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Coronavirus Research

Pandemics, quarantines, and history
A watercolor painting depicts a three masted ship anchored near a port with a yellow flag aloft.

A yellow quarantine flag is raised on a ship anchored off a port in this watercolor painting by E. Schwartz.

Pandemics, quarantines, and history

History professor Alex Chase-Levenson explores pandemics and quarantines in his upcoming book, and shares lessons that citizens and politicians can take from the past.

Kristen de Groot

Why the coronavirus and most other viruses have no cure

Why the coronavirus and most other viruses have no cure

David Barnes of the School of Arts and Sciences spoke about the role of supportive care during viral outbreaks. “There are actually plenty of cures for viral illnesses,” he said. “We just don’t think of them as cures. We’re still kind of myopically fixated on finding a cure, when what we really should be doing is getting adequate basic nursing care for all patients.”

Coronavirus cash: Is now the time to ‘go big’ with a basic income relief package?

Coronavirus cash: Is now the time to ‘go big’ with a basic income relief package?

Amy Castro Baker of the School of Social Policy & Practice spoke about the cash-assistance program proposed by the Trump administration. “There has been a body of research that’s being built up in the policy space for a long time around the idea of cash transfers,” she said. “We know that’s the most efficient way to respond to natural disasters.”

How to socially distance and stay sane

How to socially distance and stay sane

Carolyn Cannuscio of the Perelman School of Medicine recommended that small groups of people form pacts to reduce outside contact during the pandemic in order to make socializing safer. “I can see social and mental-health advantages to that kind of approach,” she said.

In Ohio, a Republican governor has taken aggressive steps to contain coronavirus before coming an outbreak hotspot

In Ohio, a Republican governor has taken aggressive steps to contain coronavirus before coming an outbreak hotspot

Julia Lynch of the School of Arts and Sciences said it’s not unusual that the U.S. policy response to the coronavirus has varied across states and localities. “What is unusual from a comparative perspective right now is that there is probably less coordinated national level leadership than one would usually see in a crisis,” she said.

Staying protected from COVID-19 phishing schemes
https://penntoday.upenn.edu/announcements/message-division-human-resources

Staying protected from COVID-19 phishing schemes

Nick Falcone, Penn’s information security officer, recommends taking extra steps to keep technology secure during such unprecedented times.

Lauren Hertzler