Ms. Cynthia Carr
Epidemiologist and Executive Director of MANTRA Inc., EPI Research Inc. and Manitoba Tobacco Reduction Alliance Inc.
I am committed to fighting "infodemics" and disinformation and finding the most clear and direct ways to communicate complex information. The COVID-19 pandemic was a "trial by fire" moving from never being in the media to being one of the "go to" resources in Manitoba as well as across Canada. Through this I understand the importance of continuing to commit to active participation in communication to our public.
I have taken my passion for health to a new place recently - I am now the Executive Director of Manitoba Tobacco Reduction Alliance Inc. which is the only organization in Manitoba funded by government to lead the charge in education and policy collaboration in efforts to reduce access to nicotine and tobacco products. I am here to talk to you always about what we learned from COVID-19, access to healthcare, vaccine hesitancy but PLEASE REACH OUT for my support in discussions related to prevention of access to tobacco and nicotine products.
Media
Understanding COVID-19 in audience friendly messaging
CTV Morning Winnipeg, March 4, 2020Television
URL: https://winnipeg.ctvnews.ca/video?clipId=1914399&jwsource=em
A new concept in audience friendly messaging - "how is COVID-19 like a case of pop?"
CJAD 800 AM, April 9, 2020Radio/Podcast
Chatting about what we can take from Federal Government Projections - what is the role of healthcare, elected officials and ourselves? Analogy of our Youth to Team Canada. Empowered and action based messaging focus.
CJAD 800 AM, April 7, 2020Radio/Podcast
URL: https://www.iheartradio.ca/cjad/audio
Chatting with Natasha Hall about our power as Canadians to push the worst case projections toward the best case. COVID-19 can be stopped if we work together.
The Morning Show with Devon Peacock on Global News Radio 980 CFPL, March 31, 2020Radio/Podcast
URL: https://epiresearch.ca/2020/04/cynthia-carr-global-news-radio/
Discussion of importance of investment in public health in all aspects, including pandemic planning.
CBC Edmonton, March 16, 2020Radio/Podcast
URL: https://www.cbc.ca/listen/live-radio/1-17-edmonton-am/clip/15765934-what-is-social-distancing
Discussion of concept of social distancing compared to quarantine and isolation. Discussion of purpose and I related to immune system and concept of reason for vaccine. In absence of vaccine, this is a positive preventative measure. Discussion of concept though and how it is reasonably achieved in daily life.
CBC Edmonton, February 18, 2020Radio/Podcast
Live on air discussion with Mark Connolly about reasons for use of emergency room and challenges with healthcare access among indigenous, northern and rural residents.
I tracekd everything I touched on my morning commute. Here's what public health experts had to say about it.
Toronto Star, March 15, 2020Print
Providing expertise on Toronto Star Reporter's journey using public transportation to work and her risk of disease exposure. Very audience friendly messaging commenting in five minute intervals about what she was doing on the way to work. Good choices and those that may offer higher risk.
Coronavirus could decimate small and isolated communities in Nunavut
Maclean's Magazine, April 17, 2020Online
Opinion piece authored by Dr. Michelle Cohen; Cynthia participated as an expert pertaining to risk in northern communities.
Has Alberta reacted well to COVID-19, and is what we're doing working?
CBC News, April 7, 2020Online
"There is nothing more important than an understanding of the [decision-making] structure," said Manitoba-based epidemiologist Cynthia Carr.
"And how those decisions are communicated with the command and control of the situation and outward to the public.
"Because you can see from our neighbours to the south, when the president and his chief medical officer of health are disagreeing on television, then that becomes the conversation for the next half hour on television. The result of that is absolute confusion."
Provinces show signs curve is flattening, but experts still wary
CTV News, April 16, 2020Online
Cynthia Carr said a decrease in cases doesn’t mean Canadians can stop physical distancing measures.
"Those numbers are only going down because we are doing the right thing. Hopefully these measures can decrease over time, but not yet," Carr said in a telephone interview with CTVNews.ca. "It looks like good news, but from an epidemiological perspective, it's not enough data points to say for sure if we are on a downward trend."
A 2nd wave of COVID-19? Alberta scientists warn of asymptomatic spread as province reopens
Global News, May 7, 2020Online
URL: https://globalnews.ca/news/6907516/covid-19-alberta-second-wave-social-distancing/
Epidemiologist Cynthia Carr, the founder of EPI Research Inc. in Winnipeg, MB., said she believes a key difference between the 1918 pandemic and the current COVID-19 situation is the public education effort from health officials.
“[In 1918] It was actually Spain that was saying, ‘Hey everybody, there’s a serious flu going around here,'” she said. “But the countries that were at war were saying, ‘Nope, nothing wrong here. Soldiers, get on those crowded ships… because we’re not going to admit that we’re sick.’
“Transparency in communication is absolutely key in stopping the spread of a virus,” Carr said.
Don’t get too confident about COVID-19 numbers — just do more testing: Winnipeg epidemiologist
Global News - CJOB, April 15, 2020Online
URL: https://globalnews.ca/news/6820586/winnipeg-covid-19-coronavirus-testing/
Excerpt from radio interview.
Two of the last three days have seen zero new cases of the novel coronavirus in Manitoba, but according to a local epidemiologist, it’s too soon to get excited about the numbers. Cynthia Carr of EPI Research told 680 CJOB it’s positive news that there have been a low number of new cases in the past few days, but the more testing is done in Manitoba, the better.
“In epidemiology, we’re always being a little bit careful about making comments about short-term data points, because when we look at time trends, things can go up and down a little bit.”
Coronavirus: Winnipeg biotech company says COVID-19 treatment nearing production
Global News, March 23, 2020Online
Winnipeg epidemiologist Cynthia Carr tells 680 CJOB while any vaccine could still be over a year away, it's important to remember we might not get one at all, as none of the previous six strains of the coronavirus has had a vaccine, so developing treatment is equally important.
"We don't know if someone would become more ill [in the future], but we hope it follows the typical pattern where our immune system is a little bit educated about the virus and you are a little less ill the next time."
Lots to consider before reopening Manitoba schools amid coronavirus pandemic: epidemiologist
Global News - CJOB, May 7, 2020Online
URL: https://globalnews.ca/news/6915677/manitoba-reopening-schools-coronavirus-epidemiologist/
Excerpt from radio interview with 680 CJOB Winnipeg pertaining to risks related to school re-opening in COVID-19 climate.
Epidemiologist says Sask. residents have to be diligent to beat COVID-19
Saskatoon/650 CKOM, April 28, 2020Online
Print excerpt of radio interview with John Gormley regarding outbreak in LaLoche SK and importance of ongoing testing to control spread of Covid-19.
Exposing yourself to COVID-19 to "build immunity" won't work!!!
Huffington Post Canada, April 7, 2020Online
Important discussion to ignore internet rumours and ideas that "we're going to get this anyway - expose yourself and get it over with." This is the OPPOSITE of what we should do. As Canadians we have the power to BLOCK the spread.
‘A sinking feeling’: Canadian experts on when coronavirus first felt like a serious risk
National - Globalnews.ca, April 4, 2020Online
URL: https://globalnews.ca/news/6750755/coronavirus-experts-look-back/
Along with others, provided my thoughts about when I first noticed the discussion of COVID-19, when I realized the importance and how I feel about the situation. In summary, I am very proud to be a Canadian and see the efforts of Public Health and Leadership in their commitment to uniform, action based messaging. I encourage all to remember the value of investment in public health as we see the results in the USA when insufficient resources were allocated to pandemic preparedness.
Edmonton Rural Albertans use ERs more than those in Edmonton and Calgary, review shows
CBC Edmonton, February 17, 2020Online
https://informedopinions.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Leadership-final-March-10-2020.pdf“> How does DATA help Leaders EMPOWER not MANAGE
https://informedopinions.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/What-is-Your-Supportive-Care-Plan-March-11-2020.pdf“> COVID-19 What is YOUR Supportive Care Plan? Let's Educate and Empower
Biography
Cynthia Carr B.A. (Psychology), M.P.A. (Health Policy), M.Sc. (Community Health & Epidemiology) is an independent consultant who has been working for 30 years in the fields of epidemiology and community health assessment. Although she still operates her own business, she has taken on new roles including as the Executive Director of Manitoba Tobacco Reduction Alliance Inc. She also teaches at University of Winnipeg in health and strategic planning.
Cynthia was a frequent media contributor on all platforms across Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic with far too many interview to link in this platform. She is known for her friendly messaging style and willingness to contribute no matter the time of day with an informed and refreshing perspective. Cynthia has been a frequent public speaker since COVID-19 and contributor to organizational risk assessment.
Cynthia completed her education at Queen’s University in Kingston Ontario and started her career with the Government of the NWT in 1994. Since then she has worked with the Government of Nunavut, Government of Manitoba and numerous health authorities, tribal councils and First Nations communities in Manitoba, Ontario and Alberta.
She is Chair of the Chronic Disease Innovation Centre at Seven Oaks Hospital, Board Member at Concordia Hospital and Board Member, Evaluation Lead at KIDS Initiative Inc..