{"634688":{"#nid":"634688","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Joshua Weitz Discusses Past, Present, and Possible Futures of COVID-19 in New Talk and Interviews with AJC, WABE, GPB","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EPlease note: This page is a compilation of faculty media mentions.\u0026nbsp;For up-to-date information on Georgia Tech\u0026#39;s response to coronavirus (COVID-19) please see\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/em\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/health.gatech.edu\/coronavirus\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003Ehttp:\/\/health.gatech.edu\/coronavirus\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cem\u003E.\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EThe Weitz Group at Georgia Tech, led by \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/biosciences.gatech.edu\/people\/joshua-weitz\u0022\u003EJoshua Weitz\u003C\/a\u003E, is primarily interested in understanding how viruses transform human health and the fate of our planet. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the group has created various models and figures to explain the virus\u0026#39; spread and epidemiology. Weitz, a professor in the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/biosciences.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003ESchool of Biological Sciences\u003C\/a\u003E, has worked closely with local Atlanta and global media to explain his findings and discuss the challenges of containing the virus.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=arJcDNnQHIQ\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWeitz Presents \u0026ldquo;Dynamics of COVID-19: Near- and Long-Term Challenges\u0026rdquo; Nonlinear Science Talk\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/h3\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Caddress\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EJoshua Weitz (summary by Renay San Miguel), April 15, 2020\u003C\/strong\u003E \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/address\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EJoshua Weitz says the U.S. doesn\u0026rsquo;t just need a lot more testing for those who may be currently infected with COVID-19. It also needs widespread serological antibody tests to determine those who have recovered from the disease \u0026mdash; and may have some immunity \u0026mdash; to begin restarting the economy.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EWeitz, who also serves as director of the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/qbios.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EInterdisciplinary Ph.D. in Quantitative Biosciences\u003C\/a\u003E program, discusses shield immunity and more in his \u0026ldquo;Nonlinear Science Talk,\u0026rdquo; \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=arJcDNnQHIQ\u0022\u003Eheld on April 15\u003C\/a\u003E, as well as in a forthcoming research paper in the journal Nature.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EWeitz\u0026rsquo;s talk, titled \u0026ldquo;Dynamics of CoVID-19: Near- and Long-Term Challenges\u0026rdquo;, was hosted by the School of Physics and the School of Biological Sciences at Georgia Tech.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u0026ldquo;The scale and type of testing matters,\u0026rdquo; Weitz says. \u0026ldquo;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/cos.gatech.edu\/news\/meet-marine-biologist-helping-create-covid-19-test-kits\u0022\u003EPCR [polymerase chain reaction] testing\u003C\/a\u003E provides a snapshot: Are you shedding virus now? Serological testing, when accurate, provides a history: Have you been infected recently or in the past?\u0026rdquo;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EWeitz explains that serological testing not only reduces transmission, but that it helps enable safe economic recovery, by lessening social distancing and isolation for those who have immunity and antibodies that help keep them from contracting or carrying coronavirus again.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EWeitz also emphasizes that a forecasting model\u0026rsquo;s purpose is \u0026ldquo;to explain the need, scope, and potential outcome of interventions.\u0026rdquo; Lower cases and deaths than predicted \u0026ldquo;should be a sign that people were taking it seriously, not that the models were wrong. That\u0026rsquo;s not what they were for.\u0026rdquo;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EWeitz is the lead author in the forthcoming Nature research paper, \u0026ldquo;Intervention Serology and Interaction Substitution: Modeling the Role of \u0026lsquo;Shield Immunity\u0026rsquo; in Reducing COVID-19 Epidemic Spread.\u0026rdquo;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EThe paper\u0026rsquo;s co-authors include Georgia Tech College of Sciences researchers and collaborators \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/biosciences.gatech.edu\/people\/stephen-beckett\u0022\u003EStephen J. Beckett\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/microdynamics.gatech.edu\/ashley-coenen\u0022\u003EAshley R. Coenen\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/ecotheory.biology.gatech.edu\/people\/david-demory\u0022\u003EDavid Demory\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/ecotheory.biology.gatech.edu\/people\/marian-dom%C3%ADnguez-mirazo\u0022\u003EMarian Dominguez-Mirazo\u003C\/a\u003E, Chung-Lin Yeung, \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/ecotheory.biology.gatech.edu\/people\/guanlin-li\u0022\u003EGuanlin Li\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/ecotheory.biology.gatech.edu\/people\/andreea-magalie\u0022\u003EAndreea Magalie\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/biosciences.gatech.edu\/people\/rogelio-rodriguez%20gonzalez\u0022\u003ERogelio Rodriguez-Gonzalez\u003C\/a\u003E, and \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/biosciences.gatech.edu\/people\/conan-zhao\u0022\u003EConan Zhao\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EA preprint of the research is the subject of a video from \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/biosciences.gatech.edu\/people\/jennifer-leavey\u0022\u003EJennifer Leavey\u003C\/a\u003E, principal academic professional in the School of Biological Sciences. Leavey explains the shield immunity concepts in \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=NrIb7Fqybno\u0026amp;feature=youtu.be\u0022\u003EEpisode 7\u003C\/a\u003E of her \u0026ldquo;Stay at Home Journal Club\u0026rdquo; video series.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAJC:\u0026nbsp;Georgia Tech expert: Brian Kemp\u0026rsquo;s\u0026nbsp;plan to reopen economy could raise COVID-19 risks\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Caddress\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMaureen Downey, April 21, 2020\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/address\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EIn an opinion piece, Weitz discusses the possible dangers of re-opening Georgia\u0026#39;s economy. Weitz voices concerns that the science of COVID-19 does not support Gov. Brian Kemp\u0026rsquo;s decision to allow some businesses to reopen starting Friday. Instead, Weitz suggests that Georgia waits \u0026quot;until the science, evidence, and infrastructure suggests we are ready to open up the economy \u0026ndash; safely.\u0026quot;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.ajc.com\/blog\/get-schooled\/georgia-tech-expert-brian-kemp-plan-reopen-economy-could-raise-covid-risks\/ZbW7Ix1k4VvoQFGhfFTm6J\/\u0022\u003ERead more on AJC.com.\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWABE: Models Are Wrong, Some Are Useful\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Caddress\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWABE Staff, April 22, 2020\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/address\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EWeitz chats with WABE Atlanta about the usefulness of models in tracking and predicting the spread of COVID-19. He explains that\u0026nbsp;models can\u0026rsquo;t give us certainty about what will happen with the coronavirus pandemic, but they can still help tailor interventions to keep people safe. Weitz also discusses Governor Brian Kemp\u0026#39;s reopening of the Georgia economy.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.wabe.org\/episode\/models-are-wrong-some-are-useful\/\u0022\u003ERead more and listen on WABE.org.\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EGPB:\u0026nbsp;Political Rewind: Confusion Over Next Steps In Crisis \u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Caddress\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EBill Nigut, April 23, 2020\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/address\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EWeitz joins a panel with Kevin Riley, an editor at \u003Cem\u003EThe Atlanta Journal-Constitution\u003C\/em\u003E and Dr. Mark Rosenburg, retired CEO of the Task Force for Global Health. They discuss Governor Brian Kemp\u0026#39;s decision to re-open Georgia\u0026#39;s economy and the consequences of Georgians going out and attempting to resume life as normal.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.gpbnews.org\/post\/political-rewind-confusion-over-next-steps-crisis\u0022\u003ERead more and listen on GPBnews.org.\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Ch3\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/h3\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAtlanta Magazine: Re-opening Georgia for business is a life or death decision - and the data doesn\u0026#39;t help\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Caddress\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EKaren Landman, April 23, 2020\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/address\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EWeitz discusses his concerns with the decision to re-open Georgia\u0026#39;s economy. He suggests that officials wait until conditions allow a sustained downward curve to open the economy. Furthermore, he explains that even if Georgia has past the peak of the daily case counts and fatalities from the virus, there is the possibility that cases will peak again. To expidite the time to re-opening the economy, Weitz suggests increasing the availability of testing for the virus. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.atlantamagazine.com\/news-culture-articles\/re-opening-georgia-for-business-is-a-life-or-death-decision-and-the-data-doesnt-help\/\u0022\u003ERead more on AtlantaMagazine.com\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWABE:\u0026nbsp;While Georgia Begins To Open Again, Health Experts Urge Caution\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Caddress\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMolly Samuel, April 24, 2020\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/address\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EBeginning Friday, April 25, certain businesses in Georgia are allowed to re-open under Governor Brian Kemp\u0026#39;s direction. Weitz believes that the governor is opening certain businesses too quickly, and advises the governor to wait until the right safeguards and evidence are available.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.wabe.org\/while-georgia-begins-to-open-again-health-experts-urge-caution\/\u0022\u003ERead more on on WABE.org.\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EGPB: What You Need To Know: Could Georgia See A Second Peak?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Caddress\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESam Bermas-Dawes, April 24, 2020\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/address\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EWeitz talks with\u0026nbsp;\u003Cem\u003EPolitical Rewind\u003C\/em\u003E\u0026#39;s Sam Bermas-Dawes about whether Georgia is moving to fast to reopen the economy, and if there is a chance of cases peaking again. Weitz is concerned \u0026quot;about whether or not both the signals from cases and fatalities as well as the infrastructure to make sure that trends in the right direction continue to trend in that way are there in place at the moment.\u0026quot;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.gpbnews.org\/post\/what-you-need-know-could-georgia-see-second-peak\u0022\u003ERead more and watch the video interview at GPBNews.org.\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERelated Stories:\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cul\u003E\r\n\t\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/cos.gatech.edu\/news\/georgia-tech-produces-key-components-governors-coronavirus-test-initiative\u0022\u003EGeorgia Tech Produces Key Components for Governor\u0026rsquo;s Coronavirus Test Initiative\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\r\n\t\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/cos.gatech.edu\/news\/meet-marine-biologist-helping-create-covid-19-test-kits\u0022\u003EMeet the Marine Biologist Helping Create COVID-19 Test Kits\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\r\n\t\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/news.gatech.edu\/2020\/04\/14\/will-smartphones-help-us-keep-covid-19-under-control\u0022\u003EWill Smartphones Help Us Keep COVID-19 Under Control? \u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\r\n\t\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/rh.gatech.edu\/news\/634293\/case-diy-masks-slow-coronavirus-spread\u0022\u003EThe Case For DIY Masks To Slow Coronavirus\u0026rsquo; Spread\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\r\n\t\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/twitter.com\/gtsciences\u0022\u003EFollow @GTSciences on Twitter for more news and stories\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\r\n\t\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/cos.gatech.edu\/news\/crowds-vaccines-climate-comparisons-sciences-faculty-share-covid-19-insights-expertise-media\u0022\u003ECrowds, Vaccines, Climate Comparisons: Sciences Faculty Share COVID-19 Insights, Expertise with Media\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\r\n\t\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.news.gatech.edu\/2020\/03\/31\/truckloads-personal-protection-equipment-donated-healthcare-workers\u0022\u003ETruckloads of Personal Protection Equipment Donated for Healthcare Workers\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\r\n\t\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/news.gatech.edu\/2020\/03\/23\/do-it-yourself-medical-devices-protective-gear-fuel-battle-against-covid-19\u0022\u003EDo-It-Yourself Medical Devices \u0026amp; Protective Gear Fuel Battle Against COVID-19\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\r\n\t\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.news.gatech.edu\/2020\/04\/06\/simple-low-cost-ventilator-builds-available-resuscitation-bags\u0022\u003ESimple, Low-Cost Ventilator Builds on Available Resuscitation Bags\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\r\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\r\n","summary":null,"format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EJoshua Weitz shares COVID-19 expertise with media in Atlanta and around the globe.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Joshua Weitz shares COVID-19 expertise with media in Atlanta and around the globe."}],"uid":"35185","created_gmt":"2020-04-23 17:31:58","changed_gmt":"2020-04-27 16:17:16","author":"kpietkiewicz3","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2020-04-23T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2020-04-23T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"634689":{"id":"634689","type":"image","title":"Dynamics of COVID-19: Near- and Long-Term Challenges","body":null,"created":"1587663426","gmt_created":"2020-04-23 17:37:06","changed":"1587668042","gmt_changed":"2020-04-23 18:54:02","alt":"","file":{"fid":"241533","name":"Weitz card.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/Weitz%20card_0.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/tlwarc.hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/Weitz%20card_0.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":1405088,"path_740":"http:\/\/tlwarc.hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/images\/Weitz%20card_0.jpg?itok=I54RLEn4"}},"634692":{"id":"634692","type":"image","title":"Governor Brian Kemp discusses the limited re-opening of sectors of Georgia\u2019s economy. Photo: Alyssa Pointer","body":null,"created":"1587663709","gmt_created":"2020-04-23 17:41:49","changed":"1587663709","gmt_changed":"2020-04-23 17:41:49","alt":"","file":{"fid":"241530","name":"kemp.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/kemp.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/tlwarc.hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/kemp.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":63704,"path_740":"http:\/\/tlwarc.hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/images\/kemp.jpg?itok=U5GjGJMO"}}},"media_ids":["634689","634692"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/cos.gatech.edu\/news\/scientists-discuss-covid-19-gpb-11alive-kurzgesagt-national-geographic","title":"Scientists Discuss COVID-19 with GPB, 11Alive, Kurzgesagt, National Geographic"},{"url":"https:\/\/cos.gatech.edu\/news\/georgia-tech-science-forum-spotlights-coronavirus-outbreak","title":"Georgia Tech Science Forum Spotlights Coronavirus Outbreak"},{"url":"https:\/\/cos.gatech.edu\/news\/virus-microbes-and-their-entangled-fates","title":"Virus, Microbes, and Their Entangled Fates"}],"groups":[{"id":"1278","name":"College of Sciences"},{"id":"1275","name":"School of Biological Sciences"},{"id":"126011","name":"School of Physics"}],"categories":[{"id":"129","name":"Institute and Campus"},{"id":"42911","name":"Education"},{"id":"131","name":"Economic Development and Policy"},{"id":"134","name":"Student and Faculty"},{"id":"138","name":"Biotechnology, Health, Bioengineering, Genetics"},{"id":"141","name":"Chemistry and Chemical Engineering"}],"keywords":[{"id":"365","name":"Research"},{"id":"184623","name":"political discussion"},{"id":"184624","name":"economic policy"},{"id":"4292","name":"virus"},{"id":"184625","name":"virus transmission"},{"id":"2623","name":"modeling"},{"id":"184626","name":"models"},{"id":"183336","name":"graphs"},{"id":"184289","name":"covid-19"},{"id":"183843","name":"coronavirus"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39501","name":"People and Technology"},{"id":"39511","name":"Public Service, Leadership, and Policy"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ERenay San Miguel\u003Cbr \/\u003E\r\nCommunications Officer\u003Cbr \/\u003E\r\nCollege of Sciences\u003Cbr \/\u003E\r\n404-894-5209\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EGrace Pietkiewicz\u003Cbr \/\u003E\r\nCommunications Assistant\u003Cbr \/\u003E\r\nCollege of Sciences\u003Cbr \/\u003E\r\nkatiegracepz@gatech.edu\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["kpietkiewicz3@gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}