Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) News

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention should appoint an independent panel to develop evidence-based practice guidelines for public health emergency preparedness and response and identify evidence gaps for future research, according to a report released by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.

The Food and Drug Administration authorized emergency use for a non-invasive nerve stimulator at home or in health care settings to treat suspected COVID-19 patients experiencing worsened asthma-related shortness of breath and reduced airflow.

The Trump administration is poised to ask governors to consider sending in the National Guard to hospitals to help improve data collection about novel coronavirus patients, supplies and capacity, according to draft letters, internal emails and hospital sector officials familiar with the plans, the Washington Post reported.

Following the announcement of changes to its process for collecting daily COVID-19-reated data from hospitals, the Department of Health and Human Services today asked hospitals to prioritize the reporting of seven data fields starting tomorrow, July 15:

Now more than ever, the leadership of nurses and physicians is invaluable to the teams, organizations and patients they serve. They help those around them keep perspective, and their vision and guidance pave the road to a healthier future.

The Food and Drug Administration authorized the University of California San Francisco’s Clinical Labs at China Basin to use a new molecular-based diagnostic test for SARS-CoV-2.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released guidance for emergency medical planners and health care facilities on identifying relief health care facilities, and establishing or using medical operation coordination cells to improve surge capacity and resource allocation during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The sight of families re-emerging to gather at community playgrounds and pools brings mixed emotions. While it’s gratifying to see people enjoying themselves again, it’s also clear that COVID-19 is not in the rearview mirror, as spiking infection rates in many states demonstrate.

Certain groups of workers showed significantly more absenteeism in March and April 2020, suggesting a link to COVID-19 exposure, according to a new study released today by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Wear a mask. Wash your hands. Keep your distance. These are three simple actions we know that will stop the spread of COVID-19. The AHA, American Medical Association and the American Nurses Association shared those messages in an open letter to the American public.

The Mount Sinai Health System will partner with Emergent BioSolutions and ImmunoTek Bio Centers on the development and evaluation of a COVID-19 hyperimmune globulin product, it was announced.

Gilead Sciences said it is starting phase one clinical study of inhaled remdesivir for potential outpatient treatment of COVID-19. In a statement, Gilead said the inhaled version could better target respiratory infections and limit systemic exposure to remdesivir and be accessible to non-hospitalized patients.

UR Medicine Thompson Health, a nonprofit health care system which provides care for 165,000 residents of Upstate New York’s greater Finger Lakes area and is the largest employer in Ontario County, shared how the COVID-19 pandemic has caused significant financial challenges for the organization and why Congress needs to provide additional support to hospitals and health systems.

The AHA, Association of American Medical Colleges and Catholic Health Association of the United States requested the Department of Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service extend the deadlines for tax-exempt hospitals and health systems to prepare community health needs assessments that occur during the COVID-19 public health emergency.

The AHA is hosting calls for all hospital and health system leaders to provide the latest information on and answer questions about the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Department of Health and Human Services Wednesday at 4 p.m. ET will host a webinar on the Provider Relief Fund application process.

The Small Business Administration and Treasury Department today released detailed data regarding the loans made under the Paycheck Protection Program.

The AHA, American Medical Association, and American Nurses Association sent a letter urging the public to take simple steps known to help stop the spread of COVID-19 — wearing a face mask, maintaining physical distancing and washing hands.

The Food and Drug Administration and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention July 7 at 12 p.m. ET will host a webinar on decontaminating respirators for health care personnel during the COVID-19 pandemic.

As James Madison wrote in the First Amendment of our Bill of Rights, we have the right to “petition the government for a redress of grievances.” We also have an important right that many in other countries don’t – the right to vote. These two rights go hand in hand as a foundation of our democracy.