The 2020 University of Arizona Arthritis Center “Bear Down for Health: Sport and Science in the Era of COVID-19” livestream panel discussion and reception is Sept. 16 at 11 a.m.

Many health experts say the health risk of casting an in-person ballot is relatively low. In a risk-assessment chart co-created by Saskia Popescu, an epidemiologist at the University of Arizona, voting would go in the same low-medium risk category as playing golf or tennis.

John Galgiani, head of the University of Arizona’s Valley Fever Center for Excellence, is heading up vaccine research at the center and believes the vaccine shown to prevent valley fever in mice should be available for dogs, which also get infected in large numbers.

An article examines the number of positive COVID-19 cases at each of the three state universities. Dr. Shad Marvasti, director of public health and prevention at the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix, is interviewed.

The University of Arizona Arthritis Center's "Bear Down for Health: Sport and Science in the Era of COVID-19" livestream panel discussion and reception will take place on Sept. 16. Special guests include Dave Heeke, Dr. Daniel Derksen and Dr. Janko Nikolich-Zugich.

Efforts are underway to bring to market a vaccine for a fungal infection that occurs in the deserts of the Southwest. Dr. John Galgiani, director of the University of Arizona's Valley Fever Center for Excellence, is heading up vaccine research there and believes the vaccine shown to prevent valley fever in mice should be available for dogs, which also get infected in large numbers, as soon as next year.

Historically, older adults have been underrepresented in clinical trials for certain treatments. But with the coronavirus, experts say it is critical that older adults be included in vaccine trials since the virus can impact them at higher rates. Dr. Shad Marvasti, an associate professor at the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix, said medical research has been mostly limited to a certain demographic – specifically, "middle aged white men."

Continuing coverage: Dr. Elizabeth Connick, an immunolobiologist at the University of Arizona College of Medicine - Tucon said that she doesn't disinfect and wash food packages, frozen or otherwise. "I did that for about a week, then decided there would be more cases if the virus was transmitted that way. I don't think there is a lot of virus hanging around on those packages," Connick said.

With the coronavirus spreading through colleges at alarming rates, universities are scrambling to find quarantine locations in dormitory buildings and off-campus properties to isolate the thousands of students who have caught COVID-19 or been exposed to it. Joe Gerald, an associate professor of public health policy and management at the University of Arizona, said the idea of identifying cases, contact tracing and quarantining is the right approach. He said it's just going to be hard to do in dorms, frat houses or places where students congregate.

Dr. Shad Marvasti, an associate professor at the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix, said Memorial Day weekend was a disaster in terms of the pandemic. “We paid the price for it when we saw the increase in the number of cases, hospitalizations, and deaths in Arizona. Hopefully, we’ve grown wiser and more sober from the realities of COVID-19.”