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COVID-19 Federal Responses: Thursday, February 11, 2021

COVID-19 Federal Responses: Thursday, February 11, 2021
  • The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has updated a large number of guidelines.
    • A newstudyfound that Pfizer’s vaccine is effective against new COVID-19 variants from the U.K. and South Africa.
    • Thisarticleexplores how vaccines can adapt to respond to new variants of the coronavirus that cause COVID-19.
    • Johnson & Johnson’s CEOsaysCOVID-19 vaccines might be needed annually.
    • The federal government isinvestigatinga massive counterfeit N95 mask scheme.

Congress

  • Congressional Committees continue to work on their portions of a budget reconciliation bill that will be used to pass new COVID-19 stimulus. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA)intendsto pass this bill before federal unemployment assistance expires on March 15.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Updates

Economy, Vaccines, Testing and Treatment

  • Accordingto the CDC, 46.3 million vaccine doses have been administered. Of that total, 11.1 million people have received two doses while 34.7 million people have received their first dose.
  • A newstudyfound that Pfizer’s vaccine is effective against new COVID-19 variants from the U.K. and South Africa.
    • These newvariantsare more contagious and more resistant to vaccines. These variants also arebecomingmore prevalent in the U.S.
    • CDC has published astudythat shows how wearing two masks (layering a cloth mask over a disposable surgical mask) is effective at preventing COVID-19 infection.
  • The Food and Drug Administration (FDA)issuedan emergency use authorization for Eli Lilly’s bamlanivimab treatment for COVID-19.
  • The federal governmentwill begindistributing vaccines directly to community health centers in an effort to increase vaccinations for vulnerable communities.
  • Thisarticleexplores how vaccines can adapt to respond to new variants of the coronavirus that cause COVID-19.
  • A newstudyshows that common asthma drug budesonide is an effective treatment for COVID-19.
  • Johnson & Johnson’s CEOsaysCOVID-19 vaccines might be needed annually.
  • The federal government isplanningto open mass vaccination sites in Texas, New York City and California.
  • Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powellreiteratedthat the Fed intends to keep interest rates at their current levels for the foreseeable future
  • The federal government isinvestigatinga massive counterfeit N95 mask scheme.

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