Health Center

April 15, 2020: Public Health Update

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From: Tom McLarney, MD
Date: Wednesday, April 15, 2020 at 5:10 PM
Subject: Public Health Update

To the Wesleyan Community,

I trust this note finds everyone in good health. I write today with another public health update on the coronavirus pandemic.

Since my last update, the CDC has announced that there will be antibody testing available within the next few weeks, which will measure two antibodies: Immunoglobulin M (IgM) and Immunoglobulin G (IgG).

Let me offer a quick Immunology 101 lesson: …

April 8, 2020: Public Health Update

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From: Tom McLarney, MD
Subject: Public Health Update

To the Wesleyan community,

Wishing you all health and safety during this tumultuous time.

Since our last update, the CDC has made new recommendations regarding face masks. These are the key points to know:

1. ) Masks should be worn when going out in the public such as grocery shopping or trips to the pharmacy. This also applies to students on campus picking up their take-out meals.
2.) The current recommendations…

March 31, 2020: Public Health Update

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From: Tom McLarney, MD
To: Lauren Rubenstein
Subject: Public Health Update

To the Wesleyan Community,

The Davison Health Center sends our wishes for good health and safety to everyone.

We continue to monitor the COVID-19 pandemic closely at the local, national and international levels.

Over the next few weeks, experts in the field predict increased cases of COVID-19 in the United States. Coupled with the lack of a vaccine, medication trials still in early phases, and troubling shortages in testing, personal protective equipment, and ventilators around the country, it is understandable to see high levels of fear and anxiety as we worry about our own well-being and the health of our loved ones.

With all these challenges, I would again like to stress the measures that we can all…

March 26, 2020: Health Advisory from the Davison Health Center

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From: Tom McLarney, MD
Subject: Health Advisory from the Davison Health Center

To the Wesleyan Community:

In light of the significant increase in COVID-19 cases in New York (especially in New York City and Westchester County) we urge students, staff and faculty to avoid travel to and from New York at all costs.

Travel to an epicenter such as we are seeing in New York not only increases your own risk of…

March 22, 2020: Accessing health services on campus

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From: Tom McLarney, MD
Date: Sunday, March 22, 2020 at 8:46 PM
Subject: Accessing health services on campus

To our students remaining on campus:

Thanks to everyone who attended the Zoom meeting this evening. As we mentioned, the Davison Health Center will be in operation from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. Monday through Friday for the remainder of the semester or until otherwise announced.

As you have been advised in prior correspondence, in order to prevent potentially infecting others, DO NOT WALK IN to the health center. Instead, please call us at 860-685-2470 to speak with one of our staff members.

For the same reason, if you are seeking…

March 13, 2020: Public Health Update

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From: Tom McLarney, MD
Subject: Public Health Update

To our student body:

As we transition from in-class learning to distance online learning, the University is promoting social distancing to ensure the safest environment for all. This includes picking up your personal belongings on campus. As this is difficult for any of us as social human beings, I feel you should know the medical rational behind this.

Dr. Anthony Fauci from the NIH gave an excellent answer to this question when he recently testified to Congress.  The essence of his presentation:

The best way to decrease the spread of this virus is to prevent…

January 22, 2020: Wesleyan Public Health Advisory – Corona Virus

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From: Tom McLarney, MD
Subject: Wesleyan Public Health Advisory – Corona Virus

To the Wesleyan Community:

Welcome back from winter break. I hope it was restful and rejuvenating.

As many of you know from news reports, there is a viral illness that has affected the Hubei Province (mainly in Wuhan) China.

This virus is a novel (new) strain of the Corona virus, which causes a respiratory illness.  In many cases, this illness is self-limited and lasts less than a week. However, there have been severe cases noted with a number of deaths attributed to this.

Symptoms are non-specific and are the same symptoms one would see with the influenza virus as well as common cold viruses.  These include cough, runny nose, headache, sore throat, fever and malaise (the feeling of being unwell).  The major difference is the risk…