Public Health On Call

In the midst of a pandemic, resilience is key for health care workers. Dr. Albert Wu , co-director of RISE—Resilience In Stressful Events—an emotional peer support structure at Johns Hopkins Hospital, talks to Dr. Josh Sharfstein about the importance of supporting hospital staff and what can be done to mitigate anxiety and stress in this unprecedented situation. Learn more: jhsph.edu/covid-19

The threat of COVID-19 presents a new challenge for citizens of many countries who are not used to government entities directing their behavior. It's also an ideological shift for many: Change your individual behavior for the good of the greater community. Monica Malta , an alumna of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School, is a social epidemiologist and a global health researcher at the University of...

There are so many unknowns around COVID-19, so how can we find credible sources of information? What is the role of communication in the pandemic and how can authorities get it right? Susan Krenn , executive director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs, talks to Stephanie Desmon about how communication can combat fear if it's credible, transparent, timely, and gives people the r...

For many, COVID-19 has revealed an anxiety-ridden world of unknowns. Protecting our mental health is just as important as protecting our physical health in this pandemic. But how can we find comfort if we're inundated with scary messages and physically cut off from people we love? Dr. Monica Schoch-Spana of the Center for Health Security talks to Dr. Josh Sharfstein about caring for ourselves and...

Why is the response to COVID-19 so much more severe than the response to other outbreaks like H1N1 or SARS? Will a vaccine be more effective than the usual flu vaccine? Has the shortage of available testing been resolved? Are we seeing more cases because of increases in transmission or testing? Why does COVID-19 cause shortness of breath? Can drinking cold water increase your risk of infection? Je...

Recent volatility in the financial markets have shaken investors and left everyone asking: Are we currently in a financial crisis? Author and expert on financial crises Kathleen Day of the Johns Hopkins Carey Business School talks to Stephanie Desmon of the Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs about how the novel coronavirus is affecting local and global economies, and what consumers sh...

What are the human rights considerations in the response to COVID-19? How can societies move to control the spread of the virus in ways that do not create panic or unnecessarily restrict communities? What are critical considerations as governments try to strike the right balance between restrictions and depriving people of the ability to live their lives? Dr. Josh Sharfstein talks to Len Rubenstei...

What is #FlattenTheCurve? Caitlin Rivers , senior scholar at the Center for Health Security talks to Dr. Josh Sharfstein about this response strategy, what it means for you, and how staying home can help ensure that everyone who needs healthcare in an outbreak will be able to get it. More information: jhsph.edu/covid-19  

Is there potential for using antibodies generated by people who have recovered from COVID-19 to prevent infection and treat those who are sick? Dr. Josh Sharfstein talks to Arturo Casadevall , chair of Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology at the Bloomberg School of Public Health, about a landmark 1934 case where antibodies helped stopped a measles outbreak. More information: jhsph.e...

Is it right to publicly disclose information about people who get sick with COVID-19? What are society's obligations to people who are quarantined? Is it time to start thinking about how to allocate critical healthcare resources in case this epidemic stretches the healthcare system beyond its capacity to care for everyone? Dr. Josh Sharfstein speaks with renowned ethicists Jeffery Kahn and Nancy K...

Dr. Lucy Wilson , professor of Emergency Health Services at University of Maryland Baltimore County, talks with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about why the Seattle outbreak is an important bellwether for the rest of the country in terms of protecting vulnerable populations, and what facilities and first responders can do to control and stop outbreaks like COVID-19. More information: jhsph.edu/covid-19

Can people without symptoms spread COVID-19? Can children get COVID-19? Should you cancel an upcoming gathering? Are school closures helpful? If you've had COVID-19, are you immune? Are men more affected than women? Dr. Tom Inglesby from the Center for Health Security answers these and some of the most asked questions sent to publichealthquestion@jhu.edu . More information: jhsph.edu/covid-19

Weak points in the U.S.'s health and social policies—like paid sick leave and universal health coverage—disproportionately affect underserved communities. COVID-19 may present added challenges for these populations. Dr. Josh Sharfstein talks to Dr. Georges Benjamin , executive director of the American Public Health Association, about public health's role in preventing communities from being left b...

What role do local health departments play in outbreaks and how are they preparing for COVID-19? As Commissioner of the Cuyahoga County Board of Health in Ohio, Terry Allan is responsible for the well-being of over 850,000 people. Allan talks to Dr. Josh Sharfstein about public trust and the importance of open information sharing, and how ongoing relationship building and past experience help set...

Why the director of Hopkins' Office of Critical Event Preparedness is preparing but not panicking: Dr. Gabor Kelen , Director of the Johns Hopkins Office of Critical Event Preparedness and Response (CEPAR) talks to Dr. Josh Sharfstein about what's contributing to public fears about COVID-19, how the institution assesses what actions to take, and his one piece of advice for people experiencing mild...

COVID-19 presents new challenges for health care providers in the midst of respiratory virus season. Dr. Lisa Maragakis , Senior Director of Infection Prevention at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, talks to Dr. Josh Sharfstein about standard precautions, protecting hospital staff while ensuring coverage, how previous outbreaks have laid some groundwork to address this one, and what you...

Is hand sanitizer effective? Will this spread throughout the US? Should I cancel my upcoming travel plans? Can COVID-19 tests tell the difference between someone who has had the virus and someone who currently has it? Are face masks effective? Jennifer Nuzzo of the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security answers these and some of the most asked questions submitted to publichealthquestion@jhu.edu...

An interview with Professor Andrew Pekosz of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, an expert in the basic science of respiratory viruses, including influenza and SARS. Dr. Pekosz shares what's known and what is yet to be discovered about the novel coronavirus. More information: jhsph.edu/covid-19  

Dr. Josh Sharfstein interviews infectious disease epidemiologist Dr. Justin Lessler on the features of viruses that lead to worldwide contagion, how COVID-19 compares with the flu in terms of speed, and where the evidence now points for this novel coronavirus. Dr. Justin Lessler is an Associate Professor in Epidemiology. Dr. Josh Sharfstein is the Vice Dean of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of...

With COVID-19 beginning to spread via community transmission in the U.S. and the WHO raising its risk assessment to "very high," experts from the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health and Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine offer insights on the growing global public health concern. Featuring Dr. Jennifer Nuzzo and Dr. Tara Kirk Sell of the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security and Laur...