Coronavirus Information Sources

Coronavirus Information Sources

Getting information from trusted sources regarding the Coronavirus (COVID-19) is essential for preparation. Find the most up-to-date information from the resource links below.

Symptoms & Testing

Symptoms and Testing:
https://www.cdc.gov/covid/ 

COVID-19 Screening Tool:
https://www.apple.com/covid19/

Rumor Control

Rumor Control:
https://www.fema.gov/Coronavirus-Rumor-Control

Stress & Coping

Stress and Coping:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/managing-stress-anxiety.html

Travel

Coronavirus Disease 2019 Information for Travel:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/index.html

Personal Protection

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Shortages:
https://astho.org/COVID-19/PPE-Shortages/

How to Make Your Own Face masks:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/diy-cloth-face-coverings.html

PPE Decontamination and Reuse:
https://www.astho.org/COVID-19/Optimizing-PPE-Supplies/

Information for Businesses

Free Strategic Communication Consultation:
https://summitet.com/solutions/strategic-communications/strategic-communications-covid19/

Free COVID Stock Images and Videos:
https://www.shutterstock.com/explore/covid19-resources

Interim Guidance for Business:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/specific-groups/guidance-business-response.html

Risk Communication and Community Engagement
https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/technical-guidance/risk-communication-and-community-engagement

Canned Advertising Messages
http://coronavirus.adcouncilkit.org/

Health Department Communication Resources
https://astho.informz.net/ASTHO/data/images/CRC_brochure_1.19.pdf

Risk Communications Guide: Questions and Key Messages
https://www.astho.org/COVID-19/Q-and-A/

Cybersecurity

Cybersecurity Best Practice for Remote Workers:
https://staysafeonline.org/press-release/ncsa-encourages-coronavirus-vigilance/

Higher Education

Crisis Leadership and the Higher Education Response
https://evolllution.com/managing-institution/operations_efficiency/crisis-leadership-and-the-higher-education-response-to-the-covid-19-outbreak/

Resources

PIO Go Kit

PIO Go Kit

The Public Information Officer (PIO) is a critical link between the organization for which they work and the communities they serve. It is important for the PIO to have tools and resources available for immediate utilization during an incident.

During a crisis, the PIO will be bound to their phone, tablet, or laptop and may need to relocate from an Emergency Operations Center, to a Joint Information Center, or even out into the field. This resource provides a list of items for a PIO operational readiness, developed by SummitET® Strategic Communications experts.

PIO Go Kit

Download this free resouce created by SummitET experts.

It is also important to note that prior to an incident or planned event, agreements with businesses or agencies should be established to assist with operations to ensure there are no limitations on information sharing and aggregation products. Examples include;

  • Contracts with translation services

  • Printing companies (in order to publish brochures, fact sheets, or other emergency documents)

  • Social media services (such as agreements with Facebook, Twitter, etc.)

Resources

CDC Plain Language Resources

CDC Plain Language Resources

Using plain language to communicate with your audience to ensure they understand your message is more important than ever in a world of constant streams of information. In a crisis, choosing your words carefully may be even more important to clearly state your message.

Resources include:

  • Everyday words, terms and real life examples of plain language

  • Federal plain language guidelines

  • National Health Institutes health literacy initiative

  • Plain language planner and translations

  • Plain language checklist (printable)

In this link, the Center for Disease Control provides resources and tools to help maximize your communication efforts.

Resources

Can You Survive Nuclear Fallout?

Can You Survive Nuclear Fallout?

Nuclear weapons are some of the most powerful tools of destruction on Earth, and the full scope of a nuclear detonation is almost unimaginable. However, there is a scientifically supported plan of action that could save thousands of lives. What is this plan, and what exactly would it protect us from? Brooke Buddemeier and Jessica S. Wieder explore the possibility of surviving nuclear detonation.

Resources

Basic Radiation Information

Basic Radiation Information

Prepared by SummitET’s Vice President and Corporate Health Physicist, Steve Sugarman, this document briefly explains various radiation-related terms and concepts in an easy to read format and to provide additional information for those that may find it useful. Although organizationally different among the states, each has a radiation health department that can help with further questions and concerns.

Regulations and standards are in place to help minimize exposures to many sources of ionizing radiation. However, it is not possible to avoid all exposures. Radioactive materials are all around us. Terrestrial sources, such as radon, and cosmic radiation are contributors to our natural background radiation levels. Brick and concrete contain small amounts of naturally occurring radioactive materials such as uranium and thorium. Many of the foods that we eat contain naturally occurring radioactive materials – for instance, potassium-40 is found in bananas and Brazil nuts. Radioactive materials are routinely used in medicine for both diagnostic purposes (nuclear medicine) and therapeutic purposes (brachytherapy for the treatment of cancer, for example).

Basic Radiation Info Sheet

Download this document for free. 

Resources

HPS Specialist in Radiation Protection

HPS Specialist in Radiation Protection

HPS Specialist in Radiation Protection

If you are a member of the public or the media, a health physicist, or a scientist in a related field, you can either find answers or submit questions to HPS Ask the Experts.

HSP Radiation Fact Sheets

Health Physics Society Fact Sheets are available as portable document format (PDF) files.

Resources