What is a virus and how do viruses spread? What is the difference between an epidemic and a pandemic? What sort of impact will the COVID-19 pandemic have on business, society, and the economy?

Course Description

This free course weaves together the scientific, social, and economic perspectives of the COVID-19 pandemic. This comprehensive course has been constructed with the goal of providing an opportunity to interactively learn about the virus behind the disease and its impacts to our world. By providing research-based information, the course helps learners and educators understand the global pandemic, its risks, and how to effectively manage them.

A note on terminology, before you begin. There are a few terms widely used by the media to describe the current pandemic: COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, and 2019-nCoV. They are being used interchangeably and, understandably, it is causing confusion. You will become familiar with the correct use of these terms as you move through the course, but it does help to have some of that knowledge now as you read through this description.

COVID-19 is the name of the disease that many around the world are facing right now. The disease is caused by a virus, called SARS-CoV-2. The term 2019-nCoV was a provisional name for the virus and is now outdated.

Course Outline 

Unit 1: A Background on Viruses
To understand the COVID-19 pandemic, you must first build a foundation of knowledge on the function and mechanism of micro-organisms. This unit will help you understand the fundamental science behind pathogenic micro-organisms, vaccinations, viruses, and what defines a pandemic.
Unit 2: The Virus behind COVID-19
With the scientific foundation built in Unit 1, you will now learn about the COVID-19 virus, SARS-CoV-2, in depth, what is causing the disease, how it is structured, how it is spread, and what progress researchers have made to try to control the pandemic.
Unit 3: Traveling as COVID-19 Spreads
The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in drastic changes to how, where, and when we travel. This unit covers information on the various travel advisories in effect and provides techniques to help prevent the spread of the virus to protect your safety and the safety of others.
Unit 4: Responding to the Virus
The purpose of this module is to provide you with the resources you need to best prepare yourself and those around you to deal with the spread of COVID-19. Whether you are looking for information for yourself as an individual, learner, educator (or parent playing the role of educator), or as a leader within a business or institution, these lessons will provide you with the foundation to take those first steps.
Unit 5: The Impacts of the Virus
In this unit of the course, the different economic, business and social impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic will be explored. The question of what happens now will also be asked; how can we keep moving on from where we are and how do we stay informed?