Tulanians in the News Responding to COVID-19: 2020

December 2020 News

How Covid Hollowed Out a Generation of Young Black Men, Tulane SPHTM dean Thomas LaVeist tells Rolling Stone sustained stress leads to a number of health problems that make people more vulnerable to the virus. Rolling Stone, December 28, 2020.
You asked: Should I travel to a 50-person outdoor wedding? Susan Hassig, epidemiologist at the School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, answers this question. The Washington Post, December 22, 2020.
What will life be like after the coronavirus pandemic ends? John Barry, professor at the School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, predicts what major social changes will occur after the COVID-19 pandemic. Science News, December 18, 2020.
Virtually impossible: Suburban parishes struggle to protect students, teachers from COVID-19, Susan Hassig, epidemiologist at the School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, comments on Jefferson Parish schools’ handling of COVID-19 safety protocols. Gambit, December 14, 2020.
What to expect when the first COVID-19 vaccine arrives, The United States is expected to see the first doses of a COVID-19 vaccine soon, with healthcare workers the first to be vaccinated, said Charles Stoecker, associate professor in the Department of Health Policy and Management at the School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine. Tulane News, December 14, 2020.
How to Understand the Data Officials Use for Lockdowns, Susan Hassig, epidemiologist at the School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, says sometimes it’s challenging for local and state government officials to have concrete data benchmarks when determining a lockdown. Healthline, December 11, 2020.
Xavier, Tulane doctors team up to reach minority communities with COVID vaccine facts, Dr. Tonette Krousel-Wood, Associate Dean for Public Health and Medical Education of Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine & Tulane School of Medicine, discusses a study being conducted that aims to combat #misinformation about #COVID19 clinical trials and vaccines, WWLTV, December 10, 2020.
With FDA authorization pending, Louisiana expects first shipment of vaccine within days, Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine epidemiologist Susan Hassig tells The Lens it will take time for the vaccine to significant impact the pandemic. The Lens, Decmebr 10, 2020.
Black patients are wary of a coronavirus vaccine. Can Louisiana research fix decades of distrust? Thomas LaVeist, dean of the School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, says “multiple trusted voices” will need to help encourage the Black community to get the COVID-19 vaccine due to a history of distrust in the healthcare system. Nola.com, December 9, 2020.
What will it take for Americans to get a COVID vaccine? Thomas LaVeist, dean of the School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, comments on what it will take to get people, particularly the Black community, to feel trusting of a COVID-19 vaccine. Marketplace, December 4, 2020.
As Covid-19 Hospitalizations, Infections and Deaths Soar, Leaders Warn of Perilous Winter, Patricia Kissinger, epidemiologist at the School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, comments on the increase of COVID-19 cases nationwide as the holiday season continues. The Wall Street Journal, December 4, 2020.
Episode 4: Race & Public Health: Tuskegee to COVID-19, Thomas LaVeist, Dean of Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, shares how public health is moving towards a more sophisticated understanding of racial disparities. Health In All Matters Podcast, December 1, 2020.

November 2020 News

Why The Press Downplayed the 1918 Flu, John Barry, author of The Great Influenza and professor at Tulane's SPHTM, discusses how America forgot about the pandemic of 1918. On the Media, November 27, 2020.
Can the right technology end health inequalities? Janna Wisniewski, assistant professor of health policy and management at the School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, comments on her research that found Black patients are more likely to wait longer for a primary doctor’s appointment. Open Access Government, November 27, 2020.
La. governor: COVID-19 vaccine progress ‘exciting,’ but steps linger, What's the realistic timeline on an average Louisiana resident in good health being eligible to receive a Coronavirus vaccine? SPHTM Epidemiologist Susan Hassig suggests it could be summer 2021. BR Proud, November 24, 2020.
Poll: 58% of Americans will take COVID-19 vaccine; here's why some say they wont, Charles Stoecker, PhD, associate professor in the Health Policy and Management Department, was on WWLTV discussing the #COVID19 vaccine. WWLTV, November 23, 2020.
The third wave of coronavirus is here; this is how Louisiana doctors plan to get through it, David Mushatt, MD, infectious diseases section chief at the School of Medicine, says the decrease in #COVID19 death rates may be linked to better data about who should receive certain medications and treatments for the virus. Nola.com, November 21, 2020.
Weekend case, hospitalization numbers show continued rapid spread of coronavirus in Louisiana, Susan Hassig, epidemiologist at the School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, says Louisiana appears to be headed in the direction of tightening COVID-19 restrictions again if residents don’t adhere better to precautions. Nola.com, November 15, 2020.
Experts Predict What The COVID-19 Pandemic Will Be Like In 2021, Susan Hassig, epidemiologist at the School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, discusses what the COVID-19 pandemic could be like in 202. Huffpost, November 10, 2020.
John Barry: I spent seven years studying epidemics. House GOP's petition is idiotic, John Barry, professor at the School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, writes an opinion piece about some Louisiana legislators who are seeking to end the state’s coronavirus restrictions. The Advocate, November 3, 2020.
Amid legal battle over Louisiana's coronavirus order, how much do restrictions actually matter? The Advocate speaks with disaster management expert Dr. Stephen Murphy of the Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine. The Advocate, November 1, 2020.

October 2020 News

Vaccines are on the horizon. Will the public accept them? School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine Dean Thomas LaVeist discusses some of the public’s skepticism surrounding the acceptance of a COVID-19 vaccine and the need for improved communications. MPR News, October 30, 2020.
U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy will agree to a debate but only if all 14 of his opponents are invited, Dr. Richard Oberhelman of the School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine said staging a political event with more than 10 candidates can be problematic with the need for masks and social distancing. The Advocate, October 27, 2020.
Pence Hijacks ‘Essential Worker’ Title To Excuse Himself From Quarantining, Talking Points Memo speaks with Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine epidemiologist Susan Hassig. Talking Points Memo, October 26, 2020.
What is the 15-minute rule in relation to COVID-19 and why has guidance changed? Susan Hassig, epidemiologist at the School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, explains the Centers for Disease Control’s 15-minute COVID-19 close contact rule. WWLTV, October 23, 2020.
'Safer, but not safe' | New study looks at how COVID-19 is spread on airplanes, Susan Hassig, epidemiologist at the School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, says travelers on planes must wear masks and be aware of the hand contamination they could bring to their eyes and mouth. WWLTV, October 19, 2020.
What Fans of ‘Herd Immunity’ Don’t Tell You, A proposal to let people with low risk of infection live without constraint could lead to a million or more preventable deaths. John Barry of Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine writes in The New York Times, October 19, 2020.
Is COVID being spread through the workplace? Dean Thomas LaVeist highlights the role of inequities when considering COVID-19 and workplace safety. WWL Radio, October 18, 2020.
'The impact of work': On-the-job coronavirus exposure a key driver in Black, Latino, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine Dean Thomas LaVeist, says industrial hygienists assessed every on-campus building at Tulane for the risk of COVID-19 spread/exposure. Nola.com, October 17, 2020.
How Long Can the Novel Coronavirus Live on a Surface? Temperature and Light Make a Big Difference, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine Dean Thomas LaVeist says a study that shows SARS-CoV-2 can survive on surfaces for up to 28 days reaffirms the need to regularly clean surfaces. Healthline, October 13, 2020.
Does the Federal Health Information Privacy Law Protect President Trump? John Barry, professor at the School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, says there is a history of presidents not disclosing their medical information. Physicians Weekly, October 11, 2020.
COVID-19 Prevents Women and Children From Accessing Essential Health Care in Latin America and the Caribbean: Report, Arachu Castro, Samuel Z. Stone Chair of Public Health in Latin America, discusses a study she authored that found the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting women’s and children’s access to healthcare and social services in Latin American and Caribbean countries. Global Citizen, October 7, 2020.
‘Completely Inadequate’: Epidemiologists Question Abrupt End To WH Contact Tracing, Susan Hassig, epidemiologist at the School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, comments on the White House’s COVID-19 contact tracing efforts. Talking Points Memo, October 7, 2020.
Research supports airborne spread of COVID-19 indoors, Changwei Li, MD, epidemiology professor at the School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, is co-author of a study that linked a COVID-19 outbreak in China to a patient who was riding a bus and likely spread the virus through the bus’s air conditioning system. Healthcare Purchasing News, October 5, 2020.
History tells us what a virus can do to a president, John Barry, professor at the School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, writes an opinion piece on President Trump’s recent #COVID19 diagnosis and discusses late President Woodrow Wilson’s illness during the 1918 influenza pandemic. Washington Post, October 4, 2020.
New coronavirus vaccine trials starting in New Orleans, volunteers needed, Tulane School Medicine part of COVID-19 vaccine trial. WWLTV, October 1, 2020.

September 2020 News

Some Saints fans will return to Superdome Sunday to test COVID procedures, Lina Moses, epidemiologist and disease ecologist, discusses the guidelines in which the Saints organization is allowing a limited number of the fans to watch an upcoming game in the Superdome. WWLTV, September 24, 2020.
Epidemiologists uncertain whether long-feared autumn second wave of COVID-19 will materialize, Susan Hassig, epidemiology professor at the School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, says she suspects travel will increase for Thanksgiving, but due to COVID-19 some people may drive for their trips. The Washington Examiner, September 21, 2020.
‘Disastrous’: Why It’s So Damaging For Trump Admin To Doctor The CDC’s COVID Reports, Susan Hassig, Talking Points Memo, September 14, 2020.
Experts Say Trump Downplaying Risks Of The Coronavirus Was Not Justified, John Barry, NPR, September 14, 2020.
Some people are leery about a COVID-19 vaccine; a local expert says messaging will be key, Charles Stoecker, a Tulane University health economist at the School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine and who has worked at the Centers for Disease Control and does research on vaccination policy, talks about how it is important that the public is convinced that a COVID-19 vaccine has been thoroughly developed and tested. Fox 8, September 11, 2020.
Should I Feel Guilty for Wanting to Travel Right Now? Susan Hassig, Conde Nast Traveler, September 10, 2020.
Katrina’s Lesson: Time to Imagine an After COVID-19, Thomas A. LaVeist, Dean and Weatherhead Presidential Chair in Health Equity, American Journal of Public Health, September 9, 2020.
Dr. Tom LaVeist on How To Think About and Address Inequities Revealed by COVID, Dean Thomas LaVeist, Public Health on Call Podcast, September 9, 2020.
Are parts of south Louisiana ready to move to a Phase 3 reopening? Many 'are nowhere close' Susan Hassig, Nola.com, September 7, 2020.
State-run facilities play big role in Felicianas' coronavirus cases; president wants them identified, Susan Hassig, a Tulane University epidemiologist, comments on data from COVID-19 cases in the Feliciana Parishes and why cases from state-run congregant facilities should be included in data for the parishes. The Advocate, September 5, 2020.
Why Rushing a COVID-19 Vaccine by November Could Be Dangerous, Dean LaVeist, Health Line, September 3, 2020.
Experts Tell Us What We Do and Don't Know About COVID-19, Dean LaVeist was featured in a VICE interview speaking about COVID-19. Vice, September 3, 2020.
Coach-turned-author John Barry still loves football but urges caution during pandemic, Mississippi Today, September 2, 2020.

August 2020 News

The 'nightmare' winter: What happens when Covid-19 and flu strike together? School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine Dean Thomas LaVeist says safety measures put in place to help reduce the spread of COVID-19 are the same measures that would help reduce the spread of the flu. Advisory Board, August 27, 2020.
SARS-CoV-2 RNA detected in untreated wastewater from Louisiana, Samendra Sherchan, Department of Environmental Health Sciences professor, is part of a group of researchers who reported the detection of SARS-CoV2 in untreated wastewater samples from southern Louisiana. Medical Xpress, August 26, 2020.
What's needed to prevent a COVID-flu nightmare, "We don't really know what would happen if you are dually infected," says Tulane School of Public Health Tropical Medicine dean Thomas LaVeist. Axios, August 20, 2020.
How housing patterns may partly explain coronavirus's outsized impact on Black Louisianans, Thomas LaVeist, dean of the Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine discusses how the race disparity in #COVID19 death is about sociology and economics, not biology and genetics. Nola.com, August 15, 2020.
Louisiana may have passed the worst of its second COVID-19 surge, Susan Hassig, epidemiology professor at the Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, says it’s encouraging that Louisiana’s COVID-19 positivity rate is not rising even though the number of tests is declining. The Washington Examiner, August 13, 2020.
What to Pack for the Beach to Avoid Covid-19, A way to establish a safe physical distancing while at the beach is to bring an oversize spread and stake out a hefty chunk of territory, advises Thomas A. LaVeist, dean of the School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine at Tulane. The Healthy, August 11, 2020.
How racism undermines the COVID-19 response and recovery, Dean Thomas LaVeist of the Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine is featured in this Reporting Health story. Center for Health Journalism, August 11, 2020.
Louisiana contact tracing stymied as 73 percent of people who answer don’t share contacts, John Barry, the historian and Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine professor, says slow test results, high numbers of positive cases and high rates of community spread all frustrate effective contact tracing. Nola.com, August 1, 2020.
As a possible plateau in Louisiana coronavirus cases brings hope, fear of rising deaths looms, The surge in COVID-19 cases that caused Louisiana to become a national hotspot for the second time since the pandemic began appears to have leveled off, at least for now. But with COVID-19, there’s always a caveat. Susan Hassig, a Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine epidemiologist and professor weighs in. Nola.com, August 1, 2020.

July 2020 News

Covid-19 Clinical Trials Aren’t Very Diverse and That’s a Problem, Black & Latino people have suffered far more from the novel coronavirus than other races, but are just a fraction of the participants in human clinical trials of treatments & vaccines. That's a problem, dean of Tulane School of Public Health Thomas LaVeist tells Bloomberg. July 30, 2020.
Proposed city laws would discourage arrests for minor crimes, require disclosure of body cam footage to defendants, Joshua Yukich, an epidemiologist and assistant professor at the Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine in the Tropical Medicine Department, comments. The Lens, July 29, 2020.
Careless behavior, decisions by Marlins and others during COVID-19 pandemic put MLB season in peril, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine Dean Thomas LaVeist comments on what Major League Baseball players and coaches need to do to prevent more games from being cancelled due to COVID-19. Seattle Times, July 28, 2020.
Looking to the past to peer into the future, Professor and historian John M. Barry, author of 'The Great Influenza,' looks to the lessons of the 1918 flu pandemic for insight on confronting COVID-19, John Hopkins Hub, July 27, 2020.
United Nations High-level Advisory Board on Economic and Social Affairs: “Recover Better: Economic and Social Challenges and Opportunities,” Check out Dr. Anastasia Gage, professor in the Global Community Health and Behavioral Sciences Department, speaking in this new video essay compilation, she speaks at 54 minutes into the video. United Nations, July, 22, 2020.
Why infection rate might be key to coronavirus' disproportionate impact on Black people, Dean Thomas LaVeist on NOLA.com discusses the overemphasis on preexisting conditions as the driver of coronavirus’ disproportionate impact on the Black community. Preexisting conditions are part of the problem, but not the explanation of the disparity. Nola.com, July 18, 2020.
“The Pandemic Could Get Much, Much Worse”: Is Another Lockdown the Only Way to Avoid Catastrophe? Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine professor John Barry says the current "explosive spread" of the coronavirus across the U.S. will likely get worse as the weather turns colder. "It could be pretty devastating," he says. "It’s already devastating." Democracy Now, July 16, 2020.
What does it mean to declare racism a public health crisis? Listen to Dean Thomas LaVeist on Marketplace Business News discussing what does it mean to declare racism a public health crisis. Marketplace, July 15, 2020.
The Pandemic Could Get Much, Much Worse. We Must Act Now. In an opinion piece, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine’s John Barry writes that the U.S. must get its COVID-19 cases to manageable levels, similar to that of some European countries, in order for the economy and schools to reopen. The New York Times, July 14, 2020.
Louisiana Issues Statewide Mask Order Amid Polarization Of Officials On The Issue. Epidemiologist at the Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Susan Hassig, weighs in. WBUR, July 13, 2020.
A local disease detective says COVID-19 may have impacted young people sooner than evidence shows, Dr. Susan Hassig, a Tulane University epidemiologist and Associate Professor of Epidemiology at the School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine comments. Fox 8, July 10, 2020.
How Safe Are Hotel Pools This Summer? Susan Hassig, epidemiology professor at the School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, discusses how safe it is to swim in hotel pools during the COVID-19 pandemic. MSN, July 10, 2020.
Florida emerges as world's new epicenter for COVID-19, Richard Oberhelman, MD, associate dean for global health at the School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, notes that some common interactions of young people present opportunities for COVID-19 to spread. The Hill, July 9, 2020.
Tulane med students helping businesses stay open safely during the pandemic, One of our rising Global Community Health and Behavioral Sciences students in the Tulane MD/MPH program, Stephanie Shea, was on WWLTV News last night talking about her work with BRACE to help work with local businesses to provide community education for #COVID19 business resilience. WWLTV, July 9, 2020.
Texas Deaths Rise, Florida Cases Skew Older Ahead of Test Surge, Texas Deaths Rise, Richard Oberhelman, MD, associate dean for global health at the Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, says COVID-19 cases typically increase after a holiday weekend. Bloomberg, July 8, 2020.
Singing River Contact Tracing Efforts and Community Education with COVID-19, Tulane SPHTM student, James Noblin, wrote this publication about a health system in Jackson County, Mississsippi that successfully reduced COVID-19 cases. Singing River Health System, July 2, 2020.
What Media Aren’t Telling You About Reopening Risks, Susan Hassig, Tulane epidemiology professor at Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine says workers in their own private office space can safely unmask, but workers in an open office space need to wear masks at all times. Fair, July 2, 2020.

June 2020 News

With unprecedented amounts of genetic data, researchers are tracking how COVID-19 mutates around the world, Tropical Medicine scientists and associate professors, Eric Dumonteil and Claudia Herrera, of the Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine described their attempts to build a family tree that records how the COVID-19 changes form using 18,247 samples of the viral RNA, what they refer to as "a global analysis of viral diversity across the world." ZD Net, June 29, 2020.
As virus cases spike, Louisiana struggles with tracking work, Patty Kissinger, an epidemiology professor at Tulane University’s School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, weighs in. AP News, June 27, 2020.
Q&A: COVID-19 Health Equity Task Force Co-Chair Talks Racial Disparities In Louisiana, Thomas LaVeist, the dean of the Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, spoke with reporter Rosemary Westwood at WWNO about racial disparities, governor’s COVID-19 Health Equity Task Force's work, and a multimedia project to dispel myths around racial disparities in health, called The Skin You’re In. June 25, 2020, WWNO.
So…Why Hasn’t There Been A COVID Spike From The Protests? Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine epidemiologist Susan Hassig explains. June 24, 2020, Talking Points Memo.
Guest column: Coronavirus exacerbates plight of asylum seekers in Louisiana, Article by School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine alumni, Olivia Mancing, and associate professor in the School of Liberal Arts and Department of History, Jana Lipman. June 18, 2020, The Advocate.
Covid-19 is about to meet hurricane season. How can hospitals prepare for two disasters at once? Advisory Board talks to Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine assistant professor in the Department of Environmental Health Sciences and director of the Disaster Management Program Stephen Murphy. June 16, 2020, Advisory Board.
Read This Before You Stay in a Hotel, See what Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine epidemiologist Susan Hassig has to say about COVID-19 and shared spaces. June 15, 2020, Elemental.
How 132 Epidemiologists Are Deciding When to Send Their Children to School, Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine's Lydia Bazzano in the New York Times. June 14, 2020, The New York Times.
How COVID-19 Affects Your Mental Health, Dr. Lichtveld, chair of the Environmental Health Sciences department at the Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, spoke about the significance of the psychosocial effects of COVID-19, as well as the New Orleans communities, such as marginalized groups and children, that are most vulnerable to them. June 11, 2020, Where Y'at Magazine.
Could studying sewage help map the spread of the coronavirus? LSU, Tulane researchers think so, Samendra Sherchan, an environmental health microbiologist at Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, discusses collecting sewage samples from wastewater treatment plants to see if the samples could act as an early warning system for a second wave of COVID-19. June 10, 2020, The Advocate.
Health experts fear another crisis as people lose health coverage during the pandemic, Health experts including Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine's Mark Diana, professor and chair of Health Policy and Management department, fear another crisis as people lose health coverage during the pandemic. June 9, 2020, Fox News.
New York City just unveiled its plan for outdoor dining. Here's how the city plans to use sidewalks, curb sides, and open streets for restaurants. Business Insider interviews Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine epidemiologist Susan Hassig. June 7, 2020.
Some authors retract articles that said hydroxychloroquine was dangerous, Patty Kissinger, an infectious disease epidemiologist at Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, discusses how science articles suggesting that the drug hydroxychloroquine didn't work on hospitalized COVID-19 patients and was dangerous have been retracted and how this has effected the study she is working on. June 5, 2020, WWL TV.
America is facing a 'double pandemic': coronavirus COVID-19 and racism, Dean Thomas LaVeist of the Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine quoted. June 3, 2020, ABC News.
What COVID-19 Prison Outbreaks Could Teach Us About Herd Immunity, Susan Hassig, an epidemiologist at the Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, discusses the important public health lessons to be learned from prison outbreaks, how 95 percent of those testing positive for COVID-19 were asymptomatic. June 1, 2020, The Marshall Project.

May 2020 News

What Do Coronavirus Racial Disparities Look Like State By State? Dean Thomas LaVeist mentioned in this article discussing the tailored public health response already happening in Louisiana through the Louisiana COVID-19 Health Equity Task Force, which LaVeist co-chairs. May 30, 2020, NPR.
Louisiana Hospitals Reduce Causes Of Maternal Mortality, But Black Women Remain At Higher Risk, Maeve Wallace, a Tulane University researcher who studies maternal health, discusses her published a paper showing that homicide is the leading cause of death among pregnant and postpartum women in Louisiana. The research also found links between violence and health outcomes overall. May 28, 2020, WWNO.
Coronavirus testing push in East Baton Rouge aims to better reveal extent of pandemic, Susan Hassig, an epidemiologist at the Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, talks about increasing minimum average rate of people tested for COVID-19. May 28, 2020, Advocate.
New Orleans African American Community suffers due to Covid-19. Dean Thomas LaVeist discusses The Skin You're In, a pioneering initiative to combat the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on the African-American community in New Orleans, and Louisiana COVID-19 Health Equity Task Force, which is looking at how health inequities are affecting communities that are most impacted by COVID-19. May 27, 2020, WGNO.
'We All Feel At Risk': 100,000 People Dead From COVID-19 In The U.S. John Barry, Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine professor and author comments in this article. May 27, 2020, Oregon Public Broadcasting.
Anonymous African American donors step up to tackle food insecurity during COVID-19 pandemic, Diego Rose, a professor at Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine and Tulane Nutrition, predicts 15% of Americans are food insecure because of the COVID-19 pandemic in ABC News report, May 22, 2020.
Tulane Public Health Dean Leads Heath Equity Task Force, May 21, 2020, Tulane News.
New Orleans' Lower Ninth Ward battling racial disparities brought on by coronavirus, New Orleans' Lower Ninth Ward battling racial disparities brought on by coronavirus. dean Thomas LaVeist talks to Fox's News Alert. May 20, 2020, Fox News.
Evidence suggests no COVID-19-related harm from RAAS antagonists, Evidence suggests no COVID-19-related harm from RAAS antagonists. Dr. Paul Whelton, epidemiologist at Tulane's School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, explains. May 19, 2020, Healio.
Paid sick leave mandates hold promise in containing COVID-19, Paid sick leave mandates hold promise in containing COVID-19, study co-authored by Tulane's School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine assistant professor in the Department of Health Policy and Management Kevin Callison finds. May 19, 2020, Phys Org.
Ball State profs to send texts to improve Burmese moms’ maternal health, Dr. Mengxi Zhang, Tulane's School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine Alumna and Ball State professor, is developing a text-based messaging service to provide information about maternal and child health to Burmese refugees now living Indianapolis. May 18, 2020, Wish TV.
The risk levels of everyday activities like dining out, going to the gym, and getting a haircut, according to an infectious-disease expert, The risk levels of everyday activities like dining out, going to the gym, and getting a haircut, according to Tulane's School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine infectious-disease expert Susan Hassig. May 18, 2020, Business Insider.
Messages and Messengers in Public Health Crises, How does culture shape reactions to a pandemic like COVID-19? How do cultural differences change how people act in such crises? Julie Hernandez of Tulane's School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine provides some insight after working on Central & Western Africa's ebola outbreaks. May 17, 2020, 64 Parishes.
Woman's Hospital leading worldwide study of how coronavirus affects pregnancy, Emily Harville, a perinatal epidemiologist at Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, talks about recruiting pregnant women to participate in a study to examine whether anxiety over the pandemic is affecting pregnancy outcomes. May 16, 2020, The Advocate.
What coronavirus outbreaks have in common, Thomas LaVeist, dean of the School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, recommends that individuals shouldn’t let their guard down in protecting themselves against COVID-19, even when outdoors. May 14, 2020, Mashable.
White House Cases Show How Easily COVID-19 Can Invade a Workplace, Susan Hassig, professor and director of the Master of Public Health Program in Epidemiology, discusses how COVID-19 tests can draw false negatives and how workspaces, including open-plan spaces, can be dangerous for spreading COVID-19. May 14, 2020, Healthline.
African countries ease Covid-19 measures amid warnings of possible rebound, Tulane SPHTM Alumni and current Tulane School of Medicine student, Dr. Adora Okoli, dicusses a difficult balance between fighting the pandemic and mitigating the devastating economic impact on millions of people who “depend on working daily to survive” in African countries. May 13, 2020, La Prensa Latina Media.
Latin America’s Outbreaks Now Rival Europe’s. But Its Options Are Worse. Carina Vance is a first year doctoral student in Global Community Health and Behavioral Sciences Department and the former Ecuadorian Minister of Health, in this article she says “We cannot have health systems that only serve people who can afford it." May 12, 2020, The New York Times.
Battling COVID-19 in the lab, Laura Scott, Ph.D. student at Tulane University’s School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, was written about in Citizen Potawatomi Nation for her current studies of wastewater to gain a greater understanding of how COVID-19 can live and spread and for volunteering as an epidemiologist for the City of New Orleans at the pandemic’s onset. May11, 2020, Citizen Potawatomi Nation.
Librarian Volunteers Help WHO Make Sense of COVID Information, Elaine Hicks of the Matas Library and Lina Moses, assistant professor at Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, were featured in an article on how librarians are bringing their information triage, vetting, and organization skills to bear on the current #COVID19 crisis. May 11, 2020, Library Journal.
How to communicate in a postmodern pandemic, Quartz talks to School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine adjunct professor John Barry. May 7, 2020, Quartz.
‘We are living in a catastrophe’: Peru's jungle capital choking for breath as Covid-19 hits, Dr. Valerie Paz-Soldan from the Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine and the Tulane Health Office for Latin America comments on the crisis in Peru’s largest Amazon city, Iquitos. May 7, 2020, The Guardian.
We spoke to the mayor of Salt Lake City, an investment analyst, and infectious disease experts to learn about when and how the US will reopen, Susan Hassig, epidemiology professor, discusses what reopening public places, offices and schools will look like and how to minimize the risk of an “explosion” of second wave COVID-19 cases. May 5, 2020, Business Insider.
In the Deep South, COVID-19 reveals systemic issues hurting vulnerable black communities, Dean Thomas LaVeist discusses health disparities in the United States. May 1, 2020, The Tennessean.

April 2020 News

Will Warm Weather Slow Coronavirus? School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine professor and author John Barry wrote an op-ed in The New York Times, discussing what the 1918 flu pandemic can tell us about a second wave of COVID-19. April 30, 2020, New York Times
Tulane dean takes leading role in addressing racial disparities in COVID-19 deaths, As a leading expert in issues of equity and health, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine Dean Thomas LaVeist is playing a key role in addressing alarmingly high rates of COVID-19 cases and deaths among African Americans. April 28, 2020, Tulane News
As death count grows, Louisiana prisons and jails grapple with coronavirus spread, Dr. David Seal, a Global Community Health and Behavioral Sciences professor discusses issues with capacity in the criminal justice system to test everyone in a correctional facility for COVID-19. April 25, 2020, Times Picayune
'I Survived Ebola - Now I Treat Coronavirus Patients,' Very moving video from SPHTM alumni, Dr. Adaora Okoli, who survived Ebola and is now a resident in New Orleans dealing with COVID-19. April 24, 2020, Thomson Reuters Foundation.
Apple donates thousands of face shields to Tulane healthcare workers, April 24, 2020, Tulane News
Commentary calls for attention to pregnancy during pandemic, Dr. Pierre Buekens and colleagues at the Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine have published a comment in Lancet Global Health calling for increased surveillance and research into the ways pregnant women may be impacted by COVID-19. April 24, 2020, Tulane News
Study says malaria drug isn't a 'miracle drug' for COVID-19 patients, Tulane researchers are exploring whether the drug can prevent new infections. Dr. Patricia Kissinger, professor of Epidemiology at the Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, discusses the study. April 22, 2020, WWLTV
Southern states largely go it alone in reopening decisions, Richard Oberhelman, MD, an infectious disease specialist at the School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, comments on the coordination among states in regard to reopening parts of their economy. April 22, 2020, AP News
'The last flag bearers of an era': how coronavirus threatens a generation of black Americans, Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine Dean Thomas LaVeist in the Guardian. April 21, 2020
3 Simple Ways to Stay Active While You’re Stuck at Home, Jeanette Gustat, PhD, MPH, department of epidemiology, prevention research center at Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, said outdoor exercise has many benefits. April 16, 2020, Health Line
Response to the COVID-19 pandemic in urban slums and rural populations in Latin America, written by Dr. Arachu Castro, Samuel Z. Stone Chair of Public Health in Latin America and Director of the Collaborative Group for Health Equity in Latin America. School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, April 16, 2020, UNDP Latin America and the Caribbean
The Spanish flu killed more than 50 million people. These lessons could help avoid a repeat with coronavirus, John Barry discusses lessons could help avoid a repeat with COVID-19, April 16th, 2020, CNN Health
Guest column: Build the early-detection structure that will fight the next coronavirus, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine Dean, Thomas LaVeist, and Tulane University President Mike Fitts wrote an op-ed in The Advocate to emphasize the importance of early detection, April 13, 2020, The Advocate
U.S. allies, encouraged by Washington, said goodbye to their Cuban doctors. As coronavirus surges, some are arguing for their return. First year doctoral student at the School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Carina Vance Mafla, was interviewed about the Cuban medical missions in Latin America. Carina Vance Mafla was once the Ecuadorian Minister of Health and comments on the ending of the medical cooperation agreement Ecuador had with Cuba. April 10, 2020, Washington Post
Across the South, ‘Walking a Tightrope’ While Awaiting the Worst, Susan Hassig, associate professor at the School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, comments on vulnerabilities, some of which are linked to poverty, that contribute to some patients’ COVID-19 complication, April 9, 2020, The New York Times
The birth of a pandemic: How COVID-19 went from Wuhan to Toronto, Tulane expert Professor John M. Barry was recently interviewed to discuss the 1918 flu pandemic. April 8, 2020, National Post
Pre-existing conditions can turn COVID-19 into a death sentence for black patients, Dean Thomas Laveist, of the School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, discusses the underlying factors that are fueling deaths in the African American community in New Orleans. April 7, 2020, WWLTV
Tulane University awarded $10.3 million to test therapeutics, vaccines for novel coronavirus, April 6, 2020, Tulane News
‘All hands on deck’ for doctors on the front lines of COVID-19 care, April 6, 2020, Tulane News
Tulane chemistry department makes hand sanitizer, donates to healthcare facilities and nursing homes, April 6, 2020, Tulane News
Official Counts Understate the U.S. Cornavirus Death Toll, Geraldine Ménard, MD, chief of general internal medicine at Tulane Medical Center, says she is sure some patients who were diagnosed with pneumonia had COVID-19, however no one knew because it was before COVID-19 testing was available. April 5, 2020, The New York Times
How Louisiana's shrinking Delta region has so far succeeded in keeping coronavirus at bay, Tulane University epidemiologist at the School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine Susan Hassig comments on how Tensas Parish seems to have taken advantage of its lead time to institute distancing measures. April 4, 2020, Times Picayune
Venezuelans’ Health Shouldn’t Be a Bargaining Chip, David Smilde of Tulane’s School of Liberal Arts comments on the U.S.’s recent drug trafficking indictments of Nicolás Maduro, Venezuela president, and other leaders in an opinion piece in Bloomberg. April 3, 2020, Bloomberg
Was That Cough You Had Last November or December COVID-19? Robert Garry, PhD, infectious disease expert at Tulane, comments on the likelihood of earlier cases of COVID-19 in places other than China around November or December. April 3, 2020, Snopes
Louisiana hospitals, medical staff stretched thin amid virus, David Becnel, MD, pulmonary critical care doctor at the Tulane School of Medicine, says hospitals are looking at using one ventilator for more than one person or retrofitting other breathing devices into ventilators as the amount of supplies decrease. April 3, 2020, AP News
Tulane offering student housing to medical personnel and volunteers, April 3, 2020, Tulane News
School of Medicine launches COVID-19 testing lab to improve capacity, Tulane has added another opportunity for COVID-19 testing, using a School of Medicine repurposed research lab where test results can be processed within a day. April 1, 2020, Tulane News

March 2020 News

New COVID-19 test gives results in four hours, The test, available to patients at Tulane Medical Center (TMC) and University Medical Center, was made possible through the joint efforts of the Tulane School of Medicine, the LSU School of Medicine, TMC, LCMC Health and Roche Diagnostics. March 31, 2020, Tulane News
Why Won’t the Federal Government Release Immigrant Children?, Professor Laila Hlass of Tulane School of Law tells Slate there is no reason for immigrant children to be detained in jail settings in the first place, and the coronavirus threatens to turn detention centers into a “tinderbox scenario.” March 31, 2020, Slate
Louisiana sees largest spike in reported coronavirus cases in 24-hour period, Patty Kissinger of School of Public and Tropical Medicine, March 31, 2020, Washington Post
New Orleans doctor on Louisiana potentially becoming next coronavirus hotspot, New Orleans doctor Elma LeDoux of Tulane School of Medicine, March 31, 2020, Fox News
Protect health care workers from the coronavirus so they can protect the world, written by Adaora Okoli, Internal medicine resident physician at Tulane university, Ebola survivor, global health advocate, March 27, 2020, Boston Globe
"A nightmare all over again": after surviving Katrina, New Orleans battles Covid-19, David Mushatt, MD, chief of infectious diseases at Tulane, discusses the emotional toll of caring for COVID-19 patients, and Richard Oberhelman, MD, professor of pediatrics at Tulane, comments on the factors that could have played a role in New Orleans’ status as a COVID-19 hotspot. March 26, 2020, Fox News
Trump approves federal disaster declaration for Louisiana, Richard Oberhelman, MD, of the School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, comments on physicians and healthcare workers considering reusing personal protective equipment. March 25, 2020, AP News
Coronavirus tests: researchers chase new diagnostics to fight the pandemic, Robert Garry, PhD, Tulane virologist, comments on the development and possible use of a serological test that can detect antibodies an individual produces to fight COVID-19. March 23, 2020, Nature
The most important lesson of the 1918 influenza pandemic: Tell the damn truth, John Barry, an adjunct professor at the Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine and author of The Great Influenza: the story of the deadliest pandemic in history, wrote an opinion piece in the New York Times. March 22, 2020
New Orleans' medical reservists volunteer in emergency response to coronavirus, Andrew ''AJ'' Beron, a doctorate student studying Tropical Medicine at the School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, is volunteering with the New Orleans Medical Reserve Corps. March 22, 2020, Nola.com
New Orleans’ ‘Let the good times roll’ now ‘Wash your hands’, Richard Oberhelman, chair of Department of Global Community Health and Behavioral Sciences at the School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, says Mardi Gras could have created the perfect breeding ground for COVID-19. March 22, 2020, AP News
Study: Coronavirus pandemic sparked by nature, not bioengineering, The Coronavirus behind the global COVID-19 pandemic likely evolved from nature and not a lab, according to a new study co-authored by Tulane virologist Dr. Robert F. Garry, March 18, 2020
The Single Most Important Lesson from the 1918 Influenza, John Barry, an adjunct professor at the Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine and author of The Great Influenza: the story of the deadliest pandemic in history, wrote an opinion piece in the New York Times. March 17, 2020
Tulane University launches Outbreak Daily newsletter, March 17, 2020
U.S. is preparing for community spread of coronavirus. It's already happening in New Orleans. Mac Hyman, professor of mathematics at Tulane, and Susan Hassig, epidemiology professor at Tulane, discuss how community spread of COVID-19 is already happening and how difficult it is to trace. March 13, 2020
Worst-Case Estimates for U.S. Cornavirus Deaths, School of public Heath and Tropical Medicine Alum, Matthew Biggerstaff (ScD '17), featured in NY Times article on CDC COVID-19 modeling, March 13, 2020
Leading the Way in Fighting COVID-19: AAU Schools Are at the Forefront of Epidemiological and Biological Research, Tulane researchers are currently working with live samples of the virus in our biocontainment lab, developing a vaccine and testing treatments. March 13, 2020
Letters: Improve paid sick leave to better protect from viruses, Dr. Katherine Theall, professor in the Global Community Health and Behavioral Sciences department and Director Mary Amelia Women’s Center, and Phyllis Raabe, Adjunct professor of the department of Global Community Health and Behavioral Sciences, co-wrote an opinion letter to the Baton Rouge Advocate, March 11, 2020
What is contact tracing and how does it help prevent the spread of a virus?, Ronald Blanton, MD, chair of Tropical Medicine at the School of Public Health, comments on the risk of close contact with someone with coronavirus. March 10, 2020
Lessons From History On How News Spreads During An Outbreak, And How Social Media Can Help, Thomas LaVeist, dean of the School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, comments on a recent report and social media post that contained misinformation about the coronavirus. March 9, 2020.
The 1918 flu pandemic, a cautionary tale, Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine’s John Barry discusses the flu of 1918 and how information about it was disseminated at the time. March 8, 2020.
America's Coronavirus Virus: Psychology Of Panic And Stockpiling, Dr. Ronald Blanton of the School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine says a person’s response to the coronavirus depends a lot on where they live and how many cases have been reported in their area. March 6, 2020.
When Should You See A Doctor For Coronavirus Symptoms?, Dr. John Schieffelin, professor at the School of Medicine, discusses potential coronavirus symptoms. March 5, 2020.
From ferrets to mice and marmosets, labs scramble to find right animals for coronavirus studies, Skip Bohm of the Tulane National Primate Research Center comments on how researchers will study the coronavirus. March 5, 2020.
Tulane monitoring COVID-19; issues guidance, travel policies, March 3, 2020.
John Barry speaks at St. Olaf about the history, science and politics of pandemics, John Barry of the School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine discusses the history of five pandemics along with response efforts and lessons learned from them. March 3, 2020.
Coronavirus fears!, David Mushatt, MD, of the School of Medicine says people should not be fearful of the coronavirus but should be vigilant to protect themselves from it. March 2, 2020.
Tulane trip to Italy canceled as coronavirus spreads, Tulane has taken precautions on student travel as the coronavirus spreads. March 2, 2020.

February 2020 News

US experts comment on effectiveness of face masks, Giovanni Piedimonte, MD, vice president for research at Tulane, comments on the university’s research efforts regarding coronavirus. February 28, 2020.
Coronavirus could disrupt the local economy before the first reported infection. Douglas Nelson, economics professor at Tulane, discusses how the coronavirus could affect New Orleans economically. February 28, 2020.
How New Orleans, Louisiana And Their Hospitals Prepare For A Coronavirus Outbreak, Stephen Murphy, an assistant professor in the Department of Environmental Health Sciences at Tulane University’s School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine quoted. February 28, 2020.
Tulane National Primate Research Center expands its laboratory capacity, February 26, 2020.
Tulane establishes COVID-19 research program to develop a vaccine and test treatments, February 21, 2020.
Tulane University launches new coronavirus research program to develop a vaccine and advanced diagnostics, February 19, 2020.
Tulane primate center will receive coronavirus samples for vaccine development February 19, 2020.
Coronavirus impacts products from China, Douglas Nelson, PhD, economics professor at Tulane, discusses how the coronavirus could affect products from China. February 19, 2020.
Tulane launches coronavirus research program February 19, 2020.
Tulane University launches new coronavirus research program to develop a vaccine and advanced diagnostics February 19, 2020.
Tulane Primate Center and the Coronavirus February 18, 2020.
Tulane math professor leads effort to map spread of coronavirus, February 18, 2020.
Tulane to host forum about emerging 2019 coronavirus outbreak, Tulane SPHTM hosted an interdepartmental forum on COVID-19, February 12, 2020.
"Misinformation and Computer Viruses Spreading Due to Coronavirus" Dean Laveist quoted, February 6, 2020.

January 2020 News

Can this virus be contained? Probably not. John M. Barry is the author of “The Great Influenza: The Story of the Deadliest Pandemic in History” and adjunct faculty at the Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, January 31, 2020.
Flu more concerning than coronavirus, local experts say, Lina Moses, PhD, of the School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, and David Mushatt, MD, of the School of Medicine, discuss the recent coronavirus outbreak, January 28, 2020.

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