COVID-19 (2019 Coronavirus)
On December 30, 2019 ProMED International Society for Infectious Diseases sent an RFI titled, “Undiagnosed Pneumonia – China (Hubei).” The following morning The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP) at the University of Minnesota reported an “unexplained pneumonia in China.” On January 2, 2020, the John Hopkins Center for Health Security, Health Security Headlines emailed a link to the ProMED notice. The CIRAP and Johns Hopkins continued reporting on this emerging infectious disease, a novel coronavirus, originating in Wuhan, China which subsequently became known as COVID-19. SCROLL DOWN below for resources for tracking COVID-19 and two YouTube videos from a physician in Italy responsible for managing the COVID-19 ICU beds in Lombardy, Italy. He explains the importance of changing the behavior of the population in order to slow the spread (aka flatten the curve). Though this can be a very mild to severe disease, it is transmitted from person-to-person so slowing the spread by social distancing is advised so as not to overwhelm the health care system with patients requiring ventilatory assistance. A second update video link is also provided as well as other resources.
FROM THE VATICAN
— MASS & PRAYERS with the Holy Father, Pope Francis each day at 12 noon Rome; 7am EST followed by a brief adoration of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament and Benediction [SELECT HERE]
— Decree of the Apostolic Penitentiary on the granting of special Indulgences to the faithful in the current pandemic [SELECT HERE]
On Wednesday, 25 March, Feast of the Annunciation of Our Lord, at 12 noon in Rome, Pope Francis invited “the Heads of the Churches and the leaders of every Christian community, together with all Christians of the various confessions, to invoke the Almighty, the omnipotent God, to recite at the same time the prayer that Jesus, our Lord, taught us” – the Our Father. [READ MORE]
A special Urbi et Orbi blessing
– Friday, 27Mar, 6pm Rome; 1pm EST [SELECT HERE to read full text message and view blessing]
The Holy Father, Pope Francis presided over a moment of prayer on the sagrato of St Peter’s Basilica, on Friday, March 27, 2020 — the platform at the top of the steps immediately in front of the façade of St. Peter’s Basilica. “I invite everyone to participate spiritually through the means of communication”, he said.
The ceremony consisted in readings from the Scriptures, prayers of supplication, and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament; and concluded with Pope Francis giving the Urbi et Orbi Blessing. Those who listenedlive had the possibility of gaining a plenary indulgence. The blessing “to the City [of Rome] and to the World” is normally only given on Christmas and Easter. [READ MORE]
YouTube Link to St. Peter’s Basilica Urbi et Orbi Meditation Vatican News
Cardinal Turkson
From the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development
Message of His Eminence Cardinal Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson, Prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development in the time of Coronavirus (COVID-19)
March 11, 2020
Message from Cardinal Turkson [SELECT HERE]
Consecration to the Blessed Virgin Mary
On behalf of the Church in the United States, Archbishop Gomez of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, President of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, renewed the Consecration of the USA to Mary, Mother of the Church at 3pm EST on May 1, 2020. This time coincided with Canada’s renewal of their country’s consecration to the Blessed Virgin Mary. In this month of May, Mary’s month, may we especially pray for her intercession to end the COVID-19 pandemic and comfort all who have been affected.
Recording courtesy of EWTN.
Resources on COVID-19
Antibody Test ***new***
IgG & IgA available direct to consumer [HOW TO ORDER A TEST]
Incidence & Trends
Here are two resources for tracking the incidence of COVID-19
>>>World o Meter – Coronavirus [SELECT HERE]
>>>John Hopkins GIS Map [SELECT HERE]
>>>IHME COVID-19 Projections Assuming Full Social Distancing [SELECT HERE]
COVID-19 USA, State and World Websites
* United States – The Center for Disease Control reports incidence by state [Select Here]
>>>COVID-19 CDC Main Page [SELECT HERE] / What is New [SELECT HERE]
>>>The President’s Coronavirus Guidelines for American:
* 15 days to Slow the Spread, March 16-31, 2020;
* 30 days to Slow the Spread, Social Distancing extended to April 30
* Guidelines Opening Up American Again, Released by PONTUS 4/16/2020 [NEW GUIDELINES to be implemented by Governors State by State]
* States – Public Health Department – Each state has the incidence by county. Search for the state Public Health Department website — Example [Select Here for Alabama]
* World Health Organization (WHO) [SELECT HERE]
CONCERNS from Italy (One of the hardest hit Countries
Professor Giacomo Grasselli, an Italian government health official, is coordinating the network of intensive care units in Lombardy, Italy during the COVID-19 Coronavirus pandemic. He explains the effect of COVID-19 on Lombardy, Italy (Italy’s incidence is >50,000 and deaths have exceeded China)
* Initial 3/10/2020 – Dr. Grasselli – It was like a bomb – Describes increasing COVID-19 ICU beds by 500.
* Update 3/17/2020 – Dr. Giacomo Grasselli
* Perspectives on the Pandemic by Dr. John Ioannidis, Stanford, 4/17/20
For regular email updates of emerging infectious diseases:
* The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP) at the University of Minnesota – CIDRAP [SELECT HERE]
* John Hopkins, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Center for Health Security [SELECT HERE]
First COVID-19 Cases U.S.A.
* January 20, 2020 – 1st COVID-19 Case – 35 year old with cough and “subjective fever” recently returned from Wuhan, China. Pneumonia developed later [READ Case]
* January 30, 2020 – 1st person-to-person spread of COVID-19,Chicago, Illinois. 60+ year old woman returned from Wuhan, developed pneumonia, 8 days later husband also developed pneumonia. Required contact tracing of 372 persons of which 347 underwent sympotm monitoring (152 community contacts and 195 health-care personnel) [READ Case]
* February 3, 2020 – Diamond Princess Cruise Ship quarantined in port at Yokohama, Japan. Japanese reported that total COVID-19 positive: 712 of 3,711 passengers & crew; 331 were asymptomatic at the time of testing. 17Feb2020 – 428 U.S. citizens evacuated from Diamond Princess Cruise Ship to Travis AFB, CA & Lackland AFB, TX for 14 day quarantine; COVID-19+: 13 to Univ of Nebraska Medical Center National Quarantine Unit; 2-CA; 5-TX – [READ CDC MMWR]
From Our Colleagues:
* Catholic Medical Association – COVID-19 [Link HERE]
* National Catholic Bioethics Center – COVID-19 New FAQs [Link HERE]
* Bishop Chairmen Issue Statement on Rationing Protocols by Health Care Professionals in Response to COVID-19, USCCB [Link HERE]
Nursing Resources
• For the Patient who is Unable to Receive the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick and Assisting a Patient in Making an Act of Perfect Contrition [READ HERE]
• The Increasing Demand for Critical Care Beds — Recommendations for Bridging the RN Staffing Gap, Johns Hopkins Health Security Update, March 31, 2020: COVID-19-related Nursing Roles and Responsibilities, Training, Increasing PPE Supplies, Surge Staffing [READ HERE]
• Pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet for your Patiens and especially for the Dying. Jesus revealed to St. Faustina, “Write that when they say this chaplet in the presence of the dying, I will stand between My Father and the dying person, not as the just Judge but as the merciful Savior” (Diary, 1541). [DIVINE MERCY CHAPLET – SELECT HERE]
• Morally Licit Vaccines – Sanofi-Pasteurs COVID-19 Vaccine morally licit. [READ HERE]; Moderna and Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine candidate uses aborted fetal cells [READ HERE] (4/3/2020)
• Ventilators May Save Lives – Review your Advanced Directive and that of your loved ones [READ HERE] (4/4/2020)
• Handwashing Poster – WHO – 22 second = Pray a “Hail Mary” and “Glory Be.”[READ HERE] (4/4/2020)
• Cloth Face Coverings – Whether you sew or now, you can make a cloth face covering for those you love. The CDC is recommending that the public cover their nose and mouth when they cannot maintain a 6 foot distance – [READ HOW TO MAKE ONE] and [SEE THE SURGEON GENERAL DEMONSTRATE THE NO SEW TECHNIQUE] (4/5/2020)
• Hydroxychloroquine Study – The University of Minnesota is conducting a research study to determine if taking hydroxychloroquine can help in preventing or treating COVID-19. To enroll [SELECT HERE] (4/8/2020)
• Plasma Donations from Recovered COVID-19 Patients – The American Red Cross is seeking people who are fully recovered from COVID-19 and may be able to donate plasma to help current patients with serious or immediately life-threatening COVID-19 infections…[READ MORE] (4/9/2020)
President, NACN-USA
Holy Sacrifice of the Mass & Online Options
In many of our dioceses, the public celebration of Catholic Mass is currently suspended. The obligation to attend Mass in person is temporarily suspended because no Masses are available. Although our Sunday Mass obligation is lifted, we still have a duty to keep Sunday as a holy day.
Spiritual Resources during Times of Social Distancing
[SELECT HERE]
Here are a few of the many sources available for praying the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass online:
• Diocese & Parishes – Many Bishops and Priests are making their daily offering of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass available via live streaming, Facebook and other electronic media. Search your Parish & Diocese websites and Facebook page. Other options are:
• Holy Father, Pope Francis each day at 12 noon Rome; 7am EST followed by a brief adoration of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament and Benediction [SELECT HERE]
• Fr. Michael Whyte, NACN-USA Priest Moderator and Pastor St. Catherine of Siena Parish[SELECT HERE]
• EWTN will broadcast Mass LIVE on TV at 8am and rebroadcast at noon, 7pm EST. EWTN Radio Essentials will air the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass every 2 hours from 8am to midnight EST. The mass may also be viewed online [SELECT HERE]
• DivineMercy.org every day LIVE streams Holy Mass at 9am on Facebook [SELECT HERE]; re-broadcast at 10am on thedivinemercy.org; 3pm Divine Mercy Chaplet on Facebook; 5pm Holy Rosary and 7pm Live stream Mass in Spanish!
• Word on Fire, Bishop Robert Barron is offering videos of Mass each day at www.wordonfire.org/daily-mass
• The Catholic TV Network has Masses available in English and Spanish at www.watchthemass.com
• The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington DC will stream Mass online at 11:00 AM Sunday at www.nationalshrine.org/mass
EWTN Live 8am EST Daily Mass EWTN Recorded Mass & Readings
Eucharistic Adoration
• Local Parish & Diocese – Check locally. Many parishes have times for Eucharistic Adoration and Prayer
• EWTN — Eucharistic Adoration, 9am to 6pm online at https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/adoration
• Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Hanceville, Alabama’s main Church is open for Eucharistic Adoration each day from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
Note: Please remember that we must continue to follow ALL health precautions and instructions if we visit a Church – maintain a six foot separation from other people; make sure there are no more than 20-25 people in the Church, Chapel, room, or area; do not go if you’re sick, at high risk for complications, have been exposed to contagious illness, or have someone in your household who meets any of those criteria; and be sure you comply with any other requests at the parish.
Other Resources
• Nursing with the Hands of Jesus: A Guide to Nurses for Divine Mercy. NACN-USA Member and Founder and President of Healthcare Professional for Divine Mercy, Marie Romagnano, MSN, RN, is releasing Nursing With the Hands of Jesus: A Guide to Nurses for Divine Mercy online as a FREE digital flip book to reach as many healthcare professionals as possible [SELECT HERE]. Read more HERE about the booklet and the Healthcare Spiritual Ministry Kit.
• The Augustine Institute is now offering free 40-day subscriptions to the Formed online Catholic library. There are classic and new Catholic movies, educational program, daily devotions and more suitable for all ages, both English and Spanish language. If your parish doesn’t have a Formed subscription or you haven’t looked up your subscription code, you can sign up for free at www.formed.org/faithathome (Posted 3/22/2020)
ACT OF SPIRITUAL COMMUNION
In making an Act of Spiritual Communion, we express our faith in Christ’s Presence in the Eucharist and we ask Him to unite Himself with us. Written by St. Alphonsus of Liguori, here is an Act of Spiritual Communion:
My Jesus
I believe that You are present in the Blessed Sacrament.
I love You above all things and I desire You in my soul.
SInce I cannot now receive You sacramentally,
come at least spiritually into my heart.
As though You were already there, I embrace You and unit myself to You; permit not that I should ever be separated from You.
Amen
O Sacrament Most Holy, O Sacrament Divine, All Praise and All Thanksgiving be every moment Thine.
Raymond Cardinal Burke
Message on the Combat against
the Coronavirus, COVID-19,
March 21, 2020 [SELECT HERE]
Making an Act of Perfect Contrition
and a Spiritual Communion
Prayers for Nursing Students and Instructors
In an earlier message, we prayerd for thoese affected by COVID-19 iteself. Please also remember in your prayers all our nursing instructors and students, as many universities have converted to online classes and are working to determine thet best way to complete clinical hours. Students are moving home and there remain many unknowns.
(Posted 3/17/2020)
Archbishop Jose Gomez
From Archbishop Jose Gomez, President, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB)
Message regarding COVID-19, March 13, 2020
Message from Archbishop Gomez
[SELECT HERE]
A Message from our President
Diana Ruzicka, MSN, MA, MA, PHN, RN
President, NACN-USA
Please pray for each individual affected by COVID19, the doctors and nurses caring for them and the general public that they may help prevent the spread ofthis new coronavirus to which man does not have immunity. Pray that most of the cases are mild and those that are more severe are able to access the appropriate level of health care. Fro those who will die from COVID-19 or other causes we pray, “Eternal rest grant unto them O Lord and may Your perpetual light shine uponthem. May their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace. Amen.” (Posted 3/12/2020)
Saint Roch, Patron Saint of the Boubonic Plague & other Infectious Diseases
Remember in Your Daily Rosary & Devotion
Those Affected by COVID-19 and the Seasonal Influenza
And so we do not forget the mighty power of the Church triumphant in heaven whom we have to intercede for us before the throne of God, let us ask, for the world, the intercession of St. Roch. Saint Roch (1295-1327) nursed the sick during the Bubonic Plague in Italy and cured large numbers simply by making the sign of the cross on them. Read more about this extraordinary saint’s life at https://catholicsaints.info/saint-roch/
O Blessed Saint Roch, Patron of the sick, have pity on those who lie upon a bed of suffering.
Your power was so great when you were in this world, that by the Sign of the Cross, many were healed of their diseases.
Now that you are in heaven, your power is no less.
Offer to God our sighs and tears and obtain for us the physical and spiritual health we seek: (Share your request…)
This we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Saint Roch, Pray for us, that we may be relieved from diseases of body and soul (Repeat 3 times)
Lord Jesus, may Thy will be done.
…Saint Roch, Pray for Us…