COVID-19 Resources
Okay, we’ve been doing this for a while now, and most of us have pretty much gotten the hang of it. But, just in case you missed it, here are a bunch of awesome things for you to do when you want to stretch your imagination or your legs.
COVID-19 Facts - First, a word from our sponsor, COVID-19
- Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) – important information about protecting yourself, symptoms, testing, and more
- National Institute of Health (NIH) – the latest research information
- NIH’s Spanish language portal – información en español sobre pruebas, tratamientos, vacunas, ensayos clínicos y más
- Connecticut’s website and the Town of Groton’s website – for local information
- Worldometer Coronavirus coverage – worldwide graphs, percentages, and statistics
- United States COVID-19 Infection Map – an interactive map showing population, cases, and more for every county in each state
- My Name is Coronavirus – a resource for parents to discuss COVID-19 with their children
- UCONN’s blog – tips for avoiding scammers, what to do between jobs, business exemptions, emergency food resources, and more
- MedlinePlus – general information about vaccines and testing
- Ledge Light Health District – specific, local information about where to get tested, and additional resources about the vaccine
- Greater than COVID – The Kaiser Family Foundation and the Black Coalition Against COVID have created a series of videos that feature Black healthcare professionals answering questions about COVID-19 vaccines
- Get free at-home tests – Every home in the U.S. is eligible to order free at-home COVID-19 tests. The tests are completely free, provided by the Federal government, and delivered by the United States Postal Service. Orders will usually ship in 7-12 days. (See this link also for information about other resources.)
Free Digital Stuff
- Library of Congress – photos, prints, sound (radio broadcasts, spoken word, and music), antique manuscripts, and more. Ever wanted to learn “The Step Out” without stepping out of your home? Well, now you can!
- The Digital Public Library of America – over 36 million images, texts, videos, and sounds from across America
- Connecticut State Library – resources organized by age and interest
- The Black Freedom Struggle in the United States – Free resource for students, educators, and everyone, with thousands of open primary sources chronicling the struggles and triumphs of Black Americans
- Access Connecticut Judicial Branch resources at home, including information about traffic tickets, filings and court fees, court procedural info, case lookup, child support enforcement, the Office of Victim Services, FAQ, and more
Expand your (mental) horizons!
- The Great Courses Plus is offering a free trial of streaming videos on your tv, phone, computer, or other devices, with topics as broad as Henry VIII to cooking
- Excel at Excel – 11 sources for text and video explaining that wonderful, frustrating program
- Learn the art of storytelling from Khan Academy and the experts at Pixar
- Learn a new language for when we can finally travel safely again with duolingo, Memrise, or Anki
Be Entertained!
- Children’s books come alive!
- Dav Pilkey reading from “Dog Man Unleashed”
- Also check our Facebook page for posts, including J. J. Abrams reading “We Are in a Book!” by Mo Willems, drawing with Jared Krososcza, and more!
- PBS – educational and entertaining videos for all ages. *Some shows/videos require a CPTV Passport, which is not free.
Be Creative!
- Learn how to draw Grumpy Bird (and other stuff) with Jeremy Tankard
- Recreate works of art with people and things in your home with the Getty Museum and share with people around the world:
- Complete a Harry Potter Escape Room (by yourself or with friends), created by Youth Services Librarian Sydney Krawiec of Peters Township Public Library in McMurry, PA
See the World! (from your Living Room)
- Take virtual tours of famous museums, zoos and aquariums, and theme parks from your couch, thanks to links discovered by Good Housekeeping Magazine
- More free virtual field trips around the world, courtesy of CouponFollow and brought to our attention by a clever student doing distanced research
- Go see National Parks from the safety of the indoors with Google Arts and Culture
- Conduct research and contribute to cool projects with SciStarter Project Finder
(No endorsements intended for any institutions or organizations)
Get Out! (While Following Safe Protocols and Social Distancing)
- The AllTrails app (for Android and for Apple) is a great resource for a map/list of local trails for hiking, biking, and running, with ratings and trail maps. There’s a free version, and a paid version with more bells & whistles.
- Also check the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection’s website (DEEP) for a list and maps of state parks, forests, and greenways
- Try the Connecticut Forest & Park Association for an interactive map of blue-blazed trails
- BikeHikeSafari has put together a very detailed and informative article on the types of hiking and hiking preparedness called “The Ultimate Guide to Hiking for Beginners“
Stay In, and Connect with Others
Are you a social work student, or a senior looking for a friendly voice over the phone? Connect with other people from the safety of your own home by contacting GiftsofGab.org, a volunteer call-based companion coordination that connects social work students with those in need of social interaction for weekly phone calls.