COVID-19: An Update from Mayo Clinic

Posted: March 20, 2020

• Mayo Clinic Deferring Elective Care: To ensure the safest possible environment for our patients and staff and to free up resources to assist in Mayo Clinic’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Mayo is deferring all elective care that can be deferred for eight or more weeks. Please know that we did not make this decision lightly, and in order for it to be effective, we must be stringent in applying it. Mayo will be reaching out to patients if changes to existing appointments are needed. Mayo Clinic is not alone in taking this extraordinary measure, as health systems across the country are starting to implement similar actions. More information is available at Mayo Clinic News Network.
• What to Do If You Suspect COVID-19: In an article on Mayo Clinic News Network, Dr. Clayton Cowl provides guidance for people who have a cough, fever, fatigue or other symptoms.
• Tips on Handling Concerns Related to COVID-19: If worry about coronavirus is becoming disruptive in your life, Dr. Sheila Jowsey-Gregoire, a Mayo Clinic psychiatrist, has advice in this article. These coping strategies can help you feel more in control of your emotions and lessen the anxiety associated with the pandemic situation.
• Gift to Support Mayo Clinic’s Response to COVID-19: On March 15, Minnesota Timberwolves player Karl-Anthony Towns announced a $100,000 gift to support Mayo Clinic’s response to COVID-19. Mr. Towns was inspired by Mayo Clinic’s recent development of a test that can detect the virus that causes COVID-19 and deliver results to patients within 24 hours. With this support, Mayo Clinic will increase its testing capacity from about 200 tests per day to more than 1,000 tests per day in the coming weeks. More information about the gift is available at Mayo Clinic News Network.

In a message to Mayo Clinic patients last week, Mayo Clinic President and CEO Dr. Gianrico Farrugia and Mayo Clinic Chief Administrative Officer Jeff Bolton emphasized that Mayo Clinic is well prepared to meet the needs of our patients and communities. Dr. Farrugia reiterated that point in an interview with CNBC this week, noting that with each passing day Mayo Clinic is increasingly well prepared.

For the latest updates from Mayo Clinic experts, I encourage you to visit Mayo Clinic News Network for a stream of articles updated in real time as circumstances and guidance from public health agencies change. Among the resources is a podcast highlighting simple steps you can take to protect yourself from COVID-19. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s COVID-19 website is another excellent source of information.