COVID-19 Health and Wellness Information |
As I hinted to last week, your adherence to COVID-19 protocols has paid off. Due to a decrease in the COVID-19 case rate and increased vaccination rates, we are easing outdoor mask mandates. As a result, masks are no longer required in outdoor settings on the Coral Gables and Marine campuses. We do, however, recommend outdoor mask use when gathering in large groups.
Indoor masking is still required per CDC guidance. So even though everyone probably knows the rules by now, here is a little reminder:
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Masks must be worn properly to cover both your nose and mouth.
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They must be worn in ALL indoor public spaces, including classrooms, libraries, lobbies, elevators, labs, shared laundry rooms, and dining locations unless actively eating.
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Eating or drinking in classrooms should be avoided to allow for consistent and proper mask-wearing.
This is a step in the right direction and a sign that if we all stay diligent, there may be a time in the near future when we will be able to ease the masking rules altogether.
Please reach out if you have any questions or concerns.
Roy E. Weiss, M.D., Ph.D.
Professor of Medicine
Chair, Department of Medicine
Chief Medical Officer for COVID-19 |
COVID-19 PILLLast week, Merck reported positive results in the clinical study of the antiviral pill they have developed to treat COVID-19. The pills work by affecting how a virus copies RNA, thereby preventing viral replication and stopping the progression of the illness.
According to the company, the rate of COVID-19-related hospitalizations and deaths was reduced by 50 percent in participants who received the regimen. The participants took two pills a day for five days, making it more convenient than current COVID-19 treatments that must be taken intravenously.
We will see where this leads.
DON’T HESITATE, VACCINATE While it is undoubtedly good news that we may soon have an effective antiviral pill that treats COVID-19, this is not a reason to put off or forego vaccination. This new treatment is just another tool in our toolbox. Antivirals, including this one, do not prevent illness and must be taken during a short time period after the first symptoms of illness to work at all. So the COVID-19 vaccines are still the best way to protect yourself from severe illness or death.
THERE’S AN APP FOR THATOne fascinating aspect of the COVID-19 pandemic is smartphones’ crucial role in curbing transmission and tracking vaccine side effects. A study conducted in England found that a contact-tracing app downloaded to 21 million devices averted approximately one new case “for each individual with confirmed COVID-19 who consented to their contacts being notified through the app.” The app works by storing codes generated by phones of close contacts. Then, when a user tested positive for the virus, they could consent to send the codes anonymously to a central server. People with matching codes would then be notified so they could get tested and isolate.
In the United States, the V-Safe system has helped remind people to get their second dose and follows up on how people who have received the vaccine are feeling. People who receive a COVID-19 vaccine are invited to download the app, and to date, 9 million have enrolled. This data is sent directly to the CDC and analyzes adverse effects data from millions of participants. The CDC has used this information to publish studies that show that the vaccine is safe for adolescents and pregnant women.
DECADES IN THE MAKINGTwo of the scientists, Drew Weissman and Katalin Karikó, working on mRNA technology for more than 20 years, won the Lasker-DeBakey Clinical Medical Research Award. Back in 2005, they made an important discovery. They altered RNA in a way that lessened the inflammation it causes in the body. Without this small change, the mRNA vaccines that are helping to end a deadly pandemic would not have been possible. So you see, these vaccines are not new to science.
In true scientist fashion, they remain in the lab today, working on innovations that include a cure for the common cold. According to Dr. Weissman, they are “pursuing new mRNA vaccines to guard against a host of infectious diseases, like influenza and HIV, and even a pan-coronavirus vaccine that could offer protection against all viruses in the coronavirus category.
IN-PERSON COLLABORATION When writing previously about going back to the office, I have acknowledged the potential anxiety that goes along with it. But, many positives go along with it as well. One of those is the ability to talk with colleagues outside of your immediate workgroup. This type of communication and brainstorming allows us to gather new information and break free from our “work bubbles.” For instance, an analysis of emails, instant messages, and video/audio calls of 61,182 U.S. Microsoft employees showed that “firm-wide remote work caused the collaboration network of workers to become more static and siloed, with fewer bridges between disparate parts.”
So, if you are having problems finding solutions, try having a chat with someone outside your immediate team or class. You may find that all you needed was a fresh perspective. |
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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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