Concerns over the spread of the coronavirus as the U.S. enters its ninth month of the pandemic has prompted one city to ban Halloween trick-or-treating. Leila Barraza, an associate professor at University of Arizona in the College of Public Health and a Senior Consultant at the Network for Public Health Law says that recommendations, not outright bans, is likely the preferred approach by health officials. “There is always a balance of constitutional protections and potential for infringement on an individuals’ right versus protection of a community, just like with isolation and quarantine or vaccination laws,” she told McClatchy News. “That’s what some of these local jurisdictions are trying to do by giving these recommendations — giving people safer, lower risk options to follow.”

Interview with Dr. Murtaza Akhter, an emergency physician at Valleywise Health Medical Center and assistant professor at the University of Arizona College of Medicine in Phoenix.

Most public health experts agree that herd immunity is not really a wise approach to defeat COVID-19. “We don't have anywhere near the percentage of the population exposed, infected and recovered or somehow immunized to COVID-19 yet. We're not going to get to herd immunity until much more people are exposed to the virus or if we have a vaccine which will enable people to get immunity,” said Dr. Shad Marvasti, a public health expert with the University of Arizona College of Medicine in Phoenix.

Ben Conner, a third-year MD/PhD student at the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix, is studying a robotic walking therapy for children with cerebral palsy.

University of Arizona College of Nursing Assistant Professor Jessica Rainbow and Chloe Littzen, a nursing PhD candidate, are seeking ways to mitigate nurse burnout which has intensified during the coronavirus pandemic. They are conducting research that will describe the experiences of frontline nurses prior to, and during, the COVID-19 pandemic.

September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month — a time to share resources and stories that shed light on a stigmatized topic. In Gila County alone, veterans are nearly twice as likely than the general population to die by suicide. In an effort to prevent suicide and support veterans, their families and the community at large, the University of Arizona’s Center for Rural Health partnered with the Arizona Coalition for Military Families to expand the Be Connected veteran support program in rural southern Arizona counties, including Gila.

A focus on computing technology is positioning the University of Arizona Health Sciences to take advantage of the ever-increasing research opportunities afforded by big data.

A $2.2 million federal grant will allow Dr. Eugene Chang, a sinus surgeon at the UArizona College of Medicine - Tucson, to investigate human genetic viral interactions in the development of sinus disease.

Black in Microbiology Week is the latest in a series of virtual events highlighting Black scientists in a variety of disciplines. “This is really a chance to welcome new voices and amplify those that have not been heard,” said Michael D. L. Johnson, a microbiologist and immunologist at the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson, who will take part in Friday’s Black in Bacteriology panel.