June 17, 2022
Dear Members of the Baylor College of Medicine Community,
In this week’s video we see that worldwide, the COVID-19 case numbers are pretty flat, and that is true in the U.S. as well. Roughly half of all states are experiencing steady declines. In the past two weeks, nearly every Northeastern state has seen cases fall by 30 percent or more. As conditions improve in the Northeast and Midwest, the South and West have begun to emerge as new hotspots. Reports of new deaths remain low. Fewer than 350 deaths are being reported each day, down from more than 2,600 a day at the height of the winter Omicron surge. We will be closely following the waste water numbers over the next several days to determine if we need to resume masking on our campus next week.
An interesting article in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences looks at aerosol particle emissions during workouts. The particle emissions are much higher during intense workouts than moderate workouts. This might explain why many infections were traced to gyms at the start of the pandemic. You might want to consider exercising outdoors; if using a gym, be certain there is plenty of space between you and others.
Other interesting topics reviewed this week are cardiovascular outcomes in college athletes one-year post infection and how long-COVID affects different age groups. In vaccine news, a FDA panel has endorsed the use of COVID vaccines made by Pfizer and Moderna in children as young as 6 months old. The final decision domes from the CDC, which will meeting on the topic today and tomorrow.
Important observances this month are Juneteenth on Sunday and Pride Month through June 30.
Hope you have a great weekend.
Paul Klotman, M.D.
President & CEO
Executive Dean
