Public Health On Call

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 Rubenstein, Conflict and Health program director of the Center for Public Health and Human Rights. More information: jhsph.edu/covid-19

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.edu/covid-19

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 Kass, the director and deputy director of the Johns Hopkins Berman Institute of Bioethics. More information: jhsph.edu/covid-19

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 behind. More information: jhsph.edu/covid-19

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 the stage for protecting people in their communities. More information: jhsph.edu/covid-19

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 symptoms. More information: jhsph.edu/covid-19

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 can do to help. More information: jhsph.edu/covid-19