Year in Review:
Augusta University’s fight against COVID-19

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-c7bxFBmV8

It’s been a year since the first six people were tested for the novel coronavirus at Augusta University, and two were determined to be presumptive positive — considered positive pending verification by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Since then, Augusta University and AU Health have led the fight across the state of Georgia against the virus and the disease it causes, COVID-19.

The Augusta University community has come together like never before to respond to this threat to public health. Scientists, medical personnel, faculty, staff and students have developed in-house testing; made hand sanitizer and 3D-printed testing swabs and face masks during shortages; protected the mental health of frontline workers; and developed systems for mass testing across the state and mass vaccination across the Augusta community. We’ve also supported each other and cried together as we lost some of our own to COVID-19.

Augusta University has collaborated with the Augusta National, the state of Georgia, the National Guard and numerous state and private entities to support these efforts. Below is a timeline of AU’s fight against COVID-19.

2020

Two presumptive positive COVID-19 cases at Augusta University Health System

An employee and the spouse of an employee are presumptively positive for COVID-19 according to initial testing performed at Augusta University Health System. The results await confirmation from the CeMarch 16, 2020

AU Health Express Care app deployed for COVID-19 virtual screenings

Patients concerned about coronavirus (COVID-19) can now be screened for the virus without ever having to leave home, thanks to a new telehealth platform from Augusta University Health System. March 17, 2020

Augusta University Health opens COVID-19 drive-thru testing clinic

AU Health is fortunate to have some of the world’s experts in this type of testing.March 18, 2020

Novel coronavirus test provides fast, accurate results

“We want patients and physicians in our community to have timely access to information that will ultimately benefit us all by helping limit spread of the virus,” says Dr. Ravindra Kolhe, director March 19, 2020

Special screening efforts for COVID-19 aim to keep ER staff, patients safe

As patients arrive at the emergency room, they are greeted at the door by a health professional on a video screen who asks about the symptoms they’re experiencing. March 20, 2020

Augusta University Health opens additional testing site in Columbia County

The center will make drive-thru testing more convenient for area residents who screen positive through Augusta University Health’s virtual screening app.March 25, 2020

Augusta National Golf Club, Community Foundation to give Augusta University $1 million to expand coronavirus testing

Efforts by Augusta University to increase local COVID-19 testing capacity received a $1 million boost today, thanks to a joint gift from Augusta National Golf Club and the Community Foundation of the March 30, 2020

Medical College of Georgia students step up to help during pandemic

“These efforts (and others) remind us that we gather a medical school faculty together every year to teach our students to become the best doctors that they can be — for their patients and for socMarch 31, 2020

Innovation

Two people with paint jars — A number of faculty members from Augusta University teamed up with local companies to produce 3D-printed molds and create reusable face masks to help protect the clinical staff at AU Health from COVID-19.

Inside a tent — COVID-19 screening at the ED tent helped keep patients safe.

Workers in PPE standing under a tent — Testing expanded to Columbia County and then across Georgia.

Two workers in PPE testing patients inside cars — AU offered drive-thru testing at Christenberry Fieldhouse.

Woman processing saliva test — Saliva testing became available in September 2020.

Lab worker — In April, AU began processing nasal swab tests in-house.

Woman in face shield — Faculty developed face shields to protect health care workers.

Man holding bottles — Pharmacy workers began producing much of AU’s hand sanitizer supply.

nasal swabs — When testing supplies became scarce, DCG began 3D printing them.

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MCG’s GEM Lab offering coronavirus testing statewide

The Georgia Esoteric and Molecular Laboratory at the Medical College of Georgia Department of Pathology is now offering a new coronavirus test with expanded capacity to the entire state.April 7, 2020

Augusta University faculty develops 3D-printed face shields to protect clinical staff

Using 3D printers, several faculty members at Augusta University have volunteered to make face shields to protect clinicians’ eyes and faces from the coronavirus.April 7, 2020

Pharmacy staff make hand sanitizer to supply Augusta University

As suppliers run out of hand sanitizer across the country and Augusta University’s shipments of Purell became increasingly delayed, pharmacy resident Kelli Keats developed a plan to make sure AU staApril 9, 2020

Kemp announces statewide expansion of AU Health COVID-19 screening application

In a press conference today, Gov. Brian Kemp recognized Augusta University Health for their efforts to expand COVID-19 screening through the AU Health ExpressCare app and said the technology will be mApril 13, 2020

AU Health to lead statewide expansion of coronavirus testing

Augusta University will lead the expansion of coronavirus testing in Georgia, coordinating specimen collection at nearly 40 sites statewide. April 21, 2020

Dental College of Georgia 3D prints nasal swabs for statewide COVID-19 testing

Many medical experts say COVID-19 testing is the key to everyone soon returning to their normal lives. When residents and faculty from The Dental College of Georgia at Augusta University learned of thApril 24, 2020

Augusta University and local companies team up to develop 500 reusable medical masks

A task force from Augusta University has teamed up with local companies to produce 3D-printed molds and create at least 500 reusable face masks to help protect the clinical staff at AU Health from COVMay 5, 2020

Augusta University Health partners with Columbia County for COVID-19 antibody testing, research

“We all want to answer a question: Was the unusual respiratory illness that we experienced this fall and winter actually COVID-19?” said Dr. Phillip Coule, vice president and chief medical officerMay 11, 2020

Federal Communications Commission awards grant to help expand Augusta University Health’s telehealth initiatives

A grant from the Federal Communications Commission will help AU Health’s response to COVID-19.July 15, 2020

AU Health COVID-19 drive-thru specimen collection location to relocate to downtown Augusta

One of Augusta University Health’s two COVID-19 drive-thru specimen collection locations will relocate to downtown Augusta in an attempt to provide better access to testing for area residents and iJuly 16, 2020

Georgia Cancer Center partners with churches to promote COVID-19 education and awareness

The Georgia Cancer Center is working with African American church leaders across Georgia to help minorities and underserved individuals understand the impact COVID-19 can have on them and their loved July 27, 2020

Pooling strategy: A solution for mass population screening of SARS-CoV-2

A rapid, cheap, and reliable pooling strategy for screening of SARS-CoV-2 maximizes available testing kits and resources in the COVID-19 pandemic.July 30, 2020

Augusta University Health expands COVID-19 testing for pediatric patients

Augusta University Health now has a dedicated site for kids to be tested for COVID-19.August 14, 2020

Lost on the front lines: AU Health nurse who died of COVID-19 memorialized on national stage

Yolanda Coar has been remembered both on the national stage and at home in Augusta this week.August 20, 2020

Video: Watch Yolanda Coar’s story as told by The Guardian

three people holding half gallons of milk

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Community donations for #OurAUHeroes

How you can help

The COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund is designated to support Augusta University and AU Health’s response and associated expenses pertaining to the COVID-19 pandemic. Donate and learn more here.

U.S. Army uses Dental College of Georgia’s 3D nasal swabs for COVID-19 testing

When The Dental College of Georgia first started 3D printing nasal swabs to use in COVID-19 testing, it was making enough for the Augusta area. Now, that same design is helping Army personnel across tNovember 9, 2020

The Atlanta Gas Light Foundation aids AU Health in pandemic response with $50K donation

Augusta University Health’s ongoing COVID-19 response efforts received a boost from Atlanta Gas Light and the Atlanta Gas Light Foundation with a $50,000 gift to the Emergency Response Fund.November 19, 2020

Augusta University Health prepares plan to distribute COVID-19 vaccine

Augusta University Health will host a virtual town hall for health care providers at noon Wednesday, Dec. 9, to cover the latest information on the COVID-19 vaccination and plans for vaccine distributDecember 8, 2020

Augusta University Health administers first COVID-19 vaccine to frontline caregivers

Caregivers at Augusta University Health started receiving the COVID-19 vaccine on Dec. 17. December 17, 2020

National Headlines

Media Statistics

On topics related to COVID-19, Augusta University’s communications team sent out 111 news releases, which led to 21,127 mentions in local, regional and national news outlets.

More than 30 of these outlets are top-tier news outlets, including the New York Times, NPR, PBS, MSN, Newsweek, CBS News, CNN and Forbes. This means Augusta University’s name reached 11.5 billion readers or viewers in 2020.