professor of medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, School of Medicine and associate professor of epidemiology, Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
professor of medicine and pediatrics, Adult and Pediatric Divisions of Infectious Diseases, School of Medicine and professor of epidemiology, Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
N C Med J. 2021 Jan-Feb;82(1):37-42. doi: 10.18043/ncm.82.1.37.
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, caused by severe acute coronavirus type 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has significantly affected the lives of many people across North Carolina and the United States. Similar to the rest of the country, the epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 in the state indicates health disparities among Black and Hispanic/Latino individuals, the presence of hotspots, or counties with high numbers of infected persons, and clusters of transmission among congregate living facilities. There have been many advances in diagnostic methods for SARS-CoV-2 and therapies for hospitalized patients nationwide. Public health strategies have included widespread testing for SARS-CoV-2, optimal management of cases, contact tracing efforts, and a phased reopening of sectors/activities in North Carolina with masks and physical distancing to minimize spread of the virus. In this issue, several authors, researchers, and public health leaders discuss the challenges that North Carolinians have experienced with respect to COVID-19 and several factors that are likely contributing to the health disparities among racial/ethnic minorities who have had the highest number of cases and deaths from SARS-CoV-2. Additional strategies also reported in this issue include the use of strike teams and mobile units to reach populations at high risk for infection and severe illness. Promoting individual and population-level strategies for minimizing transmission of SARS-CoV-2, especially among the most vulnerable, and consistent public health messaging based on science are critical as we face the new year and continued uncertainties around the COVID-19 pandemic.
2019 年冠状病毒病（COVID-19）大流行是由严重急性冠状病毒 2 型（SARS-CoV-2）引起的，它极大地影响了北卡罗来纳州和美国许多人的生活。与全国其他地区一样，该州 SARS-CoV-2 的流行病学表明，黑人和西班牙裔/拉丁裔个体之间存在健康差异，存在热点地区，即感染人数较多的县，以及集体生活设施之间的传播集群。在全国范围内，SARS-CoV-2 的诊断方法和住院患者的治疗方法都取得了许多进展。公共卫生策略包括广泛检测 SARS-CoV-2、对病例进行最佳管理、追踪接触者以及分阶段重新开放北卡罗来纳州的部门/活动，同时佩戴口罩和保持身体距离，以最大程度减少病毒的传播。在本期中，几位作者、研究人员和公共卫生领导人讨论了北卡罗来纳人在 COVID-19 方面所经历的挑战，以及几个可能导致感染和 SARS-CoV-2 死亡人数最多的少数族裔之间存在健康差异的因素。本期还报告了其他策略，包括使用工作队和流动单位来接触感染和重病风险高的人群。推广个人和人群层面的策略以最大程度减少 SARS-CoV-2 的传播，特别是在最脆弱的人群中，并根据科学持续发布一致的公共卫生信息，这对于我们面对新的一年以及围绕 COVID-19 大流行的持续不确定性至关重要。
