- The CDC updated its COVID-19 data tracker and a number of its other guidances.
- HHS announced its strategy for vaccine distribution.
Congress
Attempting to break a stalemate on COVID-19 relief legislation, President Trumpexpressedhis support for a relief bill that provides up to $1.5 trillion in spending. Republican and Democratic negotiators have been at an impasse over the total amount for the bill. Negotiations on the finer details of the bill have not occurred pending an agreement on the total amount of funding. Republicans were previously asking for a bill that would spend $1 trillion while Democrats proposed a bill that would spend $2.2 trillion.
Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) Alex Azarwill testifyat a House Select Subcommittee hearing on the coronavirus October 2.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Dr. Robert Redfieldtoldthe Senate Labor-HHS Appropriations Subcommittee that states need at least $6 billion for vaccine distribution.
White House and Federal Agencies
CDC Director Dr. Robert Redfielddefendedthe CDC against a news report that claimed HHS political staff were interfering in the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Reports (MMWR).
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a temporary guidance document, “Resuming Normal Drug and Biologics Manufacturing Operations During the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency,” to help drug and biological product manufacturers (including animal drug manufacturers) transition from operations impacted by the COVID-19 public health emergency to normal manufacturing operations. This guidance provides recommendations to help manufacturers prioritize products and activities as they resume normal operations. It provides more detailed considerations and is specific to the COVID-19 public health emergency.
Data from the CDCshows thatchildren (under age 21) who died from COVID-19 often had at least one underlying condition. It also shows racial disparities in child deaths from the virus.
National Institutes of Health (NIH) Director Dr. Francis Collins released a blog post onCOVID-19 and persistent lung problems。
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Updates
CDC updated:
- TheCDC COVID-19 Data Trackerinteractive maps, charts, and data on laboratory testing in the U.S. As of 9/15, 247 tests are authorized by FDA under EUAs; these include 197 molecular tests, 46 antibody tests, and 4 antigen tests.
- Guidance for critical workerson how to protect workers who may have been exposed to COVID-19. To ensure continuity of operations of essential functions, CDC advises that critical infrastructure workers may be permitted to continue work following potential exposure to COVID-19, provided they remain asymptomatic and additional precautions are implemented to protect them and the community.
- Its Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) guidance for triage that is intended for use in non-US healthcare settings for healthcare facilities that arereceiving or are preparing to receive patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19。
- Information forpeople who need extra precautionslike pregnant women, people experiencing homelessness, and people with disabilities.
- Information forpeople who are at increased risk for severe illnessfrom contracting COVID-19.
- Information forolder adults。成年人,从C严重疾病的风险OVID-19 increases with age, with older adults at highest risk.
- FAQs for businesses希望重开,stay safe from COVID-19.
- Information on protecting yourself from COVID-19 whenreturning to work。
- Information on how to stay safe from COVID-19 while engaging inpersonal and social activities,running essential errands, andvisiting the doctor and getting medicines。CDC also updated information ondeciding to go outas communities and businesses are reopening and still trying to protect yourself from COVID-19.
- Information for office building employers, owners and managers, and operations specialists can take the following steps tocreate a safe and healthy workplace for workers and clients。
- Guidance forpeople living together in close quarters, such as people who share a small apartment, or for people who live in the same household with large or extended families.
- Information onliving in shared housingwhere residents often gather together closely for social, leisure, and recreational activities, shared dining, laundry facilities, stairwells, and elevators and may have challenges withsocial distancingto prevent the spread of COVID-19.
- Information forpeople with moderate to severe asthmawho may be at higher risk of getting very sick from COVID-19.
- Information on steps you can take toprevent getting sick,protecting yourself and others, and slowing the spread of COVID-19.
- Information onsteps to take if you have or suspect you haveCOVID-19 .
- Advice on when and how long people shoulddelay their domestic or international travel to avoid spreading COVID-19。
- Public health guidance for potential COVID-19 exposureassociated with international or domestic travel.
Economic Recovery, Vaccine, Testing and Treatment
HHSannouncedits strategy for distributing free COVID-19 vaccines once vaccine candidates are approved by the FDA. In anticipation of a vaccine receiving FDA approval, the federal government isplanning to ship vaccinesto states within 24 hours of approval.
- Download the Strategy for Distributing a COVID-19 Vaccine – PDF
- Download the COVID-19 Vaccination Program Interim Playbook – PDF
- Download the COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Process Infographic – PDF
Oxford University, which is partnering with AstraZeneca in its vaccine development work, says itbelievesthe recently reported potential adverse reaction to its vaccine may be unrelated to the vaccine.
- The NIH stated it is “very concerned” about the reported adverse reaction.
German vaccine manufacturer BioNTechpurchased a new factoryto improve its vaccine production capacity. Pfizer, which is developing its vaccine with BioNTech,reportedtheir vaccine has not produced severe adverse reactions in trials thus far.
The FDApublishednew comparative data for 55 COVID-19 diagnostic tests.
