COVID-19 Health and Wellness Information

I hope everyone had a pleasant and safe Thanksgiving holiday. As we start the last month of 2020, COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and deaths are increasing in South Florida and across the country. Unfortunately, because of the increase in travel last week, that trend is likely to increase.

That is why we remind you to please cooperate with our testing protocols. Also, if you recently traveled, the CDC recommends that you reduce non-essential activities for a full seven days after travel, even if your test is negative, and avoid being around people who are at increased risk for severe illness.

We continue to provide testing facilities for our faculty and staff who qualify. Call 305-243-ONE-U. Students who are still in the area should check online at mystudenthealth.miami.edu to make an appointment.

Thank you for your continued efforts to keep the University of Miami community safe.

Roy E. Weiss, M.D., Ph.D.
Professor of Medicine
Chair, Department of Medicine
Chief Medical Officer for COVID-19

VACCINE UPDATE

We have mobilized a task force that has planned a phased approach to delivering COVID-19 vaccines once they receive approval. Following federal and state guidelines, the vaccine will be given first to our frontline healthcare providers who work with COVID-19 patients. We don’t know how much vaccine supply we will receive or when we will get it, but we are prepared to deliver it to our healthcare workers, other members of the University, and ultimately the community.

It is important to note that the COVID-19 vaccine will be voluntary for everyone at the University. Keep in mind that vaccines have a long history of protecting people from harmful disease and if approved, these vaccines will have demonstrated they are safe and effective.

Knowing everyone has a lot of questions, we will be hosting a series of town hall meetings to address your questions and share what we do know. Since the first group to receive the vaccine will be the frontline healthcare workers, the first town hall will be held from the medical campus on Tuesday, Dec. 15, at 5 p.m. More on that event will be shared next week and we will continue to keep the entire University community updated.

WHAT DOES EUA MEAN?

You may have heard that the pharmaceutical companies have either already applied or plan to apply for “Emergency Use Authorization,” or EUA, for vaccines and other therapeutics. During a medical emergency like the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration can issue an EUA, allowing medical professionals to provide a drug or vaccine because it has been clinically tested in 30,000 patients, demonstrating that it is safe and effective. After the EUA is granted by the FDA, these vaccines will continue to be further evaluated to earn full FDA approval.

MASKS PROTECT YOU, TOO

It has been clear for some time now that wearing face coverings is one of the best ways to prevent spreading the virus to someone else. However, the CDC now says that masks may also prevent you from breathing in the SARS-CoV-2 virus if you are around someone infected. That’s one more reason to make sure you wear your mask when out in public. Here’s how to do it the right way:

Wash your hands before putting it on
Make sure it covers your nose and mouth
Secure it under your chin, fitting snugly against the sides of your face
Don't put the mask on your forehead or around your neck
Try not to touch the mask. If you do, wash your hands or use hand sanitizer

When you take off your mask, use only the ear loops, fold the corners together, place the masks in the washing machine, do not touch your eyes, nose, or mouth, and wash your hands immediately after removing. An important note—even if you receive the vaccine, you will still need to wear a mask for some time.

TAKING CARE OF YOUR MASKS

It is also essential to wash and store your masks properly. Here are some tips from the CDC:

Disposable masks are meant to be used only once
Store wet or dirty masks in a plastic bag and wash them as soon as possible
Between uses, store masks that are dry and not dirty in a paper bag
Wash your masks as soon as they get dirty or at least every day
Throw them in with your regular laundry and dry them thoroughly in a hot or warm dryer

MENTAL WELLNESS CLASSES

This time of the year can be difficult even without the added stress of a pandemic. If you feel overwhelmed, the Faculty and Staff Assistance Program has many resources to help, including live webinars. This month they are offering one about handling holiday stress. You can sign up on the Faculty and Staff Assistance Program site if you are interested.

We will share more health and wellness news in the next edition.

COVID-19 RESOURCES

Students, faculty, and staff on the Coral Gables and Marine campuses who are experiencing possible symptoms consistent with, or who have been potentially exposed to, COVID-19 should contact the University’s COVID-19 hotline at 305-243-ONE-U, where UHealth physicians and providers are available to answer your questions and provide telemedicine services if needed.

Members of the Medical Campus should contact 305-243-8378.

For additional University of Miami COVID-19 information and resources, visit coronavirus.miami.edu.

If you are in distress or need counseling services, the Counseling Center provides mental health services through HIPAA-compliant teleconferencing platforms. Counselors are certified and available to help any time by calling 305-284-5511. Additional resources are also available by visiting counseling.studentaffairs.miami.edu.

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