Coronavirus | Penn Today

The coronavirus class divide: Space and privacy

Emily Steinlight of the School of Arts and Sciences said narratives about the hazards of close living quarters for poor people date back to Charles Dickens’ 1852 novel, “Bleak House.” “It’s the poorest and most socially marginalized people in the novel who disproportionately die of this disease,” she said. “That also has resonance for what we’re seeing now.”

Recovered from coronavirus? Here’s how you can help

Ebb Lautenbach of the Perelman School of Medicine said it’s still possible for those who have recovered from COVID-19 to continue spreading the coronavirus. “It’s worth bearing in mind in that when you’ve recovered from the disease, you still want to maintain good hygiene practices,” he said.

As nation stays home, early indicators suggest rise in domestic violence killings

Susan B. Sorenson of the School of Social Policy & Practice commented on the uptick in gun purchases during the coronavirus pandemic. “A lot of gun purchases are motivated by fear,” she said. “People are being told to stay in their homes, that thousands of people will die, and that this may go on for an extended period ... It is completely understandable to be afraid.”

This is the first wave of COVID-19. We can make the next easier

Jennifer Pinto-Martin of the School of Nursing and Perelman School of Medicine wrote about how we can cope with the anticipated second wave of COVID-19 with antibody testing. “In the health care setting, knowing who has immunity to the disease, even if it is short-term, will inform policies about who is best suited to care for infected patients,” she wrote. “In the community, those with established immunity will be able to more rapidly resume normal activity and be of help to those who must remain isolated.”

Mounting job losses. Fear of the unknown. We’ve seen this before during the Great Depression. Here are some lessons learned

Brent Cebul of the School of Arts and Sciences spoke about how Philadelphia was affected by the Great Depression and how its lessons apply to the current pandemic. “A lot of people are talking about the Great Depression these days,” he said. “I need to remind them just how long and how deep that crisis was.”

Bedding and blankets belonging to homeless people on the ground underneath an underpass

How the pandemic could affect income inequality

Wharton’s Benjamin Lockwood discusses income inequality in the U.S. in the wake of COVID-19, and how the Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Security Act raises questions about what policy will look like on the other side of the coronavirus outbreak.

Rapid response to COVID-19 puts the power of innovation to the test

With a critical need for equipment that can help protect frontline healthcare workers, the Penn community has come together to help fabricate 20,000 face shields by mid- to late-April.

A room full of people seated with others standing in the back of the room

COVID-19 and the housing crisis

Amy Castro Baker of the School of Social Policy & Practice advocates for a multiprong approach to public assistance during the global pandemic

This runner was a favorite for the U.S. Olympic team. Then came the coronavirus pandemic

School of Nursing senior Nia Akins and Athletics’ Meghan Cartafalsa spoke about training for the Olympics and the effects of the coronavirus pandemic.

Cats can get coronavirus. How worried should you be?

Shelley Rankin of the School of Veterinary Medicine weighed in on a study that found that cats can contract and spread the coronavirus. “All this study showed is that they could experimentally infect cats: It doesn’t mean that the virus is causing disease in the cat population, and it does not mean that cats can infect humans,” she said. “Whether or not this can happen in the wild … is still open to interpretation.”

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