COVID-19:
Stats, Facts and Related Reading
COVID-19 upended our lives and changed us forever. Whether it was the tragic death of a loved one, or the shutdown of activities that brought us joy, we all lost something. We want the pandemic to end but it is not over yet. The virus changes quickly and so will science. The information below is updated on a regular basis. I will be glad when the day arrives that I can delete coronavirus topics.
“A new idea is first condemned as ridiculous and then dismissed as trivial, until finally, it becomes what everybody knows.” ~William James
Updated: May 27, 2022
A Note from Chris: As a former public health nurse, infectious diseases, I do my best to present accurate COVID-19 statistics, facts and related topics from sources that I trust, but I urge you to do your own research. Thank you for visiting. Be well.
On this page
8 Tips for Coping with Constant Media Bad News
COVID-19:
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Disengage from the emotion of the information.
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Check the source.
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Evaluate your own bias.
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Get the full context.
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Do not assume public figures are always right.
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Avoid jumping on the latest COVID-19 study.
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Be wary of COVID-19 information on social media.
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Safeguard your mental health from the negative effects of COVID-19 overload.
What you can do:
(You can use this approach to cope with round-the-clock news coverage of any disturbing event.)
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Minimize watching, reading, or listening to news that causes you to feel anxious or distressed.
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Seek information only from trusted sources, so that you can take practical steps to protect yourself and loved ones.
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Look for updates at specific times, but limit it to once or twice a day.
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Disconnect from the sudden and near-constant stream of news reports.
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Doomscrolling (or doomsurfing) is not helpful. Step away and take a break.
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Remember: The more you click on bad news, the more algorithms feed you bad news. 'Round and 'round you go...
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Explore ways to modify your device habits and improve your mood at HelpGuide.org.
War in Ukraine
Psychology Today: Misinformation and Trauma: How to Watch a War Online
Staying informed while avoiding fake news and unhelpful doomscrolling.
How Images of War in Ukraine Can Trigger PTSD
Five steps to help ease anxiety, especially for veterans and trauma survivors.
MIT: How to avoid sharing bad information about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine
Even well-meaning attempts to participate in the news can play into bad actors’ campaigns.
APA: Talking to kids about the war in Ukraine
Strategies for discussing the conflict in age-appropriate ways with children and teens.
Sources | Learning More
COVID-19 Stats and Facts
Statistics
CDC: COVID-19 Cases and Deaths in the U.S.
Johns Hopkins: Worldwide Coronavirus Maps and Cases
The Basics from Yale Medicine
5 Things Everyone Should Know About the Coronavirus Outbreak (Updated)
Omicron and the BA.2 Subvariant: A Guide to What We Know
Omicron, Delta, Alpha, and More: What To Know About the Coronavirus Variants
General COVID-19 Resources
Johns Hopkins: Coronavirus Health Information
Yale Medicine: COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease 2019)
Covid-19 Tests
Which COVID-19 Test Should You Get? The ins and outs of different COVID-19 tests
Healthline: The 12 Best At-Home COVID-19 Tests
KHN: 5 Things You Should Know About ‘Free’ At-Home Covid Tests
Breakthroughs | Endemicity
AMA: What doctors wish patients knew about breakthrough COVID infections
Healthline: Will COVID-19 Become Endemic and What Does That Mean?
The Altlantic: Endemicity Is Meaningless: We have no idea what happens next.
Stat News: How we got herd immunity wrong
Colds | Flu | Allergies
Johns Hopkins: COVID-19 vs. the Flu
Emerson Hospital: Allergies, Cold, Flu or COVID-19? How to Tell the Difference
Verywell Health: 'Flurona' Is Not New: COVID and Flu Co-infection Explained
COVID-19 and Children
Hopkins: Coronavirus in Babies and Kids: Symptoms and Prevention
What to Do If Your Child Gets COVID-19
COVID-19 and Medical Conditions
Mayo Clinic: COVID-19: Who's at higher risk of serious symptoms?
Yale Medicine: What Does It Mean To Be ‘Immunocompromised’?
Johns Hopkins: Can Coronavirus Cause Heart Damage?
Elder Care
COVID-19 and Nursing Homes: An American Tragedy
Stat News: New report offers solutions for improving nursing home care
Long Haul COVID
Johns Hopkins: COVID ‘Long Haulers’: Long-Term Effects of COVID-19
Help Guide: Long COVID: Symptoms and Help for COVID Long Haulers
AMA: What doctors wish patients knew about long COVID
Yale Medicine: What Happens When Kids Get Long COVID?
KHN: ‘That’s Just Part of Aging’: Long Covid Symptoms Are Often Overlooked in Seniors
RECOVER: Researching COVID to Enhance Recovery
Long COVID and Mental Health
Verywell Health: How to Cope With Post-COVID Brain Fog
Verywell Mind: How Long Haul COVID Takes a Toll on Your Mental Health
Why Long COVID Patients Are Struggling With Depression
Psychology Today: The Mystery of Long COVID
Vaccines | Boosters
Contagion Live: Latest Vaccine News
COVID-19 Vaccines
Comparing the COVID-19 Vaccines: How Are They Different?
The Link Between J&J’s COVID Vaccine and Blood Clots: What You Need to Know
How Long Will Your Coronavirus Vaccination Last?
Lack of side effects after COVID-19 vaccination doesn't mean it isn't working
Children and Teens
CDC: COVID-19 Vaccines for Children and Teens
Yale Medicine: COVID-19 Vaccine For Kids Ages 5 to 11: What Parents Need To Know
COVID-19 Boosters
COVID-19 Boosters: The Latest Advice
You Got the J&J Vaccine: Should You Get the booster?
CDC: Current Booster Eligibility
COVID-19 Treatments
Harvard Health: Treatments for COVID-19: What helps, what doesn't, and what's in the pipeline
Yale Medicine: 9 Things You Need To Know About Molnupiravir, Merck's COVID-19 Pill
13 Things To Know About Paxlovid, Pfizer's COVID-19 Pill
CAUTION: Paxlovid can interact with over 20 different classes of prescription medications and some over-the-counter
herbal supplements like St. John's wort. Be sure to discuss potential serious interactions with your doctor and pharmacist.
Written by an MD, this article explores the need for independent reviews of pharmaceutical clinical trials and why the American public (rightfully) distrusts Big Pharma. Related: As reports of ‘Paxlovid rebound’ increase, Covid researchers scramble for answers
Do vitamin D, zinc, and other supplements help prevent COVID-19 or hasten healing?
Mayo Clinic: Treating COVID-19 at home: Care tips for you and others
Why Catching COVID-19 to ‘Get It Over With’ Is a Terrible Idea
Life After the Pandemic
When does the pandemic end?
McKinsey: When will the COVID-19 pandemic end?
Is It Time to Stop Talking About COVID?
There may be value in shifting our mindset from "pandemic" to "endemic."
Web MD: For Millions, the Pandemic Isn’t Over: 'We Are Indeed Stuck'
How have we changed?
Medical News Today: How has the pandemic changed our behavior?
Web MD: The Pandemic Has Changed Us, Permanently
Moving Forward
Help Guide: Surviving Tough Times by Building Resilience
Whether you’re facing a global or personal crisis—or a mix of both—building resilience can help you cope and enjoy better days to come.
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Learning to Live With PTSD and COVID-19
Moving forward in post-pandemic times
Bracing for BA.2: Is Post-Pandemic Growth Possible?
4 ways to cope with the next wave and spark post-pandemic growth
The Post Pandemic Workplace
Verywell Mind: 8 Tips to Handle the Stress of Working From Home
How Can Remote Workers Adapt to Office Life Again?
Microsoft: 6 Principles for Hybrid Work Wellbeing
Going Remote: What We’ve Lost … And What We’ve Gained
Creative Blueprints: Finding Balance In Hybrid Work Schedules
Newsworthy
Stat News: Covid-19 overtakes 1918 Spanish flu as deadliest disease in American history
CDC FastStats: COVID-19 is now the third leading cause of death in the US
Johns Hopkins: A Grim Milestone: U.S. Officially Surpasses 1 Million COVID-19 Deaths
Healthline Q&A: What to Expect With COVID-19 This Summer
NPR: If you're finding this stage of the pandemic especially confusing, you're not alone
Grocery Store Shortages
Yale Medicine: Baby Formula Shortage: 8 Tips for Parents
Taste of Home: 10 Items You Might Not Find in Your Grocery Store (And Why)
Consumer Reports: 12 Tactics to Deal With Shortages and Unpredictability at the Grocery Store
Pets | Pet Care | Pet Loss
Great Pet Care: How to Support Pets in Ukraine
Mayo Clinic: Can dogs and cats get COVID-19?
ASPCA: Pet Parenting in Our New Normal
Animals Acquired During the Pandemic are Being Relished, Not Returned
Tips to Help Your Pets Adjust to Life After COVID
Is veterinary curbside service here to stay?
Urgent Vet: Urgent Care is the Next Frontier in Veterinary Medicine
Pet Loss and COVID-19: Euthanasia
Compassionate advice for anyone facing this difficult time.
Petfinder.com: Helping Pets: COVID-19 Resources
On this site
Pet Loss and Anticipatory Grief: Knowing the End Is Near
Making the Decision to Euthanize Your Pet
Grieving the Death of Your Pet
Grief
Alan Wolfelt, Ph.D. This Pandemic of Grief
From Psychology Today
Coping with Grief During COVID-19
Disenfranchised Grief: Mourning Events that Never Were
There are so many ways that the pandemic took pieces of our hearts and lives.
Five Myths About Grief You May Believe
On this site
COVID-19 and Grief: The Lost Parts of Ourselves
Health | Mental Health
Health
Harvard Health: Helpful Ways to Strengthen Your Immune System
The Nutrition Source: Nutrition and Immunity
Yale Medicine: How Inflammation Affects Your Health
Sleep Foundation: Sleep Guidelines During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Healthline: 5 Unhealthy Pandemic Habits and How to Break Them
Mental Health
Yale Medicine: Taking Your 'Mental Health' Temperature During COVID-19
Help Guide: Coronavirus Help: Mental Health
Verywell Mind: Caring for Your Mental Health in the Return to Normalcy
Verywell Family: How the Pandemic Affects the Mental Health of Children and Teens
Help Guide: Suicide Prevention: Plenty You Can Do to Help Save a Life
COVID-19 Scam Alerts
FCC: Coronavirus Scams (Communications)
FDA: Fraudulent COVID-19 Products (Food and Drug)
FTC: Avoid Coronavirus Scams (Consumers)
HHS: Fraud Alert: COVID-19 Scams (Health)
Travel | Holidays
NPR: These airlines are dropping mask mandates after a federal judge's ruling
CDC: Domestic and International Travel Guidelines
CDC: Activities, Gatherings and Holidays
On this site
Pet Loss: Grief Takes No Holiday
Psychological Biases
Verywell Mind: What Is Cognitive Bias?
Psychology Today: Biases Are Neither All Good nor All Bad
4 Cognitive Biases That Can Impair Pandemic Decision-Making
Back to Coping with Media Bad News
For Musicians
Science News: What science tells us about reducing coronavirus spread from wind instruments
On the Lighter Side
COVID-19 lyrics to the tune of Billy Joel's The Longest Time
(mp4 video | Click Play and turn up the sound)