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 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.
Although food recommendations have not changed due to COVID-19, there are a few important items to remember when storing food after a trip to the grocery store. To help us understand more about ways to keep our food safe, West Virginia University Extension Service Families and Health experts Andi Hoover and Hannah Fincham have provided some tips and steps to help us stay safe.
There are several theories about where novel coronavirus (COVID-19) originated and how it spread to humans. West Virginia University Extension Service veterinarian Darin Matlick weighs in on one of those theories – whether or not humans can contract coronavirus from their cattle.
For individuals living in a food desert, like many in rural Appalachian communities, the COVID-19 pandemic can have an even greater impact on food security, says Lauri Andress, assistant professor in the School of Public Health at West Virginia University.
Personal protective equipment is a nurse’s “protection and shield” against the novel coronavirus, said Benjamin Klos, an instructor in the West Virginia University School of Nursing and registered nurse with WVU Medicine. Yet as more people seek medical care for COVID-19, nurses around the world are going through PPE faster than usual, diminishing stockpiles.
Service workers and those who have been unexpectedly laid off may not have the savings they need in a time like this. Others may be wondering how best to manage their finances in a time of uncertainty. Lauren Weatherford, West Virginia University Extension Service Families and Health Agent in Nicholas and Fayette counties, offers tips and advice to help get people through this unusual time.