Learn About Coronavirus (COVID-19)

As social workers, we need to be ambassadors of rational, fact-based approaches to the epidemic. Take time to review information from the Centers for Disease Control and the World Health Organization on how the coronavirus is spread, symptoms of the disease, and know the steps people can take to lessen their chances of contracting or spreading coronavirus.

Free NASW Webinars

Telebehavioral Health and Your Clinical Practice Since Covid-19

This workshop explores new rulings and guidelines that affect the provision of clinical services via telehealth. It covers new rules and waivers with Medicare and Medicaid and offered a quick-start guide to establishing a telehealth practice.

Key Developments in Medicare Telehealth Options During COVID-19

This pre-recorded webinar provides an update on guidance from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on enhanced telehealth (including teletherapy) options for Medicare beneficiaries during the current COVID-19 public health emergency.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

The CDC is the leading national public health agency in the United States and provides information and updates on COVID-19 as it becomes available. The CDC coronavirus webpage provides guidance on preparation and action steps for various settings:

• Schools
• Health Care Professionals
• Employers
• Childcare Providers and Programs
• Keeping the Workplace Safe
•  A Framework for Mitigation
• Resources for Faith-based organizations
• Interim Guidance: Get Your Mass Gatherings or Large Community Events Ready for Coronavirus Disease 2019

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services

The CMS partner toolkit organizes information about managing the COVID-19 crisis for different groups.

Social workers may also consult other reliable sources for current information and setting-specific guidance, including:

• World Health Organization (WHO)
• National Institutes of Health

Partner Webinars

• What Clinicians Need to Know to Prepare for COVID-19 in the United States - on-demand, CDC
• Coronavirus and the Health Care for the Homeless Community - National Health Care for the Homeless Council
• Palliative Care and the Impact of COVID-19 - Center to Advance Palliative Care

Special Topics

• CDC COVID-19 Fact Sheets
• Infectious disease toolkit for people experiencing homelessness and for homeless service providers - U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
• Three Things to Know about Coronavirus Disease and Your Marketplace Coverage - healthcare.gov
• Multilingual Resources on COVID-19
• COVID-19 FAQ for State Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Agencies - medicaid.gov
• Medicaid and CHIP Coverage and Benefits Related to COVID-19
• The COVID-19 FAQs for Essential Health Benefit Coverage
• How to Protect Yourself and Others
• Manage Anxiety & Stress

Disease Prevention Measures

The CDC recommends the following to avoid spreading COVID-19:

• Stay home when you are sick with influenza-like illness.
• Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for 20 seconds or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
• Avoid touching your nose, mouth and eyes.
• Cover your coughs and sneezes.
• Wash your hands or use hand sanitizer after coughing, sneezing, or blowing your nose.
• Keep frequently touched common surfaces clean, i.e., telephones, computer equipment, etc.
• Do not use other workers’ phones, desks, office, or other work tools and equipment; if necessary, consider cleaning them first with a disinfectant.

The practice of social distancing is crucial to containing and slowing down the spread of COVID-19 so that medical resources are not overwhelmed.

For more, see Preventing the Spread of Coronavirus Disease 2019 in Homes and Residential Communities (CDC, Feb. 14, 2020)

Related Research

The Lancet COVID-19 Resource Centre offers a series of free research articles, including "Psychological interventions for people affected by the COVID-19 epidemic," "Alcohol use and misuse during the COVID-19 pandemic: a potential public health crisis?" and "Death in the era of the COVID-19 pandemic."