This book demonstrates how a novel decision-aid, called a Benefit-Risk Characterization Theater (BRCT), can be used to:

· Significantly improve accurate communication of health risks from exposure to COVID-19; and

· Assess how to best contain and control COVID-19.

To date, there have been far-reaching ramifications based on ineffective risk communication when clarifying these health endpoints.

BRCTs have been successfully used to assist patients in determining:

· Their level of acceptable risk of various medical interventions;

· If the benefits of intervention outweigh the risks;

· Who should make the final decision regarding medical intervention; and

· Whether the decision is evidence-based.

Written by experts in the field, this book fills in a gap in communication between the medical community, the public and patients. It also provides an area of expertise in communication that is beneficial for medical providers and medical students.

PART I:  Communicating Risk and Benefit in the Medical Community.- Patients, Doctors and Decision-making.- Absolute and Relative Risks.- Communicating health risks to patients and the public.- Erik's Recent Experience with Doctors and a Heart Attack.- Why not all numbers are the same.- Putting BRCTs to use in helping people understand health outcomes.- PART II:  Videos to Describe the Utility of BRCTs.- PART III:  COVID-19  Communication.- Segue to Part III: BRCTs & COVID-19.- How important are the number of cases?.- The demographics of COVID-19.- Why COVID-19 Should Not Have Prevented Colleges (and Elementary and Secondary Schools) from Opening Last Fall.- Nursing homes, the nidus of COVID-19 death.- The use of universal masking.- Communicating about the impact of surges and quarantines.- Communicating about the adverse effects of the cure.- How we communicate about COVID-19 inother countries.- Other viral pandemics with reference to COVID-19.- A Path Forward:  BRCTs for COVID-19 and Beyond.