Antibodies that may protect against COVID-19 in people who have previously had the virus declined over the summer, according to a new study that could throw doubt on the idea that a population can develop herd immunity. A University of Arizona Health Sciences Study that examined a sample of nearly 6,000 COVID-19 patients, showed that antibodies persist for months after infection, providing long-term immunity. “We clearly see high-quality antibodies still being produced five to seven months after SARS-CoV-2 infection,” said Deepta Bhattacharya, associate professor of immunobiology, at University of Arizona College of Medicine.

Experts say that unlike the COVID-19 spikes in the U.S. in the spring and summer, which hit hardest in the Northeast and the Sun Belt, respectively, the current surge is happening nationwide: COVID-19 cases are currently rising in almost every state. "What we're seeing right now is not only worrisome with such widespread transmission and high case counts," said Saskia Popescu, an epidemiologist at the University of Arizona and a member of the Federation of American Scientists' Coronavirus Task Force. "But with impending holidays, likely travel, and people moving indoors due to colder weather, I'm increasingly concerned that this will be a rather steep and long third wave."

Dr. Kelly Reynolds, an environmental microbiologist in the Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health at the University of Arizona, acknowledged that more lockdowns are probably coming in the weeks and months ahead, citing curfews in Europe and a voluntary stay-at-home order in El Paso, Texas. The good news, she added, is that mortality rates are lower now than they were in the spring, indicating doctors have gotten better at treating the virus and that communities are less likely to “get into danger zones where hospitals get overrun.”

Dr. Elaine Situ-LaCasse, an associate professor and emergency ultrasound faculty at the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix, is leading a study to design an educational program teaching rural health care professionals about the use of lung ultrasound technology remotely.

Scott Sherman, MD, PhD, and Torsten Falk, PhD, both associate professors at the University of Arizona College of Medicine and authors of the previous studies, are currently working with the university’s Tech Launch Arizona to patent the findings.

Sarah Coles, MD, is an assistant professor at the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix Family Medicine Residency was recently named chair of the AAFP’s Commission on Health of the Public and Science. She also has joined the collection of researchers and clinicians dubbed the “Nerdy Girls,” who provide the public with evidence-based information about COVID-19 through the Dear Pandemic website and social media.

While the days leading up to most presidential elections carry a certain frenzied, exhausted energy fueled by attack ads and nonstop robocalls, this election cycle has felt abnormally anxiety-inducing for many Americans. “We’re certainly in the middle of a perfect storm,” said Dr. Esther Sternberg, research director at the Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine at the University of Arizona. Humans respond physiologically to stress — we sweat, our hearts race — and those responses, Sternberg said, are essential for our survival.

As people have adjusted their daytime rhythms to the pandemic, experts say they have also experienced changes in their sleep patterns. "People are having to find new rhythms in their life, and sometimes it's throwing their sleep off," said Michael Grandner, director of the Sleep and Health Research Program at University of Arizona College of Medicine - Tucson.

While Arizona isn't seeing the surge or "second wave" of COVID-19 cases occurring in other states, public-health officials here are concerned cases could rise again. Epidemiologists say some rural regions of the state haven't fully recovered from the first wave and could be hit much harder a second time around. Dr. Daniel Derksen, director of the Center for Rural Health at the University of Arizona, said four rural Arizona counties have had double the per-capita number of coronavirus infections and deaths of the state's urban areas.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, pharmacists have been forced to face challenges to their practice that have required not only adaptation and flexibility, but also moments of empathy and vulnerability. Nancy A. Alvarez, associate dean for academic and professional affairs at the University of Arizona College of Pharmacy – Phoenix, recently discussed how approaches to mentorship and leadership have been affected by the chaos and change that has become endemic during this time.