{"id":1277,"date":"2021-11-16T17:18:26","date_gmt":"2021-11-16T22:18:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/covid-corps\/?page_id=1277"},"modified":"2021-11-16T17:27:33","modified_gmt":"2021-11-16T22:27:33","slug":"guidance-and-explainers","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/covid-corps\/guidance-and-explainers\/","title":{"rendered":"Guidance and Explainers"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tools and resources that individuals and decision-makers can use to better understand the COVID pandemic, learn about epidemiology concepts that help explain the pandemic and the response to it, and make good decisions about managing risk.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4>Contact Tracing<\/h4>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.bu.edu\/ceid\/files\/2021\/07\/Contact-Tracing.png\"><b>Infographic on contact tracing<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: (Sharon Casey; Mentors: Lynsie Ranker, Dr. Ellie Murray): An infographic detailing the scenarios where someone might be called by a contact tracer and the importance of helping support this public health are detailed in this brief, single-page infographic. The hope is that it will help remove some of the mystery from the process of contact tracing.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Toolkit for self-contact tracing<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (Mohannad Salaghur; Mentors: Lynsie Ranker, Dr. Ellie Murray) An article detailing the basics of self-contact tracing and the importance of forming this habit to help local contact tracing efforts. The work also included creation of an editable PDF where individuals can track their contacts, and was inspired by Dr. Ellie Murray\u2019s original \u201cHow to help with contact tracing\u201d <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/github.com\/eleanormurray\/COVID_19\/tree\/master\/ContactTracing\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">cartoon infographic<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/covid-101.org\/science\/self-contact-tracing\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What is a Self-Contract Tracing Journal?<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> by Mohannad Salaghur, MPH<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/ceid\/files\/2021\/07\/Self-Contact-Tracing-Form.pdf\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Self-Contact Tracing Form<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h4>Epidemiology Concepts<\/h4>\n<p><b>Controlling the Delta variant<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: These articles explain epidemiology concepts and present calculations to compare the relative public health impacts of offering booster shots versus prioritizing vaccinations among the unvaccinated, and discuss the importance of additional mitigation measures.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/outlook\/coronavirus-vaccine-booster-shots\/2021\/08\/11\/aefec5dc-fae0-11eb-9c0e-97e29906a970_story.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Booster shots won\u2019t stop the Delta variant. Here\u2019s the math to prove it.<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> by Ellie Murray, Sc.D. and Ruby Barnard-Mayers, MPH<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/slate.com\/technology\/2021\/08\/delta-variant-covid-masks-vaccines-boosters.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How We\u2019ll Know It\u2019s Finally Time to Stop Masking<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> by Ellie Murray, Sc.D. and Ruby Barnard-Mayers, MPH<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Distance and transmission<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: This piece points out the problems with using \u201c6 feet for 15 minutes\u201d as a rule of thumb for defining close contact for COVID exposure and talks about better alternatives for managing airborne disease transmission.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/slate.com\/technology\/2020\/09\/covid-6-feet-rule-update-social-distancing.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How the 6-Feet Rule Can Lead Us Astray<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> by Patricia Janulewicz Lloyd, Wendy Heiger-Bernays, Thomas Webster, Jennifer Weuve, and Eleanor J. Murray<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Understanding simulation models:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Simulation modeling has been an important part of the preliminary understanding of the pandemic. This project includes articles about interpreting simulation models and understanding their strengths and limitations.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/elemental.medium.com\/a-guide-to-understanding-pandemic-predictions-8ae3439b8224\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A Guide to Understanding Pandemic Predictions<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> by Nadia N. Abuelezam, Sc.D.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Testing 1, 2, 3<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: This multimedia explainer discusses what positivity rates are and how they are determined, and explains the relationship between testing and case rates.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.publichealthpost.org\/viewpoints\/testing-1-2-3\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Testing 1, 2, 3<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> by Gray Babbs and Tasha McAbee (narrated by Ellie Murray)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h4>Community Outreach and Advocacy<\/h4>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UC_VJ9KJ-9aLzZs4CeUahZ8g\"><b>COVID Corps YouTube Channel<\/b><\/a><b>:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Database of videos on COVID-19 related topics<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Last Mile \u2013 COVID Straight Talk<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (Mentor: Tricia Wang) COVID Straight Talk\u2019s mission is to save lives and protect livelihoods by providing accessible public health information on COVID-19 and accelerating policy change for workplace indoor air safety. We launched a bilingual public health campaign urging essential workers to make and demand immediate, life-saving changes related to air safety in their work and home environments. The call-to-action of the campaign is \u201cGet M.A.D. and Stay Safe\u201d. The acronym M.A.D. stands for masks (M), keeping indoor air fresh (A), and maintaining physical distance (D), the three most important areas to address to reduce risks of contracting and spreading COVID-19. The site features hacks, M.A.D. toolkits for workers, employers and HVAC professionals, and a M.A.D. Survey that gives personalized tips to implement at work or home. To learn more, visit <\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/www.covidstraighttalk.org\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">COVID Straight Talk<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and @lastmileworks on Instagram and Twitter.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h4>Risk Communication<\/h4>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/elemental.medium.com\/tagged\/the-covid-audit\"><b>The Covid Audit<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (Sarah Lincoln, Leona Ofei, Shagun Modi, Hana Do, Ivanna Rocha, Andrew Chiao, Claire Galvin, Brianna Driscoll, and Ada Feng, Mentors: Dr. Ellie Murray, Dr. Bertha Hidalgo) An <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/elemental.medium.com\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Elemental<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> series where the team audits diaries submitted by real people.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/elemental.medium.com\/inside-one-psychiatric-nurses-workweek-at-the-hospital-10141f15250f\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Inside One Psychiatric Nurse\u2019s Workweek at the Hospital<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (January 2021)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/elemental.medium.com\/the-push-pull-of-being-a-science-minded-pastor-at-a-conservative-midwestern-church-e3f2d995290\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How One Pastor Is Keeping His Midwestern Church Safe from Covid-19<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (November 2020)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/elemental.medium.com\/this-teacher-went-back-to-school-a-team-of-epidemiologists-tracked-her-moves-c633da7c35f3\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This Teacher Went Back to School. A Team of Epidemiologists Tracked Her Moves.<\/span><\/a> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(October 2020)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/elemental.medium.com\/this-college-student-headed-back-to-campus-then-an-epidemiologist-rated-her-every-move-cf7c5dc31502\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This College Student Headed Back to Campus. Then an Epidemiologist Rated Her Every Move.<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (September 2020)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/elemental.medium.com\/this-lawyer-ran-errands-for-his-high-risk-wife-then-an-epidemiologist-rated-his-every-move-f9a926ad96ec\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This Lawyer Ran Errands for His High-Risk Wife. Then an Epidemiologist Rated His Every Move.<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (September 2020)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/elemental.medium.com\/this-executive-took-a-road-trip-then-an-epidemiologist-rated-her-every-move-8bd8e09086c5\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This Executive Took a Road Trip. Then An Epidemiologist Rated Her Every Move.<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (August 2020)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>COVID risk management and holiday travel<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: COVID Corps members developed several resources to encourage safer holiday gatherings during the pandemic.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/covid-corps\/covid-holidays\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Safer Holidays FAQ<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/covid-corps\/covid-holidays\/holidays-posts\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Safer Holidays Instagram posts<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><a href=\"https:\/\/elemental.medium.com\/an-epidemiologist-weighs-in-on-that-controversial-nytimes-thanksgiving-column-1b20e25e1d78\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A Public Health Expert Weighs in on That Controversial NYTimes Thanksgiving Column<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, by Caredwen Foley, MPH<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.belfercenter.org\/publication\/guiding-principles-science-and-risk-communicators\"><b>Guiding Principles for Science and Risk Communicators<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (Syra Mada, Dr. Ellie Murray): This piece highlights principles that risk and science communicators should follow to provide facts, share evidence and science-based information, and manage rumors, misinformation and disinformation.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/outlook\/2021\/04\/20\/epidemiology-covid-self-criticism\/\"><b>I\u2019m an epidemiologist. Here\u2019s what I got wrong about covid<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (Dr. Ellie Murray): In this piece, Dr. Murray outlines what has changed in her assessment of the pandemic over time and presents a model for expert reflection and self-criticism.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Outbreak preparedness<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (Eleanor Murray): Early in the COVID pandemic, Dr. Murray wrote a pair of brief pieces for the general public about how to prepare for a new disease outbreak and some tips for life during a pandemic.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/medium.com\/@EpiEllie\/a-regular-persons-guide-to-outbreak-preparedness-5cece749123\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A regular person\u2019s guide to outbreak preparedness<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, by Dr. Ellie Murray<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/medium.com\/@EpiEllie\/5-practical-tips-for-life-in-the-age-of-covid-cda3b34ba490\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">5 practical tips for life in the age of COVID<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, by Dr. Ellie Murray<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h4>Safe Opening Resources<\/h4>\n<p><b>COVID in Elementary and Secondary Schools: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to the current literature, 3 feet may not be sufficient physical distancing (and 6 feet may not always be sufficient) in spaces like schools where there are long durations of exposure without hospital-grade air filtration. In addition, it\u2019s critical to have accurate, timely case data to inform decisions about in-person and remote teaching. For this to happen, we need better alignment between reporting from local jurisdictions, Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (MA) and MA Department of Public Health. This project involves examination and communication of the literature on distancing, as well as providing support to local public health and school districts on description of COVID case reporting.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Fact Sheets on Safe Opening of K-12 Schools: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Samantha Blakemore, Mentor: Dr. Ellie Murray) As part of the safe opening team, students are creating a series of infographics and fact sheets to help staff and families be prepared.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/ceid\/files\/2021\/07\/Mask-Guidance-in-Schools.pdf\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Guidance for the Use of Cloth Masks in K-12 Schools<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Safe Opening Guidelines for an Outdoor Art Exhibition<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (Leona Ofei; Mentor: Dr. Jennifer Weuve) The project provided and evaluated safe opening guidelines for an outdoor art exhibition, Crossroads Carnival, involving participant artists across the country. Epidemiology and communication expertise were used to evaluate website content and information packet details and provided recommendations for safe performances.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h4>Vaccine Resources<\/h4>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/ceid\/files\/2021\/07\/A-COVID-19-Vaccine-Delivery-Method-Guide.pdf\"><b>A COVID-19 Vaccine Delivery Method Guide<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Infographics on the three methods of COVID-19 vaccine delivery (Taylor Paiva, Sharon Casey)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/ceid\/files\/2021\/07\/Types-of-Vaccines.pdf\"><b>Types of Vaccines<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Infographics to explain the basics of immune response and the different kinds of vaccines that are being developed (Nikitha Ramesh)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/ceid\/files\/2021\/07\/Understanding-the-New-Vaccines.pdf\"><b>Understanding the New Vaccines<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Infographics on new vaccines from Moderna, Pfizer\/BioNTech, and Johnson &amp; Johnson (Taylor Paiva)<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h4>Other Resources<\/h4>\n<p><b>Biobank Factsheet at Boston Medical Center<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (Marcela Quintanilla-Dieck &amp; Sharon Casey; Mentor: Lynsie Ranker) In partnership with the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bmc.org\/research\/covid-biorepository\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">COVID Biorepository<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> initiative at Boston Medical Center, students developed a fact sheet to help inform potential participants on key details regarding the biobank including: what a biobank is, how the COVID-19 biobank hopes to advance knowledge of COVID-19 and related health outcomes, and the steps the researchers take to protect participant samples and information.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/ceid\/files\/2021\/07\/Biobank-FINAL-3-12.28.20.pdf\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">English<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/ceid\/files\/2021\/07\/Biobank_HC-1.16.21.pdf\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">krey\u00f2l ayisyen (Haitian Creole)<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/ceid\/files\/2021\/07\/Biobank_ESP-1.16.21.pdf\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Espa\u00f1ol (Spanish)<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/github.com\/eleanormurray\/COVID_19\"><b>COVID-19 Cartoon Infographics<\/b><\/a><b>: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Informational posters made by Dr Ellie Murray in collaboration with Dr Benjamin Linas, Dr Charles Williams, the Boston Medical Center (@THE_BMC), and others. These infographics are distributed via EPIC with patient discharge sheets, provided to patients upon COVID-related hospitalization, and available at some COVID testing sites and community health centers in the Boston area.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Tools and resources that individuals and decision-makers can use to better understand the COVID pandemic, learn about epidemiology concepts that help explain the pandemic and the response to it, and make good decisions about managing risk. Contact Tracing Infographic on contact tracing: (Sharon Casey; Mentors: Lynsie Ranker, Dr. Ellie Murray): An infographic detailing the scenarios [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":19910,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":6,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/covid-corps\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1277"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/covid-corps\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/covid-corps\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/covid-corps\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/19910"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/covid-corps\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1277"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/covid-corps\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1277\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1283,"href":"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/covid-corps\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1277\/revisions\/1283"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/covid-corps\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1277"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}