COVID-19 Health and Wellness Information |
Our daily COVID-19 positive test rate has steadily been decreasing since an alarming 139 cases on Feb. 1. Now it is less than a tenth of that.
Thanks to all your efforts, we have selectively eased up slightly on some of the restrictions this week. President Frenk announced on Tuesday that students can resume approved in-person student activities, subject to physical distancing, mandatory use of masks, and a “Good to Go” message on the Daily Symptom Checker. However, on-campus dining will continue to be take-out only, and informal student gatherings on or off campus remain limited to no more than 10 people, with face covers and appropriate physical distancing required.
We will continue to assess the situation and make adjustments as necessary. If we all adhere to public health measures and keep the virus from spreading, we can hopefully avoid more restrictions.
We are all ready for this pandemic to be over, but we must remain committed to doing whatever it takes to keep COVID-19 from spreading on our campus and in our community. When ’Canes look after ’Canes, we can do anything.
Roy E. Weiss, M.D., Ph.D.
Professor of Medicine
Chair, Department of Medicine
Chief Medical Officer for COVID-19 |
BREATH BASED SURVEILLANCEThis week resident students at Lakeside Village and University Village became the first groups to use a new quick and convenient coronavirus screening tool. The entire process, found to be reliable, takes between 5 and 10 minutes. Students blow into a tube, and then a machine at the site analyzes the droplets in their breath. If the test comes up “not cleared,” then they will be given the nasal swab PCR test to confirm.
A reminder that faculty, staff, and vendors who want “on demand” COVID-19 testing can go to the Pavia Garage testing site, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
GUESS WHO CAME FOR DINNER AND ISNT LEAVING? The journal Nature surveyed more than 100 immunologists, infectious-disease researchers, and virologists working on the coronavirus, asking if they thought we could completely eradicate COVID-19. Of that group, 89% said that they believe it would become “endemic.” This means that it will continue to circulate the globe. Don’t worry—this doesn’t mean we will be continuously teetering on lockdown. As we reach higher levels of immunity, COVID-19 will become less severe. The four other coronaviruses that cause common colds and influenza are also endemic.
THE ALPHABET SOUP OF THE FEDERAL COVID-19 RESPONSE CDC, FDA, ACIP … it is hard to keep track of all these federal agencies and what they do. Here is a bit of a cheat sheet on the essential roles they each play.
CDC: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention does many things, but to sum it up, experts there study COVID-19 in the United States and abroad and provide guidance to the public and health officials. The new director of the CDC is Rochelle P. Walensky, M.D., M.P.H.
ACIP: Part of the CDC, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices provides the medical community with vaccination guidelines and immunization schedules.
FDA: The Federal Drug Administration is responsible for emergency use authorizations (EUAs) and approvals for treatments, vaccines, and medical equipment. Janet Woodcock, M.D., is the acting director.
EPA: People perhaps do not think of the Environmental Protection Agency as having a role, but it offers important guidance on disinfectant use and indoor air quality.
White House COVID-19 Response Team: The Biden Administration has several advisors who serve on its response team. They conduct virtual updates on COVID-19 several times a week. Members include Anthony Fauci, M.D., chief medical adviser for COVID response and director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, and David Kessler, M.D., chief science officer for COVID response and former commissioner of food and drugs.
The COVID-19 Health Equity Task Force was formed by President Biden to combat the pandemic that has equity at its core. To help ensure an equitable response to the pandemic, the president signed an executive order on Jan. 21 creating a task force to address COVID-19 related health and social inequities. This task force is chaired by Marcella Nunez-Smith, M.D., M.H.S.
INSPIRING A NEW GENERATION: SILVER LININGS Often impactful historical events create a flurry of positive scientific and societal responses. For instance, the pandemic of 1918 began a new focus on vaccines and antibiotics, and revolutionized public health. The same is happening with COVID-19; mRNA vaccines are being studied to treat many different diseases like cancer and multiple sclerosis. Public health is also getting a boost in interest. The University has seen a significant increase in applications for our public health programs.
This is a good reminder that you can still find positive things to focus on if you try, even in the most stressful times. To quote Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., “Only in the darkness can you see the stars.” |
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We will share more health and wellness news in the next edition. |
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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 a student 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.
If you are a faculty or staff members in need of support visit fsap.miami.edu. |
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