As COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations continue to rise in our region and across North Carolina, we encourage you to explore the prevention and mitigation resources in this month’s regional report including the WNC COVID-19 Dashboard. Be sure to bookmark MAHEC’s COVID-19 Library Guide for current guidance and resources curated by NC AHEC librarians. |
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Five Things |
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In this month’s regional report you’ll find |
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Updated WNC Trends |
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Safe holiday gathering tips |
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Health equity data trends |
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MAHEC COVID-19 Library Guides |
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NEW COVID-19 resources and trainings |
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WNC COVID-19 Dashboard |
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The WNC COVID-19 Data Dashboard provides regional and county-specific snapshots of data currently available from NCDHHS. This regional dashboard is updated every Tuesday and allows you to explore
- cumulative trends and case counts,
- demographic breakdowns,
- emerging hot spots, and
- week-over-week trends.
The dashboard is a collaborative project of WNC Health Network, UNC Health Sciences at MAHEC, and epidemiologist Jennifer Runkle, PhD, MSPH, and is intended to support health professionals as they develop communication, prevention, and mitigation strategies to meet the unique needs of our mountain communities and reduce the impact of COVID-19.
You can find this dashboard along with dashboards for individual WNC counties, North Carolina, and Johns Hopkins in a new dashboard box in MAHEC’s COVID-19 Library Guide.
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My Reason WNC |
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WNC Health Network and regional health organizations have recently launched a community awareness campaign to raise awareness around the importance of practicing simple public health measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in Western North Carolina.
The #MyReasonWNC campaign is personal, because every person who gets infected with COVID-19 is someone’s parent, spouse, child, neighbor, or colleague. WNC health professionals are encouraged to participate in this campaign as community leaders who have the power to positively influence health behaviors in our region.
Please take a moment and a selfie to share your reason for practicing the 3Ws using this short form. Be sure to include your organization. Together, we can #stopthespread! |
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Safe Holiday Gathering |
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With the holidays just around the corner and COVID-19 cases on the rise nationwide, health officials are urging families and friends to take precautions as they gather this year. The CDC has issued updated recommendations for holiday gatherings that include:
- Host or attend outdoor activities when possible. Avoid crowded, poorly ventilated, or fully enclosed indoor spaces.
- Limit the size and duration of gatherings. Both the number of people and length of time interacting increase your risk.
- Keep it local. Limit travel and socializing outside your immediate household as much as possible. Reconsider socializing with guests from communities where COVID transmission is high.
- Keep it safe before, during, and after gathering. Be sure you are practicing prevention strategies like wearing masks, hand hygiene, and social distancing — and that those in attendance are too.
- Make it safer. If you are hosting an event, ensure guests have what they need to reduce risk including extra masks, hand sanitizer, tissues, and extra precautions around food and drinks.
You can find more curated resources for reference and patient distribution in MAHEC’s Library Guide Celebrating the Winter Holidays During the COVID-19 Pandemic.
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The Color of Coronavirus |
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It has become clear that COVID-19 is not the great equalizer it was initially thought to be. National data aggregated by race and ethnicity show a wide disparity in mortality rates for Black and Indigenous Americans in particular. Black Americans die at a rate that is more than twice that of White Americans, who have the lowest mortality rate.
Controlling for age differences widens this disparity. Compared to White Americans, the age-adjusted COVID-19 mortality rate for
- Blacks and African Americans is 3.2 times as high,
- Latino Americans is 3.2 times as high,
- Indigenous people is 3.1 times as high,
- Pacific Islanders is 2.4 times as high, and
- Asian Americans is 1.2 times as high.
You can find curated resources to help you better understand and address health equity issues in MAHEC’s COVID-19 Health Equity and Community Resources LibGuides.
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COVID-19 Practice Support |
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The following guidance has been issued or updated recently:
Antigen Testing for SARS-CoV-2 (NCDHHS)
Asthma Care During COVID-19, Cold and Flu Season (NC AHEC)
FFCRA: Employer Paid Leave Requirements (U.S. Dept. of Labor)
Safer Holiday Breaks for College Students (NCDHHS)
The COVID-19 Financial Assistance Library Guide includes updates on state and federal assistance programs for healthcare providers, reimbursement resources for uninsured patients, and financial assistance resources for CMS and rural health providers.
For more practice support guidance and a curated collection of COVID-19 resources by topic, please see MAHEC’s COVID-19 Library Guides. |
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NEW Resources to Help You Serve Your Patients |
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Provider Resources
Patient Resources
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NEW & Ongoing COVID-19 Virtual Trainings & Support |
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Self-Care for the Professional During Uncertain Times (Wake AHEC)
Monday, Nov. 9 from 8:00 to 9:00 am
Engaging Communities to Build Vaccine Confidence (NPHIC)
Tuesday, Nov. 10 from 2:00 to 3:00 pm
Vaya Health: QPR Suicide Prevention
Tuesday, Nov. 10 from 2:30 to 4:30 pm
Grief, Loss, and Bereavement during COVD-19 (Southern Regional AHEC)
Thursday, Nov. 12 from 10:00 to 11:30 am
Leading Through Crisis - The Importance of Mindset, Self-Care, and Leader Resilience (ASTHO)
Wednesday, Nov. 18 from 4:00 to 4:45 pm
NCDHHS Virtual Mental Health Town Hall
Thursday, Nov. 19 at 6:00 pm; FB live event for those receiving services from Vaya Health
NEJM Covid-19 Comorbidities and Cutaneous Manifestations of Systemic Diseases in Adults and Children
Wednesday, Dec. 2 from 1:00 to 2:15 pm
LGBT Youth Tobacco Prevention: COVID-19 and Lung Vulnerability
Wednesday, Dec. 9 at 1:00 pm
NCDHHS COVID-19 Healthcare Coalition
Wednesdays from 1:00 to 2:00 pm
Click link above and select “add to distribution list” to receive weekly meeting invitations
WCMS Virtual Yoga and Meditation with Dr. Robyn Tiger
Thursdays from 11:15 am to 12:30 pm
Contact Robyn to register for classes
Coping with COVID-19 Course (Free)
Self-paced online courses for frontline maternity and pediatric/NICU healthcare providers
NIHCM: Protecting Our Children - COVID-19's Impact on Early Childhood and ACEs
Archived webinar |
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Archives |
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October 2
September 18, September 4
August 21, August 7
July 31, July 24, July 17, July 10, July 2
June 26, June 19, June 12, June 5
May 29, May 22, May 15, May 8, May 1
April 24, April 17, April 10
If you would like to receive this monthly report, please email Sam.Blankenship@mahec.net to be added to our distribution list. |
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Regional Response Partners |
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