MJH COVID-19 Coalition Offers Perspectives on Containing the Pandemic
Members of the MJH COVID-19 Coalition were surveyed about strategies for pandemic containment.
Social distancing
As the country awaits the results of the 2020 presidential election, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) continues to spread rapidly throughout the US.
On October 2, President Trump, who had previously suggested that the “end of the pandemic is in sight,” announced his own positive diagnosis of COVID-19. Following the president’s diagnosis, several other White House associates tested positive for the virus. The president has since recovered from the infection, but as hospitalizations and infection rates continue to tick upward, medical experts warn that the second wave of the pandemic has arrived. Over the last 2 weeks, cases climbed 40.7%, and as of November 2, there were 84,089 new confirmed cases reported in the US, according to NPR.1
Experts from the MJH Life Sciences COVID-19 Coalition shared insights about containment of the virus in the United States through a recent survey.
When polled, 55.6% of Coalition members agreed that the biggest takeaway from the president’s COVID diagnosis for Americans is to continue social distancing, mask wearing, and keeping track of close contacts. Furthermore, nearly the same percentage (55%) of members believe that universal masking ordinances through national legislation may be the only way to achieve cooperation.
The Coalition also acknowledged that the US is not containing the pandemic as successfully as other nations, citing reasons such as:
- Widespread misinformation (33.3%)
- Lack of a comprehensive national strategy (33.3%)
- Lack of public health leadership (22.2%)
Misinformation about the pandemic is one of the biggest threats, but health care providers can help fight against the spread of deceptive news. According to members of the Coalition, the best mode of communication to combat disinformation is through sharing truthful, unbiased science through social media.
Pharmacies in particular that run regularly updated social media pages for their stores can play an important role by posting educational content and unbiased scientific information about COVID-19 for their customers. Read Drug Topics’® article on social media outreach for independent pharmacies to learn more about engaging with your patients online.
The outcome of the election will likely shape what happens next in regard to future legislation and pandemic response efforts. However, pharmacists can do their part to educate and spread accurate, science-based information to help keep their patients safe.
The MJH Life Sciences COVID-19 Coalition is a partnership with 10 nationally recognized experts in infectious disease, public health, epidemiology, and virology, working to generate the most accurate, up-to-the-minute information on the pandemic's ever-evolving impact on health care professionals and the patients they treat through live, biweekly webinar events, white papers, and surveys.
The next COVID-19 Coalition event, “Thinking Long-Term: COVID-19’s Clinical Consequences and Mental Health Effects,” will be held November 12, 2020, at 7:30PM ET. Register here.
Reference:
- Adeline S, Jin CH, Hurt A, Wilburn T, Wood D, Talbot R. Coronavirus Maps: How Severe Is Your State’s Outbreak? NPR. November 3, 2020. Accessed November 3, 2020. https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2020/09/01/816707182/map-tracking-the-spread-of-the-coronavirus-in-the-u-s
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