 | >
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.
In the event that you want to access a tracking map like the one above, please navigate to them by visiting safe and reliable sources like the World Health Organization, the New York State Department of Health, or NPR. All of these organizations maintain frequently updated data.
Changes In Mobility Due To COVID-19
Collective, anonymized data can provide useful public health insights for nations and communities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Software companies such as Apple and Google are currently providing mobility reports created from aggregate, anonymous data taken from travel direction requests and visits to different categories of locations.
Apple - COVID-19 - Mobility Trends Reports
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.
Federal Trade Commission
Protecting Yourself Financially During the Coronavirus Pandemic
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 Institutes of Health - Coronavirus 2019 Disease Situation Summary
Novel Coronavirus Information Center
The Status Of New York State & The Mid-Hudson Region
Infectious disease experts say most cases of COVID-19 are mild to moderate, like a flu. But it can be more severe in older adults and people with chronic health conditions. Hospitals are also reporting cases of long term health complications relating to COVID-19. It is 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 September 19, all region in New York State are in Phase 4 in the Moving New York Forward plan. This means that most business types may open under elevated health and social distancing precautions. Consult the New York Forward Business Lookup Tool to identify eligibility for reopening and additional health guidelines. For additional information on COVID-19 and updates from the state, visit https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/home.
The Washingtonville Central School District has released its plan for instruction in the 2020-2021 school year. You can review all details of the plan here. Schools have been open since Tuesday, September 8, 2020. Initially, all education will be virtual. A hybrid model where most students learn partially remotely and partially in-person will be phased in over the course of September.
- Regions in Phase 4 reopening can reopen Pre-K through Grade 12 schools as long as the 14-day rolling average of the daily positive case rate remains below 5%. The general summary health guidelines for public schools are available here.
- Indoor dining in New York City restaurants is scheduled to resume on September 30. Restaurants will be limited to 25 percent of their normal indoor capacity.
- The dashboard showing COVID-19 statistics just for Orange County can be viewed here.
- New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut have issued a joint travel advisory requiring visitors from states with widespread community transmission of COVID-19 to self quarantine for 14 days. The travel advisories are issued for states with a seven day rolling average, of positive tests in excess of 10%, or number of positive cases exceeding 10 per 100,000 residents.
- New Yorkers who have recovered from COVID-19 are encouraged to donate blood. Regular donations of blood are also needed to combat a general blood shortage. Here’s information on how to safely donate.
- New Yorkers without health insurance can apply through NY State of Health through December 31, 2020; must apply within 60 days of losing coverage.
- New Yorkers can call the COVID-19 Emotional Support Hotline at 1-844-863-9314 for mental health counseling.
- Testing is free for all eligible New Yorkers as ordered by a health care provider.
- Your local health department is your community contact for COVID-19 concerns.
Recognize The Symptoms Of COVID-19
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.
- 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).
- 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.
- Consult Factchecking And Public Health Organizations For More Context
- WHO - Advice For The Public: Myth Busters
- CDC - Key Facts
- Snopes - The Coronavirus Collection
- Factcheck.org - Issue Coverage: Coronavirus
- 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.
Hotline: Call 1-888-364-3065 for Information about Coronavirus
- Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Main Website
- Simple Steps for Preparation
- Executive Order 202 - State Declaration of Emergency
- Executive Order 202.17 - Effective April 17, all New Yorkers must wear a mask or face covering while in public and unable to maintain social distancing
- Executive Order 202.34 - Effective June 27, businesses shall have the discretion to remove or deny admittance to individuals who fail to comply with directives to wear face coverings during the state of emergency due to the pandemic
Orange County Health Department Phone Number: 845-291-2330
Travel Advisories
As of August 6, 2020, the State Department has compiled a list of county specific travel considerations and restrictions due to COVID-19. Further, due to worldwide community transmission, the State Department strongly emphasizes that citizens continue to reconsider and avoid all international travel.
As of August 6, 2020, CDC has applied a Level 3 Travel Health Notice: Risk is High to essentially all countries. It further recommends against all nonessential domestic travel due to ongoing community transmission.
The State Department is responsible for American consulates in foreign countries and issues travel advisories for American citizens. At this time, they are recommending that all Americans avoid all international travel. Additionally, all Americans abroad who are able to do so should arrange to return to the United States immediately unless they are prepared to remain abroad for an indefinite period of time. Be prepared for abrupt imposition of new travel restrictions, both entering and exiting the United States.
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.