Montclair State University Experts Help Others Understand The Coronavirus Pandemic

Press release from Montclair State University:

April 8, 2020

Montclair State Experts Help Others Understand the Pandemic

Faculty are part of the national conversation as the public health crisis unfolds

Faculty members from across the University who are sharing their expertise with local and national media

As the nation grapples with the ramifications of the coronavirus pandemic, Montclair State University faculty experts are part of the conversation – lending their expertise to both New Jersey and national media to help readers and viewers understand the ramifications of the global health crisis caused by this highly contagious, fast-spreading virus with an alarming death rate. Our experts are talking with The New York Times, WNYC, NJ.com, the Arizona Republic and German Public Radio, as well as local media, about everything from the impact of K-12 school closings to what being at the epicenter of the pandemic means to the psychology behind “panic shopping” and how the national health emergency will impact the economy. Videos that Professor of Public Health Stephanie Silvera, who specializes in epidemiology, created with University Communications will be broadcast on Montclair township’s public access TV34 Bulletin Board for National Public Health Week. You can read what our experts had to share with the public by following the links below.

This information is current as of April 6, 2020 and is updated daily.

• Professor of Applied Mathematics Eric Forgoston discussed the importance of weighing many different mathematical models to track the impact of the pandemic with The Record. Read the full story here.
• Director of Undergraduate Admissions Jeff Gant discussed Montclair State’s virtual admissions initiatives and the importance for students to still get a sense of a school’s culture as they make their college choices with The Record. Read the full story here.
• Professor of Applied Mathematics Eric Forgoston participated in a virtual panel discussion titled, “COVID-19 Testing, Drug Discovery, Infectiousness, and more” for Newswise, in which he discussed common terminology being used in the mathematical models tracking the pandemic and the countries that are doing the best job at “flattening the curve.” Watch the full virtual press conference and read the transcript here.
• Professor of Public Health Stephanie Silvera discussed NJ Governor Phil Murphy’s decisions in a story about how Murphy went from cancer surgery in early March to “meeting the biggest challenge of his political life” in this story for NJ.com (March 31).
• Professor of Public Health Stephanie Silvera explained why New York and New Jersey are at the epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic in this NJ.com story (March 28).
• Professor of Public Health Stephanie Silvera discussed how “contact tracing” proves easier when dealing with a social gathering such as a party in a story for the Arizona Republic (March 26).
• Professor of Economics Luis Portes cited the multiple ways the pandemic is impacting the New Jersey economy in a conversation with NJBIZ (March 24).
• Professor of Economics Luis Portes discussed the rise in New Jersey unemployment claims in an interview with WNYC (March 20).
• Professor of Public Health Stephanie Silvera discussed why people still need fresh air during social distancing with NJ.com (March 20).
• Center for Autism and Early Childhood Mental Health Director Gerard Costa provided parents with tips on how families can still mark the first day of spring while practicing social distancing for NJ.com (March 19).
• Professor of Public Health Stephanie Silvera discussed why the number of cases given by the State of New Jersey may not be accurate in a story for NJ.com (March 15).
• Professor of Public Health Stephanie Silvera stated that New Jersey was past the point of containing the pandemic in a conversation with NJ.com (March 13).
• Professor of Economics Luis Portes discussed how “panic shopping” is the first sign of economic disruption with The New York Times (March 13).
• Professor of Public Health Stephanie Silvera discussed when New Jersey schools should ideally close due to the Coronavirus with NJ.com (March 12).
• Associate Professor of Nutrition and Food Studies Lauren Dinour explained how closings could impact thousands of New Jersey children who receive free meals at school in a story for NorthJersey.com (March 12) and in NJ.com (March 11).
• Professor of Economics Luis Portes detailed why northern New Jersey could see economic disruption due to the pandemic for NJTV (March 11). See the full video here.
• Professor of Public Health Stephanie Silvera detailed the process of “contact tracing” and how public health officials will use it to determine who may be infected with the coronavirus in a story for NorthJersey.com (March 6).

Compiled by Media Relations Specialist Andrew Mees

This press release was produced by Montclair State University. The views expressed here are the author’s own.