5Q: Dr. Ira Wilson| Chair, Department of Health Services, Policy and Practice, Brown University School of Public Health
1. From a public health standpoint, what are the biggest issues dealing with COVID-19 in Rhode Island? First, the impact of COVID-19 on congregate-living settings has been devastating. About 75% of the state’s deaths are in nursing homes and assisted-living [residences]. With … appropriate testing and ample availability of personal protective equipment ... [we] can reduce the number of outbreaks in these settings. Second, COVID-19 has disproportionately impacted Black and Hispanic Rhode Islanders, with rates of infection occurring at 4-5 times the rate seen in whites. It is essential that testing be made widely available in Black and Hispanic neighborhoods.
2. What steps should Rhode Islanders be taking to brace for a second wave of outbreaks? Make the basics a habit: follow recommendations for social distancing; wear masks; wash your hands frequently; get tested and quarantine yourself if you have any COVID-19 symptoms. Keep a log of who you see, either electronic or hand written, to make contact tracing easier.
3. If a second wave comes, what have we learned from the first wave to manage it? We have learned that the tools that we do have … are highly effective if implemented correctly. Testing is critical. … I anticipate that there will be new developments in testing that will make it easier to know whether you have been infected previously and have protective antibodies, and whether you are currently infected and need to be in isolation.
4. Why can’t we rely on the public reaching a “herd immunity” threshold to protect us from COVID-19? For herd immunity to protect us, a minimum of 70% of the population must have protective antibodies against COVID-19. You can get protective antibodies from having had the virus, or from a vaccine. Rhode Island is nowhere near achieving herd immunity.
5. When students return to school, what changes will you be making to your own department? We will test students, faculty, staff and anyone else who will be on campus. All who test positive will be quarantined for at least 14 days and contact tracing will be done. Recurrent testing of asymptomatic persons will be done at some regular interval. Proper social distancing will be maintained in all university activities, students will all have single rooms, we will require masks and encourage frequent handwashing.
Alexa Gagosz is a PBN staff writer. Contact her at Gagosz@PBN.com.
