School of Public Health 
Scarletter
March 2020: COVID-19 Special Issue
Keeping the 'Public' in Public Health
Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, we as a leading school of public health, remain committed to advancing health, ensuring well-being, and preventing disease throughout New Jersey, the United States, and the world. We are actively working with the University, New Jersey Department of Health, local health departments, other public health entities, and press to support COVID-19 response.

In addition to these initiatives, we continue to train the next generation of agile public health leaders, scholars, and practitioners, and conduct important public health research.

I want to take a moment to thank all of our faculty and staff - your collective ability to come together to support each other and our students through your agile adaptation of duties has been a truly heartening.

My thoughts are with all of you – be safe. 
 
Sincerely,

Perry N. Halkitis, PhD, MS, MPH
Dean and Professor
Rutgers School of Public Health
Ask an Epidemiologist: COVID-19 Q&A
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Anxious much? You're not alone. Henry Raymond , DrPH , associate professor in the department of biostatistics and epidemiology , sat down with JSTOR Daily to answer a few basic questions about COVID-19.

How long is this going to last?
Good question. It depends on if you mean the current crisis as a result of dealing with a new virus or whether it becomes a seasonal cyclic event such as common flu. For the former it seems that we do not have a lot of the answers around when we can expect that the current crisis will abate, though many public health professionals and researchers are working on this question. For the latter, other SARS virus variants have not become a seasonal issue. The jury is still out though.

Have there been any models showing social distancing is effective as way to slow the spread of a virus before COVID-19? What’s the evidence?
Yes!  Research on the 1918 flu pandemic  and the  2014 Ebola outbreak  have shown that  social distancing is effective  in reducing transmission of viruses.

What happened to the antibiotic-resistant bacterial superbug we thought was going to get us?
Sad to say, mother nature is always trying to kill us. There is a  constant stream of viruses that emerge into the human population , some taking hold while most do not. Vigilance and response are our best defenses.  Spillover  by David Quammen  is a great book that covers this.
If You Spread COVID-19, You'll Probably Be Tracked Down
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Virologists are scrutinizing strains of COVID-19 to trace where they came from. This modern genetic sleuthing, combined with more traditional methods of interviewing infected people - like contact tracing - is invaluable for tracking how and where the virus is progressing.

Epidemiologists, like Elizabeth Marshall, PhD , associate professor in the department of biostatistics and epidemiology , use contact tracing to track diseases patterns.

"It's done with syphilis and other diseases like measles," explained Marshall.

Local officials, with support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, narrow down where the infected person has been and who they've been in contact with. Then, health authorities seek out those other contacts and follow the thread. "You keep going," she added.
Who's at High Risk for COVID-19?
Yahoo Images
While anyone can suffer serious complications from COVID-19, and even die from it, the virus has largely caused severe infections in people who are older. However, older adults aren’t the only group more vulnerable to serious illness.

People with autoimmune and lung conditions, prisoners, health care workers, and service industry and medical cleaners are all at a higher risk of being exposed to the virus and even suffering more severe symptoms.

Perry N. Halkitis, PhD, MS, MPH , dean and professor in the departments of   urban-global public health and  biostatistics and epidemiology , also points out that individuals don't necessarily fit into one category.

"Someone can be older and have an autoimmune condition, or have a lung condition, along with an autoimmune condition," said Halkitis, who is also the director of Center for Health, Identity, Behavior and Prevention Studies . " With each addition of a stressor, risk increases."
Taking Care of Your Mental Health While Social Distancing
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Elissa Kozlov, PhD , a licensed clinical psychologist and instructor in the department of health behavior, society and policy , discusses strategies for taking care of your mental health while staying at home. Here are some ideas:
  • If you’re working from home, stick to your usual schedule and keep your kids on their regular school schedules to the extent possible. Do not sleep in; get dressed every day; do not work from your bed. If there is a coworker you usually chat with during the day, keep a video chat with them open on your screen for micro chats during the day. 
  • Engage in a hobby: Read, complete a puzzle, play board games, do crafts and have family join you.  
  • Use this time to cross off the chores in your house you’ve been putting off like fixing things; organizing your closet, pantry and basement; getting outside to weed or prune plants. This will give you a sense of accomplishment and a mood boost when the tasks are complete. 
  • Exercise by taking a walk or run or look on YouTube for free exercise videos. Many gym instructors are conducting virtual classes. 
  • Look for ways to volunteer safely. Connect with your local Area Agency on Aging to see if there’s a way to make friendly phone calls or deliver resources to people who can’t get out to stores right now. 
When Will Sports Come Back?
Jonah Rosen/Rosen Photography
It’s been just over two weeks since almost all North American major professional sports leagues’ seasons came to a screeching halt due to the COVID-19 pandemic. For many Americans, sports help maintain a sense of normalcy, however it is unlikely that professional and college sports leagues will finish out their seasons any time soon. 

Mitchel Rosen, PhD , associate professor in the department of  urban-global public health and director of the Center for Public Health Workforce Development, discusses what the COVID-19 pandemic means for sports leagues, fans, and public health.  
COVID-19 Antidote?
With a possible vaccine still a year to 18 months away, at least two drugs are grabbing headlines as a means to treat COVID-19: chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine. President Donald Trump has touted the promise of these drugs based largely on reports out of France and China that seem to indicate that it’s helping patients.

But leading infectious disease and public health experts are pushing back, citing limited studies. Vincent Silenzio, MD, MPH , professor in the department of  urban-global public health , spoke to NJTV to explain just how close we may be to a COVID-19 treatment.
Opinions
Social Isolation for COVID-19 Increases the Risk of ‘Deaths of Despair'
Never before have we been asked as a society to distance ourselves so dramatically from one another, and while these recommendations are 100% necessary to combat the spread of a deadly illness, the psychological consequences of social distancing are not trivial, according to Elissa Kozlov, PhD , instructor, and Paul Duberstein, PhD , chair and professor, both in the department of health behavior, society, and policy.
America’s Response to COVID-19 Seems Frighteningly Familiar

While the COVID-19 and HIV pandemics are radically different biological phenomena, our reactions and responses to them share far too many similarities, according to a new op-ed from Perry N. Halkitis, PhD, MS, MPH , dean and professor in the departments of   urban-global public health and  biostatistics and epidemiology.
A Warning: Isolation Can Lead to Thoughts of Suicide

Social distancing is a life-saving tool, but increases isolation and suicide risk, according to an op-ed by Michael Anestis, PhD , a public health psychologist, expert on firearms and suicide risk, and the newly appointed executive director of the  New Jersey Center on Gun Violence Research, and Allie Bond, BA , clinical psychology doctoral student in the Suicide and Emotion Dysregulation laboratory at the University of Southern Mississippi.
Infographic courtesy of Allie Bond, BA and Michael Anestis, PhD
Getting Involved with COVID-19 Efforts
Rutgers School of Public Health Students:

Public Health Organizations: If you're interested in working with Rutgers School of Public Health students, please complete this survey .
Swag Sale
From now until April 1, 2020, you can shop R-Public Health and special alumni apparel and accessories !

All orders will be processed when the shop closes on April 1, 2020, and will be ready for delivery by early May 2020, or free pickup from either of the School of Public Health's locations when we reopen. If you select the latter, we do not have a date yet as to when that will be, but we will notify you once a date is determined as the health and safety of our communities is our top priority. 
National Public Health Week
Webinar: 25th Annual Symposium (Virtual)
For the past 25 years, the Rutgers School of Public Health has hosted a special Public Health Symposium to kick off National Public Health Week.

Each year, this event has brought together local and national experts to present on important public health issues. This year’s event,  Climate Change: Science, Advocacy, and Action,  will now be held  as a webinar, in light of the COVID-19 outbreak. 
 
Date: April 6, 2020
Time: 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

You can find the details about the event, how to register, and the outstanding national and local leaders who will be participating  here .  

We recognize this is a very challenging time for everyone, and many of our private and public health colleagues are actively engaged in response activities so we will be recording the program as well.
Webinar: Maternal & Child Health
The Delta Omega Chapters at Drexel University Dornsife School of Public Health and Rutgers School of Public Health invite you to a webinar to hear from two international Maternal and Child Health experts.

Date: April 7, 2020
Time: 5:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m.
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