remember all the invaders they have ever encountered. NeutrophilRed bloodcellNatural killer cellMacrophagePlateletDendritic cellAntibodiesTBBTINSIDE OF A BLOODVESSELB and Tlymphocyte cells, and memory B and Tlymphocyte cells

53Illustration: David MacNair— SCIENCES MAG JUNIOR • NOVEMBER 2020 —All these immune cells help to protect us, just like the guards and soldiers in a castle.Castles are often under attack and their guardsare always on the lookout to find, catch and killthe attackers before they can harm the villagers!But sometimes attackers are too strong or too sneaky. They overpower the guards and enter the castle. Special backup teams of spies and soldiers then come in to help them.If the germs are too powerful, other cells are called in to help.Natural Guard Team Garbage Collector Team Scientific name: MacrophageJob: Some of the first cells to respond to any newinfection and go to the infected zone.Duties: Clean up, eat germs and send information tosoldiers.Soldier TeamScientific name: Neutrophil and natural killer cells Job: Some of the first cells to respond to any newinfection and go to the infected zone.Duties: Attack, eat and kill any dangerous lookinggerms, outside or inside infected cells of the body.Scientific name: B and T lymphocyte cells, and memory B and T lymphocyte cells Job: Specialized soldiers for targeted attacks.Duties: Some T cells will find, attack and kill any cellsin our body infected by a particular germ. B cells will throw special Y-shaped chemicaltargets called antibodies onto germs. Whencovered wit antibodies, the germs will becomemore delicious to macrophages and neutrophils.The memory B and T cells will remember andrecognize all the germs that the soldiers haverepelled so that they can fight them better in the nextattack. Scientific name: Dendritic cell Job: Relay information between first responsecells and specialized soldiers.Duties: With their multiple hands (dendrites), theycapture germs and bring them to B and Tcells to be studied. If the germs are too powerful, other cells are called in to help. Spy Team TBTB

Illustration: Tadens Mpwene54— SCIENCES MAG JUNIOR • NOVEMBER 2020 —PROF. RUEY SUNational Microbiology LaboratoryPublic Health Agency of CanadaRemember the Y-shaped antibodiesthat B cells make to launch at the virus and fight it, Emma?These antibodies target special markingson SARS-CoV-2 and remainin the blood long after the virus is cleared.With this knowledge, the scientists created a test called a "serological" test. It requires adding a smallamount of your blood to a test material that mimics the markings on the virus to see if Y-shaped antibodiesthat are present in your blood stick to them. This will determine if there were Y-shaped antibodies to targetthis virus’ markings in your blood already.This test is easy and fast because only people who have been infected with the virus can have Y-shaped antibodies. However, it can’t tell us if the virus is still in the body or not.So, what test do you needto find out if you have beeninfected before?AntibodiesRed bloodcells

55— SCIENCES MAG JUNIOR • NOVEMBER 2020 —55Illustrations: Tadens Mpwene and David MacNair“When you say that antibodies stay in the body for a long time, does that mean a lifetime?," Emma says, astonished.You see, Emma, it's a difficult question. We know that the Y-shaped antibodies stay in bodies for several months after the virus is cleared, but the exact length of time differs from body tobody and from virus to virus.As long as the antibodies are in your body, if a virus shows up, the antibodies will stop it from entering and infecting you.But even when you run out of antibodies, your memory B cells will remember how to make new ones.

Illustration: David MacNair56— SCIENCES MAG JUNIOR • NOVEMBER 2020 —As the Coronas invade one castle afteranother, the great Crisis Council realizesthat soldiers waste far too much timerecognizing the viruses with each attack.The members of the Councildecide to sendtheir scientiststo captureCoronas during battles,to render themharmless bycutting off theirarms and crest,and to bringthem to thecastles thathave not beeninfected yet.THE CAPTURE OFTHE CORONASTHE CAPTURE OFTHE CORONAS

57Illustration: David MacNair— SCIENCES MAG JUNIOR • NOVEMBER 2020 —This allows them to memorize the appearance of theenemy before they even meet them and thus be betterprepared for future attacks. They will then be able tofight the Coronas faster without causing too muchdamage to the castle!Inside the castles, the harmlessCoronas are introduced to thesoldiers, who learn to recognizethem during training courses.

Illustrations: Tadens Mpwene and David MacNair58— SCIENCES MAG JUNIOR • NOVEMBER 2020 —In the story, when they capture Coronas to bringthem to the castles, it's a bit like a vaccine, isn't it? I don't remember exactly how a vaccine works…PROF. GARY KOBINGERDept. Microbiology-Infectiology and ImmunologyFaculty of MedicineLaval UniversityQuebecIn your body, the dendritic cells of your immune system (Spy Team) will first bring and present the dead Coronasthat have been sent into your blood vessels by the vaccine to the B and T cells (Soldier Team).But it's important to understand that vaccines don't contain the live virus or bacteria that cause diseases!Just as in the story of Terratum, vaccines contain a dead or weakened virus, or fragments of its infectious parts, or small amounts of bacteria. They will not make you sick.The purpose of vaccination is to fight off infectious diseases by teaching your body to recognize a virus or bacteria more quickly by stimulating the immune system.

59Illustration: David MacNair— SCIENCES MAG JUNIOR • NOVEMBER 2020 —Then the B and T cells will talk to each other to develop a battle plan against this virus.Finally, your body will create memory cells that can recognize this virus. These cells will join the soldiers' team. This means that if "real" bacteriaor viruses later infect you, your memory cells will make your B and T cells react and produce antibodies quicker to defeat them. You'll be rid of that virus or bacteria before they can even multiply in your body! That's what vaccination is all about.Afterwards, the B cells will producelots of Y-shaped antibodies to eliminate the harmless viruses or bacteria.

Illustration: Tadens Mpwene60— SCIENCES MAG JUNIOR • NOVEMBER 2020 —DiseasesAverage number per year of casesbefore the vaccine (1)Average number per year of casesafter the vaccine (2)DecreaseWhooping cough 17,777 2,332 87%Measles 53,584 292 99%Mumps 36,101 103 99%Rubella 14,974 1 99%Diphtheria 8,142 1 99%Polio 2,545 0 100%(1) The average number of pre-vaccine cases is the averagenumber of cases reported annually in Canada during the5 years prior to the offer of routine immunization, orthe 5 years closest to a stable reporting period.(2)The average number of cases after the vaccine is theaverage number of cases reported annually in Canadabetween 2011 and 2015.Based on data from the Public Health Agency of CanadaYes, Idriss, it works! In recent years,vaccination has almost eliminated some diseases such as rubella, mumps and measles. Vaccination has also made it possible in some countries like Canada to eradicate polio, a disease that paralyzes the legs.DiphtheriaWhoopingcoughRubellaVaccines that work!Do vaccinesreally work?

61Illustration: Tadens Mpwene— SCIENCES MAG JUNIOR • NOVEMBER 2020 —“If vaccines are so effective, why don't we make one right nowagainst COVID-19?” Idriss asks.In the past Idriss, it has taken up to 34 years to develop a new vaccine. It took 15 years for the latest one, the human papillomavirus vaccine. Today, against COVID-19, scientists around the world are working together to try to shorten that time to 15 months.That is very complicated!But new technologies now exist to develop new kinds of vaccines, which should be ready for testing and approval in the coming months. One thing is certain: a coronavirus vaccineis eagerly awaited by the whole world as a key tool to finally bring the COVID-19 pandemic to an end!DR. PIERRE PLOURDEDept. Community Health SciencesRady Faculty of Health SciencesUniversity of ManitobaMeasles9 years (1954-1963)Mumps4 years (1963-1967)Chickenpox34 years (1954-1988)Polio7 years (1948-1955)HumanPapillomavirus(HPV)15 years (1991-2006)

62— SCIENCES MAG JUNIOR • NOVEMBER 2020 —“If scientists are moving faster on COVID-19, are researchersconfident that the vaccine will be safe?”, Idriss asks.That's one of the most important questions about brand new vaccines. Vaccines are among the most effective tools ever developed to prevent infections.DISCOVERY ANDEXPLORATION2 TO 5 YEARSThis is the time when researchers discover thepiece of an infectious germ with special shapes(antigens). They start making a vaccine to tryout in experiments.DISCOVERY,EXPLORATION ANDLAB TESTING3 TO 6 MONTHSPHASE 12 TO 3 MONTHSPHASE 22 TO 3 MONTHSIn order to speed up the making of one or more potential COVID vaccines thatmeet Canadian safety and efficiency standards, Phase 3 trials are currentlyoverlapping with data submissions from ongoing trials. In Canada, vaccinemanufacturers whose products are in Phase 3 trials can submit data as it iscollected by Health Canada. For the moment, we don’t know how long it may take.LAB TESTING1 TO 2 YEARSUsing experiments, researchers test the newvaccine in their labs. If researchers see thatthe new vaccine works in the lab and is safe,then they can plan to test it in humans.PHASE 11 TO 2 YEARSResearchers test the new vaccine ina small group of healthy people tomake sure it is safe to use (20-100volunteers). Researchers study howthe immune system responds. If thevaccine helps people make antibodiesand it is safe, they can move on to thenext phase of tests.UNDER NORMALCIRCUMSTANCES15 YEARSPROF. JASON KINDRACHUCKDept. Microbiology and Infectious DiseasesRady Faculty of Health SciencesUniversity of ManitobaIN TIME OF CRISIS15 MONTHSPHASE 3 AND REGULATION? MONTHS

63Illustration: Tadens Mpwene— SCIENCES MAG JUNIOR • NOVEMBER 2020 —But since COVID-19 is a new and devastating pandemic, researchers around the worldare working together to try to speed things up, while making sure that the vaccineswork and are safe to use.PHASE 4AT LEAST3 OR 4 MONTHSPHASE 22 YEARSResearchers test the vaccine inlarger groups of people (100s ofvolunteers) who might be exposed tothe new germs, to see if the vaccinehelps prevent them from geingsick. They might also try differentways of giving the vaccine (takingpills or geing a needle) to see whichworks best. If it is safe and it worksto help protect people, they willmove on to the next phase of tests.PHASE 33 YEARSResearchers test the new vaccine in very large groups(1000s of volunteers) to make sure there are no badside effects that they might miss in small grouptesting. This phase brings in a wider variety ofvolunteers who may come in contact with the newgerms in their daily life. If it helps lower the number ofpeople who get sick and side effects are low, thevaccine is almost ready to be approved for use inhealth care.REGULATION2 YEARSNow that the vaccine has been shown to be safeand we know that it works, governments needto say that it is OK to use for everybody. Theywill look at all the information that researchershave collected. Once they approve it,companies can make lots of the vaccine soeveryone can get it from their doctors.MONITORING •PHASE 4AT LEAST 2 YEARSFollowing vaccination, doctors and researcherswill continue to monitor the safety of thevaccine over time, just to make sure everythingis OK.When new types of vaccines are developed for a newvirus, researchers put additional safety measures inplace to ensure that the vaccine is both effective andsafe. People who receive the vaccine will be closelymonitored, both during research testing and for manymonths afterwards.DR. HEATHER WILSONVaccine & Infectious DiseaseOrganizationUniversity of Saskatchewan

By learning about this virus and the ways to better protect ourselves against it,we can better slow down its spread while we wait for researchers to find a vaccine or drugs.2 metres / 6 feet2 metres / 6 feetIn the meantime, let’s remain vigilant.