Author: JasonGraziadei
Skin Care During COVID-19: Q&A with Arianne Shadi Kourosh, MD, MPH
Key Takeaways
- The COVID-19 pandemic has forced many people to spend an unprecedented amount of time indoors
- As the pandemic continues into the summer, Mass General dermatologist Arianne Shadi Kourosh, MD, MPH, responds to common questions about skin care and protection from the sun
With summer weather approaching, most people can expect to be spending more time outdoors. In this Q&A, Arianne Shadi Kourosh, MD, MPH, director of Community Health in the Department of Dermatology at Massachusetts General Hospital, shares some considerations for dermatologic care and protection from the sun during COVID-19.
Q: Most Americans have been spending an unprecedented amount of time indoors during quarantine. Could this extended period of time with reduced exposure to sunlight make some people’s skin more susceptible to sun damage?
Kourosh: It’s important to highlight that sunlight is not the only source of radiation that our skin faces every day. Visible light and infrared radiation (heat) can also cause damage and aging, and hyperpigmentation of the skin.
For example, the light emitted from computer screens and mobile devices, including blue light within visible light spectrum, can affect the skin and eyes, contributing to skin damage, eyestrain and possibly even cataracts. During the COVID-19 pandemic we are spending more time facing screens than ever, so it’s good to be mindful of this and take protective measures. (more…)
Guidance to Cape & Islands Seasonal Community
Information for Members of Cape Cod & the Island’s Seasonal Community:
- Orientación para la comunidad estacional de Cape Cod y las Islas (Español)
- Orientação para a Comunidade de Veraneio do Cabo & Ilhas (Portuguesa)
Updated as of July 6, 2020 – Effective through the end of Phase 3 of Governor Baker’s Phased Plan to Reopen Massachusetts.
Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard, Nantucket, and the Elizabeth Islands appreciate, welcome, and depend on you, our visitors, seasonal residents, non-resident homeowners, and seasonal workforce. On July 6, 2020, Massachusetts entered the first part of Phase 3 of opening businesses and organizations.
Cape Cod and the Islands are now welcoming visitors with some restrictions:
- Accommodations of all types (including short term rental of homes, condos, and cottages)
- Seated dining and take out
- Retail shops
- Museums
- Outdoor historic and recreational activities
Please check with your host or local business for specific opening dates and available amenities.
We care about your health and ours, thus all enterprises must certify participation in the Commonwealth’s Mandatory Safety Standards. Please be patient and follow health advisories as we all try to adjust to this “new normal”.
We have been successful in limiting the extent of the spread of COVID-19 in our communities by implementing early and vigilant social distancing measures per the guidance of public health officials. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health warns that all of Massachusetts remains vulnerable to new cases due to the highly contagious and insidious nature of this disease.
We all must do our part to remain safe and healthy by following the common sense precautionary measures outlined by public health officials:
- Follow public health guidelines and orders:
o Wash your hands and clean surfaces frequently
o Protect yourself and others with a face covering/mask in public places where social distancing is not possible
o Practice social distancing by remaining 6 feet away from others
o Stay vigilant for symptoms and stay home if you’re sick - Please be advised that the Governor of Massachusetts has instructed all travelers arriving to Massachusetts to self-quarantine for 14 days. This does not apply to travelers from Rhode Island, Connecticut, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, New York, or New Jersey. Visit this link for further details.
o Individuals are instructed not to travel if they are displaying symptoms
o If exhibiting flu like symptoms or experiencing respiratory illness, do not go to work. Contact a local healthcare provider for instructions on accessing care.
o Check and follow advisories on transportation, especially if you are traveling by ferry or air - For information regarding Massachusetts COVID-19 response, please visit: Mass.gov/covid19 and Mass.gov/reopening
We appreciate your support of our local economy.
With your help, and all of us working together, Cape Cod and the Islands will recover from this virus and these challenging economic times. We look forward to welcoming you back. Thank you for supporting this place that we all love by respecting this guidance.
Massachusetts Department of Public Health Acute Care Hospital Phase 2 Reopen Attestation
For more information:
Statement from Gary Shaw, NCH President & CEO
As I was driving to the Minneapolis airport last week to return to Nantucket, I could see a car burning on a freeway entry ramp and smoke rising from the downtown area as a result of the unrest following the tragic and needless death of George Floyd.
What I saw passing through Minneapolis and in the news images of protests from across the country over the past week have been stark reminders of how much work is left to be done to confront and eliminate racism and support marginalized people in our society. Medical organizations across the country, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Medical Association and the American College of Physicians, have recognized that racism is a public health issue.
I echo the recent sentiments shared by Anne Klibanski, President and CEO of Mass General Brigham, and Peter Slavin, President and CEO of Massachusetts General Hospital on these issues. I want Nantucket Cottage Hospital to join with our colleagues across the system in examining the challenges of systemic racism in our own health system, and to lead by example and actions. I agree wholeheartedly that we can confront racism only when our colleagues and patients of color feel fully seen, heard and appreciated for the value that they bring every single day to Nantucket Cottage Hospital. We are part of a healthcare system that is committed to ending suffering, but it’s important that we recognize that we can and must do more to ensure equity in providing care to all residents of the island community. (more…)
