COVID-19 Resources and Overview

COVID-19 Resources from the Michael & Susan Dell Center for Healthy Living

The Michael & Susan Dell Center for Healthy Living has developed and disseminated COVID-19 research, findings, and news in a variety of communications. See the COVID-19 related work done by the Michael & Susan Dell Center for Healthy Living below.

Resources

COVID-19 Symptom Tracker
This COVID-19 Symptom Tracker is an app created by doctors and scientists that will study the symptoms of COVID-19 and track the spread of this virus.

CATCH Health at Home
At home and distance learning resources for parents and educators.

Research Recommendations:

Guidelines for Conduct of Community-based Research During the COVID-19 Pandemic
7/14/2020 - Recommendations and guidance for Principal Investigators (PI), Investigators, and Project Coordinators engaged in community-based research during the COVID-19 pandemic.

COVID-19 Research Screening Checklist
7/14/2020 - Screening checklists for research staff, study participants, and sites or organizations prior to field research.


COVID-19 Food Needs In Travis County 2-1-1 Call Analysis Project:


COVID-19 Webinar Archive:


Texas Research-to-Policy Collaboration Project Resources:

Public Health Outcomes of Healthcare Access

6/9/2020 - The TX RPC Project worked with Dr. Katelyn Jetelina from The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) School of Public Health in Dallas to create this data brief on public health outcomes of healthcare access. This brief highlights the problem with healthcare access, as well as health and economic outcomes associated with healthcare access.

Frontline Workers during the COVID-19 Pandemic

7/7/2020 - Characteristics of frontline workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in specific Texas legislative districts and in Texas overall were developed into data briefs by a TX RPC Network Member. Calculations are based on labor data from the American Community Survey. 

Comparison of COVID-19 cases and deaths in nursing homes and long term care facilities

7/1/2020 - Data briefs that describe and compare general population COVID-19 cases and related deaths in nursing homes and long term care facilities within specific legislative districts and in Texas overall were developed by a TX RPC Network Member. Estimates were generated using COVID-19 case and death data from the New York Times database, population statistics from the American Community Survey, and nursing home and assisted living facility COVID-19 data from the Texas Department of State Health Services.

Considerations for Reopening K-12 Schools during COVID-19

8/21/2020 - In response to COVID-19, most K-12 schools cancelled in-person classes starting in mid-March. On March 19, 2020, Governor Abbott issued an executive order closing all Texas schools; schools completed the 2019-2020 school year through remote learning. In July, the Texas Education Agency released school reopening guidance that included flexibility at the local level to delay start dates and optional online-only delivery for the first several weeks of the 2020-2021 academic year. 

COVID-19 Impact of Working from Home on Mental Health

8/25/2020 - Following the March 13, 2020 U.S. national emergency declaration concerning COVID-19, Texas Governor Greg Abbott issued stay-at-home orders to slow and contain the spread of the coronavirus on March 20, 2020. As a result of physical distancing, large numbers of non-essential employees have started working from home. Individuals working and sheltering at home for extended periods face challenges of social isolation and loneliness, which can result in increased risks of depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, and substance use.

COVID-19: Impact of Pre-Existing Health Conditions in Adults

10/9/2020 - Studies have found adults with underlying medical conditions—or pre-existing conditions such as chronic kidney disease, obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and asthma—who contract COVID-19 have a higher risk for more severe illness, including hospitalization, admission to intensive care units (ICU), and death. COVID-19 hospitalizations were up to 6 times higher and deaths 12 times higher among patients with reported pre-existing conditions compared to patients with no reported pre-existing conditions between January and May of 2020.

COVID-19: Impact of Pre-Existing Health Conditions in Children

10/9/2020 - Though data on pediatric cases (≤18 years) of COVID-19 are limited, early studies indicate that severe complications from COVID-19 appear to be less common among children compared to adults. Children with underlying medical conditions—or pre-existing conditions such as obesity, diabetes, asthma, chronic lung disease, and immunosuppression—who contract COVID-19 have a higher risk for severity of illness, hospitalization, admission to pediatric intensive care units, and death.

COVID-19: Impact of Adult Obesity on Health Outcomes

10/12/2020 - Adults with obesity are at increased risk for severe illness, invasive mechanical ventilation, hospitalization, and death due to COVID-19. Prevalence of obesity and deaths from COVID-19 are substantially greater in the United States compared to other countries. 

COVID-19: Impact of Childhood Obesity on Health Outcomes

10/12/2020 - Though COVID-19 infections remain low in younger populations, children with obesity are at greater risk for hospitalization and mechanical ventilation from COVID-19. Recommendations include supporting telemedicine to coordinate care for youth with obesity,  strengthening school- and community-based efforts to promote healthy eating and physical activity, and reinforcing COVID-19 prevention efforts in childcare centers and schools.  

SNAP Utilization and Eligibility in Texas and Texas Legislative Districts

10/19/2020 - This data brief describes and compares Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) utilization and eligibility in Texas, Texas House Districts (HDs), and Texas Senate Districts (SDs).

Impact of COVID-19 on Food Insecurity

12/3/2020 - Food insecurity among adults and children has increased during the COVID-19 pandemic due to rising levels of unemployment, poverty, and limited access to school nutrition programs because of school closures. Current models predict that 54 million Americans (16%) will experience food insecurity in 2020 compared to 37 million Americans (11.5%) in 2018, an increase of 17 million food insecure Americans due to COVID-19.

Data Brief: Food Access in Texas and Texas Legislative Districts

1/11/2021 - Eating a healthy diet can be a challenge for people with limited income and/or limited physical access to supermarkets, grocery stores, and other sources of healthy and affordable food. This data brief describes and compares the number of individuals at risk of low food access in Texas, Texas House Districts (HDs), and Texas Senate Districts (SDs).

Comparing COVID-19 Vaccines: Pfizer/BioNTech vs. Moderna

1/25/2021 - This graphic describes and compares the Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna vaccines, and is available in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, and Mandarin. It can be downloaded and distributed to the public free of charge.

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP): Vehicle Value Limits

5/11/2021 - In Texas, approximately 79% of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients live in households with children, and more than 27% live in households with seniors or people with disabilities. Currently more than 3.4 million Texans use SNAP, representing 1.6 million households.

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP): Work Requirements

5/11/2021 - In Texas, approximately 79% of SNAP recipients live in households with children, and more than 27% live in households with seniors or people with disabilities. More than half of all Texas SNAP recipients live in families in which at least one person is working full time.

Public Health Experts are Needed in Policy Work Groups, Task Forces, and Advisory Committees

5/17/2021 - Approximately 80-90% of a person’s health outcomes are due to social determinants of health, such as where one lives and works. These foundations of health are especially important when predicting health outcomes for diverse populations, women, and children. 

TX RPC Newsletter Archive:


COVID-19 Related News Featuring the Michael & Susan Dell Center for Healthy Living:

COVID-19 Overview

COVID-19 is a disease caused by a novel coronavirus, a family of viruses that include everything from the common cold to SARS and MERS. First detected in China in December of 2019, COVID-19 has now been confirmed in six continents with community transmission. COVID-19 can be spread from person to person, and it may be possible to contract it by touching a surface that has been exposed to the virus. The incubation period from exposure to illness ranges from two to fourteen days.

Symptoms of COVID-19 are similar to the flu, and can include fever, cough, diarrhea and fatigue. Most patients have a mild illness, with more severe symptoms occurring during the second week of illness.

There is currently not a vaccine for the virus, and the best defense is to practice preventive measures:

  • Use soap and water to wash your hands. Wash hands often, for at least 20 seconds each time. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.
  • Know the symptoms: Fever, cough, shortness of breath, fatigue.
  • Avoid touching your mouth, nose, and eyes with unwashed hands.
  • Stay home if you are sick and avoid close contact with people who are sick.
  • Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then properly dispose of the tissue to prevent the spread of infection.
  • Disinfect and clean frequently touched objects and surfaces.

Resources

Stay informed by following updates from:

Austin Area Dashboards

Houston Area Dashboard

Texas Dashboards

Global Dashboard: