History is full of examples of despots making use of emergency powers to manipulate citizens, which is why states must act responsibly in times of crisis.
In the late second century, some Christian groups in Rome began directing financial aid toward people living in another city, who were going through a crisis. That act of giving has lessons for today.
Facebook, Google and Twitter are stepping up to block misinformation and promote accurate information about the coronavirus. Their track records on self-policing are poor. The results so far are mixed.
A global pandemic is anxiety-provoking for most people. But modifying the way you perceive the situation can set you up to deal with it more effectively.
Despite both parents now being at home, the likelihood is that much of the ‘domestic’ work will still land squarely on the shoulders of the women of the house.
The app is promising as a go-to resource for COVID-19 information. But as the crisis unfolds, these extra features could make it a more effective tool.
My research shows New Zealanders are likely to cope better with the coronavirus lockdown if they spend time exercising and playing outdoors, while still following official advice on social distancing.
Honorary Enterprise Professor, School of Population and Global Health, and Department of General Practice and Primary Care, The University of Melbourne
Dean Faculty of Health Sciences and Professor of Vaccinology at University of the Witwatersrand; and Director of the SAMRC Vaccines and Infectious Diseases Analytics Research Unit, University of the Witwatersrand