COVID-19 Health and Wellness Information |
Our COVID-19-positive numbers for our University community continue to head down, which is what we want, of course. However, I want to take note of a grim milestone that speaks to the severity of the coronavirus and its impact on our lives. This week we surpassed more than 500,000 lives lost to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. A number so high it’s almost difficult to grasp. If we were to observe a minute of silence for each victim it would take four years. Each person who died had a story that ended too soon, leaving behind people who loved them whose hearts are now broken.
I want to take a moment and reflect on those in our own community who have passed away from the virus and offer my most heartfelt sympathy to their friends and family. May their memories be a blessing and a reminder to do everything we can to stop the spread of this virus. Going that extra mile to show selflessness and compassion will help repair our world.
Be kind, be safe, take care of each other. As always, I and all my colleagues at UHealth are here to support you.
Roy E. Weiss, M.D., Ph.D.
Professor of Medicine
Chair, Department of Medicine
Chief Medical Officer for COVID-19 |
CAN VACCINES STOP THE SPREAD?Research has shown that the COVID-19 vaccines keep people from getting sick with the virus. What is not yet definitively known is if the vaccines keep the virus from spreading to others.
The clinical studies performed by the companies that developed the vaccines measured how effective they were at preventing symptomatic disease. Research that measures a vaccine’s effectiveness in reducing transmission is much more complicated because of all the different variables that can affect the number of cases in a region.
However, there are some promising signs that the vaccines may protect against transmission as well. A couple of studies showed that the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine showed that vaccinated people were much less likely to get infected at all. Other studies have reported that the “viral load” is dramatically decreased in people who have been vaccinated. Viral load is how much virus can be measured in someone’s nose and throat.
So keep on wearing your masks even if you have been vaccinated because the transmission risk has yet to be determined. But, there are definitely reasons to be hopeful.
INCONCLUSIVE COVID TEST RESULT Students who have a mid-nasal PCR COVID test with an “inconclusive” result need to be retested as quickly as possible. You should schedule an ACCULA (rapid test) for the same day by calling 305-284-9100 or the next day by going online: https://mystudenthealth.miami.edu
. If you have made an appointment for retesting within the 24-hour time frame from your result date, your Daily Symptom Checker will NOT be blocked. You’ll receive a “Good to Go” status and be permitted to go to class. Those students who do not comply with this requirement will not have access to the Daily Symptom Checker until retesting is completed.
HOW COVID TESTS WORK There are two commonly used COVID-19 tests:
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Antigen tests detect specific proteins on the surface of the virus, and results are given in minutes.
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Molecular real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests detect the virus’ genetic material and take longer to give results.
Both of these tests measure how much (if any) virus is present in your body. When a test comes back positive, you have a high concentration of virus, and you are infectious. However, an “inconclusive” test result means that there may be low levels of the virus in your system, and that is why a second test needs to be performed right away.
DON’T STRESS OVER LOST TRESSES Or, you’ll only lose more. Stress can cause hair loss, which explains why many people are complaining about it during this pandemic.
Telogen effluvium is hair loss that is part of the body’s response to a traumatic event, such as intense psychological stress, sleeplessness, diet change, high fever, or other stressors to the body and mind.
Typically, it’s not a sign of premature baldness and only a temporary shedding of hair follicles. So don’t worry, it will grow back in a few months’ time.
WALK IT OUT Even before a global pandemic forced people to stay home more than they usually would, people were spending way too much time sitting either on their couch or at their desk. The human body is not meant to stay sitting for long periods. When you do, it can significantly reduce blood flow to your lower extremities and cause vascular damage. The good news, however, is that it is not difficult to protect against these negative impacts. One study shows that walking for just 10 minutes a day can reverse the consequences of sitting for six hours. You can also try a standing desk or even taking a break from sitting every 30 minutes and walking around your house. |
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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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