MERCER STUDENTS DEVELOP COVID-19 RESPONSE TEAM
Four Mercer University School of Medicine (MUSM) students recently created theMUSM COVID-19 Student Response Teamto organize student efforts to help combat the new coronavirus, according to a university press release. Here’s more from the university:
Mercer University School of Medicine (MUSM) third-year M.D. students Marissa D’Souza, Kunal Patel, Payton Prins and Catherine Waldron recently developed team. The Association of American Medical Colleges recommended that institutions temporarily suspend medical students’ participation in any activities that involve patient contact due to shortages in personal protective equipment (PPE) and other concerns.
“Once we found out we couldn’t be in the hospital, everyone wanted to help but didn’t know how to be involved,” said Prins.
“We still felt we had an obligation to the medical community to help,” added D’Souza. “The people on the front lines are our mentors and colleagues. It’s more than just a professional calling; it’s personal.”
Shortly thereafter, many different projects started coming the students’ way. Some were contacted due to previous work with American Red Cross blood drives. Faculty members were asked if students would be willing to volunteer at Department of Public Health coronavirus testing sites. Students proposed ideas to hold PPE donation drives and to provide grocery delivery and childcare for healthcare workers.
D’Souza, Patel, Prins and Waldron were inspired to create a website based on another student-run site they had seen from Duke University School of Medicine.
Patel estimates that as many as 50 students have already signed up to volunteer for one of the projects through the site.
If you are interested in volunteering, would like assistance, or have supplies to donate, please contact the team by email atmusmcovidresponse@gmail.comor phone at (404) 556-2408.
NCHD SCALING BACK SERVICES AMID CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC
The North Central Health District is limiting services in the face of COVID-19. Here’s more from the NCHD:
“Anyone visiting their local county health department will be asked to call the facility from their vehicle before entering the building. If additional services need to be provided after the initial phone call, clients will be screened for COVID-19 symptoms and have their temperature taken before they can enter the health department. Any client visiting for medication should wait in their vehicle for a staff member to bring it directly to them.
Public health departments in Baldwin, Crawford, Hancock, Houston, Jasper, Jones, Macon-Bibb, Monroe, Peach, Putnam, Twiggs, Washington and Wilkinson Counties will be limited until further notice:
- Vaccines for essential COVID-19 response workers (like healthcare, EMS, law enforcement and other first responders) and children age 2 and under.
- STD treatment for positive individuals and their contacts – individuals will be interviewed by phone and only enter the health department for treatment.
- Tuberculosis program will be limited – contact investigations will continue, but TB skin tests will be given to essential COVID-19 response workers.
- Hypertension, diabetes management and PrEP services will be conducted over phone visits – client will only enter the health department if lab work is required.
- All birth control services will be conducted over phone visits. Certain birth control options will not be available at this time.
- Medicaid enrollment for women’s health and pregnancy.
- WIC program vouchers.
All health departments are not accepting walk-in clients at this time and late clinic hours are suspended. Anyone in need of clinical services should call ahead to make an appointment.County Environmental Health services are operating as usual, but there may be delays and limited service delivery in some areas. Please call your local Environmental Health office to confirm availability.Contact your local health department if you have any questions or to schedule an appointment.For more information about COVID-19, including local case counts and guidance for organizations, visitNCHD52.org/coronavirus.”
MIDDLE GEORGIA CORONAVIRUS COUNT
The Telegraph will provide you with an updated number of COVID-19 cases and deaths in Middle Georgia at noon and 7 p.m.
The Georgia Department of Public Health reported 330 positive COVID-19 cases in Middle Georgia in its 7 p.m. update on Thursday, up 13 from noon Thursday.
Houston County and Washington County saw the largest jump with five new cases. Bibb had three additional cases and Baldwin had two additional cases with Monroe adding one more case in the latest update.
As of Thursday’s report, Monroe and Baldwin County each have one confirmed death from COVID-19 in addition to the seven in Houston County, two in Peach County and one in Bibb County.
Here’s a breakdown of cases and deaths by county:
- Houston 108, 7
- Bibb 56, 1
- Baldwin 32, 1
- Laurens 27, 0
- Washington 21, 0
- Peach 20, 2
- Macon 16, 0
- Monroe 12, 1
- Dodge 9, 0
- Jones 9, 0
- Pulaski 9, 0
- Wilkinson 8, 0
- Crawford 3, 0
- Twiggs 2, 0
- Bleckley 1, 0
At noon the state of Georgia reported 10,885 confirmed cases and 412 deaths, with 12 in Middle Georgia.
For the full update from the state of Georgia click here.