Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) News

The Health Resources and Services Administration opened the Provider Relief Fund reporting portal for providers to begin reporting to the government that they used federal emergency relief funds for health care-related expenses or lost revenues attributable to COVID-19.

Engaging U.S. health systems to provide expert consultations to low- and middle-income nations receiving America’s donated COVID-19 vaccine can offer a “shot of hope” to global vaccination efforts, writes Luke Lindberg, executive director of global strategy, Innovation and World Clinic for Sanford Health in Sioux Falls, S.D.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Broomfield, Colo.-based SCL Health used its resources to dispatch nurses and caregivers where they were most needed, and has taken lessons-learned to better its future collaboration, communication and staff well-being

The Moderna COVID-19 vaccine produces neutralizing antibody titers against the Delta variant, although fewer than against the ancestral strain of the virus, the company announced.

Let’s also engage U.S. health systems to guide global vaccination efforts on the ground

AHA urged the Occupational Safety and Health Administration to delay by six months its compliance dates for the recently announced COVID-19 Health Care Emergency Temporary Standard, thus giving hospitals and health systems ample time to implement the policy’s many new requirements.

On this episode, you’ll hear from Kenneth Davis, M.D., president and CEO of Mount Sinai Health System in New York, a system that was on the front lines of the first wave of COVID-19. He is a neurobiologist and a pioneering researcher in the field of brain disease, notably Alzheimer’s disease.

U.S. health care providers may no longer order the monoclonal antibodies bamlanivimab and etesevimab until further notice due to rising prevalence of the SARS-CoV-2 P.1 and B.1.351 variants, which are not susceptible to the combination therapy, the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response announced.

The Infectious Diseases Clinical Research Consortium has begun enrolling up to 1,000 pregnant and postpartum individuals who have or will receive COVID-19 vaccine in a study to assess vaccine safety, immune response and transfer of antibodies to their infants, the National Institutes of Health announced.

An estimated 16.8 million U.S. adults had undiagnosed COVID-19 by July 2020, representing 4.6% of U.S. adults and 4.8 undiagnosed infections for every diagnosed case, according to a National Institutes of Health study published by the journal Science Translational Medicine. NIH’s SARS-CoV-2 Seroprevalence Project used an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to identify SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in dried blood samples collected from a representative sample of U.S. adults.

AHA urged the Department of Health and Human Services to allow all health care providers to use their COVID-19 Provider Relief Fund payments until June 30, 2022, or the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency, whichever is later.

The Department of Health and Human Services announced a $3 billion investment in antiviral treatments for COVID-19, particularly those administered orally. The money will go toward advancing the next stages of COVID-19 treatments, including their discovery, development and manufacturing.

The AHA joined the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and other national organizations in urging the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals to affirm a district court decision that found the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act of 2005 provides broad immunity from tort liability to health care providers and other covered entities involved in the administration, manufacture, distribution, use or allocation of countermeasures during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

A National Institutes of Health-led review of more than 24,000 stored blood samples suggests that the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 was present in the U.S. as far back as December 2019.

The Food and Drug Administration authorized for emergency use one more batch of drug substance manufactured for the Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) COVID-19 vaccine at an Emergent BioSolutions facility in Baltimore.

Rhode Island health care providers may no longer order the monoclonal antibodies bamlanivimab and etesevimab until further notice due to rising prevalence of the SARS-CoV-2 P.1 and B.1.351 variants, which are not susceptible to the combination therapy, the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response announced.

As requested by the AHA, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services said it will continue to remain flexible in its approach to surveys if a hospital experiences a COVID-19 surge.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a COVID-19 Viral Testing Tool to help health care providers and individuals understand their COVID-19 testing options and take appropriate next steps.

The Health Resources and Services Administration awarded 14 organizations grants to hire people to support COVID-19 vaccination and outreach in vulnerable and medically underserved communities.

Novavax announced phase 3 trial results for its COVID-19 vaccine, saying it provides 100% protection against moderate and severe disease, with a 90.4% overall efficacy.