Information is plentiful on the internet for just about everything, including COVID-19. When looking for accurate information, typing into the search bar might not cut it. Where should you look for information on COVID-19?
The internet has anything and everything, and even more information than you probably want right at your fingertips. If you’re like most, you start looking for one thing, and a few clicks later are down a rabbit hole of information and forgot what you started to search for in the first place.
Additionally, when researching, you have to search through actual information and opinion. This fact vs. opinion is probably one of the hardest challenges when finding information on the internet.
Remember, when looking for information seek out reliable, independent sources. While other, smaller websites may state their information came from a reliable source, it’s always helpful to check the source yourself.
Also, never attempt to self-diagnose or self-treat at home. If you still have questions, contact your medical provider.
Here is a list of resources on where you can look for the information you need during this COVID-19 pandemic, from goblal to local healthcare systems:
Global and Country Organizations
World Health Organization (WHO): The World Health Organization is part of the United Nations, formed after WWII, and responsible for international public health. Their role includes monitoring public health risks and assistance in coordinating responses to health emergencies, such as pandemics.
United States / Center for Disease Control (CDC): Here in the United States, the CDC is part of the US Dept. of Health and Human Services. Their mission, listed on their website, states:
“CDC works 24/7 to protect America from health, safety and security threats, both foreign and in the U.S. Whether diseases start at home or abroad, are chronic or acute, curable or preventable, human error or deliberate attack, CDC fights disease and supports communities and citizens to do the same.”
England/NHS: What are other countries doing during this pandemic? Check the information they are highlighting to their citizens during this pandemic. In England, the National Health Service is the publically funded healthcare system for the country.
State & Local Resources
In the United States, each state has a public health department or agency. These organizations are responsible for monitoring, reporting, and regulating the state health systems to promote health through prevention, control of disease and injury. Within each state, smaller departments may exist at the local level.
For example, Illinois:
Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH): The Illinois Department of Public Health currently has been reporting on COVID-19 daily, and lists a wealth of resources on their website. Check for information related to each county via their websites (ie: Cook County Department of Public Health) to find resources and statistics for specific municipalities.
Find your State here:
- ALABAMA
- ALASKA
- ARIZONA
- ARKANSAS
- CALIFORNIA
- COLORADO
- CONNECTICUT
- DELAWARE
- DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
- FLORIDA
- GEORGIA
- HAWAII
- IDAHO
- ILLINOIS
- INDIANA
- IOWA
- KANSAS
- KENTUCKY
- LOUISIANA
- MAINE
- MARYLAND
- MASSACHUSETTS
- MICHIGAN
- MINNESOTA
- MISSISSIPPI
- MISSOURI
- MONTANA
- NEBRASKA
- NEVADA
- NEW HAMPSHIRE
- NEW JERSEY
- NEW MEXICO
- NEW YORK
- NORTH CAROLINA
- NORTH DAKOTA
- OHIO
- OKLAHOMA
- OREGON
- PENNSYLVANIA
- RHODE ISLAND
- SOUTH CAROLINA
- SOUTH DAKOTA
- TENNESSEE
- TEXAS
- UTAH
- VERMONT
- VIRGINIA
- WASHINGTON
- WEST VIRGINIA
- WISCONSIN
- WYOMING
Local Healthcare Systems
What hospital would you go to in an emergency? Your answer should be the online resource you look to for answers.
Most importantly, almost all local healthcare hospitals and health systems will have online resources in place to help you get answers.
While we cannot list all healthcare systems, we can highlight some of the resources our state has available.
In the Chicagoland area, we are fortunate to have a wealth of hospitals usually within a short drive. In more rural areas, hospital systems can be further away, but the information should just be a few clicks away.
Here are some examples of Chicagoland and Illinois Health system COVID-19 resources on their websites:
- UI Health – Chicago
- Northwest Community Hospital
- Alexian Brothers / AMITA Health
- Advocate/Aurora Health (Condell, Lutheran General)
- Champaign/Urbana Carle Health System
- Peoria/Unity Point Health
- Maryville/Anderson Hospital System
Continue Your Diligence
We are in a fluid environment of information and changes will occur frequently. This is ok, and this is normal. What is new to us is we see the scientists, medical professionals, and health systems communicating and dialoguing in real-time.
Therefore, as more information is available, we will see patterns and trends in the data and have a clearer path to recovery. This won’t take forever, but it will take time.
Most importantly, be sure to keep diligent in social distancing, hand washing, and wearing a mask in public.
Questions? Concerns? Click here to join our Facebook Group and participate in the discussion on COVID-19 and other healthcare topics!
This post is so helpful! I have seen all sorts of misinformation on social media, and it is frightening when people seem unable to tell the difference between a factual article and and article that is based on opinion. Thank you for helping clear this up!
Very informative, thank you
Wow! Thanks for including the links to each state. Very helpful!
Thanks for the clarification and great resources especially the individual state links!
Such valuable information for reliable sources. We are being inundated with opinionated ‘info’ and it becomes overwhelming. Also, thanks for linking all states!
Helpful resource – thank you!
Very comprehensive! I love the amount of resources in this post. It is really hard to find actual facts vs opinions and you’ve made it so easy!
You’ve really done a great job of putting together resources from a perspective that you are an authority on. Thank you
Great information. It’s so hard to know what is really the truth or not so thank you for the resources of where we can actually go and get correct information.
I really appreciate you and your blog. Thank you, again, for very helpful information.
Thank you for sharing this post. It is extremely helpful and I will be turning to the resources you have provided when I do have questions.
Thank you. It’s so hard to know what information to rely on.
Thank you so much for this! I love that you listed each state. Very helpful!
Great information. It’s good to have reliable sources in these times!
Great Information! Thanks for sharing!
This is so helpful right now. Thank you for sharing!
Great list of resources. There is so many posts and I struggle with believing everything! You have shared a great list and by each state… Amazing!
Very helpful information! Thank you!
Great info. It’s so easy to get overwhelmed. I love that you have links for each state!
Great collection of info all in one place!
Thank you for the information and state resources. We here in CA sure are different than most other states!
Interesting!
Very informative! The links to each state is impressive. I’m not too pleased with Hawaii’s reports though…
Thank you for sharing this! This is very helpful.
There is so much information out there on the internet and some times it is hard to find what is true and what is exaggerated. Thank you for your information, tips and the links. Very much appreciated. Stay safe and healthy!!
Great information! Very helpful! It is truly difficult to filter out the truth from false information!
I also love that you added links to each state for their specific info.
This is hugely helpful – especially when so many are looking to be out from under quarantine. I think everyone needs all the support they can get.
Excellent info! I’ve been checking Missouri’s state health page every day for updates.
Wow what a list thank you for sharing t
Great information and I love that you added links for all the states. At the beginning you mentioned the importance of differentiating opinion and fact and having reliable sources. SO SO true and so many people I am related to don’t feel the same way it can be frustrating trying to explain and help them find the truth.
Thorough list of resources. Thank you for sharing.
These are fantastic tips. With everything going on, it’s hard to find reliable resources.
This is a lot of work you have done and complied a great list. Thank you!
Great tips!