In a search for materials available in Vietnamese for the families she serves, Oanh Bui, MFOFC family leader, compiled this great list of links to information about Coronavirus (Covid-19). She not only found a wealth of resources in Vietnamese, but a bunch of other languages which might be helpful for your communities as well.
You’ll want to bookmark this comprehensive list so you can come back to it again and again!
Feel free to share widely as families from diverse communities might not have access to materials in their languages.
Public Health-Focused Resources
- Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) – see this page for handouts in English, Spanish and Chinese
- Mass. Department of Public Health handouts in English, Chinese (simplified and traditional), Spanish, Portuguese, Haitian Creole and Vietnamese; see also their COVID-19 resource hub
- City of Boston FAQ and guidance from the Boston Public Health Commission with handouts in English, Spanish, Haitian Creole, simplified Chinese, Portuguese and Vietnamese
- World Health Organization (WHO) – also in Spanish, French, Russian, simplified Chinese and Arabic
- Harvard Medical School (only in English, but very detailed and helpful)
- King County, WA, COVID-19 resources – detailed materials in Amharic, Arabic, Chinese, French, Hindi, Japanese, Khmer, Korean, Marshallese, Russian, Somali, Spanish, Tagalog, Thai and Vietnamese
- Minnesota Department of Health – includes handouts in Amharic, Arabic, Chinese, Hmong, Karen, Russian, Somali, Spanish and Vietnamese
- Colorín Colorado – multilingual resources for schools (including materials developed by state and local governments and educational institutions)
Below is a list of multi-lingual resources on Covid-19 compiled in part by Switchboard.
Key COVID-19 Resources from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
- Fact Sheet: What You Need to Know
This fact sheet explains what COVID-19 is, how it spreads, what its symptoms and severe complications are, how to protect yourself, what to do if you are sick, and what to do if you recently traveled from an area with ongoing spread of COVID-19. Available in English, Simplified Chinese, and Spanish. - Fact Sheet: What to Do if You are Sick
This fact sheet provides steps to help prevent the disease from spreading to people in your home and community if you are sick with COVID-19 or suspect you are infected with the virus that causes COVID-19. Available in English, Simplified Chinese, and Spanish. - Poster: Stop the Spread of Germs
This poster describes how to limit the spread of respiratory diseases live COVID-19 by avoiding close contact with people who are sick; covering cough and sneeze; avoiding touching eyes, nose and mouth; and washing your hands with soap and water. Available in English, Simplified Chinese, Spanish, and Vietnamese. - Poster: Symptoms of Coronavirus Disease 2019
This poster presents the symptoms of the novel coronavirus (fever, cough, and shortness of breath). Available in English, Simplified Chinese, and Spanish. - Silent Video: Stop the Spread of Germs
This silent animated video describes how to limit the spread of respiratory diseases live COVID-19 by avoiding close contact with people who are sick; covering cough and sneeze; avoiding touching eyes, nose and mouth; and washing your hands with soap and water. Available in English and Spanish.
For the latest CDC resources on COVID-19, visit the its COVID-19 Print Resources page and its COVID-19 video playlist.
Covid-19 Materials
- Coronavirus in 28 languages
Ministry of Health, Ontario, Canada, 2020
The Ministry of Health in Ontario, Canada has developed an information sheet about the 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) to inform Ontarians about the virus, how they can protect themselves, and what to do if they think they have contracted the virus. Note that these materials include contact information for Canadian health services and would require modifications before sharing with clients in the U.S. We include them here to serve as a starting point for those developing their own translated materials. Available in English, Arabic, Bengali, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Farsi, French, German, Greek, Gujarati, Hindi, Italian, Kanien’kéha (Mohawk), Korean, Nishnaabemwin (Eastern Ojibwe), Oji-Cree, Polish, Portuguese, Punjabi, Russian, Romanian, Somali, Spanish, Swampy Cree, Tagalog, Tamil, Urdu, and Vietnamese. - Novel Coronavirus Fact Sheet
Washington State Department of Health, 2020
This fact sheet outlines the novel coronavirus, how it spreads, how severe it is, the symptoms of the virus, who is at risk of the virus, how people can protect themselves, and how the novel coronavirus is treated. Available in English, Amharic, Arabic, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Hindi, Japanese, Khmer, Korean, Russian, Somali, Spanish, Tagalog, Thai, and Vietnamese. - Coronavirus (COVID-19) Facts
San Francisco Department of Public Health, 2020
This fact sheet provides tips to protect community health and prepare for potential illness. Note that these materials include contact information for San Francisco health services and would require modifications before sharing with clients in other locations. Available in English, Chinese, Filipino, and Spanish. - COVID-19 Informational Flyer
City of Austin, TX, 2020
This flyer provides information how on COVID-19 spreads, its symptoms, and provides prevention tips. It is available in Burmese, English, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Korean, Spanish, Urdu, and Vietnamese. - Newly added! What You Need to Know; What to Do if You are Sick; and other Fact Sheets
City of Aurora, CO, 2020
The city of Aurora has produced its own translations of key CDC COVID-19 fact sheets in Amharic, Burmese, Karen, Korean, Nepali, Tigrinya, and Vietnamese. To download, click the link above. Official CDC fact sheets, available in English, Chinese, and Spanish, may be found here.
Posters
- Be a Germ-Buster…Wash Your Hands!
Washington State Department of Health, 2015
This poster provides a basic pictorial explanation of how to wash your hands. Available in English, Arabic, Bengali, Cambodian, Chinese, Hindi, Korean, Nepalese, Russian, Spanish, Turkish, Ukrainian, and Vietnamese. - Hand Washing
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 2018
This poster illustrates six steps for effective hand washing. It is available in English, French, Kinande, Kinyarwanda, and Swahili. - Stop Germs, Stay Healthy!
King County, WA Health Department, 2008
This poster provides steps for correctly washing your hands and preventing the spread of germs. It is available in Amharic, Arabic, Bosnian, Chinese, English, Farsi, French, Hmong, Khmer, Korean, Laotian, Nepali, Oromo, Portuguese, Punjabi, Russian, Somali, Spanish, Tagalog, Tigrigna, Ukrainian, and Vietnamese. - Help Prevent Disease
City of Austin, TX, 2020
This poster provides four steps for preventing the spread of COVID-19 and keeping yourself healthy. It is available in Burmese, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, English, Korean, Spanish, Urdu and Vietnamese.
Multimedia Resources
- COVID-19 Videos in 13 Languages
Vermont Multilingual Coronavirus Task Force
These videos are providing CDC information. Link: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3zjPpeFnXqvESr1y3d4DvQ/ - Introductory Video & Self-paced e-Learning Courses on Coronavirus
World Health Organization (WHO), 2020
This is five-minute introductory video provides an overview of COVID-19 in English. Captions are available in - How to Wash Your Hands
Minnesota Department of Health, 2020
This is a series of 60-second videos spoken in a range of languages, with in-language subtitles, demonstrating how to wash hands. Available in Amharic, Arabic, Chinese, English, English (Described Audio), Hmong, Karen, Russian, Somali, Spanish, and Vietnamese. All videos are accompanied by transcripts. Also available: Cleaning Hands with Hand Sanitizer (60-second silent video in English). - What is Coronavirus? and How to Stop Coronavirus from Spreading
Lutheran Family Services Nebraska, 2020
These 3-minute videos are spoken in a range of languages using CDC scripts. The videos are produced by Lutheran Family Services Nebraska in partnership with Restoring Dignity and Global Language Solutions, a translation and interpretation service for refugee-spoken languages. Available in Arabic (Middle Eastern dialect), Arabic (Sudanese dialect), Burmese, English, Karen, Karenni, Kiswahili, Kirundi, Kinyarwanda, Kurdish, Nepali, Nuer, Pashto, Somali, Spanish, and Zomi. - Coronavirus (COVID-19) and COVID-19 Symptom/Exposure Response
The Refugee Response, 2020
This is a series of 2- to 3-minute animated videos spoken in a range of languages. The videos are produced by The Refugee Response in partnership with Catholic Charities, Diocese of Cleveland Migration and Refugee Service and the Ohio Department of Health. Available in Arabic, Arkanese, Burmese, English, French, Karen, Karenni, Kinyarwanda, Nepali, Pashto, Russian, Somali, Spanish, and Swahili. - Information on COVID-19
Vermont Department of Health and Community Partners, 2020
This is a series of 1- to 2-minute videos spoken in a range of languages and providing basic information on COVID-19, with selected 7- to 10-minute videos offering more detailed information. They are shared by the Vermont Department of Health and created by the Spectrum Multicultural Youth Program, Howard Center, and other Burlington, VT community members. Available in Arabic (basic)Arabic (detailed), Bosnian, Dinka (basic )Dinka (detailed), French (basic), French (detailed), Kirundi, Lingala, Nepali (basic), Nepali (detailed), Somali, Spanish, Swahili, Vietnamese (basic), Vietnamese (detailed). - COVID-19 Information
City of Lewiston, ME, 2020
The city of Lewiston, ME has produced a 10-minute video of COVID-19 information with audio in Arabic, English, French, Kirundi, Maay Maay, Portuguese, Somali, and Spanish. The audio is accompanied by a slide show with visual aids in English. - Introductory Video & Self-paced e-Learning Courses on Coronavirus
World Health Organization (WHO), 2020
This is five-minute introductory video provides an overview of COVID-19 in English. Captions are available in English, Arabic, French, Simplified Chinese, Hindi, Macedonian, Persian, Brazilian Portuguese, Russian, Serbian, Spanish, Turkish and Vietnamese. Coming soon in Italian. To access multi-lingual versions, create a free OpenWHO account. These videos are embedded in 3-hour long self-paced e-learning courses that may also be completed in each language listed above.
Live Updates
- Information on Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak
World Health Organization (WHO), 2020
On this website, you can find information and guidance from WHO regarding the current outbreak of COVID-19. This page provides daily updates in English, French, Simplified Chinese, Arabic, Russian, and Spanish. - COVID-19 Overview
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), U.S. Department of LaborThis website, from OSHA at the Department of Labor, addresses COVID-19 concerns related to occupational safety and health. Available in English and Spanish. - USCIS Response to Coronavirus
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service, 2020
This page summarizes updates related to rescheduling appointments, requests for evidence, oath ceremonies, and more. Available in English and Spanish.
City of Boston Resources
The City of Boston has a text feature in multiple languages on COVID-19 update. Text BOSCOVID to 99411 to opt-in for English. This text service is also available in Spanish, Haitan Creole, French, Cabo Verdean Creole, and Portuguese.
- Text BOSEspanol to 99411 for Spanish
- Text BOSKreyol to 99411 for Haitian Kreyol
- Text BOSFrancais to 99411 for French
- Text BOSKriolu to 99411 for Cabo Verdean Creole
- Text BOSPortugues to 99411 for Portuguese
Updates in 10 total languages can additionally be accessed through boston.gov/coronavirus#multilingual-help. Each language has its own page and hosts multilingual print materials distributed citywide.
- Arabic: boston.gov/covid-19-ar
- Cabo Verdean Creole: boston.gov/covid-19-cv
- Simplified Chinese: boston.gov/covid-19-zh
- Spanish: boston.gov/covid-19-es
- Somali: boston.gov/covid-19-so
- Russian: boston.gov/covid-19-ru
- Vietnamese: boston.gov/covid-19-vi
- French: boston.gov/covid-19-fr
- Portuguese (Brazil): boston.gov/covid-19-pt
- Haitian Creole: boston.gov/covid-19-hc
Thank you, Oanh, for sharing these resources with our network and for your dedication to making sure the families you support have access to the information they need to stay healthy and safe during the Coronavirus pandemic ??????
