COVID-19 Resources

Felix Beilin and Zack Lori

Hey everyone! We hope that you’re healthy, and that the first week-and-a-half of spring quarter have found you in good spirits. Here on the PU blog, as we mentioned in our introductory post on Sunday, we’ll try to stay away from COVID-19-only subjects as much as possible, in recognition of the great reporting being done elsewhere, and to steer your attention to other political issues. That said, we did want to kick off the blog with a set of COVID-19 internet resources that you might find helpful. For now, this is the extent of the links that we’ll provide, but since this is a rapidly evolving issue, we may update this post at some point in the future.

The Johns Hopkins University Coronavirus Resource Center
Far and away the most-cited and best-known source of reputable COVID-19 data and expertise, especially early on in the outbreak, the JHU resources on coronavirus provide info on the location of the spread, action plans for contact tracing, and helpful info on what to do if you’ve been exposed. This is the starting point for learning about COVID-19.

NPR’s Details on What’s in the Coronavirus Relief Bill (CARES Act)
You might be wondering what’s happening in Congress these days, what exactly last month’s relief package contained, and when (or whether) you’ll be getting some money from the IRS. NPR has an informative article on this subject. Note: State of the Union plans to publish an explainer soon on how the relief package will affect college students, a group generally left out of the CARES Act. Stay tuned for more.

The Verge’s Guide to Coronavirus
This we find most interesting for its roundup of articles concerning the tech sector’s response to coronavirus. Are there ways to trace contacts of COVID-19 patients? How are social media firms limiting the spread of misinformation? Is artificial intelligence a helpful element in the fight against the virus? These are just some of the questions answered here.

NYTimes Coronavirus Tracker
Although Johns Hopkins University has their own map/data set, we’ve found the Times’s to be slightly more reliable. Viewers can see infection/death data down to the county level, as well as information on how quickly case numbers are rising.

Foreign Policy’s Guide to the Coronavirus Pandemic
Foreign Policy brings together more than a dozen experts to discuss how the realm of international relations will change, post-pandemic. Will US-China relations continue to cool? Will authoritarian governments be proven right in their governing methods? Will globalistic capitalism take a gut punch? This is a good place to find hot takes from some really well-read people. 

Politico’s Guide to How Society Will Change
More or less the same premise as above, but now opened up to topics besides comparative government, foreign policy, and trade. Experts weigh in on subjects as diverse as public health, climate change, and the structure of local communities. Again, a good place to go to satisfy your curiosity.

Harvard Medical School’s Coronavirus Resource Center
Finally, if you’re looking for a repository of trustworthy advice about the virus itself, including information about minimizing risk and taking care of yourself and your family, Harvard Medical School has put together a lengthy FAQ-style website, complete with a glossary (for fellow STEM-phobes).

Vox’s Explainer on How Coronavirus Works
Far from everything is known about the SARS-nCov-2, the virus from which COVID-19 originates. But what we do know about how it attacks the body can be found here, both transcribed and in original podcast form.

Vox’s Explainer on The Plans to Reopen America
Just two days ago, on April 13th, multiple governors on the West and East coasts announced that they were preparing plans to gradually reopen their states in due time, once the immediate risk of infection had passed. Multiple think tanks and policy institutes have also put forward their own proposals for how to restart the economy. Here’s a lengthy explainer on the differences between these plans, and what the pros and cons might mean for you.

NPR’s “Coronavirus Daily” Podcast
If you want just one daily dose of news on the coronavirus crisis, and you prefer it in podcast form, then we’ve concluded that this is where to go. Episodes are under half an hour long, and you’ll find that they capture a remarkable balance between helpful advice for individuals and the scoop on daily political controversies. 

The Wall Street Journal’s Articles on Sports Events and the Pandemic (Link 1, Link 2)
This source is a bit different from the other ones, but we thought people may find it interesting to read about how sporting events affected the spread of coronavirus. The first article is a deep dive into how a Champions League football match in February contributed to the outbreak in northern Italy, while the second notes that the 49ers losing the Super Bowl may have saved lives. The second article is behind a paywall but you have WSJ access through Northwestern here.

The Atlantic’s Our Pandemic Summer
This comprehensive article talks about the effects of coronavirus on American life this summer. It posits that society will not go completely back to normal this summer, and talks about doctor-recommended timelines for the gradual reopening of the country.

Felix Beilin is a freshman studying journalism and political science. He writes about foreign policy, politics of media, and campaign strategy/electoral politics.
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Zack Lori is a freshman majoring in political science and philosophy. His primary interests are climate change, the domestic politics of European nations and Canada, and electoral systems.​