As COVID-19 sweeps the globe and upends life as we know it, some fake news about the novel\u00a0coronavirus is also permeating social media news feeds.\u00a0
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fortunately, for those searching for evidence-based information on how to combat this pandemic, the Imperial College London\u2019s Abdul Latif Jameel Institute for Disease and Emergency Analytics (J-IDEA) has recently launched a free online class.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Offered through Coursera, the course, entitled Science Matters: Let\u2019s Talk About COVID-19<\/a>, brings together leading experts from Imperial to explain the science behind some of the most pressing questions on COVID-19. The 19-hour-long course covers a variety of topics such as the scale of COVID-19, the use of reliable sources of information to track trends, the role of community involvement and social media in controlling outbreaks, the economic impact and more. The course is being updated as the situation unfolds, so the information imparted stays current. \u201cResponding to an emerging infection such as this novel Coronavirus is a major challenge for health systems and the public, but also for scientists carrying out rapid research to provide evidence-based solutions,\u201d Helen Ward<\/a>, professor of public health at Imperial and an instructor of the course, said in a statement<\/a>. \u201cImperial\u2019s \u2018Science Matters\u2019 is a new educational program providing opportunities for learning in real-time as the outbreak and the science develop,\u201d she added. \u201cThis will be valuable for people wanting topical updates, but then delving into the underpinning research in epidemic modelling, public health and clinical research.\u201d Katharina Hauck<\/a>, deputy director of J-IDEA and reader in health economics in Imperial\u2019s Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, is the other listed instructor of the COVID-19 course. To date, more than 17,000 students have already enrolled in the course.\u00a0\u00a0 Science Matters: Let\u2019s Talk About COVID-19<\/a> is not Imperial\u2019s first foray into free online courses on public health. Through Coursera, Imperial also offers other free online courses aimed at beginners, including Epidemiology for Public Health<\/a>, Foundations of Public Health Practice<\/a> and Statistical Analysis for Public Health<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n