As nurses and healthcare professionals, we know you are on the front lines in the fight against COVID-19. We want to make sure you have access to reliable, accurate information and resources that help you better serve your patients and community. 

Each Friday, we will share an update with the most helpful resources we have found to-date, specifically for HIV/AIDS healthcare teams and PLWHIV. All past updates can be found on our website. Additionally, we will share information as we receive it on our Facebook page. 

Click here to view all past COVID-19 updates, along with other relevant resources. Thank you for all you are doing to care for your communities.

Relevant Resources

• ANAC hosted two webinars this week. Recordings are available:
• ANAC's COVID-19 update from nursing leadership on the front line. CNE is available after completing the recorded webinar: Click here
• American Academy of HIV Medicine (AAHIVM) and ANAC's joint webinar titled COVID-19: A Clinical Update for HIV Care Providers. At the site, please press the play button on the bottom left corner to start the recording: Click here

• The World Health organization (WHO) has an updated site on global concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic, including country and technical guidance information: Click here

• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has developed Phone Advice Line Guidelines for children (2-17 years) or adults (≥ 18 years) with possible COVID-19. This script with the accompanying decision algorithm and messages is useful for clinicians: Click here

• The CDC has a FAQ page dedicated to  COVID-19: What people with HIV should know .  The CDC notes that although the risk of serious illness from COVID-19 for people with HIV is not known, people with HIV may have concerns and questions related to their risk.   This is continually updated as information becomes available: Click here

• Interim Guidance for COVID-19 and Persons with HIV: Updated March 20, 2020 from  aidsinfo.nih.gov:

  • In current reports, individuals aged >60 years and those with diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease or pulmonary disease are at the highest risk of life-threatening COVID-19, the illness caused by the virus known as SARS-CoV-2.
  • The limited data currently available do not indicate that the disease course of COVID-19 in persons with HIV differs from that in persons without HIV.
  • Some people with HIV have other comorbidities (e.g. cardiovascular disease or lung disease) that increase the risk for a more severe course of COVID-19 illness. Chronic smokers are also at risk of more severe disease.
  • For additional information: Click here 

• Director of maternal-fetal medicine at Johns Hopkins, Jeanne Sheffield, M.D., discusses a March 26 Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) letter and other factors about COVID-19 and pregnancy: Click here
   
• A $2 trillion dollar relief package was signed into law to offer assistance to tens of millions of American households affected by the coronavirus pandemic. This article from the New York Times includes useful FAQs about assistance eligibility, the process for aid and unemployment benefits: Click here

• The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) has developed an extensive guide to COVID -19's impact on  mental health  and how we can reject stigma and build resilience during this time: Click here

• The WHO Department of Mental Health and Substance Use has developed a series of messages that can be used in communications to support mental and psychosocial well-being in different target groups during the COVID-19 outbreak: Click here

• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) created a guide titled Taking Care of Your Behavioral Health that includes t ips for social distancing, quarantine and isolation during an infectious disease outbreak: Click here

• Despite earlier misinformation,  the FDA announced on April 2 it  has issued its first  emergency use authorization  for a coronavirus serology test that looks for antibodies in the blood.  This test is not intended for diagnosis,  but  it will help health officials  better understand how prevalent COVID-19 is in a population and to determine past infection despite little or no symptoms. For more information: Click here

• SAMHSA put together a comprehensive list of resources and information for providing substance use treatment and support during the COVID-19 outbreak: Click here