Researchers at UTMB have determined that it is possible to disinfect single-use surgical masks and N95 filtering masks, allowing health care workers to reuse the PPE. UTMB’s Miguel Grimaldo and his team used an autoclave to clean the masks. Even after a third cleaning, the masks were still found to be 99 percent as effective as new masks. Houston’s 93.7 The Beat radio also published this information along with other iHEART stations.

The COVID-19 pandemic has health care professionals dealing with long hours and many unknowns. In this local story, UTMB’s Shawn Nishi and Susan McLellan discuss what their lives have been like as they treat patients battling the illness One of McLellan’s patients who participated in the Remdesivir drug trial was also interviewed for the story.

Personal protective equipment, and in particular masks, have been a topic of much concern for front-line health care workers and first responders dealing with spread of the new coronavirus. The global spread of the disease has strained supplies and disrupted supply chain, making the needed masks harder to come by.

A $2.5M donation from The Moody Foundation will help UTMB continue making advances in core mission areas: research, patient care and education. “These generous gifts come at a crucial time for the medical branch and will help us to continue making progress in many different and important fields while also dealing with a worldwide pandemic,” said president ad interim, Dr. Ben Raimer. The Houston Business Journal also reported the Moody Foundation’s donation.

In this interview with the Brazoria County newspaper, Katrina Lambrecht discusses UTMB’s reopening of non-COVID related clinical services. “We understand now that we are going to be living with COVID for some time to come,” said Lambrecht. “We just want to make sure that people are also taking care of their other regular health care needs – that they aren’t afraid to get care.”

Brazoria County residents quickly gathered to show their appreciation for all of the hard work and care provided by nurses, doctors and first responders at UMTB’s Angleton-Danbury Campus, by participating in a parade at the campus. “We wanted to do something special,” said UTMB’s Tonya Visor, who helped organize the parade. “This is about honoring our heroes.”

UTMB’s Thomas Ksiazek is one of the experts providing advice in this story. Ksiazek recommended hand washing as one of the best tools to prevent illness, and noted that commuting on a packed train during rush hour is the antithesis of social distancing. MSN also distributed the tips.

In the midst of the pandemic, there has been an increase in single-use disposable items, but experts say those items are not always safer. Some are even questioning sanitation procedures in their own home, but UTMB’s Vineet Menachery says that is an unnecessary concern, as plain old soap and water does the trick.

In his weekly column, Victor Sierpina provides readers with an overview of efforts taken at UTMB to make sure patients seeking non-COVID related health care are safe. Sierpina notes that while the pandemic is not over, readers should also focus on care of acute and chronic medical problems and can feel safe doing so in UTMB clinics.

The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the lives of Americans in many ways. UTMB’s Sally Robinson writes that there has been a concern that children may not be getting their well-child care. In her column, Robinson explains efforts UTMB has made to make sure parents can feel safe bringing children in for care as the health care system slowly and carefully opens up services.