COVID-19 Responses & Resources
As the COVID-19 pandemic grips the nation and the world, the National Academies are rapidly mobilizing critical expertise in science, engineering, and medicine to inform government response and recovery efforts with evidence-based guidance, and are facilitating collaboration across research disciplines and between the public and private sectors.
Featured
New Publication
A NASEM planning committee and the Global Forum on Innovation in Health Professional Education conducted a series of public workshops in the fall of 2021 to explore whether students and trainees should be viewed as members of the health workforce, particular in times of emergency as was experienced during the COVID-19 public health crisis.
Proceedings of a Workshop-in-Brief
Communities of color experience significantly higher rates of COVID-19 infection compared to White Americans, but have gotten vaccinated at a slower pace. The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine's Roundtable on the Promotion of Health Equity hosted a public webinar to discuss lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic and previous vaccination efforts that could improve vaccination rates among communities of color.
Resource
Improving the CDC Quarantine Station Network’s Response to Emerging Threats
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Division of Global Migration and Quarantine (DGMQ) protects U.S. communities from the introduction, transmission, and spread of communicable diseases by anticipating, preventing, detecting, and responding to public health threats.The emergence of the 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic prompted the CDC to request an external assessment of the role of DGMQ and the federal quarantine stations to mitigate the risk of onward communicable disease transmission given the changes in the global environment, including large increases in international travel, threats posed by emerging infections, and the movement of animals and cargo.
All Recent COVID-19 News
Video Highlight
The Impact of COVID-19 on Women in STEMM
The Impact of COVID-19 on Women in STEMM: In Their Own Words
The COVID-19 pandemic marked a change in how almost everyone conducted their personal and professional lives, both within science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and medicine (STEMM) and beyond. This short video highlights key messages from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine Report, Impact of COVID-19 on the Careers of Women in Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine with quotes from a survey that was conducted for the report by Drs. Kossek, Allen, and Dumas. Featuring Committee members Dr. Reshma Jagsi and Dr. Erick C. Jones.
Events
How can you tell if you have COVID-19, RSV, or the flu?
COVID-19, RSV, and the seasonal flu are all respiratory infections, but they are caused by different viruses. When all three viruses are causing illness in a community at the same time, a diagnostic test from body fluids collected from the mouth or nose can be used to identify which virus is the cause. If needed to support care, diagnostic tests are available in health care settings for all three viruses. Currently, easy-to-use at-home diagnostic tests are only available for COVID-19.
Flu vaccine does not affect COVID-19 test results or the likelihood of catching COVID-19
COVID-19 and seasonal influenza (flu) are different diseases. COVID-19 is caused by a novel coronavirus called SARS-CoV-2. The flu is caused by influenza viruses. Whether you are tested for a current COVID-19 infection or to see if you previously had COVID-19, having had a flu shot in the past will not cause a false positive test result for either test.
Can a COVID-19 test tell me if I’m contagious?
Testing positive for COVID-19 means you have pieces of the virus in your body. However, a positive test does not always tell you whether or not you could spread the virus to other people. While a positive antigen test with COVID-19 symptoms likely means a person is still contagious, a positive reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test can return a positive result even after there is no longer an active infection.
Statement
Scientific Evidence Should Determine Origin of SARS-CoV-2
June 15, 2021
In a statement, the presidents of the National Academies urge that investigations of the origins of SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 be guided by scientific principles. “Science is our best tool to ascertain, or to understand to the extent possible, the origins of SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19, which could help prevent future pandemics.”
Reports
Projects and Activities
New Initiative
National Academies Launch New COVID-19 Strategic Science Initiative
To help decision-makers take actions toward a strong and sustained recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, the National Academies have launched a new strategic science initiative to provide rapid, scenario-based analyses aimed at protecting critical societal functions, avoiding worst outcomes, and building upon potential opportunities.
Ongoing Activity
Standing Committee on Emerging Infectious Diseases and 21st Century Health Threats
In response to a request from the Office of Science and Technology Policy and the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine convened a standing committee of experts to help inform the federal government on critical science and policy issues related to COVID-19 and other infectious disease threats.
ANNOUNCEMENT
New Network to Connect Decision-Makers with Social Scientists
The National Academies and the National Science Foundation announce the formation of a Societal Experts Action Network to connect social and behavioral science researchers with decision-makers who are leading the response to COVID-19.
Resources
Report Collection
Critical Findings on COVID-19: Select Publications from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
April 30, 2021
In response to the global outbreak of COVID-19, the National Academies has issued publications related to disease transmission, preventative measures, vaccinations, and more that can inform the public response to the pandemic. This document includes summaries and highlights of many of our key publications on COVID-19.
Conversation Series
Conversations on COVID-19 - Impacts on Communities of Color
August 31, 2020
Health inequities are in large part a result of historic and ongoing poverty, structural racism, and discrimination. But these inequities can be mitigated by policies and community action in powerful ways. Our new resource includes conversations with experts on COVID-19’s impact on communities of color and information from the National Academies on health equity.
National Academy of Medicine
Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Resources
May 27, 2020
Explore latest news, events, and resources related to COVID-19 from the National Academy of Medicine.
Collection
COVID-19 Transportation Resources
Explore Transportation Resources related to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.
Collection
PNAS COVID-19 Publications
April 9, 2021
Explore original research, news, and commentary on the COVID-19 outbreak from the official journal of the National Academy of Sciences.
Discover what the National Academies are doing in various topic areas to strengthen the fields of science, engineering, and medicine and their capacity to contribute to the well-being of our nation and the world.