“So, first of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself—nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance.”
– Franklin Delano Roosevelt, “First Inaugural Address”
As I have watched many of my fellow citizens, as well as others from all around the world, fall victim to the fear of 2019-nCoV (also often called COVID-19) I have been thinking of how I might do something to help eliviate even a little of this fear in at least a few. For me, the best antidote to fear has always been knowledge, for with knowledge comes understanding; the ability to understand if something one first assumed – out of an ignorance about it – to be dangerous is truly such, and if so, how significant is the danger to oneself, one’s family, or one’s community.
Therefore I would like to offer, to any who wish to face down the fear of 2019-nCoV with knowledge, a few of the resources I have found particularly helpful in increasing my own understanding of this virus itself, how the medical and public health communities are responding to it, and of virology and some related subjects in general that can me help to interpret what I read about the first two of these subjects.
Useful websites:
World Health Organization COVID-19 advice page
Centers for Disease Control (US) Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
Public Health Agency of Canada
AAAS Science Coronavirus article index
Springer Nature – they are making tbeir articles about SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 research free to all
U.S. state and territorial public health department pages (very useful for more local information)
Useful books:
From the Very Short Introductions series:
Epidemiology; A Very Short Introduction by Rodolfo Saracci
The Immune System; A Very Short Introduction by Paul Klenerman
Pandemics; A Very Short Introduction by Christian W. McMillen
Public Health; A Very Short Introduction by Virginia Berridge
Viruses; A Very Short Introduction; Second Edition by Dorothy H. Crawford
From the What Everyone Needs to Know series:
Pandemics: What Everyone Needs to Know by Peter C. Doherty
Vaccines: What Everyone Needs to Know by Kristen A. Feemster
This list is by no means exhaustive, but it is a place to start. The more of us who are well informed about this virus, and who can help to explain news and developments that some of our friends and relatives may find confusing (and therefore inspiring of fear), the better off we will all be to face whatever challenges may lie ahead.
And please remember: you don’t need to wear a surgical mask unless you are a health care provider treating patients or infected with the virus yourself. Wash your hands with soap regularly, sneeze into your elbow, and (as much for fun as for utility) adopt the Wuhan foot-bump instead of shaking hands. If we do what we can to help one another, we’ll get through this much quicker and much healthier – both physically and emotionally.
