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Expert Twitter Accounts For Coronavirus & COVID-19 Updates
This post is updated regularly to reflect the latest news and science around coronavirus, also known as COVID-19.
Since the beginning of the outbreak in December 2019, news pertaining to the spread of the coronavirus has dominated headlines and misinformation is spreading with it. The virus has affected every continent on the globe, save Antarctica, and on March 11, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic. Because COVID-19 fears continue to fuel myths about it, you'll want to make sure you're getting updates from credible sources, so here are some expert Twitter accounts to follow during Coronavirus, or Covid-19.
As reported by the BBC, false information ranging from suggested medical care to conspiracy theories have been seen widely around the web, shared, and reposted by thousands of people on social media. On March 12, Buzzfeed debunked rumors circulating via text message that New York would be on shut down for the weekend. As NPR reports, the World Health Organisation is seeking to manage the "infodemic" with accurate reporting. Here are the most valuable news outlets and expert twitter accounts to follow for Coronavirus and COVID-19 updates.
The Center For Disease Control & Protection (CDC)
The CDC is the leading public health institute in nation, and has been very closely monitoring the coronavirus outbreak from the start. The site features the standard of reliable information for situational updates regarding the epidemic, and other resources for staying healthy and informed. On the website's landing page, there is a disclaimer that states "this is an emerging, rapidly evolving situation and CDC will provide updated information as it becomes available, in addition to updated guidance," which proves to be typically faster than many news outlets as it's a primary source.
Follow the CDC on Twitter @CDCgov
The World Health Organization
WHO is a specialized agency that is solely dedicated to international health concerns. It has a page dedicated to the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, with an ever-updating scroll of coronavirus news. With more than 7,000 people working in 150 different countries, it's a well-rounded source of information. Follow their Twitter account to get those updates first.
Follow the World Health Organization on Twitter @WHO
Dr. Alexandra L. Phelan, S.J.D., LL.M., LL.B.
Dr. Alexandra L. Phelan, S.J.D., LL.M., LL.B., is a member of the Center for Global Health Science and Security and a Faculty Research Instructor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at Georgetown University. On March 16, she was appointed to serve on the National Academies Standing Committee on Emerging Infectious Diseases and 21st Century Health Threats to provide guidance on the coronavirus outbreak.
Follow Dr. Alexandra L. Phelan on Twitter @AlexandraPhelan.
Dr. Scott Gottlieb, MD
As a resident fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, Dr. Scott Gottlieb MD has the kind of experience that makes him a bonafide expert you can trust for updates on coronavirus, or COVID-19. He served as the 23rd commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and is relied upon by outlets like the Washington Post to provide analysis on the the status and spread of COVID-19.
Follow Dr. Scott Gottlieb MD on Twitter @ScottGottliebMD
Dr. Roopa Dhatt, MD
Dr. Roopa Dhatt, MD, a practicing internist at Mid-Atlantic Permanente Medical Group, is the Executive Director and co-founder of Women in Global Health, an advocacy movement that supports women’s leadership in health at global, national, and local levels. Her Twitter account is a great resource if you're interested in gaining insight from other women in the public health sector.
Follow Dr. Roopa Dhatt, MD on Twitter @RoopaDhatt.
Dr. Marc Lipsitch, Ph.D
Dr. Marc Lipsitch, Ph.D, is a professor of epidemiology at Harvard's T.H. Chan School of Public Health, and has been quoted regularly in the news, with recent statements regarding coronavirus appearing in The New Yorker, CBS News, The Boston Globe and more. Throughout the day, he reTweets reliably sourced updates, often with his own commentary attached.
Follow Dr. Marc Lipsitch, Ph.D on Twitter @mlipsitch.
Dr. Tom Inglesby, MD
Dr. Tom Inglesby, MD, is director of the Center for Health Security at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. He specializes in preparedness, pandemics, and emerging infectious disease, and regularly shares articles about coronavirus. Dr. Inglesby recently wrote an opinion piece in The New York Times titled "How to Confront Coronavirus at Every Level."
Follow Dr. Tom Inglesby, MD on Twitter @t_inglesby.
Dr. Bill Hanage, Ph.D
Dr. Bill Hanage, Ph.D is an associate professor in the Department of Epidemiology's Center for Communicable Disease Dynamics at Harvard. In addition to recently speaking with the Washington Post about missteps in coronavirus testing in the U.S., he responds to questions about the coronavirus pandemic and helps followers make sense of the news cycle on Twitter.
Follow Dr. Bill Hanage, Ph.D on Twitter @BillHanage.
Dr. Adam Kucharski, Ph.D
Dr. Adam Kucharski, Ph.D is an author, associate professor, and Sir Henry Dale fellow at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. His research uses mathematical and statistical models to understand disease outbreaks, as well as how social behavior and immunity affect transmission. His writing has been featured in publications like Wired, Financial Times, Scientific American, The Times and The Observer. On Twitter, he breaks down some of the more complex stats and theories pertaining to the virus.
Follow Dr. Adam Kucharski, Ph.D on Twitter @AdamJKucharski.
Helen Branswell
Helen Branswell is a Senior Infectious Disease Writer at StatNews, a publication that reports on public health issues and medicine, and a veteran in the science and medical journalism community. In the past she's covered SARS, avian influenza, swine flu, and the effort to eradicate polio. On Twitter, she breaks down the complex numbers so that her followers can better understand what realities they represent.
Follow Helen Branswell on Twitter @HelenBranswell.
Dr. Caitlin Rivers, Ph.D
Dr. Caitlin Rivers, Ph.D., is a senior associate at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security and assistant professor in the Department of Environmental Health and Engineering. Her work is primarily focused on bettering public health preparedness and response, particularly through the lens of computational epidemiology and outbreak science. On Twitter, Dr. Rivers provides easy to read graphs and data charts that help her followers understand the impact and possible projection of the pandemic.
Follow Dr. Caitlin Rivers, Ph.D on Twitter @cmyeaton.
Project HOPE (Health Opportunities for People Everywhere)
Project HOPE is an organization that helps provide local health care workers with the resources they need to do their job, especially in the middle of a health crisis. While the coronavirus/COVID-19 updates are not in real time, the organization's site is a reliable source for basic information on the virus, how to spot symptoms, and what you need to know about donating and staying informed. Check out its facts page for reliable stats and figures.
Follow Project Hope On Twitter @ProjectHopeOrg
Save The Children
Save the Children, the non-profit organization that provides health and emergency aid to children, has a "facts and figures" coronavirus informational page which covers the virus and its effects extensively. The page is updated daily, so all of the data will reflect the current sick rate, death toll, and the number of people infected in each country. You can also learn more about how to make a safe donation and what work the organization is doing to help.
Follow Save The Children on Twitter @SavetheChildren
The American Public Health Association
APHA has a "Get Ready Factsheet" that features a condensed breakdown of facts and figures pertaining to coronavirus, or COVID-19. If you're looking for a straightforward one-sheet of current information on the virus, you'll find it here. The fact sheet can be downloaded as a PDF and is printer-friendly so that you can easily share it with your office or family. Their experts are also on hand to provide updates and analysis on the progress of Coronavirus, so following their Twitter account to see them first.
Follow Public Health on Twitter @PublicHealth
The New York Times
The New York Times has a "Live Updates" tab on its homepage regarding coronavirus and COVID-19 that's continuously added to throughout the day, as well as an active Twitter page sharing updates. Via the website, almost every time you refresh the page, the information is updated with stats that are constantly edited to reflect the current rates.
Follow New York Times on Twitter @nytimes
CNN Breaking News
CNN's home page has a tab that reads "Live Updates: Coronavirus," which features real-time information throughout the day. You can choose to view all global updates, just updates from Europe, the US, Asia, or Italy. The outlet's Twitter account, @CNNbrk also shares that information first.
Follow CNN Breaking on Twitter @cnnbrk
SiriusXM’s Doctor Radio Program On Coronavirus
Doctor Radio and NYU Langone Health’s medical experts have teamed up for a radio show that will have program running 24/7, available to be listened to both live and on demand. There is also a Twitter account sharing coronavirus and COVID-19 updates This show is dedicated to the latest news and updates surrounding the coronavirus and pledges to be a responsible source for sorting fact from fiction. Tune into channel 110, and starting March 6, listeners can call in to ask questions for the Friday show. (Call 877 698-3627, tweet @NYUDocs, or email docs@siriusxm.com, to have your question featured and answered on the show.)
If you think you’re showing symptoms of coronavirus, which include fever, shortness of breath, and cough, call your doctor before going to get tested. If you’re anxious about the virus’s spread in your community, visit the CDC for up-to-date information and resources, or seek out mental health support. You can find all Bustle’s coverage of coronavirus here.
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