COVID-19 Update: The Disparity Between the US and the EU COVID-19 Experience

As the US topped a whopping 2.8 million cases and a death count of 130,000 last week, cities and towns across the nation canceled July 4th firework displays and large public gatherings in an effort to prevent further spread of COVID-19. The fervor for holiday travel was scaled down this past weekend compared to prior… Continue reading COVID-19 Update: The Disparity Between the US and the EU COVID-19 Experience

COVID-19 Update: What is the New Normal for Businesses?

Young people with face masks back at work in office after coronavirus quarantine and lockdown.

Once the epicenter of the virus outbreak, the densely populated city of New York endured months of significantly high rates of confirmed infections and reported deaths. As cases began to steadily decrease in the month of May, Governor Cuomo’s daily televised briefs became cautiously more hopeful. As we march towards the official start of summer… Continue reading COVID-19 Update: What is the New Normal for Businesses?

Why COVID-19 Infections May Resurge

People gather on the beach for the Memorial Day weekend in Port Aransas, Texas, Saturday, May 23, 2020. Image: Houston.com

Improved data collection and relaxed social distancing will likely lead to an increase in both the perceived and actual spread of COVID-19 Part I: The Numbers Since the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak, data has been scrutinized for accuracy. Are officials capable of reporting correct numbers? How do we reconcile the lack of resources to… Continue reading Why COVID-19 Infections May Resurge

COVID-19 FACT SHEET WITH PHYSICIAN-RECOMMENDED PREVENTATIVE MEASURES

This page was last updated on May 5, 2020. Overview: The United States is experiencing sustained human-to-human transmission of the novel COVID-19 virus, first discovered in Wuhan, China in December 2019. Since then, every state in the US has confirmed cases, and new cases are emerging every day. Susceptibility to the virus sub-type may also… Continue reading COVID-19 FACT SHEET WITH PHYSICIAN-RECOMMENDED PREVENTATIVE MEASURES

Coronavirus Update: Serological Testing

The 20-minute coronavirus test was brought from China and created in cooperation with the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). (Omar Marques/Getty Images)

Serological testing, also known as antibody testing, is a critical element of discussion when determining how and when the country will reopen. The process requires a blood sample to detect the presence of neutralizing antibodies (IgM, IgG) against a microorganism. Serological antibody tests are unlike polymerase chain reaction (PCR) diagnostic tests as the latter specifically… Continue reading Coronavirus Update: Serological Testing

Coronavirus Update: Reopening the Country

Reopening the Country Just 6 weeks ago, the US had 100 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 6 deaths – all in Washington state. Today, the country is a vastly different place. There are 560,433+ confirmed cases in all 50 states and in all US-held territories, and 22,115+ COVID-19 related deaths and the US leads the… Continue reading Coronavirus Update: Reopening the Country

Coronavirus Update: COVID-19 Modeling & General-Use Face Masks

Julia Greenwood, RD, LDN, Clinical Nutrition Manager, Vidant Duplin Hospital dons a surgical mask. Although there is a shortage of PPE supplies at healthcare systems across the US, experts are advocating faces masks to be worn for essential employees.

COVID-19 Modeling & Projections One of the only constants of the COVID-19 pandemic is how often data and projections are changing. This is frustrating for our society, as there is a collective overwhelming desire to know when the US will hit its peak of cases, and when life can resume normalcy, and those timelines seem… Continue reading Coronavirus Update: COVID-19 Modeling & General-Use Face Masks

Coronavirus Update: Trump: Americans Should Work from Home/Case Fatality Rates, Flu vs COVID-19

American life as we know it has changed drastically over the past week, and today President Trump asked all Americans to work from home if they can and to avoid gatherings of more than 10 people. The NBA, NHL and PGA, college basketball and other US sports have all suspended play. Nearly 20 states have… Continue reading Coronavirus Update: Trump: Americans Should Work from Home/Case Fatality Rates, Flu vs COVID-19

Coronavirus Update: WHO Declares COVID-19 a Pandemic

Today the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a worldwide pandemic. The novel virus which was discovered just three short months ago has taken over 4,300 lives and infected upwards of 120,000 people in 114 countries around the world. The exact definition of a pandemic is the “global spread of disease” (and not the severity) but… Continue reading Coronavirus Update: WHO Declares COVID-19 a Pandemic

Coronavirus Update: Spread to the US is “Inevitable”

Cases of COVID-19 are spreading rapidly and freely outside China for the first time. While the cases in China have declined since the beginning of February, the illness has erupted far from the point of origin in Wuhan. Hundreds of confirmed cases in pockets of South Korea, Italy and Iran have skyrocketed in a short… Continue reading Coronavirus Update: Spread to the US is “Inevitable”