Are you tired of the Fearmongering Whatsapp Forwards & News channels peddling Fear & Paranoia about COVID-19 all around you?
Perhaps before you read any further, you need to switch them all OFF. And please do the same for your parents/grandparents.
In this era of widespread video consumption, reading about something this serious has taken a backseat. And that’s not the good thing since it has allowed “disinformation” to go viral.
And precisely why it has become hard to discern the actual impact, especially since social media is mixing facts with fiction. This is a dangerous cocktail as a result of which information in the form of articles, research, commentary, and videos that come from experts – is getting lost in translation.
Talking about experts, I am not talking about arm-chair analysts who have an opinion about everything in this universe. These experts are scientists, immunologists, viral disease researchers; ones who have dedicated their entire careers for something like this. And for that matter, I am not expert either (except when it comes to reading & helping others rediscover their love for reading)
Therefore I have decided to compile this list of BRILLIANT go-to articles across the world that have got all the essential information for you to be “Informed” without being driven into a state of Panic. I believe that, if you read through the smart stuff, you will come to appropriate, fact-based conclusions about whether you would prefer to take basic measures & keep your calm OR become paranoid.
If you are into stats; then look no further than these realtime dashboards being maintained by the John Hopkins University’s Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE)
Realtime Visual Dashboards (Mobile Version)
Realtime Visual Dashboards (Desktop Version)
About COVID-19
This article has simply gone viral with more than 28 million views in over a week! An absolute go-to primer on the entire subject with smashingly good data visualisations.
Don’t Panic: The comprehensive Ars Technica guide to the coronavirus
The ready reckoner of all things Corona (not the beer!)
Why ‘flattening the curve’ may be the world’s best bet to slow the coronavirus
This brilliant concept has become the “go-to” phrase in the fight against COVID-19. If you haven’t adopted social distancing yet, I hope this article makes you think about it long enough for you to implement it by yourselves instead of waiting for the government/company to impose it on you.
If by any remote chance, you were being puzzled why ‘everyone’s cancelling everything’; this article will help you understand why. It’s an extension to the idea of social-distancing mooted in the article above. Make sure you read that one first before this one.
The world is panic-stricken & for rightful reasons. India has so far done a lot in sageguarding itself. However many of the citizens are are still defiant about the threat & ramifications of such pandemics. This article is one that’s surely going to help you understand why we really to need to up the ante.
‘Over-reacting is better than non-reacting’
And if you are still being overtly skeptical as to why its much better idea to over-react now than when its too late; well then let this post by the WEF (World Economic Forum) enlighten you.
Also Nassim Nicholas Taleb – the author of Black Swan – has a peach of a quote – “If you have to panic, panic early”
Wanna know what happens when disinformation outlasts information. Read no further than this brilliant analytical article.
P.S – Start reading from “The Implication of More Information” section as otherwise this article will be too technical for a majority of readers.
If you are working remotely; or are planning to…
This is fast turning out to be my reference guide in order to deal with the “sounds easy but turns out to be insanely difficult” task of working remotely. If you have had WFH imposed on you by your organisation, or if you are ahead of the curve and on self-imposed WFH; please go through this brilliant article.
Working in a coronavirus world: Strategies and tools for staying productive
This is from one of favorite technical know-how websites. Some rare mentions worth trying out. Remember – Humankind will come out fine post this coronavirus frenzy – and along with yet another wave of disruption!
Well by no means that this list is exhaustive but as and when I come across something more brilliant, I will keep appending into this list further.
If you believe that this was a worthy compilation, feel free to share it with your near & dear ones.
Don’t forget –
1. Share “information” ASAP; much before disinformation creeps into the inbox of your loved ones.
2. Stay Calm & Be Informed rather than be panic-stricken
3. Maintain social distance; & wash your hands leisurely, as much as you can.