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Coronavirus

Decision-making and anxiety in the time of COVID-19
two people on a bench wearing masks, a third person motions that they want to sit in an open spot while one person currently on the bench gives a hand motion indicating no

Decision-making and anxiety in the time of COVID-19

Penn experts discuss the psychology behind decision-making, how anxiety and stress impacts behavior, and share strategies for deciding how to safely reengage with society.

Erica K. Brockmeier

COVID-19 testing site for Penn students up and running
Two people standing by a table in Houston Hall, one wears PPE and administers a nasal swab to a student.

COVID-19 testing site for Penn students up and running

Easy, quick, and safe testing is just one of several public health measures the University is undertaking to reduce the risk of spreading coronavirus on—and off—campus.

Lauren Hertzler

6 feet may not always be enough distance to protect from COVID-19, new report suggests

6 feet may not always be enough distance to protect from COVID-19, new report suggests

PIK Professor Ezekiel Emanuel spoke about the risk factors for coronavirus infections: location, density, exposure time, and activity. “If you're outdoors, not in a crowd and not going to be with other people for prolonged periods of time, that's probably good," he said. "Is it a zero-risk scenario? Nothing's zero-risk. Is it a low-risk scenario? Yes."

Have L.A.'s homeless people dodged a COVID-19 catastrophe?

Have L.A.'s homeless people dodged a COVID-19 catastrophe?

Dennis P. Culhane of the School of Social Policy & Practice spoke about the seemingly low rate of COVID-19 infections among homeless people in Los Angeles. “It’s possible being outside is protective relative to inside,” he said. Still, without more comprehensive antibody testing, “I’m not so sure we can say there hasn’t been a huge hit.”

An improv class that enriches the mind and soul, even remotely
A person facing the camera shrugging with arms wide open. Another person is standing to the right, and two others are in the background.

Much like in traditional improv, participants in the Penn Memory Center’s Cognitive Comedy play off of each other, running scenes or throwing each other imaginary balls of varying sizes, for example. Though some facets changed as the sessions went virtual, the program remains well-loved and well-attended. (Pre-pandemic image: Terrance Casey)

An improv class that enriches the mind and soul, even remotely

The Penn Memory Center’s Cognitive Comedy program gives people with memory impairments and their caregivers a no-pressure space to think creatively, socialize, and be part of a community.

Michele W. Berger

By wearing a Milwaukee Bucks mask, I hope people will stop asking me where I’m ‘really’ from

By wearing a Milwaukee Bucks mask, I hope people will stop asking me where I’m ‘really’ from

Tong Wang, a student in the Perelman School of Medicine, writes about the surge in anti-Asian racism that has accompanied the pandemic. “I’m proud to wear my mask; it protects people and can help prevent the spread of the coronavirus,” he writes. “But I make an intentional choice about which mask I choose to minimize discrimination.”