At the Lerner Center, we are concerned about the COVID-19 outbreak. Below are resources we think are helpful at this time.
An emerging infectious respiratory disease (COVID-19) caused by a new coronavirus was first identified in Wuhan, China, and has since spread and continues to evolve quickly across the globe including in the United States. Public health officials locally and across the globe are tracking the outbreak. Below, you will find:
- Where to find official source of information on COVID-19.
- Links to the latest information on what authorities know about the disease, including a real-time, interactive dashboard created by researchers at the John Hopkins University.
- Free health and medical research on COVID-19
Where to go for information
- Get up-to-date information from the CDC
- Johns Hopkins Novel Coronavirus mapping dashboard (updated in real time)
- Harvard Medical School: Coronavirus Resource Center
For health professionals, decision-makers and the public
- Real-time training for the Coronavirus disease outbreak (translation is available in 17 languages)
- Hastings Center Ethical Framework for Health Care Institutions and Guidelines for Institutional Ethics Services.
- Data Slice: The Spatial Distribution of New York State’s Older Population: Let’s Keep New York’s Older Adults Safe and Healthy during the Coronavirus Pandemic
How do I protect myself and help to prevent its spread?
Given the grave and uncertain nature of COVID-19, at the Lerner Center, we advocate the practice of social distancing so that we, as a community, can do our part to curtail the transmission of the virus. This is important given that COVID-19 appears to be fairly contagious and with an asymptomatic period longer than the common cold or seasonal flu. Social distancing means to avoid unnecessary mixing and social situations.
Other basic measures to stay healthy include
- Washing your hands with soap often and for at least 20 seconds.
- If soap and water aren’t available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer (at least 60%).
- Avoid heavily public areas and touching eyes, nose, and mouth.
- Stay at home if you begin to feel unwell, even with mild symptoms such as headache and slightly runny nose, until you recover.
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.