An advisory from the Bishop of Lansing releasing Catholics from mass obligations and reminding the congregation about how some parishes responded to the Spanish Flu seriously and that had a positive effect. "All Catholics within the Diocese of Lansing are dispensed from the grave obligation of attending Holy Mass on a Sunday. This applies to everybody and is particularly aimed at those groups most at risk from infection, including the elderly and those with compromised immune systems." #HIST5214

Due to sports seasons being canceled and schools getting shut down, athletic trainers are changing their schedules to help clinics and hospitals out. The National Athletic Trainers Association created an app for trainers and health care providers to find help during this pandemic.

My mom has started sewing and donating face masks because of the PPE (personal protective equipment) shortage. #HIST5241

At a Walmart in Fredericksburg, VA, all of the shelves that are usually stocked with water are completely empty. This picture shows that when there is a pandemic, people panic buy which results in shelves staying empty for days and maybe weeks.

30/03/2020 Sasha Gillies-Lekakis COVID-19 – A CARIBBEAN ODYSSEY The news of rapidly deteriorating conditions around the world caused by the Covid-19 pandemic first reached me on the tropical island of Cuba, where I was half-way through a 15-week exchange course. I had been given the opportunity and great privilege to study at two of the most prestigious Latin American research institutions in the world – the University of Havana, and the Casa de Las Americas, both cultural and academic powerhouses in the region. The Cubans approached the news of daily increases in global coronavirus cases with a healthy dose of optimism. My host family constantly assured us that we would be safe in Cuba – not only does warm weather slow the spread of the virus (apparently), but Cuba’s healthcare system is truly world-class, with an emphasis on people, not profit. In one of my very own classes, on Cuban public health, I had learnt of Cuba’s preventative primary healthcare that had created such a healthy, long-lived population in a continent where disease, poor hygiene and inadequately-funded healthcare systems had all taken their toll. So comprehensive was the Cuban response to coronavirus, before it had even reached the island, that I was bombarded with daily updates on Cuban preparative measures and the regional situation. My teachers, host family and friends had all received up-to-date information regarding hygiene practices, mask use and social distancing even before the arrival of three Italian tourists to the rural town of Trinidad in mid-March. I was very impressed, to say the least. Even the Cuban president Miguel Diaz-Canel went on national television to speak with a range of experts and explained in great detail what was being done to halt the spread of the virus. I felt incredibly safe in Havana, particularly considering what I had read of recent events in Australia and Cuba’s northern neighbour, the United States – where cases had skyrocketed and the responses were far from coordinated or effective. And not only was Cuba preparing its own citizens well for the storm to come, but they had selflessly put themselves out to help others, a show of the internationalism that has defined Cuban foreign policy. A cruise ship from the UK, the MS Braemar, with known coronavirus cases aboard, had been desperately searching for a port at which to dock for fuel, food and other necessities. Not a single Caribbean country offered the vessel sanctuary – except Cuba. The vessel was allowed to dock at the port of Mariel, in Havana’s west, a neighbourhood I had visited just days earlier! The vessel was allowed to recover the necessary materials and all passengers were sent back to the UK in a well-coordinated aerial operation. This decision polarised the Cubans – while many lauded the government’s response, others saw it as endangering the island. I tend to stand with the former. It was inspirational, particularly being so close to the event itself. The total coronavirus case count in Cuba had barely reached 10 when our program directors announced that our studies in Cuba had been suspended, and that we were to return home within two days following a global escalation in the coronavirus situation. Finding a last-minute flight back from Havana to Melbourne was incredibly stressful, and difficult given the fact that many international flights had already been cancelled. Eventually, I was able to get home – passing through, Havana, Miami, San Francisco, Brisbane and finally Melbourne. It was an odyssey to say the least! I arrived back in Australia on Saturday, March 21, after this gruelling series of flights. I was happy to be among family again, but immensely disappointed that I could not stay in Cuba – in large part because the US and Australia were imposing new border restrictions, and cancelling flights because they could not adequately address the situation. I returned to quiet streets, news of total lockdowns and continued Coalition government inaction in the face of the coronavirus. Meanwhile, just days later Cuba was sending doctors to fight coronavirus in Italy, Argentina and a number of Caribbean islands, so prepared was the nation for what was to come. While I would never consider being without family in these uncertain times, I still know that I would have been safer had I stayed in Cuba, the little socialist island that put the rest of the world to shame in the age of Covid-19.

The was the first news article that really broke my heart about COVID-19. Up til now, things have been scary, stressful, boring, and lots of other negative emotions, but more than that I've been feeling grateful about all things I don't have to worry about when I know so many people are having a much harder time than me. A text from my dad telling me John Prine was in critical condition was the first thing that actually made me cry. Googled it and this was the first article that came up. #HIST5241

A hub for coronavirus information hosted by Johns Hopkins. The site includes a running confirmed cases and death toll counter.

A video shows the lungs of a man who had been asymptomatic a few days earlier.

I'm a Public History MA student at Northeastern University taking a course about museums. As part of the course, our final project was to design an exhibit about some element of Boston history. Planning for this project began in late January. Trying to think of some element of Boston history that was relevant to today, I came up with the idea of the 1919-20 flu pandemic. It was 100 years since the pandemic. Boston was the first hit city in the US, and I had seen news about the coronavirus spreading in China, so it felt very topical. Little did I know how topical the project would become.

A viral tweet making fun of the difference between the 1920 Spanish flu outbreak and today's coronavirus. In 1920 Prohibition was in effect, but today liquor stores are considered essential businesses, not effected by mandatory closures.

Utah Jazz player Rudy Gobert jokingly touches all the mics in a post-game press conference on 03/11/2020, to make a joke about the Coronavirus. He tested positive for the disease soon after, and the NBA season was suddenly put on hold

This is a screenshot of a snapchat sent to me by a friend, of hamantaschen she made while in quarantine. Hamantaschen are a traditional cookie to make on the Jewish holiday Purim, which was about a week before the cookies were made. I appreciated her newly created word "quarantaschen." #HIST5241

Northeastern University's email that announced the complete transition to online learning

A twitter conversation between the contributor and a British twitter uses, where she talks about being sick with a suspected case of the coronavirus, but because she was not hospitalized, she was never tested

A text conversation between Sebastien Hardinger and his parents, Chris Hardinger and Johanne Lamarche, about a face mask that Johanne made herself from an old sheet

This is a photograph of the front door of Caffe Nero in Jamaica Plain, Boston, MA, where I work. The new, shortened hours have been written by hand on the window. Below, two printouts have been printed on the door. One explains that the cafe is open for takeout only, as per the order of the governor earlier in the week. The other announces that the cafe is now giving all healthcare workers free coffee. The cafe closed for an unknown amount of time (at least 2 weeks) the day after this photo was taken. #HIST5241

With bars closed, Tuesday Trivia was instead held among friends as a Zoom meeting

Planet Fitness holds a live stream for at-home workouts suitable for the whole family (due to gyms closing).

A user on Twitter shows an email from their high school, announcing that the school's graduation would be held virtually on the multiplayer game Roblox

This is a horoscope for the week (probably the week starting 03/23/2020), joking about how people are staying at home because of the quarantine. My boss sent all the employees of our cafe the image after telling us the cafe was closing in a couple days. The message with the image was "Let's hope this whole thing passes quickly and no one goes crazy being home too long!!!! Love you all!!! Be safe and stay healthy!!!!!" #HIST5241

With live sports cancelled, sports betting companies have begun running live-streamed simulations using popular sports video games. People can tune in to watch and gamble on the game, just as they did with live sports

Article about the decline of crime in some cities due to COVID-19

This is an Tumblr post making fun of the lack of affordable healthcare in the US. It's one of many examples of humor created in response to the pandemic. #HIST5241. *Date Shared; 03/11/2020

This is a tweet stating, "tested positive for missing my homies" with a picture of a man crying. This completely describes my personal experience while social distancing during this pandemic.

Proof Brewing Company in Tallahassee FL has begun producing hand sanitizer. Available with a purchase of one of their other products as long as supplies last.

Proof Brewing Company in Tallahassee FL has begun producing hand sanitizer. Available with a purchase of one of their other products as long as supplies last.

Proof Brewing Company in Tallahassee FL has begun producing hand sanitizer. Available with a purchase of one of their other products as long as supplies last.

Someone has place posters of this image at the major intersections in downtown Tallahassee - this one was taken at the corner of Monroe and Tennessee streets. I think it is trying to honor medical staff as first responders

Fourth artwork in a series inspired by the coronavirus pandemic, which coincided with my being diagnosed with a prostate lump. So, the foibles of biology.

Someone has place posters of this image at the major intersections in downtown Tallahassee - this one was taken at the corner of Monroe and Tennessee streets. I think it is trying to honor medical staff as first responders

Third artwork in a series inspired by the coronavirus pandemic, which coincided with my being diagnosed with a prostate lump. So, the foibles of biology.

My local Grocery store - Publix at 3521 Thomasville Rd Tallahassee, FL 32309-7134, put up this rhyme to encourage people to practice social distancing. It mostly work - but not completely - inside

Second artwork in a series inspired by the coronavirus pandemic, which coincided with my being diagnosed with a prostate lump. So, the foibles of biology.

TikTok of playing tic tac toe with a window cleaner while creator is staying home. #HIST5241

When I went to the grocery store on 3/28/2020 at Publix 3521 Thomasville Rd Tallahassee, FL 32309-7134, they had placed a large number of informational signs outside the store

First artwork in a series inspired by the coronavirus pandemic, which coincided with my being diagnosed with a prostate lump. So, the foibles of biology.

I went to the grocery store on March 10, 2020 before schools closed down etc in Tallahassee and the major grocery store in the area was already almost out of toilet paper. This was before the started rationing it (1 purchase per customer)

I wen to the grocery store at 3521 Thomasville Rd Tallahassee, FL 32309-7134 on March 10, 2020 before we started having cases and the toilet paper was mostly gone.

TikTok of friends meeting up in a parking lot but staying in their cars to social distance

the library sleeps its pages unread and we are their dreams

Youtube Vlog of someone sharing their experience getting tested for Coronavirus.

These posters went up around our neighbourhood within a day of the government order that limited all restaurants and cafes to take away service only. The same message was also printed as a paper slip and placed under car windscreen wipers. The business behind the signs is Lux Foundry cafe, located on my street in Brunswick, Melbourne, Australia. The sign pleads with people in the neighbourhood to keep patronising the cafe, so the cafe can continue employing its staff: "We will never abandon our team. We will never abandon you. Please don't abandon us". This poster is a poignant illustration of the economic crisis that was unleashed immediately by the COVID control interventions.

Statement from John Deere about being recognized an essential critical infrastructure worker available via their website. #HIST5241

Notice from the Adirondack Mountain Club about hiking during COVID-19. #HIST5241

Internet Archive lending library suspending waitlists for library materials. #HIST5241

Publication from the UK Construction Leadership Council on construction site safety precautions during the COVID-19 crisis. PDF available from Build UK website. #HIST5241

Resources for roofing contractors during the COVID-19 crisis #HIST 5241

Discussion of the impact of COVID-19 on the U.S. construction supply chain. #HIST5241

Resources for small businesses during the COVID-19 Crisis #HIST5241

Statement from the Copper Development Association regarding claims of antimicrobial properties of copper. #HIST5241