COVID-19 weekly news: April 13 – 19

Mayo Clinic Q and A: Foot rash and COVID-19

DEAR MAYO CLINIC: I am prone to hives and skin rashes, and I have severe eczema and other issues that prompted a recent visit to my dermatologist. She suggested that a rash on my feet was related to COVID-19. She also suggested that I be tested for COVID-19. I was shocked when the test came back positive. Can you explain what this phenomenon is?

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Mayo Clinic responds to the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine pause

On Tuesday, April 13, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced a joint recommendation to pause distribution of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine after reported cases of rare blood clotting events in recipients. As a result, Mayo Clinic will follow this guidance and pause on delivering the Johnson & Johnson vaccine until further notice. This pause affects only Mayo Clinic locations in the Midwest. Mayo Clinic in Arizona and Florida did not administer the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

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Sexually transmitted infections during COVID-19 pandemic

One in 5 Americans has a sexually transmitted infection, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). During Sexually Transmitted Diseases Awareness Week, April 12–17, the CDC encourages discussion, testing and help to remove the stigma surrounding sexually transmitted infections and diseases.

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Mayo Clinic Q and A: Should pregnant women be vaccinated for COVID-19?

DEAR MAYO CLINIC: I am a teacher at a middle school that is teaching students in person. I have been vigilant about following safety guidelines, but now that I am pregnant, I worry even more about contracting COVID-19 and the risk to my baby. Our state is opening up COVID-19 vaccines to educators, and I am wondering whether it is safe for me to be vaccinated for COVID-19?

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Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast: On the verge of another COVID-19 surge

"Wisdom resides in changing your mind and your recommendations as new data and science becomes available," says Dr. Poland. "What the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is doing is modifying those guidelines, saying that the risk of touching a contaminated surface and then getting infected is very low."

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Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast: Don’t miss a beat with preventive heart care

For many people, the COVID-19 pandemic has provided an opportunity to reassess priorities in their lives, spend more time with loved ones, and take care of some projects or personal issues that they’ve been avoiding. But some people may have been avoiding their heart health

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Samantha Rossi

Samantha Rossi is a Digital Marketing Manager at Mayo Clinic Laboratories. She supports marketing strategies for product management and specialty testing. Samantha has worked at Mayo Clinic since 2019.