The rapid spread of COVID-19 has prompted containment measures across continents to respond to this urgent crisis. National health care systems, and city/local health care resources have been stretched to the limits. Hospitals and clinics have had to protect their workers on the front-line. Government policies have restricted movement and to varying levels of degree enforced or advised social distancing measures. These stories highlight how communities are containing the virus, stopping or reducing its spread, and how these responses are effectively reworking distribution systems and re-strategizing emergency preparedness.
To explore Containment stories, click on our collections or the selection of tags below.
With the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases rising by the day in the United States and around the...
Solutions Journalism Network
This collection is adapted from the SolutionsU Pro Innovation in Action series on COVID-19. The...
Solutions Journalism Network
This collection is adapted from the SolutionsU Pro Innovation in Action series on COVID-19....
Solutions Journalism Network
With the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases rising by the day in the United States and around the...
Solutions Journalism Network
https://www.theverge.com/2020/10/19/21522863/health-data-records-covid-coronavirus-model-nih-privacy-n3c
Nicole Wetsman
The Verge
19 October 2020
Text / 1500-3000 Words
The uncertainty surrounding COVID-19 and the health impacts it may have for different people prompted doctors from across the U.S. to create a national patient database to better study and understand how the virus interacts with other underlying conditions. Although the database itself is adaptable and researchers hope it can also be used in the face of future pandemics, they also say "five years from now, the greatest value of this data set won’t be the data. It’ll have been the methods that we learned trying to get it working."
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/19/nyregion/schools-coronavirus.html
J. David Goodman
Dana Rubinstein
The New York Times
19 October 2020
Text / 1500-3000 Words
Schools in New York City have, so far, been able to reopen during the coronavirus pandemic with suprisngly few cases reported and no sign yet of an outbreak. The model, which some are saying could be used at other schools across the U.S., includes random testing for students and staff, and introducing mobile testing units in neighborhoods where tests have come back positive.
https://www.startribune.com/virtual-rush-no-parties-university-of-minnesota-fraternities-and-sororities-navigate-pandemic-life/572784542
Ryan Faircloth
Minneapolis Star Tribune
18 October 2020
Text / 800-1500 Words
Students in fraternities and sororities at the University of Minnesota have moved many of their social activities to a virtual space and are taking precautions for those living in Greek housing to protect members and their community from contracting COVID-19. So far, efforts have largely proven successful in mitigating cases with only two students testing positive who were both able to immediately self-quarantine in private rooms.
https://www.npr.org/2020/10/09/922542104/the-tricky-business-of-coronavirus-testing-on-college-campuses
Elissa Nadworny
Madeline K. Sofia
Lauren Migaki
Rebecca Ramirez
NPR
16 October 2020
Podcast / 5-15 Minutes
When the University of Illinois reopened during the coronavirus pandemic for on-campus student instruction, efforts focused on a fast and frequent mass testing program for staff and students. Although the case numbers were higher than officials had anticipated, researchers were able to learn how the virus was spreading amongst students and implement mandatory lockdowns and hire more contact tracers as a result.
https://www.lrt.lt/en/news-in-english/19/1248684/how-will-lithuania-s-contact-tracing-app-work
Giedrius Vitkauskas
Lithuanian Radio and Television (LRT)
13 October 2020
Text / 800-1500 Words
Lithuanian officials are launching a contact-tracing app to better trace the path of coronavirus cases and alert people when they have potentially been exposed. Although there have been delays in the roll-out of the app, other countries have already released the technology and have seen success in people downloading the app as well as quarantining when alerted that they've been in contact with the virus.
https://queenseagle.com/all/i-feel-human-again-at-three-nyc-hotels-formerly-incarcerated-get-help-with-reentry
Ilyssa Daly
Queens Daily Eagle
12 October 2020
Text / Over 3000 Words
When jails and prisons released people early as a pandemic precaution, New York City responded to the threat of increased homelessness by temporarily housing more than 400 people in hotels while providing them with re-entry services aimed at preventing new crimes. Exodus Transitional Community, the city's contractor, provided a combination of emergency shelter and counseling that would be unavailable in standard homeless shelters. No COVID-19 cases have been reported in the hotels, while residents praise the service for giving them the stability and safety they need to restart their lives.
https://www.csmonitor.com/World/Americas/2020/1008/The-strength-of-people-s-hearts-Venezuelan-doctors-neighbors-unite
Megan Janetsky
Christian Science Monitor
8 October 2020
Text / 800-1500 Words
Facing a shortage of supplies amid the coronavirus pandemic and with little help from the government on the horizon, doctors and community members across Venezuela "created a grassroots support network" as a means of making sure doctors would be properly outfitted to treat patients. Between pooled resources and various donations, the effort has resulted in "3,000 face masks, 2,000 meals, gallons of sanitizing alcohol, hand disinfectant and soap, and boxes of gloves" being delivered to medical professionals.
https://www.usnews.com/news/healthiest-communities/articles/2020-10-07/a-state-by-state-analysis-of-the-impact-of-covid-19-on-native-americans
Deidre McPhillips
U.S. News & World Report
7 October 2020
Text / 800-1500 Words
In Minnesota, tribal leaders from the Band of Chippewa Indians worked closely with state officials at the start of the coronavirus pandemic to implement measures that would reduce the impact of the pandemic in their community where they knew it "would likely be severe." So far, the efforts have seen success evident in the infection rates which are significantly lower than the nation's average.
https://www.usnews.com/news/healthiest-communities/articles/2020-10-07/how-native-americans-in-minnesota-beat-back-covid-19
Devon Haynie
U.S. News & World Report
7 October 2020
Text / 1500-3000 Words
Leaders of the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa in Minnesota acted early and aggressively when the coronavirus pandemic began sweeping the nation, and so far, it has appeared to have helped the region to keep the caseload low. Using knowledge from previous outbreaks, focusing on community-information management and keeping in close communication with state officials, the Fond du Lac Band "has largely managed to stay out of the headlines."
https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/10/07/metro/hanover-paramedics-make-house-calls-test-resident-coronavirus
Johanna Seltz
The Boston Globe
7 October 2020
Text / Under 800 Words
In Hanover, two collaborative efforts – one between the hospital system and the town and another between the public school district and paramedics – have helped residents access coronavirus testing without leaving their homes. Although test results aren't delivered immediately, the partnerships have still helped over 1,200 people get tested and are available to all town residents.
https://www.secondwavemedia.com/metromode/features/MusicVenuesDetroit.aspx
Kate Roff
Metromode
7 October 2020
Text / 800-1500 Words
The music industry has been uniquely impacted by the coronavirus pandemic, as described by the co-owner of a boutique music venue in Lake Orion who says, "We were the first to close and will be the last to re-open." To adapt to the constraints of the pandemic and generate revenue, artists and businesses have turned to livestreaming performances and partnering with entities such as the Downtown Development Authority and a local hotel to host concerts that respect the social distancing guidelines.
https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2020/10/01/916272046/in-philadelphia-black-doctors-bring-coronavirus-tests-to-street-corners-and-chur
Nina Feldman
NPR
1 October 2020
Text / 1500-3000 Words
Comprised of doctors, nurses, and medical students, the Black Doctors COVID-19 Consortium is helping to bring free coronavirus testing to Black Philadelphians who are "contracting the coronavirus and dying from COVID-19 at greater rates than everyone else." The program, which offers testing via mobile test units to around 350 per day, has gained the recognition throughout the city, resulting in funding from city leaders, foundations, and individuals.
https://youtu.be/GBGShUmEAFA
Johnny Harris
The New York Times
29 September 2020
Documentary / Over 15 Minutes
Compared to countries that implemented early shutdowns due to the coronavirus pandemic, such as France and Ireland, the U.S. "fought the virus, and the virus won." While the federal government is largely responsible, state and local government and their collective failure to follow unitepandemicic measures also played a role.
https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/09/26/opinion/harvard-medical-student-knocks-down-big-barrier-covid-19-info
Julia Sklar
The Boston Globe
26 September 2020
Text / 800-1500 Words
A volunteer organization is helping to address a language barrier as it pertains to COVID-19 by translating and distributing public health information in the native languages of tribes. Although this is not as simple as translating word-for-word since some of the words do not exist in the local dialects and because some of the guidelines are not practical for the communities, the organization has translated the health sheets into 45 different languages and has worked with "schoolchildren in the tribe to act as conduits for the information."
https://www.wsj.com/articles/lessons-from-south-korea-on-how-to-manage-covid-11601044329
Dasl Yoon
Timothy W. Martin
Wall Street Journal
25 September 2020
Text / 1500-3000 Words
Despite never mandating a lockdown, South Korea has been able to better control the spread of COVID-19 as compared to other countries of similar economic and development status. Focusing on information management and testing, as well as the use of technology to aid both of these tactics, the country has kept the case count to fewer than 80 cases per day. According to the chairman of the World Health Organization’s global outbreak alert and response network, “No country has adapted to living with, and containing, the virus like South Korea."
http://enlacelatinonc.org/heroes-of-the-pandemic-when-the-world-is-burning-i-feel-i-must-help-put-out-the-fire
Victoria Bouloubasis
Andrea Patiño Contreras
Enlace Latino
24 September 2020
Multi-Media / Over 15 Minutes
A group of health professionals known as Latinx Advocacy Team & Interdisciplinary Network for COVID-19, or LATIN-19, is helping to bring coronavirus-specific health care access to North Carolina's Latino community. Because the group operates across county lines, they have become well-known amongst the local communities, helping to not only provide much-needed health care services, but also increase awareness around the dangers of the virus.
https://www.ft.com/content/61dccfaa-0871-48a2-80ac-dbe6d5b5b5f8
Richard Milne
The Financial Times
23 September 2020
Text / 800-1500 Words
Finland has been able to keep their COVID-19 infection rate and death toll much lower than other countries by "shutting down rapidly" and relying on a law on preparedness that was devised after the Winter War in 1939-40. The law, which "explicitly mentions pandemics," helped the country to stockpile medical and protective equipment. According to Sweden's state epidemiologist, “Their level of preparedness is just way beyond anything we would even dream about in Sweden."
https://www.thelandcle.org/stories/how-a-housing-first-strategy-could-save-domestic-violence-survivors-during-a-pandemic
Conor Morris
The Land
22 September 2020
Text / 1500-3000 Words
To provide emergency housing to domestic violence victims without crowding them into shelters during the pandemic, Ohio victim-aid groups have helped hundreds of families to flee violence and find safe housing in subsidized apartments or short-term hotel stays. One program, the REACH Rapid Rehousing program, has given rental assistance to more than 100 families in rural counties who need but cannot afford permanent alternative housing. Another, the Ohio Domestic Violence Network, has housed 126 families in hotels for up to two weeks at a time.
https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/09/22/metro/states-emergency-child-care-centers-kept-covid-19-check-heres-how
Stephanie Ebbert
The Boston Globe
22 September 2020
Text / 800-1500 Words
Emergency child-care centers in Massachusetts have recorded only a small handful of cases of COVID-19 due to strict adherence to safety measures. Most notably, the centers have implemented a combination of contact tracing and mandatory two-week quarantine for anyone who could have been exposed, which applies to all school personnel, students, teachers, and family members.
https://missionlocal.org/2020/09/the-shared-spaces-program-a-crisis-driven-experiment-that-could-permanently-change-san-franciscos-urban-landscape
Hayden Manseau
Mission Local
22 September 2020
Text / Under 800 Words
The Shared Spaces program is a pandemic-driven initiative that increases outdoor dining space in commercial areas. The initiative made the permit process more user friendly and less expensive. Over 1,200 outdoor dining applications were approved in three months, which is more than the city approved in 2018 and 2019 combined. The increased capacity of outdoor dining seating takes away other public spaces, usually parking and driving space, but the program’s success has helped businesses survive pandemic-related restrictions and officials are assessing the program to maintain it moving forward.
https://nigeriahealthwatch.com/how-active-community-case-search-transformed-testing-in-kano-state
Adam Alqali
Nigeria Health Watch
22 September 2020
Text / 1500-3000 Words
Kano State, once the epicenter in Nigeria for cases of COVID-19, now boasts the highest rate of daily testing numbers after piloting a community-sampling strategy that allowed for mass testing. The pilot was largely possible due to a massive community mobilization effort and resulted in a decline in community transmission.
https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20200909-how-social-distancing-symbols-are-changing-our-cities
Vittoria Traverso
BBC
16 September 2020
Text / 1500-3000 Words
Across the world, local governments and communities are looking for ways to draw boundaries that guide people's behavior towards social distancing. Although the perfect sign has yet to be determined, urban psychologists and researchers have found that community created signs as well as France's "wave-shaped sign" have inspired loyalty and a shared goal.
https://www.jhnewsandguide.com/news/health/coronavirus/masks-effect-hard-to-isolate-but-officials-say-theyre-important-layer-of-protection/article_555b1022-dea8-589b-bff0-341f43036628.html
Tom Hallberg
Jackson Hole News & Guide
16 September 2020
Text / 1500-3000 Words
Data collected from a handful of states where the idea of mask wearing has spread and been adopted, shows that after three weeks' time, the average daily growth rate of COVID-19 cases decreases. Although experts say that mask-wearing is not a solution on its own, the benefits of government mandates to wear a mask do still make an impact and the effectiveness only increases over time.
https://www.boulder-monitor.com/covid_19/health-board-can-t-we-all-just-get-along/article_cd99a61e-f768-11ea-80ec-5fcd118e2986.html
Keith Hammonds
The Boulder Monitor
15 September 2020
Text / 800-1500 Words
When the coronavirus pandemic complicated matters for local government, the Teton County public health office devised a process to enact state mandate that was effective, transparent, and led to rational decision-making. Although discord continued to a degree, the model is still providing guidance to Jefferson County as officials determine "how to best serve the public health interests of its residents."
https://qctimes.com/news/local/iowa-prison-population-drops-to-20-year-low/article_5f7070b3-9453-52d0-90e7-25605dbdd8d0.html
Erin Jordan
Quad-City Times
14 September 2020
Text / 800-1500 Words
COVID-19 outbreaks in Iowa prisons have been contained through extensive testing, quarantines, and reductions in prison crowding. The state's prison population hit a 20-year low, down 13% from early April, because of accelerated parole hearings and reductions in new admissions. The state courts' slowdown and the prisons' temporary suspension in new admissions contributed to the population decrease. Since March, four people incarcerated in Iowa prisons have died of the virus while 833 have tested positive. An additional 126 staff have tested positive.
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