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Moffat Library Databases: ONGOING PANDEMIC - COVID-19

Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Tracking Dashboard

This interactive map from Johns Hopkins University allows users to see a breakdown of the coronavirus's spread and extent in different countries. The data used in the dashboard is drawn from regional and world health departments including the World Health Organization (WHO), the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CCDC), and the American Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The source for the dashboard can be found at the Johns Hopkins Center for System Science and Engineering.

Updates are published as they become available.

PLEASE NOTE: Malicious actors have used the fear of coronavirus and high demand for information to create malware disguised as tracking maps and apps. This malware can steal your personal information or harm your computers. Be cautious when searching for COVID-19 maps or clicking links. Expect email spam relating to coronavirus to increase.

If you want to access a tracking dashboard like the one above, please navigate to them by visiting safe sources like the World Health Organization, Johns Hopkins University, or The New York Times. These sites can then direct you to reliable maps.

Protect Yourself From Fraud

Practices like price gouging, fraudulent advertising, and unsafe products during pandemics are all too common. Federal and state agencies are responsible for protecting consumers from scams and harmful business practices.

FTC Logo

Avoid Coronavirus Scams

CFPB Logo

How do I avoid scams and fraud after a disaster?

New York Division of Consumer Protection

Call the New York Consumer Helpline to Report Price Gouging: 1-800-697-1220

Medical Databases & Information

Scientists are publishing an immense amount of research on coronaviruses each day. If you want to take a deeper dive into the medical and biological literature, many publishers and libraries are collecting their COVID-19 articles into free and easily accessible information centers. Checking health claims that you see online against published research is a good way to avoid misinformation.

National Institute of Health

National Institutes of Health - Coronavirus 2019 Disease Situation Summary

Elsevier

Novel Coronavirus Information Center

JAMA

JAMA Network Collection - Coronavirus Disease 2019

New York State on PAUSE Executive Order

Infectious disease experts say most cases of COVID-19 are mild to moderate, like the common cold. But it can be more severe in older adults and people with chronic health conditions. It is also important to work to contain and slow the spread of the virus in order to prevent hospitals and healthcare systems from being overwhelmed. If you can stay home, do so.

As of March 22 at 8 pm Governor Cuomo has instituted a 10-point New York State on PAUSE order.

  1. Effective at 8PM on Sunday, March 22, all non-essential businesses statewide will be closed;
  2. Non-essential gatherings of individuals of any size for any reason (e.g. parties, celebrations or other social events) are canceled or postponed at this time;
  3. Any concentration of individuals outside their home must be limited to workers providing essential services and social distancing should be practiced;
  4. When in public individuals must practice social distancing of at least six feet from others;
  5. Businesses and entities that provide other essential services must implement rules that help facilitate social distancing of at least six feet;
  6. Individuals should limit outdoor recreational activities to non-contact and avoid activities where they come in close contact with other people;
  7. Individuals should limit use of public transportation to when absolutely necessary and should limit potential exposure by spacing out at least six feet from other riders;
  8. Sick individuals should not leave their home unless to receive medical care and only after a telehealth visit to determine if leaving the home is in the best interest of their health;
  9. Young people should also practice social distancing and avoid contact with vulnerable populations; and
  10. Use precautionary sanitizer practices such as using isopropyl alcohol wipes

Recognize The Symptoms Of COVID-19

Symptoms of COVID-19

How COVID-19 Spreads

Practicing Critical Thinking & Avoiding Misinformation

Conspiracy theories and unfounded information can spread faster than any disease. Some of these rumors and claims may be wrong but are relatively harmless, such as the idea that eating garlic can help protect you from COVID-19. Others are much more dangerous, such as conspiracies that the novel coronavirus is a human-made bio-weapon or that certain treatments or supplements can cure COVID-19. Misinformation makes everyone less safe, by leaving us more vulnerable to infection, to panicked behavior, to harming ourselves through attempting dangerous remedies, and to stigmatizing and fearing other people. But there are simple steps to avoid getting fooled and to slow the spread of misinformation.

Garlic mythbuster graphic

Treatment mythbuster graphic

  1. Be Careful Where You Get Your News About Coronavirus (Source: Harvard Health Blog)
    • Even though social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, and TikTok are taking steps to moderate content and flag misleading information, it is still easy to to spread misinformation on these platforms. Be cautious when reading and sharing news on social media. (Click each social media platform's name to see how they are working to combat misinformation.)
    • Prioritize reliable sources like international and government agencies (which have missions to protect and inform the public), major news organizations (which have established expertise and robust fact checking policies), and scientific and medical journals (which have rigorous vetting before publication and do not have vested commercial interests in the information provided).
  2. Take Some Time To Verify Information Before You Share It
    • You don't need to spend a long time trying to find the original source of a claim or exhaustively assess the credibility of its author. But wait a few minutes before sharing a link or interacting with a post. You can use that time to see if other news organizations are reporting the same information. You can check whether the claim has a commercial interest in selling you a product or service. You can reflect when confronting claims that try to sensationalize events or make you panicked or angry. The faster you consume and share information, the easier it is to be fooled.
    • Scams will exploit (and already have exploited) fears and concerns about COVID-19 to steal your personal information, place malware on your devices, and steal money. The best defense against such scams is to carefully scrutinize links and information before you act on it. Scammers will try to rush you into a hasty decision. Be suspicious of any unsolicited emails or information.
  3. Consult Factchecking And Public Health Organizations For More Context
  4. Consider Taking Breaks From The News
    • It is understandable that people want to stay as informed as possible about a rapidly changing situation like the COVID-19 pandemic. But constantly chasing the latest headlines and broadcasts can make you more anxious without actually informing you of anything new or useful. Even if they are accurate, the rapid alerts that you see may lack important context and distract from your daily life. Information that updates less frequently can provide a clearer picture of important trends while still conveying necessary details. Take some time every day to relax and pursue activities that you enjoy. You'll be better equipped to understand the news afterward.

 

State & Local Health Organizations

State and local health departments are responsible for the safety of New Yorkers. If you or someone you know has information about someone who has had contact with a person infected with coronavirus, please call the hotlines listed below.

PLEASE NOTE: If you or a family member are exhibiting symptoms consistent with COVID-19 and are seeking medical help, CALL AHEAD to inform your healthcare provider or hospital so that they can take adequate precautions.

New York State Department of Health

Hotline: Call 1-888-364-3065 for Information about Coronavirus

Orange County Health Department

Orange County Health Department Phone Number: 845-291-2330

County Health Officials of New York

Directory of County Health Departments in New York State

Travel Advisories

As of March 19, 2020, the State Department has issued a Global Level 4 Health Advisory - Do Not Travel

As of March 18, 2020, CDC has issued a Level 2 Travel Health Notice - recommending against all nonessential domestic travel due to community transmission. There are higher level notices issued for travel to specific countries.

The State Department is responsible for American consulates in foreign countries and issues travel advisories for American citizens. There are currently travel restrictions for entry into the United States on foreign nationals who have spent at least one of the previous 14 days in China, Iran, and most European nations including all of the European Union.

State Department Travel Advisories

Current Outbreak of Coronavirus Disease

Information From Other Libraries

Moffat Library is grateful for the swift action and resource sharing on the parts of the Middletown Thrall Library and the Southeastern New York Library Resource Council (SENYLRC). If the information you need is not available through one of the links provided above, we encourage you to explore the resources collected by these libraries.

  • Last Updated: Mar 28, 2020 12:11 PM
  • URL: https://guides.rcls.org/research
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