Pandemic news — flu kits for elderly, mask study, sleep tips

World War II poster issued by the U.S. government

World War II poster issued by the U.S. government

BOSTON

From The New England Council (newenglandcouncil.com)

Here is the council’s Oct. 28 roundup:

  • “United Health Group Ships Flu Kits to Medicare Recipients UnitedHealth Group is sending medical care packages including Tamiflu and COVID-19 tests to patients considered the most at-risk for the virus. The kits will also include a digital thermometer and instructions for self-administering the COVID-19 test. Read more here.

  • “Harvard Medical School Releases Mask Study – Researchers at Harvard Medical School have found additional evidence of the benefits of mask wearing. The researchers found that universal masking in the Massachusetts health-care system led to a flattening, and then decreasing number of cases, even with cases rising in the surrounding population. Read more here.

  • “Massachusetts General Unveils Tips for Better Sleep During COVID-19 Massachusetts General Hospital has released a number of recommendations for better sleep during the COVID-19 pandemic. Citing increased levels of stress and anxiety, Massachusetts General compiled simple recommendations for people to keep well-rested. Read more here.

  • “Catholic Medical Center Adds Second Automated Disinfection Robot Catholic Medical Center has recently acquired a new Tru-Da device, which will help protect patients from hospital-acquired infections during the COVID-19 pandemic. The robot uses UVC light to modify the DNA and RNA of infectious cells, effectively sterilizing hospital rooms. Read more here.

  • “BIDMC Finds New Ways to Anticipate the Effects of COVID-19 – Researchers at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center have proposed the adoption of complexity science – a field concerned with understanding dynamic, unpredictable systems, such as the human brain, economies or climates – to predict and inform pandemic responses. Read more here.’’