Understanding Coronavirus: The Epidemiology

Define epidemiology as the study of distribution, determinants, and deterrence of morbidity and mortality in human populations. Learn how denominators, descriptive and analytic epidemiology, and prevention guide clinical decision making.

Trace the history of epidemiology from Hippocrates to John Snow, highlighting vital statistics, clinical trials, and vaccination, and show how globalization and lifestyle shifts shape coronavirus and infectious disease understanding.

Understand that a virus is a microscopic parasite that replicates in host cells during incubation (2 to 14 days) and learn transmission via droplets, surfaces, and direct or indirect routes.

Analyze how global air travel accelerates disease spread, compare historic pandemics, and examine how case fatality rates vary by age and testing availability.

Understand the CDC's role in epidemiology, from smallpox eradication to outbreak investigations, and its weekly reports guiding coronavirus resources and public health decisions.

Understand how the denominator—the population at risk—shapes coronavirus statistics, highlighting how undercounted mild cases and testing limits inflate mortality and case-fatality rates.

Define numerator and denominator and apply prevalence, case fatality rate, mortality rate, and survival rate to understand coronavirus measures of disease using real data.

Learn to calculate case fatality rate, mortality rate, and survival rate from state-level covid data using Excel with a step-by-step, data-driven workflow.

Describe descriptive epidemiology by examining who, what, where, and when, and time patterns to generate hypotheses about disease distribution, using case reports, case series, correlation studies, and cross-sectional surveys.

Explore analytical epidemiology, testing hypotheses with cohort and case-control studies and randomized controlled trials to identify risk factors and evaluate corona virus treatments.

Develop critical thinking by evaluating coronavirus data, questioning projections, and distinguishing counts from rate per hundred thousand. Use real-time data, assess asymptomatic carriers, and ensure apples-to-apples comparisons.

Analyze the shift to include probable cases alongside confirmed cases after April 15, 2020, and its impact on apples-to-apples comparisons, case fatality rates, and prevalence in US data.

Clarifies flat the curve in the July 2020 update, and discusses lockdowns, healthcare capacity, super-spreader events, and Florida and New York patterns to discuss second wave.

Analyze October 2020 covid data to compare lockdown effects, transmission, and mortality, and emphasize evidence-based interpretation, preventive care, and vaccine strategies.

Practice good hygiene, such as washing hands 20+ seconds and covering coughs, maintain mindful social distancing, and support immune health with an anti-inflammatory diet, hydration, and regular activity.

Reflect on the course journey and empower yourself with coronavirus knowledge to form informed decisions. Share your new wisdom with friends and family and stay safe and healthy.