Understanding the COVID-19 pandemic

Discusses the COVID-19 pandemic, search for the vaccine, and subsequent challenges in distributing it.

"From its murky origins in China to its rapid development into a full-blown health crisis, COVID-19 has killed hundreds of thousands worldwide and led government leaders to lock down their economies and quarantine their citizens. The virus appears to have originated in Wuhan, China. On February 11, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) gave the disease its official name. COVID-19 means a COronaVIrus Disease discovered in 2019. One month later, on March 11, 2020, the WHO declared the disease a pandemic--meaning a sudden increase in cases across a wide area, in this instance worldwide"--Provided by publisher.

Discusses the COVID-19 pandemic, including how the virus kills, how it spreads, how to slow it, and how to stop it.

"In January 2020 the World Health Organization announced a global public health emergency. A massive wave of unemployment swept the nation. Millions of mostly blue collar workers in shuttered industries were laid off. Panicked supermarket shoppers endured long lines and packed aisles to stock up on staples, stripping shelves of toilet paper and water, flour, and spaghetti. Disinfectants and cold and flu medicines were sold out. Life-saving ventilators for those afflicted with the disease, now officially named COVID-19, were in limited supply. Hospital parking lots became morgues. While the situation is discouraging, many experts in fields from healthcare to education to social justice believe the new normal presents an opportunity for a better normal"--Provided by publisher.

"Many people stepped up to help others during the COVID-19 pandemic. A pandemic is a disease outbreak that spreads over large geographic areas, such as whole countries, continents, or multiple countries and continents, and affects a large portion of the population. Throughout the crisis, people of diverse ages and backgrounds put the needs of others above their own, often, at great personal sacrifice. They performed acts of service and kindness to help and support sick and vulnerable people, keep society safe and functioning, contain and control the virus, and help their local communities"--Provided by publisher.