INSIDE WVSMA
Editor ’ s Letter
More COVID-19 Research in West Virginia
REFERENCES
Linda S . Nield , MD
The number of scientific articles in each issue of the West Virginia Medical Journal is now limited to three because of space constraints . Due to the large volume of high-quality manuscripts submitted for the special COVID-19 edition in March 2023 , this issue includes three more scientific articles about COVID-19 pandemic research in our state . The first article authored by Ihle and Mahmood includes findings of their study conducted in the first year of the pandemic , which focused on the COVID-19 risks of essential community workers , specifically employees of healthcare facilities versus non-healthcare facilities . 1 Demkowicz et al . authored the second article , and they report the pandemic effects on the seasonal influenza patterns in West Virginia ( WV ); readers can ponder potential reasons for the inverse correlation between COVID-19 and influenza test positivity rates that were observed throughout several COVID-19 surges . 2 In the third article , Lopez and colleagues explore the impact of COVID-19 infection on concurrent traumatic insults and describe the hyperinflammatory phase , which is particularly problematic for injured patients . 3
Along with studies ongoing in WV , the amount of research dedicated to the pandemic occurring nationally is immense . The number of article titles generated from a literature search using the term “ COVID-19 ” in PubMed is approaching half a million . Lay publications and lay and medical websites have provided vast amounts of information to the public , especially about the use of masks in WV throughout various times during the pandemic . 4-9 As of the writing of this Editor ’ s Letter , the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises to know your COVID-19 community level , and if the level is considered high then wear a high-quality mask or respirator . 10 Not wearing face masks has been a welcomed event for most people , but I am having difficulty letting the habit go , especially in stores and church , even though my community level is low . Are others having difficulty letting go of mask wearing , as well ?
1 . Ihle R , Mahmood SK . COVID-19 : West Virginia Essential Workers and the Risks They Face . WVMJ . 2023 ; 119 ( 2 ): 16-20 .
2 . Demkowicz R , LaSala PR , Stoilov P , Denvir J , Moddle J , Perrotta PL . COVID-19 Pandemic Effects on Seasonal Influenza Patterns in West Virginia . WVMJ . 2023 ; 119 ( 2 ): 22-28 .
3 . Lopez S , Torrico CP , DeLa ’ O C . The Impact of COVID-19 Infection on Concurrent Traumatic Insults : An Analysis from the West Virginia Trauma System . WVMJ . 2023 ; 119 ( 2 ): 30-35 .
4 . Office of the Governor . Statewide Indoor Face Covering Requirement . Available at : https :// governor . wv . gov / Pages / Statewide-Indoor-Face-Covering-Requirement . aspx . Accessed April 10 , 2023 .
5 . United States Department of Labor . COVID-19 Workplace Safety Plan . December 2022 . https :// www . dol . gov / sites / dolgov / files / general / plans / 2022-covid-19-workplacesafety-plan . pdf . Accessed on April 10 , 2023 .
6 . Marshall Health . Continued COVID-19 Coverage . Available at : https :// www . marshallhealth . org / patients-visitors / covid-19-resources / continued-covid-19-coverage /. Accessed on April 10 , 2023 .
7 . Charleston Area Medical Center Vandalia Heath . Coronavirus ( COVID-19 ). Available at : https :// www . camc . org / coronavirus-covid-19 . Accessed on April 10 , 2023 .
8 . The Parkersburg News and Sentinel . About face : WVU Medicine relaxing masking policy . Available at : https :// www . newsandsentinel . com / news / business / 2023 / 02 / about-face-wvu-medicine-relaxing-masking-policy /. Accessed on April 10 , 2023 .
9 . Centers for Disease Control and Prevention . COVID-19 by County . Available at : https :// www . cdc . gov / coronavirus / 2019-ncov / your-health / covid-by-county . html . Accessed on April 10 , 2023 .
Summer is almost here , and hopefully the winter respiratory viruses will decline , and COVID-19 infection levels will remain low . Thank you to all the authors who submitted their research findings associated with the first three years of the pandemic , and a safe and healthy summer is wished for all .
6 • www . wvsma . org