COVID-19

All Courses > STEM (Math) 9 > COVID-19

 

 Chapter 1 – Graphing the Spread of COVID-19 in BC

  Assignment – Graphing the Growth of COVID-19 in BC

 Chapter 2 – Governmental Information Sources for COVID-19

These are the most reliable sources for information on COVID-19 in BC and Canada. The after-report from SARS in Toronto in 2003, chaired by Dr. David Naylor (Dean of Medicine at the University of Toronto), laid the groundwork for the creation of the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) and the role of the Chief Public Health Officer (PHO) of Canada. Currently, the Chief PHO of Canada is Doctor Theresa Tam, and the PHO of BC is Doctor Bonnie Henry. Bonnie Henry has authored and co-authored many research papers on the spread of infectious diseases, particularly SARS.

  BC CDC – COVID-19

  COVID-19 – Where We Are, Considerations for Next Steps (April 17)

  Government of Canada – Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19)

  Learning from SARS – Renewal of Public Health in Canada

  Provincial Health Officer of BC – Biography (Doctor Bonnie Henry)

  Doctor Bonnie Henry (co-author) – Infectious disease surveillance and modelling across geographic frontiers and scientific specialties

  Doctor Bonnie Henry (co-author) – Identification of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome in Canada

  Doctor Bonnie Henry (co-author) – Whole-Genome Sequencing of Measles Virus Genotypes H1 and D8 During Outbreaks of Infection Following the 2010 Olympic Winter Games Reveals Viral Transmission Routes

  Chief Public Health Officer of Canada – Biography (Doctor Theresa Tam)

 Chapter 4 – How to Spot Bad Sources of Information

There are some good general heuristics for separating good sources of information from bad sources. There is a lot of uncertainty about COVID-19, but that does not mean that the information we are getting is useless. It does mean that we need to be very vigilant when evaluating new evidence, and recognize that the decisions that we are making are being done under uncertain conditions, and we do not have the full facts necessary to make a perfectly informed decision.

  How to Report on the COVID-19 Outbreak Responsibly

  Caitlin Rivers, PhD – If Experts Tell You Something is Unknowable

Caitlin Rivers, PhD - If Experts Tell You Something is Unknowable

  How (Not) to Do an Antibody Survey for SARS-CoV-2

  Rage Against the Machine – Washing in the Name of

Rage Against the Machine - Washing in the Name of

  plaguedad1 – A Rough Guide for News Consumers During the Pandemic

plaguedad1 - A Rough Guide for News Consumers During the Pandemic

  A French Scientist Says He Can Cure Covid-19. Other Researchers Have Their Doubts

  The Armchair Epidemiologist

  Decision Making Under Uncertainty

 Chapter 5 – Unreliable Doctors

Just because somebody is a doctor does not mean you should listen to what they say. For example, James Watson has a Nobel Prize for his role in the discovery of the helical structure of DNA. However, his views on race and sex are so ugly and scientifically wrong that the DNA research lab he led has disavowed his views. With regard to Dr. Oz, the acceptable mortality rate at the Vancouver School Board is 0%, not the ‘2 to 3 percent’ figure that Dr. Oz thinks is acceptable. At the end of 2019, I arranged field trips for a total of about 120 students to Science World, the Vancouver Aquarium, and the Vancouver Planetarium. I had to submit paperwork to ensure that the trips were safe and that there was first aid available. I’m not sure what would have happened if I had suggested that there would be a 2-3% mortality rate for the trip, so we should expect 2-4 students will die on the field trips.There definitely would have been a long discussion about my (incredibly poor) judgment and my future as a teacher.

  plaguedad1 – Not All Doctors Are Epidemiologists

plaguedad1 - Not All Doctors Are Epidemiologists

  ‘Father of DNA’ James Watson Stripped of Honors Over More Ugly Racism Comments

  Dr. Oz (Cardiothoracic Surgeon) Talking About COVID-19

  Compilation of Dr. Drew Being Incredibly Wrong About COVID-19 Over and Over Again

  Dr. Phil Goes On Wildly Inaccurate Fox News Coronavirus Rant

 Chapter 8 – Isolation and Mental Health

Astronauts have lots of experience being isolated with a small group of people in a very confined space for a very long time.

  Chris Hadfield – An Astronaut’s Guide to Self Isolation

  NASA Astronaut Peggy Whitson on How to Cope with Solitude

  Wikipedia – Peggy Whitson

  NASA – An Astronaut’s Tips For Living in Space – Or Anywhere

  The Isolation Journals

 Chapter 11 – Reopening Public Places

With most countries under various lockdown orders, governments have to decide when and how to reopen public places. There is a fear that reopening too quickly with improper precautions could lead to a second wave of the outbreak. Mathematical models are used to estimate the effects of reducing social distancing.

  How Will We Know When It’s Time to Reopen the Nation

  Coronavirus Advice From Abroad – 7 Lessons America’s Governors Should Not Ignore as They Reopen Their Economies

  How Some Cities ‘Flattened the Curve’ During the 1918 Flu Pandemic (free signup required)

  Lesson From Singapore – Why We May Need to Think Bigger

  Modeling Infectious Disease Dynamics

 Chapter 12 – A SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine?

Many countries are hoping that a vaccine becomes available that will allow their citizens to stop social distancing without fearing another wave of the outbreak. Unfortunately, the development of a vaccine is a risky, time-consuming, and frustrating process.

  Vaccines Cause Adults

  The Race for Coronavirus Vaccines – A Graphical Guide

  How Long Will a Vaccine Really Take?

  Hundreds of People Volunteer to Be Infected with Coronavirus

 Chapter 13 – Project Ideas

Some projects require special materials, and some have safety precautions that must be followed. Check back for new ideas as they are added.

  LaurDIY – How To Make a Mask At Home – 3 Easy DIY Masks

  WHO-recommended Handrub Formulations

  Making DIY Disinfectant Wipes