COVID-19: MUSC Presidential Update - June 18, 2020

Dear MUSC family,

As we recover and move forward across the enterprise, our integrated teams continue to monitor and respond to COVID-19. From launching free mobile specimen collection and testing sites across the state to helping businesses, organizations and other universities understand evidence-based guidance for doing business safely, our culture of innovation is propelling us and our communities forward despite an imperfect, and at times, bumpy path.

Please take a moment to watch this video regarding my thoughts on where we stand today with recent increases in COVID-19 infections in South Carolina:

As I say in the video, we don’t have an emergency yet, and we don’t want one, either. Living with COVID-19 is our new normal until we, as a nation, are able to deploy an effective vaccine. In the meantime, we have the power to model the behaviors that help reduce COVID-19 infection and keep us all moving forward. Please continue to do your part as individuals and teams to keep infection rates as low as possible. You can monitor important COVID-19-related data updates by visiting the MUSC COVID-19 Epidemiology Intelligence Project, with updates provided on Wednesdays.

I’m grateful to everyone who is working so hard across MUSC and the larger community to monitor and respond to outbreaks of the virus and plan for the months ahead. You continue to inspire me and so many others, including MUSC first lady Kathy Cole, who wanted to share these words of gratitude.

Yours in service,

David J. Cole, M.D., FACS
MUSC president