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    • Flatten The Curve

    Flatten the Curve

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    “Flatten the curve” is a rallying call for social distancing amid the global Covid-19 pandemic. What curve? What does it mean? Why is flattening important? In a nutshell, the curve refers to the number of patients infected with the novel coronavirus over time. Flattening the curve refers to keeping the number of patients requiring health care low, so that our healthcare system is not overwhelmed. Many people around the world (including me) are sheltering in place under a government ordered quarantine. Staying at home and practicing social distancing are two ways to help flatten the curve. Learn more at today’s selection of recommended websites.

    		Flatten the Curve Resource Handout for Classroom or Homeschool: Just $2.00

    Flatten the Curve5 stars

    Created by assistant professor Julie McMurry from the College of Public Health at Oregon State University, Flatten the Curve's purpose is to increase knowledge and slow the spread of COVID-19. "You can help by following as much as possible of the following guidance. The earlier the precautions are taken, the more precautions are taken, the more lives are saved. It is that simple. Resist the urge to ricochet or give up hope. The key is to stay calm and do the steady work of infection control and urge others to follow suit."



    Michigan Health: Flattening the Curve for COVID-194 stars

    Flattening the curve will lower the death toll and buy time for scientists to find potential treatments and (hopefully) a vaccine. It will, however, stretch the pandemic out for a longer period of time. "Canceling, postponing or moving online for our work, education and recreation may be inconvenient, annoying and disappointing. But hospitals need to have enough room, supplies and staff to care for those who need hospital-level care – whether it’s for coronavirus, a heart attack, car crash, broken bone or birth. "

    New York Times: Flattening the Coronavirus Curve4 stars

    "What does it mean to 'flatten the curve'? The ideal goal in fighting an epidemic or pandemic is to completely halt the spread. But merely slowing it – mitigation – is critical. This reduces the number of cases that are active at any given time, which in turn gives doctors, hospitals, police, schools and vaccine-manufacturers time to prepare and respond, without becoming overwhelmed." New York Times is one of several publications that have made all their coronavirus articles free to the public; usually you need to buy a subscription to read more than five New York Times' articles a month.

    Washington Post: Why Outbreaks like Coronavirus Spread Exponentially and How to "Flatten the Curve"5 stars

    This Washington Post article (free to the public) has terrific animations explaining how a virus spreads through a population. It is my don't-miss-it pick of the week. As you watch the animations, remember that blueish green is a healthy person, reddish brown represents a sick person, and the pink dots are people who had the virus, but are now recovered. Although the animations are oversimplified, they are a great teaching tool. "And like a ball bouncing across the screen, a single person's behavior can cause ripple effects that touch faraway people." Don't be that person. Stay home.

    Wired: How Does the Coronavirus Spread? Your Covid-19 Questions, Answered5 stars

    "A full-blown pandemic may sound frightening (after all, it shares the same root word as pandemonium), but the designation isn’t based on how dangerous the disease is. As epidemiologist Seema Yasmin explains, a pandemic is characterized by how geographically widespread a particular illness has become." This Wired article answers twelve questions you might have about the coronavirus. "What is social distancing? Aside from being good news for introverts, social distancing is a public health tactic that helps communities slow down the transmission and spread of contagious illnesses like the coronavirus."

    		Flatten the Curve Resource Handout for Classroom or Homeschool: Just $2.00




    Cite This Page

    Feldman, Barbara. "Flatten the Curve." Surfnetkids. Feldman Publishing. 24 Mar. 2020. Web. 14 Jul. 2023. <https://www.surfnetkids.com/resources/flatten-the-curve/ >.


    About This Page

    By . Originally published March 24, 2020. Last modified November 9, 2020.

    Filed Under: More Science, Science

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