Coronavirus
Hands-on Resources for Grasping the Science Behind COVID-19
Coronaviruses are not new to humans or even to you. Coronaviruses are a family of viruses best identified by the crown-like spikes that cover their surface (corona is Latin for 'crown'). Coronaviruses cause upper-respiratory tract illnesses like the common cold and the 2003 SARS and 2012 MERS outbreaks. In the winter of 2019, a new coronavirus, now officially called SARS-CoV-2, emerged in Wuhan, China. The virus made the jump from animals to humans and causes a disease called COVID-19. For some people, often children and young adults, SARS-CoV-2 causes few or no symptoms. For others it can lead to severe lung damage and even death. The virus can be spread fairly easily, including by people who are infected but display no symptoms, and as a result, we are in the middle of a global pandemic, with nearly all countries in the world reporting an increasing number of infected individuals. Scientists and health professionals around the globe are working hard to rapidly learn more about this new coronavirus and the disease it causes and to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
SimPandemic™ New!
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An interactive tool to help you learn how a pandemic evolves, enabling you to choose, customize, and explore the outcome of many scenarios. How would you stop the spread without destroying the economy or the healthcare system? |
Science Projects and Activities to Understand Viruses |
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Where Do Outbreaks Come From? 
Viruses can jump from animals to humans; SARS-CoV-2 most likely came from bats or pangolins. |
How Does the Body Fight Viruses? 
If you have had COVID-19, you are unlikely to get it again. |
How Are Medicines Developed to Prevent and Treat Viral Outbreaks?
Researchers are working hard on SARS-CoV-2 vaccines using methods like these: |
What Can We Do to Stop Virus Transmission and Stay Healthy?  Coronaviruses can be transmitted by contact with virus particles: |
Whose Job Is It to Handle the Coronavirus Pandemic? |
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Epidemiologist
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Microbiologist
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Lab Technician
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Pathologist
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Registered Nurse
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Physician
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Physician Asst.
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Health Educator
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Statistician
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Paramedic
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Bioinformatics Scientist
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Respiratory Therapist
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COVID-19 in the News
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