Health
HUHS Conducts Thousands of Coronavirus Tests for Harvard Affiliates Working On Campus
Harvard University Health Services and the Broad Institute have administered COVID-19 tests to approximately 3,000 employees and researchers to date at a testing site at Harvard Stadium as part of the University’s partial reopening of its offices and labs.
Harvard Medical School Affiliates Hold COVID-19 Briefing on Reopening Strategies for Massachusetts and Harvard
Experts from Harvard Medical School and the T.H. Chan School of Public Health discussed the state of the COVID-19 pandemic Friday, along with challenges associated with preventing new infections from skyrocketing after easing lockdown restrictions.
Coronavirus May Have Spread in China Last August, Preliminary Harvard Study Suggests
The novel coronavirus may have begun spreading in China as early as August 2019, new research from a team of scientists led by Harvard Medical School professor John S. Brownstein suggests.
Health Department Confirms More Than 1,000 COVID-19 Cases in Cambridge
The Cambridge Public Health Department reported Tuesday that the number of coronavirus cases in Cambridge had surpassed 1,000.
Mask-Wearing
The “six pillars” to control the outbreak are mask wearing, social distancing, testing, contract tracing, isolation, and treatment, all of which would be necessary to be in place at Harvard for students to return.
Harvard Medical School Moves Fall Semester Online for First-Year Students
Harvard Medical School will begin classes online for all first-year students in its medical, dental, and graduate programs this fall, the school announced Wednesday.
Medical School Faces Up to $65 Million in Losses in FY20
Harvard Medical School is facing losses between $39 million and $65 million for the current fiscal year, Dean George Q. Daley ’82 announced in an email to affiliates Thursday.
Cambridge Health Alliance to Open City Testing Center
The Cambridge Health Alliance is set to launch a testing center that will be free to all city residents above the age of 7 on Friday.
Gov. Baker Extends Massachusetts Stay-at-Home Advisory
Massachusetts Governor Charlie D. Baker ’79 will extend a stay-at-home advisory through May 18 to control the spread of coronavirus in the state.
Harvard, MIT Researchers Discover Subsets of Cells Especially Susceptible to COVID-19
Harvard and MIT researchers have found subsets of cells in the human nasal passages, lungs, and intestines that are particularly susceptible to COVID-19 infection, according to a study accepted to the scientific journal Cell Wednesday.
Number of Harvard Affiliates With Coronavirus Surpasses 100
The number of Harvard affiliates who reported testing positive for coronavirus reached 103 on Friday, according to a University website.
As Visits Decline During COVID-19 Crisis, Small Cambridge Medical Practices Reduce Operations
While COVID-19 cases surge at short-staffed hospitals across the Greater Boston area, routine visits to smaller Cambridge medical practices have declined.
Biogen Partners with Broad Institute to Build COVID-19 Biobank
The Kendall Square-based company Biogen announced on April 16 it will partner with the Broad Institute and Boston-area hospitals to build a COVID-19 biobank — a repository that will store biological samples to be used for research purposes.
OSAPR Cancels Some Programs, Transitions Others Online
The Office of Sexual Prevention and Response cancelled several events previously planned for Sexual Assault Awareness Month, shifted counseling online, and developed new resources in order to adapt to the current situation brought on by the coronavirus pandemic.
'Glimmers of Hope': Cambridge City Council Holds Special Meeting to Discuss Pandemic
The Cambridge City Council held a meeting Tuesday to update residents on the impact of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, as well as the city’s efforts to mitigate its effects.
At Least 500,000 Tests Needed Per Day to Reopen Economy, Harvard Researchers Say
Researchers at the Harvard Global Health Institute estimate the United States will need to perform at least 500,000 coronavirus tests per day in order to successfully reopen the economy, according to a Saturday report.
Harvard University Health Services Unveils Video Appointment Services
Harvard University Health Services is now providing video appointments for its services, which include internal medicine, urgent care, counseling and mental health services, and behavioral health, according to a Tuesday email from HUHS chief medical officer Soheyla D. Gharib.
Harvard Medical School, Partners HealthCare Criticized for Email Requesting Medical Student Volunteers
Harvard Medical School and Partners HealthCare came under fire this week for an email asking fourth-year medical students to volunteer at the Boston Hope medical center, a recently-opened 1000-bed COVID-19 recovery center.
Harvard Researchers Advocate Economic Aid for ‘Devastated’ Native American Tribes Amid Pandemic
Harvard researchers sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Steven T. Mnuchin last week advocating for support for Native American tribes facing economic hardship in light of the coronavirus pandemic.
Harvard COVID-19 Researchers to Use Facebook Data for Disease Forecasting
Harvard COVID-19 researchers have partnered with Facebook to implement user location data in order to better inform disease forecasting models, according to an April 6 Facebook announcement.
Harvard Graduate Forms COVID-19 Task Force on Domestic Violence to Combat Dangers of Staying at Home
As surveys find increasing rates of domestic violence during the COVID-19 epidemic, Harvard graduate Ashrithaa “Ashri” S. Anurudran ’19 has formed a task force focused on addressing the issue.
Social Distancing May Need to Continue into 2022, Harvard Researchers Find
Social distancing measures adopted to combat the coronavirus pandemic may need to continue into 2022, a team of scientists led by HSPH professors concluded.
City of Cambridge Modifies COVID-19 Case Reporting Amid Nursing Home Tests
The Cambridge Public Health Department will make an aggregate count of all confirmed COVID-19 cases and deaths in the city available online, including Cambridge residents living in nursing homes, the city announced Tuesday.
Cambridge Petition Challenges Harvard and MIT’s Aid to Homeless Population
Nearly 200 Cambridge residents — including Harvard and MIT affiliates — signed an online petition urging the two universities to house unsheltered residents and commit more resources to the city’s pandemic response efforts.