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Public Good, Bad Policies, and Tough Times: When Profit and Public Interests Collide
From the Document: "The recent Texas blizzard, which left millions without power and is responsible for at least 70 deaths [hyperlink], is just the latest in a long line of failures wrought by privatization of the public good - a system designed to maximize corporate profits while providing minimal benefits or protections to public health. As we see time and again, when calamities, such as infectious disease pandemics, natural disasters, and severe weather strike, privatized systems fail to respond adequately. This brief highlights just a couple of recent examples, describes how these failures undermine public trust and erode democracy, and ends by providing suggestions for how we can rethink policies to value people over profits instead of valuing profits over people."
Syracuse University. Lerner Center for Public Health Promotion
Brown, Austin McNeill; Monnat, Shannon M.
2021-02-23
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Wastewater Testing Shows That Pharmaceutical and Illicit Drug Use Are Higher in Places Where COVID-19 is More Prevalent
From the Document: "Wastewater testing is increasingly used worldwide to monitor trends in pharmaceutical and illicit drug use. Between April and July of 2020, wastewater samples from six sewer systems in Onondaga County, NY were tested to assess pharmaceutical and illicit drug use patterns during the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic. The study found that samples from sewersheds showing greater pharmaceutical and illicit drug use also contained more SARS-CoV-2 [severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2] RNA [ribonucleic acid]- the genetic material found in the coronavirus. Testing identified higher levels of 26 pharmaceuticals, including medications for depression, epilepsy, allergies, and high blood pressure, as well as illicit drugs like opioids, cocaine, and amphetamines."
Syracuse University. Lerner Center for Public Health Promotion
Marshall, Kerrie; Palileo, Arik; Schiff, Eric A. . . .
2021-01-28
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COVID-19 Reduced Outpatient Visits by up to 70% in the US
From the Document: "The COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic has resulted in challenges for outpatient providers due to patients' fear of contagion, the need for physical distancing, and cancellation of elective procedures. Using data from the CDC's [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] Outpatient Influenza-like Illness Surveillance Network 2010-2020, we show that the COVID-19 pandemic started to reduce outpatient visits during the week of March 15-21st , 2020. The effect on visits peaked during the week of April 5-11th, 2020, when the pandemic reduced total outpatient visits per provider by 70% relative to the same week in prior years. The impact on outpatient visits declined over time, and by the week of June 28-July 4, 2020, there was no longer any difference in total visits per provider relative to the same week in prior years. As we enter another period of rising COVID-19 cases in the fall of 2020, it is critical that outpatient providers avoid disruptions in visits given that lapses in health care receipt can have negative implications for patient's health."
Syracuse University. Lerner Center for Public Health Promotion; Syracuse University. Center for Aging and Policy Studies
Chatterji, Pinka; Li, Yue
2020-11-17
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COVID-19 Trends Among Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD) Living in Residential Group Homes in New York State Through July 10, 2020
From the Document: "An early report [hyperlink] warned that people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) may be at higher risk during the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic. Three reasons for concern were proposed. First, people with IDD are a socially disadvantaged population that experiences comparatively higher levels of health disparities that may be aggravated during the pandemic. Additionally, people with IDD have a higher prevalence of pneumonia, a respiratory infection initially identified as possibly leading to more severe COVID-19 outcomes. Finally, a disproportionate percentage of the IDD population resides in congregate settings, presenting increased challenges to physically distance and reduce the spread of the virus. Results from early studies confirmed the concern that COVID-19 presents a more severe risk to people with IDD. In a study [hyperlink] analyzing real-time electronic medical data of those with COVID-19, people with IDD had a higher prevalence of co-occurring medical conditions associated with more severe COVID-19 outcomes and higher case-fatality rates. Those conditions included respiratory, endocrine, nutritional, metabolic, and circulatory diseases. A second study [hyperlink] reported higher COVID-19 case rate, case-fatality rate, and mortality rate among a sample of adults with IDD that lived in Medicaid waiver funded residential group homes in New York State."
Syracuse University. Lerner Center for Public Health Promotion; Syracuse University. Center for Aging and Policy Studies
Landes, Scott D.; Turk, Margaret A.; Formica, Margaret K. . . .
2020-09-16
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Health and Profit in Student Housing During the COVID-19 Pandemic
From the Document: "New information reveals the decision to reopen some U.S. universities during the current COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic may be tied to private financial interests in student housing. A recently released Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) document indicates the decision to reopen public universities was directly related to the public-private partnership between the University System of Georgia (USG) and a private housing company. Universities have an obligation to maintain health, safety, and access for all students, especially in the midst of a pandemic. Contractual obligations with for-profit companies should not interfere with this responsibility."
Syracuse University. Lerner Center for Public Health Promotion
Brown, Austin McNeill
2020-08-12
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Collapse of Health Care: The Effects of COVID-19 on U.S. Community Health Centers
From the Document: "According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), community health centers are 'community-based and patient-directed organizations that serve populations with limited access to healthcare.' Approximately 1,400 federally-funded community healthcare clinics serve roughly 28 million Americans, who are primarily low-income individuals (91%), people of color (63%), and uninsured individuals. They are located in areas with a high demand for accessible, affordable healthcare, and address a wide range of needs including primary care, chronic disease, behavioral health, and substance use treatment. Community health centers often provide access to housing and food related support, services for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning, Intersex and Asexuality (LGBTQIA+) patients and family members, and treatment for physical and mental illness. Many locations also provide physical, occupational, and speech therapy. Because of the populations they serve and the resources they provide, community health centers are considered safety net providers."
Syracuse University. Lerner Center for Public Health Promotion
Van Slyke, Ashley
2020-08-10
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Housing Insecurity During the Coronavirus Response
From the Document: "The COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic has created numerous challenges for Americans in their ability to meet their basic needs. One specific economic challenge is housing security (i.e., the ability to pay the full amount of rent or mortgage due each month). This brief describes current and projected housing insecurity using data from the U.S. Census Bureau's Household Pulse Survey for the period of April 23 to July 14, 2020."
Syracuse University. Lerner Center for Public Health Promotion
Quick, Lauryn; Heflin, Colleen
2020-08-03
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'Right to Work' and Life or Death for Georgia Teachers
From the Document: "As of July 15th, government officials in Georgia are pushing for public schools to open as soon as August 3rd, while COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] cases soar nationwide, exceeding 65,000 confirmed cases in a single day. Many of the cases in this latest surge are reported in the South, including Florida, the new epicenter of the pandemic in the U.S. and one of Georgia's border states. The Georgia Educators Association has made the recommendation that local health data should steer efforts to reopen schools. However, there are few legal options for teachers to advocate for a concise, data-driven plan to reopen schools, or to challenge the reckless state mandate to reopen without adequate prepartion [sic]. Like most southern states, Georgia is a 'right to work' state, in which teachers can be fired and even have their state license revoked if they plan to strike or utilize collective bargaining. Some school districts are trying to cope by delaying openings and creating digital options for students as an interim measure. This issue brief discusses how the coronavirus pandemic has shed a light on the harmful consequences of 'right to work' laws for Georgia's teachers."
Syracuse University. Lerner Center for Public Health Promotion
Brown, Austin McNeill
2020-07-20
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Disparities in Vulnerability to Severe Complications from COVID-19 in the United States [July 15, 2020]
From the Document: "The presence of preexisting health conditions increases vulnerability to severe complications from COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019]. In the United States, vulnerability based on preexisting health conditions collides with long-standing disparities in health and mortality by race-ethnicity and socioeconomic status, especially in midlife. Outcome disparities manifest as higher hospitalization rates for Blacks and Latinos and staggeringly high mortality rates for Blacks. Despite an understanding of these well-known disparities, we lack a means of translating this knowledge into predictions about the risks of serious complications from COVID-19 across race-ethnicity and socioeconomic status. Our paper provides the first nationally representative estimates of these risks based on the distribution of underlying health conditions in the population. It describes disparities in risks across race-ethnicity, education, and household income to provide insight into which Americans are more vulnerable to the devastating impact of the virus."
Syracuse University. Lerner Center for Public Health Promotion
Wiemers, Emily E.; Abrahams, Scott; AlFakhri, Marwa . . .
2020-07-15
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America's Legacy of Redlining: State-Sponsored Segregation and Disenfranchisement of Urban Minority Communities
From the Document: "As protests against police brutality and systemic racism break out across the United States, the term 'redlining' has once again seized headlines and social media attention. Initially coined in 1934 under the Home Owners' Loan Coalition (HOLC), the term redlining describes the act of designating areas on residential maps as 'hazardous,' meaning too risky to issue and insure mortgages. Individuals and families looking to purchase homes within the neighborhoods labeled 'red' or 'hazardous' were refused home loans under the terms of HOLC, resulting in lower home values and unstable living conditions. The Federal Housing Administration (FHA), established as a part of Roosevelt's New Deal, cited the poor housing market, declining public health, unemployment, and economic immobility as reasons to refuse mortgages to residents. In reality, these neighborhoods were redlined because they housed the highest numbers of 'undesirable populations,' including immigrants, people of color, of the Jewish faith, and those of generally low socioeconomic status. The effects of redlining remain prominent nearly a century later and continue to contribute to racial/ethnic and socioeconomic disparities."
Syracuse University. Lerner Center for Public Health Promotion
Van Slyke, Ashley
2020-07-13
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Digital Disinformation Is a Threat to Public Health
From the Document: "As the death toll from COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] surges past half a million worldwide and over 10 million people have become infected, it is clear this crisis is far from over. National leaders have refused to acknowledge the seriousness of the issue and neglected to act on behalf of the people they govern and serve. In the U.S., the lack of a comprehensive and science-based response has led to poor health and economic outcomes. Healthcare disinformation has driven attitudes of minimization and denial of the pandemic crisis and is an existential threat to the welfare of the population. A recent study by researchers at Carnegie Melon University (CMU) highlights a disturbing trend in social media. Researchers have determined that nearly half of all the Twitter accounts promoting the reopening of America were likely bots. [...] The ongoing coronavirus pandemic highlights the susceptibility of a population under duress, particularly regarding health and science communication efforts. This pandemic calls attention to the urgent need to directly combat public health disinformation."
Syracuse University. Lerner Center for Public Health Promotion
Brown, Austin McNeill
2020-07-07
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Rural Ohio Faces High Health Risk During the COVID-19 Pandemic
From the Document: "Ohio was one of the first states to implement interventions to reduce community spread during the first wave of the pandemic. As the state now experiences a new surge in cases, metro counties are home to some of the highest rates. However, the level of health and mortality risk posed by COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] is highest in the most rural counties. Data from our Index of Severe Health Risk for Ohio Counties show that 46% of Ohio's small nonmetro counties face high COVID-19 mortality risk, compared to just 18% of metro and large nonmetro counties. Small nonmetro counties have larger shares of older adults and higher prevalence of several chronic health conditions that increase risk of severe complications or death should one contract COVID-19 (e.g. respiratory problems, diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, and obesity). [...] Leaders of several rural Ohio counties have pushed back against the state's physical distancing mandates. Many of these counties are at risk of experiencing high rates of COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths should there be an outbreak, so they should support strong actions to prevent community spread."
Syracuse University. Lerner Center for Public Health Promotion
Rhubart, Danielle; Monnat, Shannon M.; Sun, Yue
2020-07-06
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High COVID-19 Mortality Risk in Pennsylvania's Rural Counties
From the Document: "COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] cases in Pennsylvania have been concentrated in eastern urban counties this far (counties with relatively low prevalence of the chronic health conditions that increase risk of death from COVID-19). However, the 14-day incident rate has recently begun increasing in several rural counties that have high prevalence of several chronic health conditions that increase risk of severe complications and death from COVID-19. Should COVID-19 continue to spread, several of PA's rural counties are at risk of high rates of hospitalization and death. [...] As all counties in The Commonwealth reach the final stage of reopening, and case counts continue to grow in places that were relatively unaffected during the early stage of the pandemic, local representatives and stakeholders should keep a watchful eye on these high-risk rural counties with severe COVID-19 health vulnerabilities."
Syracuse University. Lerner Center for Public Health Promotion
Chandler, Raeven Faye; Monnat, Shannon M.; Sun, Yue
2020-07-02
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New York's Recovery Drove National COVID-19 Case Reduction
From the Document: "The trend in new daily U.S. cases of COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] looked like it was improving during April and May and then took a sudden turn in what some started calling the 'second wave.' [...] New York's strong actions to stop the spread led to dramatic reductions in daily cases, and these reductions drove what appeared to be a downward national trend. Without New York included, the national trend in April and May was nearly flat, showing a crucial reduction in growth due to lockdown actions but little evidence of true success in defeating the virus. Community spread outside NY hovered remarkably close to 20,000 new cases per day for all of April and May. This helps explain why the re-opening of states under these circumstances has led to immediate exponential growth in cases. What we are seeing is not a 'second wave', but instead a 'continuation' of case increases across several U.S. states. Without the strong action taken in NY, the country as a whole would be seeing an even larger surge than what we are currently seeing. It is important for NY to remain vigilant as it continues through its various phases of reopening."
Syracuse University. Lerner Center for Public Health Promotion
Hamersma, Sarah
2020-07-02
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Preventing Heat-Related Fatalities During the COVID-19 Pandemic
From the Document: "The deadliest weather-related health outcomes in the U.S. are heat related. On average, heat contributes to over 650 U.S. deaths annually. As we approach what is expected to be a record high temperature summer, the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic has created additional risks for heat-related illnesses and deaths. Government restrictions to reduce the spread of the virus will result in fewer public places to go cool down, including public pools, cooling stations, libraries, and indoor shopping malls. [...] Using mortality data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Online Database (CDC WONDER), I show how the risk of heat-related death varies by age group and metropolitan status. I also propose recommendations for local leaders to prevent heat-related deaths in the current context of COVID-19 business closures and physical distancing."
Syracuse University. Lerner Center for Public Health Promotion
Rhubart, Danielle
2020-07-01
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Increased COVID-19 Risk for Adults with Intellectual and/Or Developmental Disability Living in Residential Group Homes
From the Document: "Individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) may be at a higher risk of severe COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] outcomes due to their higher prevalence of pre-existing health conditions. A disproportionate percentage of this adult population resides in congregate settings,such as residential group homes, further increasing their risk of contracting COVID-19 and experiencing severe outcomes, including death. [...] [W]e report differences in COVID-19 outcomes between people with IDD living in residential group homes and the overall population of New York State."
Syracuse University. Lerner Center for Public Health Promotion
Landes, Scott D.
2020-06-29
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Food Insufficiency During the Coronavirus Response
From the Document: "The coronavirus pandemic has created widespread economic disruption, exacerbating American household food insufficiency. Food insufficiency means that households are unable to meet their basic needs and is associated with negative health consequences for individuals of all ages. Figure 1 shows trends in household food insufficiency (April 23 to July 14, 2020) for the U.S., New York State, and the NYC metropolitan area using data from the U.S. Census Bureau Household Pulse Survey. Nationally, approximately 10.4% of households reported sometimes or often not having enough food to eat over the 11-week period. The lowest level of food insufficiency, 9.7%, was reported in the week ending June 23."
Syracuse University. Lerner Center for Public Health Promotion
Quick, Lauryn; Heflin, Colleen
2020-06-29
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New York State's Rural Counties Have Higher COVID-19 Mortality Risk
From the Document: "Although New York State's rural counties have experienced lower rates of COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] infection and mortality thus far than their urban counterparts(thanks in large part to their lower population density), several of NY's rural counties are at risk of high COVID-19 fatality rates should infections start to spread. [...] As the state's regions continue to move through the various phases of reopening businesses and recreation activities, policymakers and residents should be mindful of the underlying health vulnerabilities and the higher COVID-19 mortality risk in several of NY's rural counties."
Syracuse University. Lerner Center for Public Health Promotion
Monnat, Shannon M.; Sun, Yue
2020-06-25
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Stories from the Frontlines of the COVID-19 Response in New York
From the Document: "New York City, with a population of over 8.3 million, has borne the brunt of the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic in the U.S. As of June 19, 2020, there were nearly 210,000 confirmed cases, over 54,000 hospitalizations, and 17,546 confirmed deaths. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought a flurry of information and stories with it, overwhelming news outlets and readers. In the information overload, first person experiences from the frontlines of the pandemic can get lost. This brief features stories from two individuals from Central New York who served on the frontline of the COVID-19 response in NYC: a SUNY Upstate Medical University nurse and a National Guardsman called to serve."
Syracuse University. Lerner Center for Public Health Promotion
Van Slyke, Ashley
2020-06-24
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Homelessness During COVID-19: Understanding and Preventing Risk of Virus Spread in This Vulnerable Population
From the Document: "On any given night in the U.S., over half a million individuals experience homelessness. Shelters are often a place of respite and relief for homeless individuals. Yet, amidst the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic, shelters have become a breeding ground for transmission of COVID-19. The high concentration of individuals staying in close quarters, such as shelters, and lack of facilities and supplies necessary to practice proper hygiene can lead to rapid yet poorly monitored transmission of coronavirus."
Syracuse University. Lerner Center for Public Health Promotion
Van Slyke, Ashley
2020-06-22
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Black Lives Matter: Police Brutality in the Era of COVID-19
From the Document: "As the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic continues to shock the globe and disproportionately affect Black communities, an additional long-running U.S. epidemic has rapidly gained domestic and global awareness: disproportionate police brutality against the Black community. Being killed by the police is a leading cause of death for Black men in America. Blacks are 3.5 times more likely than Whites to be killed by a police officer in the U.S. [...] The historical upholding of white supremist values in criminal justice policies, degradation of economic opportunity in the Black community, and Black political and economic marginalization have resulted in the senseless and preventable loss of countless Black lives. If citizens in all 50 states and numerous countries are protesting about the unnecessary killings of Black people by the American police, it is safe to assume that the current system is broken."
Syracuse University. Lerner Center for Public Health Promotion
Jean, Tyra
2020-06-16
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Workers with Disabilities May Remain Unemployed Long After the COVID-19 Pandemic
From the Document: "While the re-opening of the U.S. economy promises a return to work for some, this may not be the case for many displaced workers with disabilities. Workers with disabilities are often the first fired and last hired. The COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] labor market is no exception to this rule. Recently released data suggest that employment rates between March and April 2020 decreased 18% for the general population, but 24% for workers with disabilities. While the 'new normal' of virtual work has created more inclusive and flexible online work environments, people with disabilities are losing, instead of gaining, traction in the labor market. But, why? The answer may lay in what workers with disabilities do for a living. People with disabilities, especially people of color and women with disabilities, are often pigeonholed into low status, low-wage, part-time, in-person, non-unionized jobs, which offer very little (if any) job security. Industries which have traditionally employed many workers with disabilities, such as food services, leisure and hospitality, construction, and manufacturing, experienced substantial job losses at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. While these types of positions are beginning to reemerge, they will likely be filled by those without disabilities, due to both individual and structural factors."
Syracuse University. Lerner Center for Public Health Promotion
Brooks, Jennifer D.
2020-06-15
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COVID-19, Anxiety, and Depression: Evidence from the U.S. Household Pulse Survey
From the Document: "A large share of U.S. adults report feelings of anxiety and depression during COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019]. In a recent survey conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau from May 21st to May 26th, 63% of U.S. adults reported feeling nervous, anxious, or on edge several days in the past week. Fifty-four percent reported not being able to stop or control worrying, 51% reported feeling down, depressed, or hopeless, and 54% reported having little interest or pleasure in doing things. There are important demographic differences in these outcomes. For example, females were more likely than males to report more severe feelings of anxiety and depression. Hispanics/Latinos and adults aged 18-29 were most likely to report daily feelings of anxiety and depression. Despite their much higher COVID-19 health risk, older adults (age 70+) were the least likely to report feelings of anxiety or depression. Click on this link to explore differences across other demographic characteristics, including educational attainment, income, employment, marital status, and presence of children."
Syracuse University. Lerner Center for Public Health Promotion
Zhang, Xiaoyan
2020-06-11
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This World is Exhausting, Don't Let it Exhaust You: Setting Emotional Boundaries to Prevent Fatigue
From the Document: "Are you exhausted from everything currently happening in the U.S. and the world? Me too. You've likely heard that I/You/We need to be more compassionate, more caring, and more empathetic, especially in the time of COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] and recent police murder of George Floyd. Compassion and empathy are pushed in the mainstream wellness culture, but they are rarely discussed in a practical and realistic way. For example, upon hearing or reading the word 'compassion,' you may be able to loosely describe the concept, its benefits, why it's important, and simple ways to cultivate it. But what happens when you've shown so much compassion and empathy towards others that you're left feeling irritable, exhausted, and maybe even resentful? This can be known as compassion/empathy fatigue. Let me be clear: 'compassion and empathy are not the problem'. [...] The problem stems from how the information is communicated. If we only see sources that rave about emotional intelligence and how it can make us feel better and be healthier, wouldn't you want to practice it 'all the time'? This notion can easily lead to emotional fatigue and burnout. If you're constantly putting others' emotional needs before your own but think this is what you're supposed to do to be a compassionate/empathetic person, then you might feel confused, frustrated, exhausted, and resentful. Below I review the difference between compassion and empathy and how to set personal boundaries to prevent emotional exhaustion."
Syracuse University. Lerner Center for Public Health Promotion
Lee, Mary Kate
2020-06-09
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Protecting Your Mental Health During COVID-19
From the Document: "Approximately one in five American adults live with a mental illness. This number does not include the many people who are stressed or lonely, but who do not have an official mental illness diagnosis. Social distancing and stay-at-home orders made necessary by COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] are exacerbating mental health issues among those both with and without diagnosed mental illnesses. This brief describes the relationship between loneliness, mental health, and physical health, discusses the impacts that COVID-19 is having on mental health, and suggests strategies we can try to protect our mental health during this uncertain time."
Syracuse University. Lerner Center for Public Health Promotion
Van Slyke, Ashley
2020-06-08
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Gender Disparities in Caretaking During the COVID-19 Pandemic
From the Document: "Women have consistently taken on a larger share of caretaking responsibilities than men in the U.S. This has typically included caretaking of children as well as elderly parents. New data from the Census show that this disparity is continuing during the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic. From April 23rd through May 5th, 22% of Census Household Pulse survey respondents reported being out of work for reasons related to COVID-19. Among those who were not working due to COVID-19, more than 16% of women reported that they were not working because they had to care for children not in school or daycare, compared to less than 5% of men. Ultimately, over 80% of U.S. adults who were not working because they were providing care for children not in school or daycare were women. Women were also more likely than men to report not working because their place of employment was temporarily closed, whereas men were more likely to report not working due to lay off or furlough. While COVID-19 is impacting employment for both men and women, these data show that women's earnings and employment potential are being disproportionately sidelined by COVID-19 associated caretaking responsibilities."
Syracuse University. Lerner Center for Public Health Promotion
Rhubart, Danielle
2020-06-04
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Breaking Isolation: Self Care for When Coronavirus Quarantine Ends
From the Document: "The initial period of enforced solitude during the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] lockdown required both physical and psychological adjustment as our freedom of movement was curtailed and most interpersonal interactions were cut off. Many people were concerned about their mental health and capacity for sustained self-isolation. I have watched and listened to friends, family and colleagues as they have ridden the 'corona-coaster' of emotions and moved through stages of adjustment, from desperation for social connection to the comfort of seclusion. Eventually, solitude became their new baseline. My understanding of the need to be mindful of the process of reengaging socially after extended periods of solitude comes from research as well as personal experiences of having engaged in silent retreats going weeks without speaking or making eye contact and from having lived overseas for months on end. There are joys of returning to familiar comforts, sounds, and interpersonal interactions. Re-connecting with others can feel energizing but also be exhausting."
Syracuse University. Lerner Center for Public Health Promotion
Bergen-Cico, Dessa K.
2020-06-03
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COVID-19 Mortality Rates Are Higher Among People with Intellectual and Developmental Disability
From the Document: "Despite higher risk of severe outcomes from COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] among people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), there has been limited reporting of COVID-19 trends for this population. [This document] presents data on COVID-19 case fatality rates (the percentage of positive COVID-19 cases resulting in death) from TriNetX COVID-19 Research Network data. [...] Although COVID-19 is a concern for all people, it appears to present a greater risk to people with IDD, especially at younger ages."
Syracuse University. Lerner Center for Public Health Promotion
Landes, Scott D.
2020-06-01
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Why Monitoring Your Media Consumption During COVID-19 is Important
From the Document: "As self-isolation has extended from weeks to months, there has been a surge in information about the importance of combatting loneliness coupled with a surge in virtual meet-ups (e.g., online exercise classes, happy hours), streaming entertainment content, virtual religious services, and even virtual meditation retreats. For those who are working from home, their days are filled with online meetings, conference calls, and seemingly endless screen time. The time people are spending in front of screens has increased substantially. Although this technology provides means of connection and entertainment, it can impact our wellbeing - depending on what we spend our time viewing and doing. A recent brief published by the Lerner Center addressed the issue of screen time related eye strain and eye fatigue in relation to the increase in the amount of time people are spending engaged with digital screens. Research conducted prior to COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] found higher rates of mental health problems association with spending more time engaged with media."
Syracuse University. Lerner Center for Public Health Promotion
Bergen-Cico, Dessa K.
2020-05-28
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Public Health Side Effect of the Coronavirus Pandemic: Screen Time-Related Eye Strain and Eye Fatigue
From the Document: "'Screen time' refers to the duration of time spent in activities that involve peering into a digital screen, including media viewing, working on a computer or tablet, electronic communication, and playing video games. For the average person, screen time has surged over the past two decades. Prior to COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019], the typical American already spent nearly 11 hours per day in front of digital screens. The upward trend in screen use has resulted in a 21st century public health problem: eye strain from the use of digital devices. As technology advanced from the old cathode ray tube monitors to liquid crystal display and light-emitting diodes (LED) monitors, and then to plasma panels, our screens have steadily become brighter and denser, with more intense images. Nearly two-thirds of Americans report symptoms of digital eye strain. [...] The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a massive increase in our screen time, thanks to increased time spent on virtual education, working from home, entertainment consumption, online shopping, and electronic communication with friends and family."
Syracuse University. Lerner Center for Public Health Promotion
Helander, Mary E.; Monnat, Shannon M.; Cushman, Stephanie A.
2020-05-26
