Pandemic Playbook Posts

The Pandemic Playbook is currently under construction. New content, format and organization will continue to be created and refined.

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Loud and Clear: Combatting Biases in Communicating Risk

Aug 17, 2020
6 min

Loud and Clear: Combatting Biases in Communicating Risk

As many parts of the world are in stages of reopening, there are varying attitudes concerning individual and societal risk. The issue of communicating risk to the population is difficult on several levels: many are growing accustomed to the new state of being, are doubtful of the risk to themselves or simply do not have the means to take the precautions. There are several psychological phenomena that are at the heart of many of the decisions being made concerning personal ris

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Navigating Ambiguity: Maintaining Trust Despite Changing Guidelines

Aug 7, 2020
3 min

Navigating Ambiguity: Maintaining Trust Despite Changing Guidelines

As much relating to the coronavirus is still unknown, there has been changing information as related to safety guidelines, modes of transmission and vaccination timelines (amongst other issues). The realities of dealing with the novel coronavirus and emerging information has caused confusion and in some cases distrust in leaders. In this section we will explore the behavioral mechanisms used when navigating ambiguity and methods for effective communication in uncertain times.

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Behind the Curve: Understanding and Preparing for Exponential Growth

Aug 7, 2020
3 min

Behind the Curve: Understanding and Preparing for Exponential Growth

Following the growth of the pandemic is absolutely essential for those charged with the task of planning for the future of their communities. This role can include but is not exclusive to government officials, hospital administrative workers, health care providers, school administrators and individuals who want to track the daily growth of the pandemic. Difficulties in understanding timing particularly arise due to the logarithmic models behind epidemiology, especially expone

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Removing Barriers to Testing and Contact Tracing

Jun 8, 2020
4 min

Removing Barriers to Testing and Contact Tracing

Testing and contact tracing are the tip of the spear in the fight against COVID-19. While other strategies to check the spread, such as social distancing, hygiene and use of masks are generalized and require universal action, which is difficult to achieve, testing and contact tracing are targeted and action required is centralized and therefore easier. A key challenge for countries with community transmission has been to rapidly ramp up their testing capacities, and countries

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Ensuring Safe Return to Workplaces

Jun 5, 2020
3 min

Ensuring Safe Return to Workplaces

As the lockdown rules are eased and economies are slowly reopened, workplaces will be one of the first places which will see some sort of a return to normal. For economies to recover from the shock of the COVID-19 crisis, it is crucial that safety and wellbeing of the returning workforce is ensured. To this end, various governments and public health authorities have issues guidelines prescribing safety measures at workplace. These typically include Precautions and preventive

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Ensuring safety and keeping the joy alive: Reopening the recreational spaces as lockdown eases

May 22, 2020
5 min

Ensuring safety and keeping the joy alive: Reopening the recreational spaces as lockdown eases

Public recreational spaces including parks, beaches, playgrounds, community centers etc. play a very important role in the social life of communities. They have also been studied as a shared resource in which experiences and value is created by the community. They provide opportunities for social interaction, social mixing and social inclusion and contribute to community building and development of strong community ties. Parks and beaches are generally used by the local commu

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Balancing Change and Constancy: Re-opening of Schools during and post-pandemic

May 22, 2020
5 min

Balancing Change and Constancy: Re-opening of Schools during and post-pandemic

The COVID19 pandemic has been ravaging not just the economy but at a micro-level, it has the potential to leave a long-lasting effect on the physical and mental well-being of men, women, and children. One cohort in particular who can see a lasting impact and delayed recovery is that of the school-going children. The loss of learning days hampers not just the technical skill acquisition attained through coursework but also the physical and emotional aspects of child and youth

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