The CDC (Shae Thompson)
Fact-Checked Source:
The CDC, "Coronavirus (COVID-19)"
Although the March 21st, 2020 version was originally cited, the CDC continues to update their official page of information, data and resources on COVID-19 as the situation develops. Analyzing Credibility: Five Facts Checked
Fact #1 located in "How to Protect Yourself and Others"The original source of this fact is the NNDSS (National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance Systems), which is regulated by the CDC. This information is correct and verifiable by the NNDSS, who keeps careful surveillance and provides data and statistics on diseases.
- The virus is thought to spread mainly from person-to-person.
- Between people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet).
- Through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs, sneezes or talks.
- These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs.
- Some recent studies have suggested that COVID-19 may be spread by people who are not showing symptoms.
Fact #2 located in "What to Do If You Are Sick"
The source of this fact is NCIRD (National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases), Division of Viral Diseases. This is factual and has been verified as a fact by the CDC.
- Stay home. Most people with COVID-19 have mild illness and can recover at home without medical care. Do not leave your home, except to get medical care. Do not visit public areas.
Fact #3 located in "Symptoms of Coronavirus"
This fact originated from the NCIRD (National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases), Division of Viral Diseases. The CDC has verified this information as a fact.These symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus:
- Fever
- Cough
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Chills
- Repeated shaking with chills
- Muscle pain
- Headache
- Sore throat
- New loss of taste or smell
Fact #4 located in "What to Do If You Are Sick"
The original source of this fact is NCIRD (National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases), Division of Viral Diseases. This information is legitimate and has also been verified as a fact by the CDC.As much as possible, stay in a specific room and away from other people and pets in your home. Also, you should use a separate bathroom, if available.
Fact #5 located in "Use of Cloth Face Coverings to Help Slow the Spread of COVID-19"
This fact is originally from NCIRD (National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases), Division of Viral Diseases. This information is correct and responding to and preventing viral diseases is one of the main objectives of the Division of Viral Diseases.CDC also advises the use of simple cloth face coverings to slow the spread of the virus and help people who may have the virus and do not know it from transmitting it to others.
Analytic Essay
What does the CDC See?: The CDC's Perspective on COVID-19
The perspective of the CDC is one that is valued and followed in society, especially during disease outbreaks and national pandemics. The CDC is a federal agency that is highly trusted to provide helpful and objective information to the usually less knowledgeable public.
Due to the recent outbreak, the CDC has been the source of information regarding COVID-19. The CDC is serving to educate the public by providing updated knowledge about the pandemic with the purpose of slowing the spread of COVID-19 by taking the necessary precautions to not overwhelm our resources and cataloging symptoms, resources and new policies. Without the release of this information, the public would most likely not be controlling the virus as much as it could, which could hurt the reputation of the CDC and the public’s trust that the CDC will report and give direction.
The intended audience of the CDC is the public and it is reached through the CDC’s website and various news media platforms. The CDC’s webpage on COVID-19 is presumably the most reflective of the CDC’s perspective.
The COVID-19 page specifically provides information on slowing the spread, cloth face covers, symptoms and cases. The CDC states the “use of cloth face coverings [helps] slow the spread of COVID-19” (CDC, 2020). They also list symptoms that are associated with the virus and present instructions regarding deciding “if you should be tested or seek care” (CDC, 2020). The CDC is constantly keeping close surveillance on the spread so they also provide weekly summaries of confirmed cases, hospitalizations and deaths.
Based on the content of the CDC’s page on COVID-19, readers are able to tell that the CDC most values their ability to report all information they know about COVID-19 to the public. The CDC has a large presence in the sociotechnical system due to their influence on the public’s behavior based on what the CDC recommends-such as making and wearing face masks. The CDC is aware that they are the source of knowledge for a majority of people, so they spread as much of this knowledge as they can and work on producing knowledge to stop the virus.
The CDC is extremely focused on slowing the spread of COVID-19 because they want to keep the public safe and the death toll low. Therefore, one of the most important facts of this pandemic is the death toll. The CDC’s perspective is embedded in many news articles and press interviews with public figures.
An article by The Hill reports that the Director of the CDC, Robert Redfield, stated in an interview that the American public is effectively practicing social distancing, which is why “the numbers are going to be much, much, much, much lower than would have been predicted by the models” (Coleman, 2020). Similarly, an article by NPRreleased a shortened version of another interview with Robert Redfield where he stated that social distancing “is a very powerful weapon” in order to decrease the death toll in America (Whitehead, 2020).
Slowing the spread of COVID-19 by practicing social distancing and closely monitoring the death toll is very important to the CDC as Robert Redfield described. Redfield’s statements relate to the CDC’s purpose in the pandemic of providing guidelines and data in order to control the virus.
In order to effectively serve the public, the US CDC relies on collaboration with their other CDC locations in other countries. The US CDC and their global locations instill trust in each other and share information and data.
In a policy review released by the journal of Emerging Infectious Diseases, CDC Taiwan initiated an early response as the number of confirmed cases in neighboring countries increased. Taiwan CDC quickly released new policies regarding travel, production of test kits, mandated reporting and quarantine in order to keep the public informed with updated knowledge about the pandemic (Lin, 2020).
The US CDC utilizes its global branches to remain informed about the spread of the virus in other countries in order to provide the public with the latest statistics and information. Because of their established trust between CDC locations, the US CDC and CDC Taiwan are able to work collaboratively.
Overall, the perspective of the CDC is one that the public trusts to provide information on COVID-19 and the CDC values this ability. The ultimate goal is to slow the spread of the virus in order to protect the public, and the CDC plays a major role in releasing the necessary facts and information to do so.