Dear RVU Family,

Since the beginning of our response to COVID-19, we have committed to transparency and regular communications with our RVU community as we follow our guiding principles. However, we will work to keep our correspondences more concise.

• Contact Tracing Cases: We have had 5 contact tracing cases this past week but so far no new positive COVID-19 cases are reported for faculty or students.

• How COVID-19 Spreads: The CDC has recently updated information regarding how COVID-19 spreads. It is now reported that airborne transmission can occur as smaller droplets or particles containing the virus can linger in the air for minutes to hours in certain conditions.

• Is it the flu or COVID? Many of the symptoms of COVID-19 and influenza are similar, so how do we tell them apart? You can learn more by watching this 3 minute video created by a reputable osteopathic family physician educator Jennifer Caudle, DO.
• MYTH: The mortality rate of COVID-19 is about the same as the flu.  

FACT:   So far there have been over 1 million global deaths attributed to COVID-19 and these numbers will continue to rise as the novel virus continues to spread. The WHO estimates that 290,000 to 650,000 people die due to flu-related causes worldwide every year. Doctors and scientists continue to estimate the mortality rate of COVID-19, but at present, it is thought to be substantially higher (possibly 10 times or more) than that of most strains of the flu. ^source

Please be safe and have a wonderful weekend!

Professionally yours,

COVID-19 Response Team