After observing the lack of coordination and communication - which put vulnerable populations at higher risk - before, during and after Hurricane Katrina, Michael Zakour, professor of social work at West Virginia University, is concerned the same may be happening now in the U.S. response to the novel coronavirus pandemic.
In times of uncertainty, one of our first concerns is keeping our families healthy and fed. Gina Wood, specialist with West Virginia University Extension Service’s Family Nutrition Program, says it’s easy to fill your shelves with food that’s both healthy and shelf-stable.
As people across the nation prepare for social distancing to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus, they may stock up on groceries, fill all of their prescriptions and reschedule doctor’s appointments. What they may not think to do is plan ways to keep from feeling lonely. WVU'S Laurie Theeke offers tips on how to avoid loneliness while practicing social distancing.
As West Virginians rush to stock their pantries in response to the ongoing public health crisis, it’s more important than ever to keep our food budgets in mind. Gina Wood, specialist with West Virginia University Extension Service’s Family Nutrition Program, offers several strategies to fill your shelves while staying within your budget.
As families begin educating their children at home, West Virginia University Extension Service experts Kerri Carte and Sarah Owen have provided a few tips to help make this experience a little easier on the whole family.
Practicing social distancing is one way to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus, but practicing emotional closeness may help alleviate the anxiety that the coronavirus can provoke. Julie Brefczynski-Lewis, a research assistant professor in the West Virginia University Department of Neuroscience—part of the Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute—said that “switching to compassion mode” may be one way to manage that anxiety.
As more people turn to social media and other online sources for updates on the novel coronavirus outbreak, determining which sources are reliable becomes increasingly difficult. Experts in the West Virginia University Reed College of Media share tips on how to differentiate fact from fiction online.
As the outbreak of Coronavirus COVID-19 spreads across the globe, the disruption to daily life and uncertainty can lead to stress and anxiety for many. WVU BeWell services, a satellite office of the Carruth Center for Psychological and Psychiatric Services, is reaching out to West Virginia University students to help provide stress reduction and management support.
One researcher at West Virginia University suggests that we need to consider government response in context of our current partisan climate and our political past, as we brace for the novel coronavirus.
With fears over the novel coronavirus shuttering the sports world, Brad Humphreys, economics professor at West Virginia University, said the long-term economic impact could be “substantial” and “uncertain.”