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A New Virus
Germs are tiny living things all around us. You need a special microscope to see them. One type of germ is a virus. Like many germs, a virus inside your body can make you sick. Viruses cause colds, the flu, and measles.
Estimated Reading Time: 5 minutes (373 words)
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COVID-19 and the Environment
COVID-19 has also changed the environment. Fewer airplanes are flying. Many factories are closed. People are driving less. In many cities, the air is cleaner. The water is clearer. People can hear birds instead of traffic. Wild animals walk down the street.
Estimated Reading Time: 2 minutes (164 words)
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Fighting Pandemics
The first step in fighting a new virus is to stop its spread. Sick people stay where they won’t get others sick. Health workers find people who could have been exposed to the virus. Those people may go into quarantine. They also stay away from others for a time. If they stay well long…
Estimated Reading Time: 5 minutes (375 words)
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Good News! Antibodies
People who have recovered from COVID-19 have antibodies in their blood. Antibodies are proteins made by cells in the immune system. They help fight the virus.
Estimated Reading Time: 1 minute (79 words)
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Good News! Minecraft
It can be hard to understand how staying at home slows the spread of a virus. Programmers Joseph Davies and Hugo Barne are fans of Minecraft. They created a way for kids to see how quarantines affect the spread of a disease. Blockdown is a free Minecraft map. Players manage an imagined…
Estimated Reading Time: 1 minute (82 words)
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How Can We Recognize and Treat COVID-19?
If you have a fever, cough, or your head and body hurt, you may have COVID-19. There is a special test to see if you have COVID-19. Your parents can call your doctor to see if you need the test. If you do, a nurse will stick a cotton swab far up your nose to get a sample. They can test…
Estimated Reading Time: 3 minutes (268 words)
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How Does the Virus Make People Sick?
The coronavirus invades cells in the nose and throat first. It uses the spikes on its surface to get inside the cells. Think of using a key to unlock a door. Once inside, the virus forces the cells to make new copies of the virus. These copies break the host cells open and go on to infect…
Estimated Reading Time: 3 minutes (254 words)
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Think about Spreading
Here are some ways to learn more about pandemics and how diseases spread.
Estimated Reading Time: 2 minutes (159 words)
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What is a Pandemic?
Do you remember your last cold? How did it start? Itchy throat? Stuffy nose? Maybe you weren’t even sure you were sick. But soon everything changed. What started small quickly made your whole body sick.
Estimated Reading Time: 2 minutes (199 words)
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What Is COVID-19?
COVID-19 is the short name for “COrona VIrus Disease 2019.” It started in the year 2019. The disease is caused by a tiny germ, or virus. Scientists call it SARS-CoV-2. Most people just call it the “new coronavirus.”
Estimated Reading Time: 5 minutes (364 words)