{"id":589,"date":"2020-04-22T22:58:18","date_gmt":"2020-04-22T22:58:18","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.bend.k12.or.us\/brian.kissell\/?p=589"},"modified":"2020-04-22T22:58:18","modified_gmt":"2020-04-22T22:58:18","slug":"4-22-20-weekly-update","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.bend.k12.or.us\/brian.kissell\/2020\/04\/22\/4-22-20-weekly-update\/","title":{"rendered":"4\/22\/20 Weekly Update"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Social Distancing reminder whenever on campus.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Stay 6 feet apart.<\/li><li>Wash hands often.<\/li><li>Wipe down the surfaces you use.<\/li><li>Know you can report anyone to me who is not observing these guidelines.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Community Work Space:<\/strong>&nbsp; The library is set up for a community work area allowing for social distancing.&nbsp; If you need a way to work without the isolation, then feel free to set up an office at one of these spaces.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Meetings:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>All Staff&nbsp; &#8211; Wednesday 3:00-3:30&nbsp;<\/li><li>Grade Level Check-Ins &#8211; Please feel free to email me questions, discussion items ahead of time.<ul><li>4\/5 &#8211; Wednesday 1:00-1:30<\/li><li>2\/3 -Thursday&nbsp; 1:00-1:30&nbsp;<\/li><li>1st -Thursday 3:00-3:30<\/li><li>Kinder &#8211; Friday 1:00-1:30<\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Abuse Reporting-<\/strong>&nbsp; Abuse reporting remains critical, especially during these times. A <a href=\"https:\/\/portal.bend.k12.or.us\/staff-resources\/content\/child-abuse-recording-form\">fillable form<\/a> is on the portal so teachers can complete and submit electronically.&nbsp; We received the following from the KidCenter: \u201cLast week, the Oregon Department of Human Services released data indicating that calls to the child abuse hotline have dropped by 70 percent since the mandated closure of K-12 Schools due to the coronavirus. These closures mean that most children no longer have daily interaction with teachers and school personnel who are required by law to report concerns of abuse and neglect. When we also consider social distancing mandates, it is even less likely that children will have much interaction with adults outside of their home who might be able to identify and report signs of abuse. These factors are compounded by added emotional and financial stress the coronavirus pandemic is bringing to many families, all of which is likely to place more children at increased risk for abuse or neglect in their home environment. We know that as the pandemic continues to evolve, it is a matter of time until the real impact to children becomes known and reports of abuse and neglect begin to skyrocket.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h1 class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-heading\"><strong>Should We Worry About Kids Getting Too Much Screen Time?<\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;In this <em>New York Times<\/em> article, Andrew Przybylski (University of Oxford) and psychologist\/author Pete Etchells say that with most schools closed, children\u2019s screen time is going through the roof. That can be a blessing for parents cooped up with their kids 24\/7, but wait a minute: isn\u2019t this video game binging and smartphone indulging harming young people? In the last few years, say Przybylski and Etchells, we\u2019ve been hearing that excessive screen time \u201cmelts our children\u2019s brains, shrinks their attention spans, and weakens their social skills.\u201d Digital abstinence for young children was the message from the American Academy of Pediatrics until quite recently.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Worries like these have a long history, with parents fretting about each new wave of entertainment technology \u2013 radio, movies, TV. But is viewing time all that damaging? For starters, say Przybylski and Etchells, \u201cthe evidence linking screens to harm is, in reality, paper-thin.\u201d Recent studies have downplayed negative effects, including on adolescents\u2019 sleep. In fact, they say, \u201ca couple of hours of screen-based leisure is associated with improved peer relationships and increased sociality. Gaming meets our fundamental needs for exploration, competence, and social connection. And games often improve rather than undermine our reasoning abilities.\u201d As for concerns about kids getting isolated, the Internet \u201cis the world\u2019s best tool for distanced socializing.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;So parents and educators needn\u2019t fret too much during the coronavirus lockdown, conclude Przybylski and Etchells. But they should monitor what kids are watching and playing, sometimes playing and watching with them, and steer kids toward \u201cbrainy games,\u201d age-appropriate educational videos, documentaries available on streaming services, cooperative and team-oriented video games, and timeless films \u201cthat don\u2019t just entertain, or distract, but teach ineffable lessons about life, love, and family.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cScreen Time Isn\u2019t All That Bad\u201d by Andrew Przybylski and Pete Etchells in <em>The New York Times<\/em>, April 7, 2020, <a href=\"https:\/\/nyti.ms\/2KkHYGw\">https:\/\/nyti.ms\/2KkHYGw<\/a>; Przybylski can be reached at andy.przybylski@oii.ox.ac.uk<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Distance Learning Resources<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Julie\u2019s Weekly Update from Friday 4\/17\/20<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">0417 Weekly Update<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">a little something to reflect on from Kid President!<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/GTMqLm07Ay5tA6v5H4J0SrshHgz36IU7phMgzTlqpQK3S_CuRC8wPB5aECT5eBSddiCUbphn7ULdEcsQGmT-tsDqRIgde5ydVDv8AHDGIlNFpg7Ukp0XFmlusE4sIYTzEFuTQDQs\" width=\"411\" height=\"421\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Brene Brown\u2019s new podcast \u201cUnlocking Us.\u201d recently had an episode that spoke to first time experiences and challenges and the best way to approach them:&nbsp; (<\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/brenebrown.com\/podcast\/brene-on-ffts\/\"><em>https:\/\/brenebrown.com\/podcast\/brene-on-ffts\/<\/em><\/a><em>).<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>She gives some great steps for dealing with \u201cFT\u2019s.\u201d&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Name the FT<\/strong>: For example, the one we are in now \u201cglobal pandemic\u201d. When we are in a new FT, we feel out of control and like we don\u2019t know what we are doing. But when we name and own these hard things, it gives us power. It doesn\u2019t give the hard thing power but gives us power to effect change.<\/li><li><strong>Normalize It:<\/strong><strong> <\/strong>Because this is new, we don\u2019t know what we are doing&#8230;we can\u2019t draw on history, we can\u2019t draw on experience, we can\u2019t say this is the way we did it last time&#8230;because we are FTing. It is okay for things to be wobbly and messy!&nbsp;<\/li><li><strong>Put it in Perspective:<\/strong><strong> <\/strong>Know that this is not permanent! When we look back on this we will say \u2018remember when that was so hard?&#8230;That was a crazy time! But we also grew.\u2019 When we stop growing, we stop living.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li><li><strong>Reality Check Your Expectations<\/strong>: This is a heavier lift than we thought or expected and that is scary&#8230;everything is going to take twice as long and be twice as hard&#8230;that is not comfortable.&nbsp;<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Here are some Ideas from Schools\/Teams:&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Remember to upload your great ideas to share with others <a href=\"https:\/\/drive.google.com\/drive\/folders\/14NwRgYuShzl1xzrFy0Aq8U_zmwt7HJ0j?usp=sharing\">here<\/a>. The smallest ideas are helpful from grade level packets, to SeeSaw posts, to links to great activities!&nbsp; Don\u2019t be shy! We need to use our collective geniuses!&nbsp;<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>One teacher has her students take a picture of their math journal and give feedback to each student.&nbsp; She says, \u201cIt is a lot of work, but worth it to be able to give each of my students individual attention.\u201d<\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/sites.google.com\/gapps.bend.k12.or.us\/mrslaymonsremoteclassroom\/home\">Website idea <\/a>and <a href=\"https:\/\/drive.google.com\/file\/d\/1S8bKP4-FTYMe4gdjXEKoMPiZ7MxsyMhi\/view\">Template videotape example<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/drive.google.com\/file\/d\/1aafzkxFAG06D93GeMMq6DRLJniQJja3F\/view?usp=sharing\">Weekly Schedule Idea&nbsp;<\/a><\/li><li>Using <a href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/presentation\/d\/1UvMKjRydoeVuiMJHEGJm47oJIsUKmd8ThS6sfVm8OZE\/edit?usp=sharing\">Google slides<\/a> to organize your instruction<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Creating offline assignments for those w\/o connectivity<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>K-5 need to make packets or other resources available for families that do not have internet<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Print shop<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Running at about a week out&#8230;plan ahead at least week or you can make copies at your school if needed (check with your admin)<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Remember to visit the <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/document\/d\/1H2E6_7GPGwuJn-4F2qWTylo6tv2MsP0YF2y2ub9sfdM\/edit?usp=sharing\"><strong>Daily FAQ page<\/strong><\/a><strong> for updated information<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><\/strong><strong>Formative Assessment and Feedback Ideas<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><a href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/document\/d\/1EOpi8AF3sXq4LlINrbhFSUYRTypK1UV5KJ3xKZmG3a0\/edit\">Priorities for Literacy Feedback and Assessment<\/a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/drive.google.com\/open?id=12igyW8yssImr7XEufj5fB0nuW4ewRKKk6s2aajsiqSQ\">Math Priorities for Math 2-5<\/a> with Feedback and Assessment ideas<\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/drive.google.com\/open?id=1uRY4vi4pTWwAfDY9t0G6jxWNT5T55Lt50HhvjthVgFI\">Math Priorities for Math k-1<\/a> with Feedback and Assessment ideas<\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/presentation\/d\/1lFLel4BVqncCEyXNIHt2AXMYw7RBSZpZ73ZuWesvHYc\/edit?usp=sharing\">K-1 Feedback and Assessment Ideas<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/presentation\/d\/1fX5MPLjONjXElxJu5fvFF-IAAEqdbwKNXMF0XCsCKk0\/edit?usp=sharing\">2-3 Feedback and Assessment Ideas&nbsp;<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Gary Timms and Lora Nordquist are making a plan for report cards. Expect that the week of May 4th.&nbsp; In the meantime, let\u2019s focus on taking the opportunity to give feedback and work on ways to formatively assess students and engage them in daily positive interactions.&nbsp;<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Professional learning opportunities moving forward<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&nbsp;If you haven\u2019t already taken the survey, please do so <a href=\"https:\/\/forms.gle\/QmdTGjGaiagNCfoJ7\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Lexia Updates<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>As a reminder any Lexia problems need to be reported <a href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/forms\/d\/e\/1FAIpQLScUbMEpLBELSqqSp--TnN60Q8PwAO9gbBf818hPvXyKABDDKA\/viewform?usp=sf_link\">here<\/a>.&nbsp; Note:&nbsp; The LexiaCore5 app is taking a long time to download and some users are reporting it is failing to download.&nbsp; The fix right now is to just try it again\u2026.we will keep working on this,&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li><li>Refer <a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.bend.k12.or.us\/instructionaltechnology\/lexia-reading\/\">here<\/a> for troubleshooting.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Core5 is for k-5 students<\/li><li>PowerUp is for 6-8 students<\/li><li>MyLexia is for teachers<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Clever Updates<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>If your students are struggling with their Clever login, consider printing their Clever Badges instead.&nbsp; <a href=\"https:\/\/support.clever.com\/hc\/en-us\/articles\/360000127406-For-Teachers-How-do-I-print-Clever-Badges-\">Directions are here<\/a>.&nbsp; You can either send them with this next round of packets or send through <a href=\"https:\/\/blsend.bend.k12.or.us\/\">BLSend<\/a>.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Dreambox Updates<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Dreambox is hosting Webinars for Families! (english only, sorry) Share this information with them:&nbsp;<ul><li>Dreambox Parent meetings are every Tuesday at 9:00 am Pacific.&nbsp;<\/li><li>Sign up here:&nbsp; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dreambox.com\/parent-webinars\">https:\/\/www.dreambox.com\/parent-webinars<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><a href=\"http:\/\/sgemail.gainsightapp.com\/ls\/click?upn=FAJhOM7X69LkvoM-2FCY79d-2Fb58xgeks3UUaS4N2yR0DyX7NUfeDuJffB87xVNC1qEKvXJ8I7KZGH2U-2BjEsVTlHtD6765rVgSImwhG9N8PI2KH-2B4iE1AHsqD25xzXKebxHe2kzUAdiz8pky8P4UOI6z1onopYwlV9QHuJoQP9y3Ej1-2B-2BsW-2FRluRKbH36psUk86xMNf_9CQo-2FxPcgknLuiTaT1czaQ1bCGyCh83VVrUTP7fk-2B1Nlit-2FYStbkbcgdzT4aHGD8piXH86q6XhVN0J-2BAxf3DNbCIoWQXTx9v-2FLEj9nRTtqDPsBMgQmLvf05sf9CLcBDks7uOt-2Bs7ixCr05Rqj4TovDDENmw0Q6ok3KI7VYlHmiGbU7KvE6O1gGbEoBtwVelL1oge5l7WMkU2-2B3-2BmmDHHJqJlf7W-2FOTE20pjYWd7SDCpwjMMfFyjM8C68-2FmgtnwdUwVzj7zHvAp7mK1-2FNbC-2Fl0L5-2F1E366-2Bxpd5KwoDfUt7KnznoawpkbkC2yNdZsEuQ12VfilPlBpVPn7nRzSD6W-2BkZYvuOqyidymeIGEi6-2BFh4jCFeD4FGsZ3sYYLwGBo-2FSaVzl2zEXnRAs8tDt6wO-2BbLSZoFYcgIvUuF2Uu-2FjmtQpQOFcYxaWP71J4HOp4NZ0kPpHsG6R5bIDJ213UJYX4NNp0wOP1I7l79OBUzqAzhKoVUGCWi-2FN3EdHa1rnul8Ri9vv45E6TG9Pk4GyMYa1OMw-3D-3D\">DreamBox One-sheet for Parents<\/a><ul><li><a href=\"https:\/\/support.dreambox.com\/s\/article\/How-to-View-the-School-DreamBox-URL-Login-Code-and-Print-the-Parent-Invitation-Letter\">How to print the information that parents need to set up an account<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><a href=\"http:\/\/sgemail.gainsightapp.com\/ls\/click?upn=FAJhOM7X69LkvoM-2FCY79dzi1ZN5C8vv9eMryqXvqmFFJ1h4zoPMWmtgHIf2ydVwd2jAMbKqZUX9qC0BrLr-2BJ0Q-3D-3DBnVt_9CQo-2FxPcgknLuiTaT1czaQ1bCGyCh83VVrUTP7fk-2B1Nlit-2FYStbkbcgdzT4aHGD8piXH86q6XhVN0J-2BAxf3DNbCIoWQXTx9v-2FLEj9nRTtqDPsBMgQmLvf05sf9CLcBDks7uOt-2Bs7ixCr05Rqj4TovDDENmw0Q6ok3KI7VYlHmiGbU7KvE6O1gGbEoBtwVelL1oge5l7WMkU2-2B3-2BmmDHHJqJlf7W-2FOTE20pjYWd7SDCpwjMMfFyjM8C68-2FmgtnwdUwVzj7zHvAp7mK1-2FNbC-2Fl0L5-2F1E366-2Bxpd5KwoDfUt7KnznoawpkbkC2yNdZsEuQ1UgDlvZKqcDNMcZtswnAbSg0k0mVPjH95kFEkShg3-2BHAkhwphY4QAibz9ye-2Br8rqh0he4wn1xaKEzuw9RgInIrxi2BtAP9A7ON7FbYMM72c5hThcw2Zh-2BwbFouvH6ejH193M5J1quBudV4Z8iscZsqeiaIHWiHzV0NjjTNkv-2FMHltVD1E79eSM7h8vkkf7Mve-2FReedplSaq3tb8t3MnbCnw-3D-3D\">DreamBox Resources for Home Learning<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"http:\/\/sgemail.gainsightapp.com\/ls\/click?upn=FAJhOM7X69LkvoM-2FCY79d7D9uxSjJe7llKKCftv0gU7wFh47eIgXUpFJTHSYzUSM4ZebikRjXViMeENKbWaTqBxF3rPFzN1PwpGfYnFBJ2neGvcdYbm1IiuOEmWuCgK3Obyo_9CQo-2FxPcgknLuiTaT1czaQ1bCGyCh83VVrUTP7fk-2B1Nlit-2FYStbkbcgdzT4aHGD8piXH86q6XhVN0J-2BAxf3DNbCIoWQXTx9v-2FLEj9nRTtqDPsBMgQmLvf05sf9CLcBDks7uOt-2Bs7ixCr05Rqj4TovDDENmw0Q6ok3KI7VYlHmiGbU7KvE6O1gGbEoBtwVelL1oge5l7WMkU2-2B3-2BmmDHHJqJlf7W-2FOTE20pjYWd7SDCpwjMMfFyjM8C68-2FmgtnwdUwVzj7zHvAp7mK1-2FNbC-2Fl0L5-2F1E366-2Bxpd5KwoDfUt7KnznoawpkbkC2yNdZsEuQ1Nq-2B1ceW2nKBT57Io7FRQ6XeIz6tGS5Av31yL8Ze5Yksf-2B38leRndWSn9EbzFh8EuVy-2BpguWyYuckoqER2UBUGXRFJRX-2BAgOZeErRLdXNeNvIJe8HbN-2F3xezkQbOA9G0Hx8iu-2FO4krTKnUFvRldtvPjuIEY4f2Xhehp5OETnOQMNQl7e8vjkggFxBZqQzIaZrybyRwIQw4txUhlKeq2zwTg-3D-3D\">Set up Parent Access on a School Account<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Link to update<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/document\/d\/1MLx5MZmg5001SlOPIDUDPObc8HUhbLPkZumJycmNzYM\/edit?usp=sharing\">https:\/\/docs.google.com\/document\/d\/1MLx5MZmg5001SlOPIDUDPObc8HUhbLPkZumJycmNzYM\/edit?usp=sharing<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h1 class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-heading\"><strong>Putting the Pandemic in Historical and Epidemiological Perspective<\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0In this <em>New Yorker<\/em> article, Michael Specter describes the scientific events that have shaped the career of Dr. Anthony Fauci. Since 1984, he\u2019s been director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, and he\u2019s currently at the epicenter of the coronavirus crisis. Specter\u2019s article lists some previous epidemics that wreaked havoc through history:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8211; \u00a0 In 430 BC, Athens was struck by a plague that killed as many as 2\/3 of its residents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8211; \u00a0 Beginning in 165 AD, smallpox contributed to the downfall of the Roman Empire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8211; \u00a0 In the 14th century, the Black Death killed more than half of Europe\u2019s population.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">However, by the middle of the 20th century, improvements in antibiotics and sanitary conditions led many scientists to believe it was possible to eradicate, or at least control, infectious diseases. Fauci, who had specialized in this field at the start of his career, worried that he\u2019d chosen an area that was going to become a sideshow.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Then several deadly diseases changed the game. AIDS has killed more than 30 million people, and tuberculosis infects about a quarter of humanity, killing 1.5 million people in 2018 alone. \u201cBut the greatest threat that humanity faces, by far,\u201d says Specter, \u201cis a global outbreak of a lethal virus for which no treatment has been found.\u201d And indeed, COVID-19 has forced billions of people into lockdown, and another pandemic like this will inevitably appear \u2013 maybe next year, maybe in a decade, maybe in a century.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cWe live in evolutionary competition with microbes \u2013 bacteria and viruses,\u201d said Nobel Prize-winning molecular biologist Joshua Lederberg. There are countless viruses in animals and humans, most of them harmless. For a virus to pose a worldwide threat, it has to meet three critical conditions:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8211; \u00a0 It emerges from animals and humans don\u2019t have immunity to it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8211; \u00a0 The virus sickens and kills humans (the vast majority of viruses don\u2019t).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8211; \u00a0 The virus spreads efficiently \u2013 e.g., through coughing, sneezing, or handshakes.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For years, Fauci and others have been concerned about a virus that would punch all three tickets \u2013 new, deadly, and infectious \u2013 and that\u2019s what we have in COVID-19.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For most of human history, a virus with all three characteristics would afflict many people in the community where it emerged, but then stop spreading. But as human mobility increased, pathogens could spread more widely. Nowadays, someone can wake up with an infectious virus in China and fly to America, spreading it intercontinentally the same day. According to one analysis, at least 430,000 people have arrived in the U.S. on direct flights from China since the coronavirus outbreak began.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Lederberg and others have advocated for greatly expanded early-warning systems, particularly in the developing world, as well as stronger measures to respond to microbial threats. Unfortunately their alarm bells were almost completely ignored. In 2004, a year after those recommendations were made, a highly pathogenic form of avian influenza, H<sub>5<\/sub>N<sub>1<\/sub>, leaped from waterfowl to chickens to humans. This time, the world was lucky \u2013 it was deadly but not very contagious. Five years later, a new influenza virus, H<sub>1<\/sub>N<sub>1<\/sub>, infected nearly a quarter of the global population before vaccines were developed \u2013 but again we were lucky: it was highly contagious but not nearly as deadly as most strains of influenza. Dodging the bullet twice fostered complacency and made it more difficult for scientists to create a sense of urgency.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A somewhat hopeful development is that genetic engineering has made it possible to respond to an epidemic much more quickly than in the past. After the COVID-19 outbreak began, it took scientists less than a month to sequence the genome of the virus; by the end of February, the instructions were on the Internet and the virus had been recreated in labs around the world so that scientists could seek treatments and vaccines. The problem is that treatments and vaccines will be virus-specific. Each year scientists try to scope out newly-evolving viruses and create vaccines, but it\u2019s hit-or-miss: in the 2017-18 flu season, the vaccine worked for only about one-third of the people who received it. And scientists are playing whack-a-mole with each new virus. \u201cWe keep trying to develop a vaccine for one thing \u2013 usually the last one \u2013 and it\u2019s a waste of time,\u201d says Fauci. \u201cEvery time we get hit, it is always something we didn\u2019t expect.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Fauci has long advocated for developing a universal influenza vaccine that would provide lasting defense against all strains. \u201cSimilar to tetanus,\u201d he said, \u201ca universal flu vaccine probably would be given every ten years. And if you get one that is really universal, you can vaccinate just about everyone in the world.\u201d This would cost hundreds of millions of dollars to develop and test, and to date, that money hasn\u2019t been raised. Perhaps that will change now. \u201cTo plan a coherent biological future, rather than simply scramble to contain each new pandemic,\u201d Specter concludes, \u201cwill require an entirely new kind of political commitment.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>\u201cAnnals of Medicine: The Good Doctor\u201d by Michael Specter in <\/strong><strong><em>The New Yorker<\/em><\/strong><strong>, April 20, 2020, <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/bit.ly\/2KpmZSB\"><strong>https:\/\/bit.ly\/2KpmZSB<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Social Distancing reminder whenever on campus. Stay 6 feet apart. Wash hands often. Wipe down the surfaces you use. Know you can report anyone to me who is not observing these guidelines. Community Work Space:&nbsp; The library is set up &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.bend.k12.or.us\/brian.kissell\/2020\/04\/22\/4-22-20-weekly-update\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":431,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-589","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.bend.k12.or.us\/brian.kissell\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/589","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.bend.k12.or.us\/brian.kissell\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.bend.k12.or.us\/brian.kissell\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.bend.k12.or.us\/brian.kissell\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/431"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.bend.k12.or.us\/brian.kissell\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=589"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.bend.k12.or.us\/brian.kissell\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/589\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":590,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.bend.k12.or.us\/brian.kissell\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/589\/revisions\/590"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.bend.k12.or.us\/brian.kissell\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=589"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.bend.k12.or.us\/brian.kissell\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=589"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.bend.k12.or.us\/brian.kissell\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=589"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}