Category: Infectious Diseases
Face It: NC Researchers Say COVID-19 Hasn’t Left, So It’s Best To Wear Masks. Still.
The government may no longer require North Carolinians to wear masks in public, but putting them on could help prevent thousands of coronavirus cases and deaths by the end of the year, reports the Greensboro News & Record. Research from three state universities have created a computer model that predicts coronavirus cases, hospitalizations and deaths under various scenarios. … Read more
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Wohl Stresses Importance Of Vaccine as Delta COVID Variant Gains Steam
WRAL reports another COVID strain could soon become more prevalent in the United States. The Delta variant, first identified in India in October 2020, is now listed as a “Variant of Concern” by the World Health Organization. David Wohl, MD, professor of medicine in the division of infectious diseases, is among the experts who fear that could soon change, due to the fact that Delt … Read more
New Report Assesses COVID-19’s Trajectory and Implications For Medicare, Social Security
What will happen with COVID-19 through 2022, and what does this mean for programs like Social Security and Medicare? A new report from the National Academy of Social Insurance provides a framework to connect the various factors affecting the pandemic’s trajectory and the outcomes that are impacting, and will continue to impact, social insurance programs, including Unemployment In … Read more
Epidemiologists Share Concerns About the Mask Requirement Being Removed At the Arena, Specifically For Fans Who Are Unvaccinated
As restrictions continue to loosen in North Carolina, Emily Sickbert-Bennett, PhD, MS, associate professor of medicine in the division of infectious diseases, expressed concerns about removing the mask requirement at sports venues. Watch the news story on WRAL.
Department of Medicine Grants & Funding: May 1 – May 31, 2021
Division of Infectious Diseases Lisa Hightow-Weidman, MD, PhD, received an NIMHD grant award for “A multidimensional digital approach to address vaccine hesitancy and increase COVID-19 vaccine uptake among African American young adults in the South.” Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine Michael Knowles, MD, received a grant award from the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation fo … Read more
ID Fellowship Welcomes Alumni for Public Health Career Panel
“These people [UNC Faculty] have got your back!.” – Dr. Sancta St. Cyr The ID Fellowship program welcomed three distinguished alumni on Monday May 24th via zoom to present at the first Alumni Career Panel. This panel focused on Public Health, and featured Dr. James Lewis, Dr. Victoria Mobley, and Dr. Sancta St. Cyr. The three reflected on their time as ID Fellows at UNC, shared s … Read more
Sickbert-Bennett Discusses New CDC Guidelines For Masks
Emily Sickbert-Bennett, PhD, MS, associate professor in the division of infectious diseases, talked with NewsNation (WGN) about new CDC guidelines relaxing mask requirements and what the changes mean for the US. Under new CDC guidelines, fully vaccinated persons do not need to wear masks in indoor settings. Watch the news story. Sickbert-Bennett also contributed to a CBS17 new st … Read more
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Vaccine Providers Seek to Make Process Comfortable, Efficient For Teens and Families
Now that young teenagers are eligible for the COVID-19 shot, vaccine providers across the Triangle are working to make the vaccination process as easy as possible for families, reports WNCT-9 news. David Wohl, MD, professor of medicine in the division of infectious diseases, told WNCT that parents who aren’t yet vaccinated can often get their shots when their children do. “We are … Read more
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How NC Dodged a Potential 4th Wave of Covid-19
New cases of COVID-19 in North Carolina have dropped by more than 35 percent during the past four weeks, a CBS17.com data analysis found. With Gov. Roy Cooper lifting all capacity and social distancing regulations along with most mask requirements, the trends have reversed four weeks after a 30 percent increase in new cases fueled concerns about a possible fourth wave. “People ar … Read more
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Local 12-Year-Old Gets COVID Vaccine For Birthday
A WRAL.com report says vaccine sites at Duke, UNC, CVS and Walgreens have seen excited kids showing up to get their COVID vaccine – including one kid who was eager to get the shot on his birthday. At the Friday Center, David Wohl, MD, professor of medicine in the division of infectious diseases, offered assurances to the parents of the young teen, explaining that the vaccine is s … Read more
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Weber Discusses Why the CDC Vaccine Tracking System Has Become a Treasure Trove of Data for Skeptics
CBS-17 reports that the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System is an easy way for people receiving the COVID-19 vaccines to let federal medical experts know precisely what side effects they might be dealing with. It’s also become a treasure trove of data for vaccine skeptics — and misinformation has become a major problem during the massive inoculation effort. “There is some self … Read more
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With NC’s COVID-19 Testing Levels So Low, How Reliable is the Positivity Test Rate?
CBS-17 reports that one of the key COVID-19 numbers the state wants to be stable before further restrictions are lifted June 1 might be less valuable now than it was a few months ago. The test positivity rate — the percentage of tests found to be positive — hinges on how frequently people are being tested for the virus. David Weber, MD, professor of medicine in the division of in … Read more