Blog

illustration of COVD-19 coronavirus

Making Sense of All the Coronavirus Numbers

Among the many new things we are learning in the age of coronavirus is that humans can produce a lot of data. To help us sort through some of it, we connected with Neil Mehta, assistant professor of Health Management and Policy at the University of Michigan School of Public Health. Mehta’s research and teaching lies at the intersection of demography, epidemiology, and sociology. Mehta’s clear suggestions about how to digest all the data coming at us helps us think through what those really big numbers actually mean for our own health today and into the future.

illustration of COVID-19 coronavirus

Surveillance Testing: Reining in COVID-19 with Data

The need for diagnostic testing has been a critical issue throughout the spread of the coronavirus epidemic. But another form of testing may be the key to gaining control over the pandemic. Surveillance testing currently being performed throughout the world is what is used to gather the data that tells health officials where, who, and how populations are being affected and that can then be used to get in front of further spread. We’ll talk to epidemiologist, Emily Martin about how it works and who’s doing it right.

illustration of the COVID-19 coronavirus

How Coronavirus Is Impacting the Most Vulnerable

Right now, the coronavirus pandemic and the measures we’ve undertaken to stop it are reshaping how millions of people live, work, learn, and manage their health. Though these measures bring difficult new challenges for each of us, for vulnerable populations like the elderly, those with chronic illness and mental health issues, and those without the means to work from home or access affordable healthcare, they can have life-threatening consequences.

illustration of the COVID-19 coronavirus

How to Talk to Kids about Coronavirus

While many families are feeling additional stressors due to the spread of coronavirus, there are unique challenges to what kids are facing. How do we talk to kids about what is happening? Alison Miller from the University of Michigan School of Public Health explains how stress may manifest in children and some of the activities families can do to lessen the impact.

illustration of the COVID-19 coronavirus

How Do Hospitals Prepare for a Pandemic?

As coronavirus spreads in hotspots like New York City, New Orleans, Chicago and Detroit, hospitals are operationalizing their personnel and resources to meet the demands of caring for the sick. News coverage is sounding the alarm on supply shortages and overburdened health care workers. In the complex world of health care, how do hospitals prepare for and react to something like the coronavirus? David Hutton, associate professor of Health Management and Policy at the University of Michigan School of Public Health, discusses what's happening on the ground to take care of patients.

illustration of COVID-19 Coronavirus

Is Social Distancing Working?

Social distancing is a tried and true preventive step in public health to slow the transmission of infectious diseases. As people around the United States and around the world practice social distancing and pay attention to directives to stay home during the coronavirus pandemic, we're still seeing case counts go up. Is this an indictment of social distancing? David Hutton, associate professor of Health Management and Policy at the University of Michigan School of Public Health, discusses what we're likely to see with continued social distancing.