COVID-19 Update: Thursday, September 10th

University of TN, AstraZeneca trial, Black Friday, Halloween, and Pregnancy

1. More than 2,000 students at the University of Tennessee are under quarantine or isolation due to possible COVID-19 exposure. You may recall that quarantine is for those who have a known exposure and isolating is for those who have tested positive.

2. AstraZeneca has released additional information about the illness one participant experienced that has led to a pause in their phase 3 trials. A participant from Britain has shown symptoms associated with a rare spinal disorder called transverse myelitis. One of the signs of transverse myelitis is spinal inflammation. They are currently researching the situation to see if that is indeed what the person has and if it is connected to the vaccine. The answer to those questions will determine if they can resume the trial or if it will end.

3. Home Depot is cancelling Black Friday this year. With so many businesses struggling amid the pandemic it is possible others will follow suit.

4. People have begun discussing Halloween and if we can safely have it this year or if it will be cancelled – or at least trick-or-treating. Worth noting that in 1918 they cancelled trick-or-treating in various places around the country.

5. One in 10 pregnant women are testing positive for COVID, most are asymptomatic. A study published in the BMJ indicates pregnant women with COVID are at increased risk for pre-term delivery (about 17% of them). However, prior studies have shown limited to no risk of passing COVID to the baby in-utero although precautions should be taken after delivery. Additionally, so far, research has indicated nursing is a safe option – COVID does not seem to pass through the breast milk.

FINAL THOUGHTS: It has been rainy and chilly here for days. The sun is rising later and setting sooner as summer fades into fall. I find myself yearning for hot apple cider, a warm snuggly blanket, and a long nap. I also find my patience and endurance waning. Not all at once, but a slow erosion as the day passes. It is harder to be strong and tongue controlled, or finger controlled as the case may be with social media. Fatigue sets in, compassion fatigue, pandemic fatigue, kindness fatigue – you name it. Mistakes will be made. Forgive yourself and others. Make amends where you need to. Move on. We have no time to carry around guilt and shame and regret so let those things go, the burdens of the day are more than enough without the burdens of yesterday or tomorrow. Focus on today. Focus on doing better right now, in this moment. Let yesterday go.