Prof. Amy Greer, Department of Population Medicine, spoke to CTVNews.ca as well as CTV’s Your Morning on how to prepare for a local COVID-19 outbreak and how to decide whether to travel.

Greer told CTVNews.ca that the average person doesn’t need to be stockpiling medical supplies such as masks because their effectiveness is low.

“We are already seeing problems with shortages of masks, which could lead to challenges for the people who actually need them the most,” she said.

Instead, she advised Canadians develop a plan in case they or a family member is placed under quarantine.

Greer is the Canada Research Chair in Population Disease Modelling. She is currently using disease transmission models to help the federal government assess how the new coronavirus might spread and how surges in hospital demand could play out based on different scenarios.

She has conducted several radio interviews in recent days offering her expertise and best advice.

Here’s what she told CTV’s Your Morning about what Canada is doing to prepare for outbreaks here: