Researchers at the University of Arizona College of Nursing are collecting stories from front-line nurses across the country about what their jobs were like pre-pandemic, and what they are now.

SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, can relieve pain, according to a new study by University of Arizona Health Sciences researchers.

University of Arizona Heath Sciences researchers developed one of the most accurate COVID-19 antibody tests available and now have shown antibodies persist for months after infection, providing long-term immunity.

Public health experts continue to warn that hospitals may become overwhelmed in the coming weeks as the latest spike in cases leads to more hospitalizations – a situation reminiscent of the last statewide spike in cases over the summer. "If we don't do something to change the pace of this outbreak, we will again overburden our hospitals. It's coming," said Dr. Joe Gerald, an associate professor with the University of Arizona's Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health.

Dr. Shad Marvasti, with the University of Arizona College of Medicine in Phoenix, said we need to keep a statewide mask mandate in place, expand testing and also do more routine pool testing.

Arizona has reported more than 12,000 new positive cases of COVID-19 this week. Health experts are continuing to urge caution as the spread of the virus accelerates through the state. In a COVID-19 forecast this week, Dr. Joe Gerald, an associate professor at University of Arizona's Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, wrote the state could be setting records for new cases by the end of this month.

Spine surgeon Ali Baaj, MD, is named chief of spine surgery at the University of Arizona College of Medicine-Phoenix and Banner-University Medical Center Phoenix.

As new COVID-19 cases continue to surge across the state, the Paradise Valley Unified School District has decided to return to virtual learning-only starting Nov. 23. "Everything is moving in the wrong direction. The holidays are coming. We have folks coming in from out of town. It's wise at this point. We're not anticipating it's going to be closed for one or two weeks and then open back up. We should think about a strategy for the winter," said Dr. Shad Marvasti, director of public health, prevention and health promotion with the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix.

Dr. Khadijah Breathett, an assistant professor of cardiology at the University of Arizona College of Medicine, called the new findings "worrisome," partly because hospital care for these acute cardiac complications should be "fairly regimented and standardized."

A health expert at the University of Arizona warns COVID-19 conditions in Arizona have the state entering a 'crisis.' In his weekly COVID-19 report, Dr. Joe Gerald, an associate professor in the Zuckerman College of Public Health at the University of Arizona writes: "Even though the same number of Covid-19 cases is yielding fewer hospitalizations and deaths today than in June, Arizona is still poised to overwhelm its hospital capacity unless action is quickly taken."