Download this Health Update as a printable PDF
Overview
Many of us in the United States are becoming COVID-weary, yet the pandemic persists. Although it is difficult at times, we must continue to uphold the CDC’s guidelines and keep ourselves and loved ones healthy. This is not the time to let our guard down or become complacent. The insidious virus isn’t going to go away on its own accord, and unfortunately, continues to spread.
According to the Johns Hopkins University, as of August 10, 2020, the Coronavirus SARS-coV-2, has infected more than 19 million people worldwide (5+ million in the United States) and killed more than 731,570 (162,938+ in the United States).
Source: United States COVID-related deaths reported: https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/us-map
Treatment and vaccine update
Drug developers, academic labs, and other organizations globally are developing many different types of medical products to treat COVID-19. Treatments give us tools to help care for patients while a vaccine is developed. Potential treatments include medications currently used or studied to treat other diseases (“repurposed” treatments), as well as many newly identified or designed specifically to treat COVID-19. Currently, there are 319 treatments being studied and 202 vaccines in development. There has been promising speculation that a vaccine may be available as early as the beginning of 2021.
Keep yourself and others safe from COVID-19 when returning to work
Clean your hands often
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds especially after you have been in a public place, after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing, and after using others’ or shared equipment.
- If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
Avoid close contact
- Put distance (at least 6 feet) between yourself and other people.
- Wear cloth face coverings (if appropriate) when social distancing is difficult to maintain.
- Avoid using other employees’ phones, desks, offices, or other work tools and equipment, when possible. Clean and disinfect between employees if sharing occurs.
- Remember that some people without symptoms may be able to spread virus.
If you are at increased risk for severe illness…
- Contact your manager to request special accommodations that will allow you to perform your job duties safely.
Sources: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/downloads/community/Resuming-Business-Toolkit.pdf
Learn more
This health brief on the clinical topics and innovations surrounding the SARS-coV-2 virus and COVID-19 disease was prepared by Buck’s Health Intelligence practice.
For more information, contact us at 866-355-6647 or talktous@buck.com.