Health

UMass Memorial banning visitors to University Campus UMass Memorial Medical Center is no longer allowing visitors to its University Campus in Worcester in a new policy started in November. The policy change comes as the campus is seeing a rising number of coronavirus cases, a trend taking place both statewide and nationally. In the data available from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, UMass Memorial's University Campus had 10 inpatient coronavirus cases, with three in intensive care as of Nov. 1. The Memorial Campus had a higher count, with 22 inpatient cases and seven in the ICU. UMass Memorial is continuing to allow visitors to that site. The latest change comes a week after UMass Memorial made changes in certain aspects of its visitor policy at both Worcester campuses. Beginning Nov. 3, the hospital began allowing only one visitor per day for patients who haven't been diagnosed with coronavirus or are under investigation of having it. Patients who have coronavirus or are under investigation are not allowed any visitors, nor are ambulatory patients. One exception is allowing two visitors for patients in end-of-life care who don't have coronavirus. Health Care Br iefs F or four years running, Massachusetts has had more than 2,000 opioid-related overdose deaths. With the coronavirus pandemic diverting attention elsewhere, the opioid epidemic is still spreading strong, slightly outpacing last year's total through September, according to state data released in November. Through the first nine months of the year, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health has recorded 1,517 confirmed and estimated opioid-related overdose deaths, up 33, or 2.2%, from the G erman biologics company has chosen a Boxborough site for a $150-million virotherapy manufacturing center spanning 110,000 square feet in what the company says is a major expansion of its United States operations. Vibalogics, a contract development and manufacturing organization, was selected in May by Janssen Pharmaceutical Cos., a Johnson & Johnson company, as one of its manufacturing partners for its investigational coronavirus vaccine. The company couldn't immediately be reached for comment, so it was unclear whether it would manufacture the coronavirus vaccine at the new facility, or if the Boxborough site would be used for other purposes. In its announcement, Vibalogics said it hopes to begin operations in the second half of 2021. "Boston is the largest global hub for cell and gene therapy R&D, so there is also a great pool of local talent and expertise to draw from to Mass. opioid overdose deaths have increased in 2020 same period last year. The state hasn't broken out geographic details of the overdose deaths, but among notable trends highlighted by the Department of Public Health, nearly three out of four overdose victims this year are men. Naloxone, an overdose antidote also known as Narcan, was used in 96% of acute opioid overdoses during the first six months of 2020. Fentanyl, a strong prescription opioid, continues to be a factor in a major bulk of opioid deaths. Fentanyl was found in 93% of opioid deaths in the first half of 2020 in which a toxicology report was available. Heroin, a street-level opioid drug, is found in far fewer overdoses today: just 16% in the first half of this year. Cocaine was found in 46% of deaths. In a potentially troubling trend, more than 219,000 people received prescriptions for Schedule II opioids, which include codeine and fentanyl, in the third quarter of 2020. Though that's a sharp drop from early 2015, before the state put prescription limitation programs in place, it's nearly five times higher than the second quarter of 2020. State officials did not directly address the potential cause for that increase in their new reporting in November. Public health officials are working to continue to address opioid overdoses despite the coronavirus pandemic. Providers have expanded Naloxone distribution with more than 75,000 kits given to community health centers, opioid treatment programs, hospital emergency departments and other places from March through September. The Department of Public Health received a two-year, $114-million federal grant in August for prevention, intervention, treatment and recovery initiatives. Worcester County had 267 opioid deaths in 2019, a slight improvement from a high mark of 283 reached the year before. B r i e f s The new Boxborough home of German contract development and manufacturing firm Vibalogics I n n o v a t i o n German COVID vaccine maker establishing $150M Boxborough facility strengthen the Vibalogics team," the team's CEO, Tom Hochuli, said in a statement. Vibalogics will take Cisco's former East Coast research and development facility at 1414 Massachusetts Ave. right near the interchange with I-495. The site is expected to create 100 jobs initially, and reach 250 employees within four years, the company said. The building spans 292,000 square feet, according to a site listing by Lincoln Property Co., and includes medical laboratories and a data center, among other features. As a virotherapy firm, Vibalogics specializes in the production of oncolytic viruses, meaning viruses that kill cancer cells, as well as viral vector vaccines and viral vector gene therapy products. Jason Palitsch, the executive director of the 495/ MetroWest Partnership, called Vibalogics' plan great news for the region, which he says has a skilled workforce, particularly in life sciences and biotechnology, that has long attracted the industry. "We're pleased but not surprised," Palitsch said of the news of Vibalogics' facility. The life sciences sector is expected to be resilient during the pandemic, he said, with MetroWest offering firms an opportunity to be close to Boston but with significant savings on land costs. 4 HE ALTH • Winter 2020 H H PHOTO/FLICKR | K-STATE RESEARCH AND EXTENSION PHOTO/COURTESY OF LINCOLN PROPERTY CO.

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