History has a way of reminding us that we are not the first generation to experience either hardship or the spread of disease. John Cuthbert, curator and director of the West Virginia Regional History Center and Special Collections at West Virginia University Libraries, said the parallels between WVU’s response to the 1918 Spanish Flu pandemic and COVID-19 are as interesting as they are telling.
Being resilient and positive is difficult during a crisis. We may not be able to control our circumstances, but we can control how we respond to them. Cheryl Kaczor, West Virginia University Extension Service Family and Community Development Agent in Marshall County, offers sound advice on coping with adversity and finding silver linings to help you navigate challenging times.
Doctors and other health care providers could get some help from artificial intelligence, which could expedite decisions regarding patient care and minimize exposure, saving personal protective equipment, according to Dr. Partho Sengupta, Abnash C. Jain chair and chief of the Division of Cardiology and director of Cardiovascular Imaging at the West Virginia University School of Medicine.
WVU will host a statewide Virtual Town Hall Meeting for sharing ideas and tips on how to support youth and scholastic sports athletes and coaches through the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants include leaders from the WVUCenter for Applied Coaching and Sport Sciences and WVU Athletics.
With a stay-at-home order in place across West Virginia and a majority of the United States, one West Virginia University physical activity expert suggests it’s a critical time to add exercise to your daily routine to strengthen your immune system and manage stress during the tumultuous COVID-19 pandemic, said Eloise Elliott, Ware Distinguished Professor at the WVU College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences.
The nationally recognized West Virginia University Extension Service Monroe County MCubed (M3) 4-H Robotics Team is used to solving problems, thinking innovatively and rising to the challenge. So, when the mayor of the Union called upon members to assist in making protective gear for West Virginia medical professionals and health care providers, the group didn’t hesitate.
The entire country learned to lean on songwriter Bill Withers, a West Virginia native whose music became “part of the American soundtrack.” West Virginia University assistant professor of musicology Travis Stimeling says Withers’ music was intensely personal. Withers, who was given an honorary doctorate at West Virginia University in 2017, died this week.
Heather Stephens, assistant professor of resource economics and management in the Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design, notes an industry-structure reliant on tourism and oil and natural gas, and West Virginia’s lack of broadband access are key areas to watch.
West Virginia University Vice President and Executive Dean for Health Sciences Dr. Clay Marsh, now West Virginia’s COVID-19 czar, says in his blog that projections for deaths due to the virus are staggering, but West Virginians can “flatten the curve” and change outcomes by following the rules. Marsh warns that low numbers of COVID-19 spread should not cause complacency.
The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic brings with it a lot of misinformation, myths and other unknowns to tackle, including the origin of the disease. WVU Extension Service Wildlife Specialist Sheldon Owen notes that to understand how bats are related to the COVID-19 outbreak, you must first understand a little bit about zoonotic diseases.