COVID-19 Health and Wellness Information |
You may not have noticed, but the pandemic and our response to it is in transition. COVID-19 cases are down an incredible 90 percent from just five weeks ago. We also have so many new tools that we did not have before—vaccines, widespread testing, therapeutics. States that have been cautious until now are moving toward fewer restrictions. Even the CDC is planning to ease indoor mask guidelines either today or next week. We will be carefully monitoring the situation in Miami and will have updated recommendations based on CDC guidance.
Some are celebrating this transition; others are eyeing it with apprehension. We must consider that both viewpoints are valid and understandable. Even without mandated restrictions, we can work together and communicate so that people do not feel ostracized or unsafe.
We must also be prepared to accept rolling things back if a new variant takes hold. Unfortunately, that is not an improbability. And so we encourage flexibility.
At the end of the day, data updates fuel our understanding of the virus as it evolves and inform our decisions. However, our ability to understand each other is just as important as we enter this new phase.
Be kind, be well, and stay safe.
Roy E. Weiss, M.D., Ph.D.
Professor of Medicine
Chair, Department of Medicine
Chief Medical Officer for COVID-19 |
OMICRON SUBVARIANT—BA.2The data published by the CDC does show that BA.2, the omicron subvariant, is spreading in the U.S. However, how this will affect us is still unknown. A few recent studies you might have seen in the news found that BA.2 may be more severe and that our treatments may be less effective against it. It’s important to note that these studies did not involve humans.
According to a statement released by the World Health Organization this week, BA.2 appears to be more transmissible, but real-world clinical data so far has not shown it to be more severe. They also said that they are closely monitoring the variant.
The bottom line is that we are all keeping a close eye on BA.2 and will base our response on the data that is collected.
VIRAL EVOLUTION SCENARIOSThe UK Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) released a report last week on potential scenarios for the long-term evolution of SARS-CoV-2. The report outlined likely scenarios, ranging from reasonable best case to reasonable worst case, and offered suggestions on countermeasures. All the scenarios assume that the virus will continue to circulate and mutate. In the best-case scenario, there is a small surge next fall or winter. In the worst case, there is a large wave of infections during which the “most severe health outcomes continue to be felt primarily among those with no prior immunity.”
The report importantly emphasizes that the probability of these outcomes largely depends on our ability to increase global vaccination rates and temporarily return to more restrictive measures like universal masking. It also affirmed that a scenario where “SARS-CoV-2 follows an evolutionary trajectory with decreased virulence” is unlikely in the short term, but is a realistic possibility in the long term.
LONG COVID LATEST According to the latest information on long COVID, the symptoms appear to focus on four key areas—the brain, the lungs, the circulatory system, and the immune system. Some researchers hypothesize that there may be oxygen limitations in the lungs, which can cause long-term breathing issues and could be the root of the severe fatigue associated with the condition. Also, low oxygen levels in the brain could be one of the causes of “brain fog.”
There is also evidence that COVID triggers the immune system to create autoantibodies that attack a patient’s own tissues. Some studies have also reported that the virus can cause chronic inflammation throughout the body, another explanation for the wide-ranging symptoms associated with long COVID.
DIAGNOSTICS There are many ways this pandemic has created lasting impacts on the world. The advancements in PCR testing are examples of positive developments driven by the need to track a highly transmissible virus. For instance, one company in Utah is working on a test that searches for the presence of a family of viruses, not just a specific virus.
Other companies are focusing on making PCR testing more portable or decreasing the time needed to obtain test results, allowing a more nimble approach to fighting future epidemics.
WE’RE IN THIS TOGETHER Many anthropologists hypothesize that one of the main factors propelling human evolution is our interdependence and the ability to cooperate for the common good. This is one of the essential qualities that sets us apart from other primates.
This idea that we are a collective that must work together to survive is the key to ending this pandemic. I believe it is one of the reasons why we have been so successful in limiting the negative impacts on campus.
“We are one U” is a hallmark of the ’Canes community. Let’s remember that as we transition to a post-pandemic reality. We aren’t there yet, but we can chart the path to a better future with your help, determination, and commitment to each other.
|
|
|
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 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. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
