The novel coronavirus outbreak continues to spread, with more than 150 cases verified in Canada, including Sophie Grégoire Trudeau, the prime minister's wife. Cases have been reported in more than 115 countries around the world.

Panic buying has also set in, as stores sell out of hand sanitizer, toilet paper and canned goods.

On this episode of This Is Why, we continue our two-part series looking at the biological and psychological aspects of COVID-19, and how perhaps the biggest challenge in facing a pandemic is in our own heads.

Contact:

Adam Toy - @Adam_Toy on Twitter

Dave McIvor - @d_mac1519 on Twitter

This is Why - @ThisIsWhy on Twitter

Email us - thisiswhy@globalnews.ca

Guests:

Dr. Steven Taylor, professor and clinical psychologist at UBC & author of “The Psychology of Pandemics: Preparing for the next global outbreak of infectious disease”

Dr. Chris Mody, head of the department of Microbiology, Immunology & Infectious Diseases at the University of Calgary

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