COVID-19 Health and Wellness Information |
This weekend is the Summer Solstice when the path of the sun in the sky is farthest north in the northern hemisphere—or the day of the year with the most daylight. I hope that you have been able to enjoy the sunshine with family and friends. It certainly was “a long, dark COVID winter,” but as long as everyone continues to get vaccinated, we can reach herd immunity. And, as the National Institute of Health director, Dr. Francis Collins, sings in
this rewrite of the Beatle’s famous hit Here Comes the Sun, “the end of COVID will be here.”
I have missed these weekly communications with you but moving to a less frequent schedule means we are on the right track. However, you can always contact me at covidcmo@miami.edu.
Be safe, be well, and get vaccinated if you have not done so already.
Roy E. Weiss, M.D., Ph.D.
Professor of Medicine
Chair, Department of Medicine
Chief Medical Officer for COVID-19 |
COVID-19 FALL GUIDELINESTwo weeks ago, we announced details about COVID-19 guidelines for the 2021 fall semester. We have eased many of the on-campus protocols. But, in line with CDC guidance and to ensure that our community remains safe, we have kept some in place. Those who are fully vaccinated and provide proof of vaccination will have the least restrictions, including being exempt from surveillance testing.
Masks will not be required in outdoor settings on any University of Miami campus. However, they will be required in classrooms and indoor public spaces regardless of vaccination status. They will also be required at all times in hospital and clinic settings. For administrative areas, mask requirements depend on vaccination status, so please refer to the guidelines for details.
VARIANTS AND VACCINES
While the decrease in overall cases, hospitalizations, and deaths due to increased vaccinations are very encouraging, variants continue to be a risk. For example, the CDC recently made the Delta variant, originally from India, a “variant of concern.” Researchers in the UK, where 90 percent of all cases are caused by the Delta variant, report that the variant is up to two times more transmissible than the original COVID strain. Also, Dr. Anthony Fauci says that recent data show that this variant is more contagious and may cause more severe disease. In the United States, it is already 10 percent of all cases and appears to be doubling every week. The good news is that those who are fully vaccinated have protection against the variant. However, those who are not vaccinated
or have only received one dose are still at risk.
A HINT OF WHAT’S POSSIBLE – AN ENVIRONMENTAL SABBATICALWe spent a lot of the last year thinking about the things that we could not do. What if we look instead at all the things we were able to do when it was necessary? To be sure, COVID-19 posed an imminent threat that required us to change our behavior to save lives. In doing so, however, it showed all the things we are capable of doing in times of necessity. A new documentary, The Year Earth Changed
, revealed the extraordinary impact of lockdowns on the Earth and nature. For the first time in a generation, people in India were able to see the Himalayas. Here in Florida, there was an increase in successful sea turtle nesting. We don’t need to shut back down, however a minor adjustment to our behavior can still have a significant impact on the Earth.
CELEBRATE SUMMER We celebrate our nation’s independence on July 4. And this weekend is Juneteenth, a federal holiday that commemorates the ending of slavery in the United States. I hope everyone takes this time to rejoice and reflect on what has been and the hope of things to come. As the song Lift Every Voice and Sing goes, “Sing a song full of the faith that the dark past has taught us. Sing a song full of the hope that the present has brought us.” |
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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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