Coronavirus Media Briefing Friday 2-5-21

The number of COVID-19 patients being treated at The University of Kansas Health System continues to drop today. 30 people with the active virus are being treated, down from 34 yesterday. Of those patients, 10 are in the ICU, down from 11 yesterday. Four of those ICU patients are on ventilators today, the same as yesterday. 59 other patients are still hospitalized because of COVID-19 but are out of the acute infection phase, up from 57 yesterday. That’s a total of 89 patients, down from 91 yesterday. In addition, HaysMed has a total of 17 COVID-19 inpatients, down from 18 yesterday, with seven of those active patients and 10 in the recovery phase.

On today’s Morning Media Update, as we look towards the Super Bowl weekend, Amanda Cackler is back to help answer media and community questions. She joins Dana Hawkinson, MD, medical director of Infection Prevention and Control and Steve Stites, MD, chief medical officer. They discussed Super Bowl safety, and Chef Eric King brought in two healthy Super Bowl recipes submitted by viewers.

Before getting to the questions, Chef Eric presented two heart healthy Super Bowl snack foods which he prepared from recipes submitted by viewers. First is a healthy artichoke dip offered by Lauren May on behalf of her son Judah, born here at the health system four years ago with heart problems and doing great today.

The second recipe was sent in by Leslie McGuire who is a breast cancer survivor and fan of the Morning Media Update. She calls her recipe Crispy Cauliflower Buffalo Wings. She serves these bites with a combination of Greek yogurt, lemon and chives. Both recipes are listed below.
Here are the media and community questions in the order the panel addressed them, followed by the short answer. See the video for their full answers and comments. Time code for the question is in parentheses.

(7:22) What’s your take on the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, which has been submitted to the FDA for emergency use authorization? It’s a good addition and will help with supply problems. With its one dose, it’s not as effective as Pfizer or Moderna, but still higher than the flu vaccine. It will prevent serious infections.
(13:56) Why do you think infections and hospitalizations here and across the country are dropping dramatically? Behaviors are changing and people are taking the pandemic seriously with masking and social distancing. Vaccines have not had a major effect yet but that’s expected to change with wider distribution.
(17:35) Is there a concern about a spike in numbers from Super Bowl parties? Yes, if people get overconfident and ignore the rules of infection prevention. As long as we don’t mix our bubbles, we can keep the Super Bowl from being a super spreader.
(24:22) I’m a health system patient but live in Missouri. Is that a factor in my name not being selected to receive the vaccine? No. All 80,000 to 120,000 patients over 65 have been randomized. But there have been only 2000 doses available.
(25:00) Are symptoms different with the new virus variant? Do the vaccines work against it? The symptoms are the same. The companies say their vaccines are effective against the variants. Prevention strategies are the same. Wear a mask, wash your hands and keep your distance. That advice has had a major impact on flu cases this year. The health system has not had one positive influenza test.
(27:57) Does the current COVID-19 PCR test detect the new variant? Yes.
(29:20) I had a friend who received one dose of the vaccine and then tested positive for COVID-19 one week later. How does that happen? The vaccine takes about 14 days before it begins to offer protection.
(31:34) Would it be safe to gather with six to eight people indoors if I am two weeks past my second dose of COVID-19 vaccine? If they live in your household and are part of your bubble, yes. The vaccine should not, however, change our current practices of masking and social distancing.
(32:06) If I was exposed to COVID-19, how long should I wait to get tested? 5-7 days after a known exposure. Get the PCR rather than the antigen test.
(32:39) At what point does the loss of taste or smell happen with COVID-19? Everyone’s response is different and 40% of patients don’t have that symptom at all. Some develop within 3-4 days, but there’s no definite time frame.
(33:47) Is it safe to be around someone who has had COVID-19? If yes, for how long? If they have not been in your bubble, it’s best to keep your distance. Someone who has had the virus should be safe to go back into society 10 days after symptom onset.

Artichoke Dip
4 ounces of cream cheese
1/3 cup Greek yogurt
1/4 cup Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
2 cloves of garlic minced
10 ounces frozen spinach thawed/drained
10 ounces marinated artichoke quarters drained/chopped
1/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
Preheat oven to 375 degrees
Blend cream cheese, Greek yogurt, Parmigiano and garlic
Add drained spinach and chopped artichokes
Transfer to a small baking dish and top with shredded mozzarella
Bake until cheese is bubbling and starting to brown
20-30 minutes

Crispy Cauliflower Buffalo Wings

1 medium cauliflower, chopped into bite-size pieces

1/2 cup garbanzo bean flour
1/2 cup water
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon melted butter or ghee
2/3 cup hot sauce
Preheat oven to 450 degrees
Whisk together the flour, water, garlic powder and salt
Coat each cauliflower piece thoroughly
Bake the cauliflower for 15 minutes on a lightly greased baking sheet
Combine melted butter and hot sauce in a large bowl
Remove cauliflower and gently toss in hot sauce
Return to oven for 25 minutes or until crispy
Let cool for 15 minutes before serving

Monday, February 8 at 8:00 a.m. is the next Morning Media Update.

We look at the prevalence of heart damage among student athletes who have had COVID-19. Dr. David Smith, medical director of youth sports medicine and Dr. Tim Beaver, sports cardiologist will join. They will also talk about getting back to spring sports.

ATTENTION: media procedure for calling in:

The meeting is available by Zoom, both video and by phone. To join the Zoom Meeting by video, click https://kumc-ois.zoom.us/j/7828978628

Telephone dial-in Participants: For those without Zoom, call 1-312-626-6799, meeting ID: 782 897 8628.

The feed is also available via TVU grid. The TVU source is UoK_Health and is being made available to all.

Feel free to send questions in advance to medicalnewsnetwork@kumc.edu.

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(7:22) What’s your take on the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, which has been submitted to the FDA for emergency use authorization? It’s a good addition and will help with supply problems. With its one dose, it’s not as effective as Pfizer or Moderna, but still higher than the flu vaccine. It will prevent serious infections.
(13:56) Why do you think infections and hospitalizations here and across the country are dropping dramatically? Behaviors are changing and people are taking the pandemic seriously with masking and social distancing. Vaccines have not had a major effect yet but that’s expected to change with wider distribution.
(17:35) Is there a concern about a spike in numbers from Super Bowl parties? Yes, if people get overconfident and ignore the rules of infection prevention. As long as we don’t mix our bubbles, we can keep the Super Bowl from being a super spreader.
(24:22) I’m a health system patient but live in Missouri. Is that a factor in my name not being selected to receive the vaccine? No. All 80,000 to 120,000 patients over 65 have been randomized. But there have been only 2000 doses available.
(25:00) Are symptoms different with the new virus variant? Do the vaccines work against it? The symptoms are the same. The companies say their vaccines are effective against the variants. Prevention strategies are the same. Wear a mask, wash your hands and keep your distance. That advice has had a major impact on flu cases this year. The health system has not had one positive influenza test.
(27:57) Does the current COVID-19 PCR test detect the new variant? Yes.
(29:20) I had a friend who received one dose of the vaccine and then tested positive for COVID-19 one week later. How does that happen? The vaccine takes about 14 days before it begins to offer protection.
(31:34) Would it be safe to gather with six to eight people indoors if I am two weeks past my second dose of COVID-19 vaccine? If they live in your household and are part of your bubble, yes. The vaccine should not, however, change our current practices of masking and social distancing.
(32:06) If I was exposed to COVID-19, how long should I wait to get tested? 5-7 days after a known exposure. Get the PCR rather than the antigen test.
(32:39) At what point does the loss of taste or smell happen with COVID-19? Everyone’s response is different and 40% of patients don’t have that symptom at all. Some develop within 3-4 days, but there’s no definite time frame.
(33:47) Is it safe to be around someone who has had COVID-19? If yes, for how long? If they have not been in your bubble, it’s best to keep your distance. Someone who has had the virus should be safe to go back into society 10 days after symptom onset.