Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha shares her perspective as a guest writer on the many lessons from this pandemic. One lesson is that when there is a public health emergency, we need to listen to experts. Listening to science saves lives. “I know what happens when science and facts are ignored. In Flint, a denial of common-sense science and dismissal of scientists created and prolonged our public health crisis. The cost has been enormous. In the case of COVID-19, experts in medicine and public health have told us how to mitigate the spread of this insidious and deadly virus. Wear a mask. Wash your hands regularly. Maintain social distancing. And — if you’re exposed — get tested and self-isolate, so that you’re preventing the spread to others.”

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A coalition of Michigan public health experts penned an oped that was published on October 6, 2020. “Controlling a pandemic should not be about politics or partisan ideology; we cannot throw our hands up in defeat. Controlling a pandemic should not pit public health interventions against the economy. We know the policy tools that are needed to control the pandemic and how to make it successfully to the other side of this historic crisis. The most important tool is good governance that is responsive, vigilant and science-driven. We need policymaking that is rooted in both science and the value of protecting our public's health.”

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The COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing opioid epidemic are causing notable morbidity and mortality among low-income and minority populations. Peer recovery coaches, people with lived experience of substance use and recovery, are uniquely positioned to support underserved, minority individuals who face the greatest barriers to care. This commentary combines research and clinical perspectives to describe the potential role of PRCs in reaching and supporting particularly vulnerable populations during COVID-19. Dr. Julia Felton and colleagues discuss the role of peer recovery coaches in an article published in the Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment. 

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As destinations, particularly in the Caribbean, begin to reopen to tourism, some are requiring travelers to provide proof of a negative Covid-19 test. “I know people want to travel. I want to travel,” stated Dr. Debra Furr-Holden during an interview with Travel Weekly. “It’s just not wise right now. We don’t have enough information, and we don’t have the provisions in place to be able to do that safely.” Furr-Holden said increased testing is burdening the system nationwide, with essential and frontline workers getting top priority. That explains why many travelers can’t get a test result in the 72 hours before travel, which some destinations requiring.

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Like the far-reaching impact of the novel coronavirus outbreak, Spartans in Public Health have addressed the pandemic in unprecedented ways. Alumni and students rapidly applied their skills and their talents to actively address the evolving needs of the pandemic. These Spartans have helped address the epidemiology of disease transmission, worked to ensure patients are able to get their medicine safely, conducted risk assessments, developed containment strategies, provided psychiatric and mental health consultations to COVID-19 positive patients, volunteered to work COVID-19 provider hotlines, performed autopsies, and more.

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Cultural conversations: Dr. Debra Furr-Holden participates in Rolling Out's live panel discussion wtih Dr. Wayne A.I. Frederick, president of Howard University; Cynthia Warrick, PhD., president of Stillman College; Dr. Kenyatta Stephens, Epidemiologist. They speak on health inequities that have deepened during the COVID-19 pandemic. As she continoulsy monitors the data, Dr. Furr-Holden has watched many states re-open and expereince spikes in cases. She says, "We're seeing in the headlines today there have been an uptick in cases...Stay home. Stay put. Stay safe. If we can get people to do that, we will shorten the span."

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"We are just beginning to recover from our last public health crisis. And then this is an added public health crisis that is straining very limited resources and exacerbating preexisting chronic disparities," said Dr. Mona Hann-Attisha to PBS News Hour. Washing your hands with soap and water is the most important thing you can do to kill the virus. But many places can't do that. Hear from Dr. Mona on how the Flint Registry public health infrastructure is helping.

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Dr. Debra Furr-Holden lead efforts to launch a social media campaign to encourage families to #WorshipInPlace Easter Weekend. Coordination of this effort occurred with a national network of over 1,200 Pastors and likely prevented Easter Sunday ‘super spread’ of Coronavirus. Said Rev. Jesse Jackson of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, "African Americans are dying at alarming rates during the COVID-19 pandemic. You cannot keep hope alive if you cannot stay alive." 

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The early days of COVID-19 pandemic brought uncertainty. This survey from Dr. John Clements, Master of Public Health assistant professor, aims to understand public knowledge and behaviors if we are to effectively address the pandemic. 

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