This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at McGill chapter.

The COVID-19 pandemic has provoked swift and hefty measures from national and local governments to counter the rapid spread of the illness this past week. Below you will find some articles that I found particularly helpful for explaining the outbreak, followed by some more amusing reads or sites to visit during this time of social distancing. In addition, please do consult the COVID-19 page on Quebec government website for information about the measures being taken by the provincial government, as well as health recommendations for those who have recently travelled or who have developed symptoms. Up-to-date statistics and travel advice can also be found on the Government of Canada page about COVID-19. Also, keep an eye on your McGill email inbox and the official McGill page about the novel coronavirus to learn about how the University will be adjusting in response to the outbreak.

Why Outbreaks Like Coronavirus Spread Exponentially, and How to “Flatten the Curve” [The Washington Post]

Here, the author uses a series of animated graphs to demonstrate how a disease outbreak like Covid-19 will unfold, depending on the interventions that are put in place to attempt to socially distance members of the population.

How Canceled Events and Self-Quarantines Save Lives, in One Chart [Vox]

This article offers more explanation about why even young and healthy individuals need to remain vigilant about the outbreak and avoid large public gatherings in order to make sure that our healthcare systems don’t become overburdened very rapidly.

Why Soap Works [New York Times]

The NYT has been publishing “explainer” type articles which are useful for explaining the technicalities of the outbreak, including why washing your hands with soap is so effective for slowing the pandemic.

How Coronavirus Hijacks Your Cells [New York Times]

In this article, the NYT uses a series of diagrams to illustrate the progression of infection for SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, the virus responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic.

The First 10 Lines of Classic Novels, Rewritten for Social Distancing [Literary Hub]

Pride and Prejudice meets COVID-19.

Missing life in the public sphere? Classes, meetings, and work aren’t the only things moving online. Puppy training camps and aquariums are too.

Animal Live Cams [Explore]

Watch nesting bald eagles, sharks swimming through aquarium tanks, a kitten rescue, puppies snoozing, a sheep barn…this website brings all sorts of calming vibes to your computer screen.

Aquarium Live Cams [Monterey Bay Aquarium]

We may not be able to visit the aquarium in-person anymore, but that doesn’t mean we have to miss the ethereal aquarium displays. Available live cams include the kelp forest, the penguin cove, sea otters, and coral reef, among others.

Thinking of spending more time reflecting, learning, or investing in your personal growth and development? Here are some thought-provoking articles, podcasts, and videos which you might enjoy.

(Re)claiming Our Space [The McGill Tribune]

In this creative article, the Tribune has interviewed several POC from the McGill community about their experiences at McGill. Every interviewee also brought along a personal belonging that has value to them. It was so interesting for me to read about the memories and significance that were attached to these objects.

Breaking My Own Silence: Power is the Confidence to Speak for Yourself [New York Times]

Min Jin Lee, author of novels “Free Food for Millionaires” and “Pachinko” recounts her childhood memories of being unable to speak for herself, her determination to change that, and how that fits in with her current career as a writer.

EXCLUSIVE: A Cover Letter to College Women, from Bernie Sanders [Her Campus]

Last week, Senator Bernie Sanders wrote a cover letter for the readers of Her Campus, for the position of President of the United States—because, well yes, that position is partially chosen by us (or our American readers anyway).

The Happiness Lab with Dr. Laurie Santos [Pushkin Industries]

We often think that we know what will make us happy, but what if our minds are wrong? Yale professor and psychologist Dr. Laurie Santos has adapted her wildly popular college course, “Psychology and the Good Life” into this podcast. In it, she examines several psychology studies which explain happiness and positive feelings, but also scientific studies about behaviour change—what can you do to make yourself happy?

Social Distancing, Live Cams, and Happiness: Reads for March 19, 2020

We wanna slide into your DMs