The REACH Initiative set out to debunk the myths on COVID-19 through a Facebook Live, where Dr. Jason Farley, Dr. Michelle Patch and Neysa Ernst, MSN, RN (nurse manager at Johns Hopkins Hospital Biocontainment Unit) answered questions from the public. All three have been frequently featured in the media amid COVID-19. The event was moderated by Dean Patricia Davidson.

The experts tackled questions from “What is a novel coronavirus” to “Who should we believe when it comes to information on COVID-19?” On the latter question, the experts recommend information from CDC, WHO, Johns Hopkins and other academic medical centers. “Stick to science-based sources,” said Neysa Ernst. “This is a new, evolving virus, so the things we know about it change.” Dr. Jason Farley added, “When we know better, we do better.”

Johns Hopkins University Information on Coronavirus

Key takeaways from the event:

Dr. Michelle Patch: be kind to each other, it’s a difficult time.

Neysa Ernst: if you were ever thinking of getting a flu shot, this is the year to do it.

Jason Farley: We all need to decide on what we’re willing to contribute to stop this epidemic. If that’s staying at home and wearing a mask, do that. There are also lots of opportunities to participate in vaccine trials, I’m doing that to practice what I preach.

The REACH Initiative on YouTube

About the panelists:

Jason Farley, PhD, MPH, ANP-BC, FAAN, FAANP, AACRN is director of the PhD program at Johns Hopkins School of Nursing and the REACH Initiative; co-director of Clinical Core at the Johns Hopkins Center for AIDS Research, and past president of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care. He is an infectious disease-trained nurse epidemiologist, and a nurse practitioner in the Division of Infectious Diseases at the Johns Hopkins Schools of Nursing and Medicine.

Michelle Patch, PhD, MSN, RN, APRN-CNS, ACNS-BC is an assistant professor at Johns Hopkins School of Nursing and Clinical Nurse Specialist Track Coordinator. She has extensive practical experience in emergency management and disaster response, including former service as a U.S. Navy Nurse Corps officer and current efforts staffing the Johns Hopkins Unified Command Center, the Johns Hopkins Health System’s coordinated COVID-19 response.

Neysa Ernst, MSN, RN is nurse manager of Johns Hopkins Hospital Biocontainment Unit and a DNP Executive Track Student at Johns Hopkins School of Nursing.

Patricia Davidson, PhD, MEd, RN, FAAN Dean of the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing, moderated the event.