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Uncovering Clinical Risk Factors and Predicting Severe COVID-19 Cases Using UK Biobank Data: Machine Learning Approach
From the Abstract: "COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] is a major public health concern. Given the extent of the pandemic, it is urgent to identify risk factors associated with disease severity. More accurate prediction of those at risk of developing severe infections is of high clinical importance. [...] Based on the UK Biobank (UKBB), we aimed to build machine learning models to predict the risk of developing severe or fatal infections, and uncover major risk factors involved."
JMIR Publications
Wong, Kenneth Chi-Yin; Xiang, Yong; Yin, Liangying . . .
2021-09-30
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COVID-19: The Pandemic Highlighted the Need to Strengthen Wage and Hour Division's Enforcement Controls
From the Document: "In January 2020, the Secretary for Health and Human Services declared a nationwide public health emergency in response to COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019]. Since then, millions of Americans contracted COVID-19 and many public schools and child care facilities closed temporarily, leaving parents without child care to work. In response, Congress passed the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) to ensure American workers would not be forced to choose between their paychecks and the public health measures needed to combat the virus. Wage and Hour Division (WHD) was responsible for implementing and enforcing the new law, while also making critical operational decisions during the COVID-19 pandemic. As part of the OIG [Office of the Inspector General]'s Pandemic Oversight Response Plan, this report presents the results of our audit of the WHD's enforcement of the paid leave provisions of the FFCRA."
United States. Department of Labor. Office of the Inspector General
2021-09-30
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COVID-19 Vaccination: Selected U.S. Data Sources [Updated September 30, 2021]
From the Document: "In the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] vaccine program, doses are first 'allocated' and made available to states and other jurisdictions for ordering. Once ordered, doses are 'delivered' (distributed) to appropriate state and jurisdictional sites. States then allocate and deliver doses to health departments, health care systems, pharmacies, and multi-county entities, which can further re-allocate to local clinical sites. Providers then 'administer' doses to patients and report administration data to jurisdictions and CDC [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention]. (See CDC's How COVID-19 Vaccines Get to You [hyperlink] and About COVID-19 Vaccine Delivered and Administration Data [hyperlink].) Federal health care programs (e.g., Veterans Health Administration) manage vaccine data through a similar process. Comirnaty (the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine) is approved [hyperlink] as a two-dose vaccine for ages 16+. Comirnaty is also authorized [hyperlink] for uses that fall outside the scope of its approval--that is, as a two-dose regimen in individuals aged 12-15, as a third dose for certain immunocompromised individuals aged 12+, and as a single booster dose to be given at least six months after the primary series in certain individuals aged 18+. For more information, see CRS Report R46913, 'FDA Approval of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID19 Vaccine: Frequently Asked Questions.' Vaccines manufactured by Moderna (a two-dose vaccine) and J&J/Janssen [Johnson & Johnson/Janssen] (a single-dose vaccine) are currently authorized [hyperlink] for emergency use for ages 18+. The Moderna [hyperlink] vaccine is also authorized to be given as a third dose to certain immunocompromised individuals."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Cornell, Ada S.; Napili, Angela
2021-09-30
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COVID-19 Vaccine Decision-Making Factors in Racial and Ethnic Minority Communities in Los Angeles, California
From the Abstract: "The COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic has had disproportionate effects on racial and ethnic minority communities, where preexisting clinical and social conditions amplify health and social disparities. Many of these communities report lower vaccine confidence and lower receipt of the COVID-19 vaccine. Understanding factors that influence the multifaceted decision-making process for vaccine uptake is critical for narrowing COVID-19-related disparities. [...] This qualitative study used community-engaged methods to conduct virtual focus groups from November 16, 2020, to January 28, 2021, with Los Angeles County residents. Potential participants were recruited through email, video, and telephone outreach to community partner networks. Focus groups were stratified by self-identified race and ethnicity as well as age. Transcripts were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis."
JAMA Network
Carson, Savanna L.; Casilla, Alejandra; Castellon-Lopez, Yelba . . .
2021-09-30
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Assessment of Communication Strategies for Mitigating COVID-19 Vaccine-Specific Hesitancy in Canada
From the Introduction: "Mass vaccination campaigns are rapidly proceeding globally. These campaigns make use of vaccines with different characteristics, such as their country of origin, number of required doses, underlying technology (eg, mRNA [Messenger ribonucleic acid]), and their levels of efficacy and safety. Containing the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic will require vaccinating at least 70% of US individuals and billions more globally. It will also likely require follow-up or booster vaccinations. Understanding the sources of hesitancy and identifying correctives is, thus, vitally important for global public health. Important research identifies sources of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy. Resistance appears to be higher among people with low trust in expertise and, in the US, among Republican party identifiers. Vaccine hesitancy is also higher among racial and ethnic minority groups, women, those with more skepticism about childhood vaccines, and those skeptical of the severity of the COVID-19 pandemic. This work aligns with findings on which groups of citizens are more likely to comply with public health directives on mask usage and social distancing and broader findings on vaccine hesitancy outside of the COVID-19 context. [...] . In this study, we examine whether providing information on the effectiveness of the AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson vaccines at preventing death from COVID-19 increases people's confidence in their effectiveness and reduces their hesitancy toward these vaccines. We also explore whether this information can mitigate possible negative consequences that arise from providing information on the comparatively less-impressive record of these vaccines at preventing symptomatic COVID-19 infection."
JAMA Network
Merkley, Eric; Loewen, Peter John, 1979-
2021-09-30
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Assessing SARS-CoV-2 Circulation, Variants of Concern, Non-Pharmaceutical Interventions and Vaccine Rollout in the EU/EEA, 16th Update
From the Summary: "Since its emergence in March 2021, the B.1.617.2 (Delta) variant of concern (VOC) has rapidly become predominant across the European Union/European Economic Area (EU/EEA). More than 99% of newly reported cases are attributed to this variant. The Delta variant has demonstrated a significant transmission advantage relative to previously circulating SARS-CoV-2 [severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2] strains. However, full vaccination remains protective against severe outcomes such as hospitalisation, admission to intensive care and death. Currently available vaccines have played a crucial role in limiting viral circulation and in particular, limiting the impact of infections by the Delta variant. Despite the fact that over 565 million vaccine doses have been administered in the EU/EEA so far, only 61.1% (range: 18.4-79.4%) of the total population in the EU/EEA have been fully vaccinated to date. The total population includes children and adolescents for whom the vaccine is not available or who may not be included in national target groups yet. There is considerable inter-country and sub-national variation in vaccine uptake, resulting in large proportions of the EU/EEA population remaining susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection. Modelling scenarios that consider vaccination coverage, vaccine effectiveness, natural immunity and population contact rates--in the context of continued Delta circulation--indicate that the potential burden of disease risk in the EU/EEA from the Delta variant is high between now to the end of November, unless vaccination coverage can be increased rapidly in the total population in the next few weeks."
European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control
2021-09-30
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Bargaining Over Workplace Issues During the COVID-19 Pandemic
This document from UNISON, the United Kingdom's (UK) largest public service trade union, provides workplace guidance relating to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in the UK. Topics include: working from home, absence due to illness or care-taking responsibilities, mental health issues, hygiene, etc. The document is updated on a regular basis.
UNISON (Organization)
2021-09-30
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FLETC's Actions to Respond to and Manage COVID-19 at Its Glynco Training Center
From the Highlights: "After temporarily closing in March 2020 due to COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019], FLETC [Federal Law Enforcement Training Center] reopened its facilities in June 2020 with 'reengineered training programs' designed to mitigate the risks associated with COVID-19. We conducted a review to determine actions the Glynco training center has taken to prevent and mitigate the spread of COVID-19 among staff and students."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Office of Inspector General
2021-09-30
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FDA Approval of the Pfizer-BioNtech COVID-19 Vaccine: Frequently Asked Questions [Updated September 29, 2021]
From the Document: "In August 23, 2021, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine manufactured by Pfizer and BioNTech for individuals 16 years of age or older. The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is the first COVID-19 vaccine--and the first vaccine based on messenger RNA (mRNA) technology-- to be licensed by FDA. Pfizer and BioNTech will market their licensed COVID-19 vaccine under the brand name Comirnaty (pronounced koe-MIR-na-tee). [...] FDA's approval of Comirnaty has caused some confusion about the scope of FDA's approval, the relationship between Comirnaty and the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, and other issues. This report addresses some common questions about FDA's approval of Comirnaty."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Hickey, Kevin J.; Bodie, Agata; Ward, Erin H.
2021-09-29
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Argentina: An Overview [Updated September 29, 2021]
"Situated on the Atlantic coast of South America's Southern Cone, Argentina has a vibrant democratic tradition and has Latin America's third-largest economy. U.S.-Argentine relations have been strong in recent years. [...] Upon taking office, President Fernández faced an economy in recession, high poverty, and unsustainable public debt. He pledged to restructure Argentina's debt and opened talks with bondholders and other creditors. He also rolled out several measures, including a food program and price controls on basic goods, aimed at helping low-income Argentines cope with inflation and increased poverty. [...] Argentina has been hard hit by the pandemic. COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] cases and deaths surged in May and June 2021 but have since declined. As of September 29, 2021, the country reported over 115,000 deaths, with a mortality rate of 255 per 100,000 people, according to Johns Hopkins University. Although the procurement and rollout of vaccines was initially slow compared with some other countries, as of September 29, 48.1% of Argentina's population was fully vaccinated. [...] In July 2021, the United States donated 3.5 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine (Moderna) to Argentina. In addition, according to the U.S. Embassy in Buenos Aires, the United States has donated more than $4 million in COVID-19 relief supplies, including three relief hospitals and other supplies provided by the U.S. Southern Command."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Sullivan, Mark P.
2021-09-29
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Issues Raised by a Federal Government Shutdown: Grants to State and Local Governments and the Covid-19 Pandemic [Updated September 29, 2021]
From the Document: "Midnight September 30, 2021, will be the end of FY2021. In the absence of new funding legislation for FY2022, funding for federal agencies and activities funded through all 12 of the regular annual appropriations acts will lapse. The resulting lapse in appropriations will require a shutdown of most federal agency operations [hyperlink], including those necessary to administer federal aid to state and local governments. [...] Since March 2020, COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic response legislation has provided additional funding for federal grant programs to state and local governments. According to the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee, $582.3 billion [hyperlink] has been provided to state, local, and tribal governments for pandemic response, not including additional grant funding provided under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 [hyperlink] (American Rescue Plan, P.L. 117-2, enacted March 11, 2021). The American Rescue Plan provided an additional $360 billion [hyperlink], of which $219.8 billion was appropriated for the Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund [hyperlink], $130.2 billion for the Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Fund [hyperlink], and $10 billion for the Coronavirus Capital Projects Fund [hyperlink]. A federal government shutdown may cause disruption to, or cessation of, grant administration activities for normal grant program appropriations, as well as pandemic-related supplemental funding, depending on the following factors: [1] the timing and duration of a federal government shutdown; and [2] the choices made by federal, state, and local officials in anticipation of, or during, a shutdown regarding grant program administration."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Keegan, Natalie
2021-09-29
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COVID-19: Reviewing Existing Policies Could Help Selected Agencies Better Prepare for Dedicated User Fee Revenue Fluctuations, Report to Congressional Committees
From the Highlights: "Each year, federal agencies collect billions of dollars in dedicated user fee revenue from fees charged to users of federal goods and services, which are dedicated by law for a specific purpose or program. The COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic disrupted critical government operations for agencies that rely on these revenues. The CARES Act [Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act] included a provision for GAO [Government Accountability Office] to review the effects of the pandemic on public institutions of the U.S. This report examines how dedicated user fee revenues have changed since the onset of the pandemic and how selected agencies managed revenue changes related to the pandemic, among other objectives. To determine revenue changes, GAO compared dedicated user fee revenues in fiscal years 2020 and 2021 to amounts from prior years. GAO selected three agencies to review-- FAA [Federal Aviation Administration], NPS [National Park Service], and USCIS [U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services]--based on whether they relied on dedicated user fee revenue to a high (FAA and USCIS) or low (NPS) extent, among other factors. GAO interviewed officials at the selected agencies and reviewed relevant documents to determine how these agencies managed revenue changes, and compared those actions to internal control standards and leading practices for fee design."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2021-09-29
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Tracking Self-Reported Symptoms and Medical Conditions on Social Media During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Infodemiological Study
From the Abstract: "Harnessing health-related data posted on social media in real time can offer insights into how the pandemic impacts the mental health and general well-being of individuals and populations over time. [...] This study aimed to obtain information on symptoms and medical conditions self-reported by non-Twitter social media users during the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic, to determine how discussion of these symptoms and medical conditions changed over time, and to identify correlations between frequency of the top 5 commonly mentioned symptoms post and daily COVID-19 statistics (new cases, new deaths, new active cases, and new recovered cases) in the United States."
JMIR Publications
Ding, Qinglan; Massey, Daisy; Huang, Chenxi . . .
2021-09-28
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Failure to Mitigate Risk of and Manage a COVID-19 Outbreak at a Community Living Center at VA Illiana Health Care System in Danville, Illinois
From the Executive Summary: "The VA [Department of Veterans Affairs] Office of Inspector General (OIG) conducted a healthcare inspection to assess allegations that facility leaders failed to mitigate risk of and manage a community living center (CLC) COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] outbreak (CLC outbreak) at the VA Illiana Health Care System (facility) in Danville, Illinois. In the fall of 2020, 11 residents died of COVID-19, and 239 patients and 92 staff were diagnosed with the virus. The allegations stated that a COVID-19 outbreak occurred in two CLC neighborhoods--Unity and Victory--and there was a failure to observe general infection control practices specifically related to respiratory personal protective equipment (PPE) use, issuance, and training; failure to minimize risk of exposure to COVID-19 for CLC residents and staff; and inconsistent ongoing testing and failure to notify residents, their families, and staff of positive COVID-19 test results. The OIG [Office of the Inspector General] identified concerns related to facility and CLC leaders' actions following the CLC outbreak."
United States. Department of Veterans Affairs. Office of Inspector General
2021-09-28
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COVID-19: Additional Risk Assessment Actions Could Improve HUD Oversight of CARES Act Funds, Report to Congressional Committees
From the Highlights: "The COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic and resulting economic downturn created housing instability for many families and individuals. Congress appropriated about $12.4 billion to HUD [Department of Housing and Urban Development] in CARES Act [Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act] funds to prevent, prepare for, and respond to housing needs related to COVID-19. GAO [Government Accountability Office] has previously reported on HUD's persistent management challenges and noted the potential for these challenges to affect the implementation and oversight of HUD's COVID-19 response. The CARES Act includes a provision for GAO to monitor the federal government's efforts to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. This report examines HUD's actions to oversee its CARES Act funding and manage risks, and HUD's implementation and monitoring of the CARES Act funds of selected community development, homelessness, and rental assistance programs. GAO reviewed HUD documentation and analyzed HUD spending data, focusing on the four programs that received the most CARES Act funding. GAO also interviewed HUD officials and associations representing HUD funding recipients."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2021-09-28
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COVID-19: Selected Agencies Overcame Technology Challenges to Support Telework but Need to Fully Assess Security Controls, Report to Congressional Addressees
From the Highlights: "In response to the onset of the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic, in March 2020 the Office of Management and Budget directed federal agencies to maximize their use of telework to enable the workforce to remain safe while ensuring that government operations continue. Telework is essential to continuity of operations but also brings added cybersecurity risks. The 'CARES Act' [Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act] contains a provision for GAO [Government Accountability Office] to monitor the federal response to the pandemic. GAO was also asked to examine federal agencies' preparedness to support expanded telework. GAO's objectives were to determine (1) selected agencies' initial experiences in providing the IT [information technology] needed to support remote access for maximum telework and (2) the extent to which selected agencies followed federal information security guidance for their IT systems that provide remote access. GAO selected 12 agencies for review that varied in their percentages of reported employee telework use and sent a questionnaire to solicit these agencies' perspectives on the use of IT in transitioning to maximum telework. GAO also reviewed the selected agencies' information security documentation and interviewed relevant officials."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2021-09-28
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Pandemic-Resilient Community Planning: 'Practical Ways to Help Communities Prepare for, Respond to, and Recover from Pandemics and Other Economic, Social and Environmental Shocks' [September 28, 2021]
From the Abstract: "'Resilience' refers to a system's ability to respond to changes, including sudden shocks. This report investigates ways that communities can become more resilient to pandemics and other disasters. It compares COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] with other health risks, examines various problems caused by the pandemic, and recommends ways that communities can better prepare for, respond to, and recover from the pandemics. Pandemic-resilient planning requires policies that minimize contagion risks, provide basic access and delivery services during periods of restricted mobility, support physical and mental health during lockdowns, and provide affordable mobility for households with reduced incomes. To minimize contagion risk, planners should help operators and travelers ensure appropriate distancing, sanitizing and hygiene practices. Walking and bicycling are generally the safest and most affordable modes, improve physical and mental health, and help reduce social isolation, so improving walking and bicycling conditions tends to increase resilience."
Victoria Transport Policy Institute
Litman, Todd
2021-09-28
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Military's COVID-19 Vaccination Mandate [September 28, 2021]
From the Document: "Since the onset of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, Members of Congress have expressed interest in Force Health Protection [hyperlink] (FHP) measures the Department of Defense (DOD) might implement to protect servicemembers and mitigate pandemic-related threats to military operations. DOD has implemented a variety of conditions-based FHP measures [hyperlink] that mirror the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's recommended protective measures [hyperlink], to limit the spread of COVID-19 among military personnel. On August 9, 2021, the Secretary of Defense (SECDEF) issued a Message to the Force [hyperlink] indicating his intent to require COVID-19 vaccination for servicemembers 'no later than mid-September, or immediately upon the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) licensure [of a COVID-19 vaccine], whichever comes first.[...] This Insight summarizes the COVID-19 vaccination mandate for servicemembers and offers considerations for Congress as the MILDEPs [Military Departments] implement the mandate."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Mendez, Bryce H. P.
2021-09-28
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Pandemic Privacy: A Preliminary Analysis of Collection Technologies, Data Collection Laws, and Legislative Reform During COVID-19
From the Executive Summary: "In, 'Pandemic Privacy: A preliminary analysis of collection technologies, data collection laws, and legislative reform during COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019],' we undertake a preliminary comparative analysis of how different information technologies were mobilized in response to COVID-19 to collect data, the extent to which Canadian health or privacy or emergencies laws impeded the response to COVID-19, and ultimately, the potential consequences of reforming data protection or privacy laws to enable more expansive data collection, use, or disclosure of personal information in future health emergencies. [...] After a short introduction in Section one, we present the methodologies we used in Section two. Section three turns to how contemporary digital technologies were used to collect data in the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada. Our principal finding is that collection efforts were constrained by the ways in which private companies chose to enable data collection, particularly in the case of contact tracing and exposure notifications, and by how these companies choose to share data that was under their control and how data was repurposed for assisting in containing COVID-19. The breadth and extent of data collection was unprecedented when compared to past health crises."
University of Toronto. Citizen Lab; Munk School of Global Affairs
Parsons, Christopher; Ballard, Benjamin; Cutinha, Amanda
2021-09-28
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MMWR Early Release: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, September 28, 2021: Safety Monitoring of an Additional Dose of COVID-19 Vaccine -- United States, August 12-September 19, 2021
The Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) Series is prepared by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). [It] is the agency's primary vehicle for scientific publication of timely, reliable, authoritative, accurate, objective, and useful public health information and recommendations. This Early Release issue of MMWR contains the following article: "Safety Monitoring of an Additional Dose of COVID-19 [Coronavirus Disease 2019] Vaccine -- United States, August 12-September 19, 2021." Notifiable Diseases and Mortality Tables from WWMR can be accessed at the following link [http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/index2021.html].
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.)
2021-09-28
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COVID-19 State of Vaccine Confidence Insights Report 15 (August 31 - September 13, 2021)
From the Summary: "Consumer and media interest in vaccination requirements increased significantly following President Biden's announcement of a COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] action plan to boost vaccination rates on September 9, 2021. Some consumers and news outlets defended the announcement, highlighting that vaccination requirements are not new; some even wished the requirements applied to more people. Other consumers reacted negatively, telling others '#DoNotComply' and claiming that vaccination requirements are authoritarian, illegal, and an attack on their personal freedoms. Some consumers expressed confusion and frustration with the effectiveness of the vaccines to decrease the spread of COVID-19 and protect against severe COVID-19 symptoms. Some social media users and news releases continued to pose questions about the strength of natural immunity or promoted the idea that natural immunity is superior to vaccine-mediated immunity. Social media users expressed disappointment and belief that the United States has not, and will not, contain the COVID-19 outbreak."
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.)
2021-09-27
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H. Rept. 117-129: Agricultural Fairs Rescue Act, Report to Accompany H.R. 2424, September 27, 2021
From the Document: "The Committee on Agriculture, to whom was referred the bill (H.R. 2424) to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a program under which the Secretary awards grants to States or State departments of agriculture for the purposes of providing support to agricultural fairs for losses sustained due to COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019], having considered the same, reports favorably thereon with an amendment and recommends that the bill as amended do pass."
United States. Government Publishing Office
2021-09-27
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Pandemic Highlights Need for Additional Tribal Drinking Water Assistance and Oversight in EPA Regions 9 and 10
From the Document: "The Office of Inspector General initiated [hyperlink] this evaluation to determine how the coronavirus pandemic--that is, the SARS-CoV-2 [severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2] virus and resultant COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] disease--affected the ability of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Regions 9 and 10 to provide oversight to help public water systems in Indian Country deliver safe drinking water to customers. Our work focused on oversight of tribal drinking water systems in Regions 9 and 10, as more federally recognized tribes are located in these two regions than in other EPA regions. We sought to understand the conditions facing tribal drinking water systems and how the pandemic affected the regions' direct implementation and use of existing regulations and tools during the pandemic."
United States. Environmental Protection Agency. Office of the Inspector General
2021-09-27
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Care Concerns and the Impact of COVID-19 on a Patient at the Fayetteville VA Coastal Health Care System in North Carolina
From the Executive Summary: "The VA [Department of Veterans Affairs] Office of Inspector General (OIG) conducted a healthcare inspection at the Fayetteville VA Coastal Health Care System (facility) in North Carolina to assess concerns related to quality, coordination, and timeliness of a patient's care in 2020. The impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) on the care of the patient was also evaluated. The patient later died at another Veterans Health Administration (VHA) facility."
United States. Department of Veterans Affairs. Office of Inspector General
2021-09-27
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Influence of Social Distancing Behaviors and Psychosocial Factors on Physical Activity During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Cross-Sectional Survey Study
From the Abstract: "The COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic has arguably facilitated a shift toward increased sedentariness and reduced physical activity. Moreover, there is mounting evidence that mental health has also declined during the pandemic. However, it remains unknown to what extent social distancing (SD) behaviors and mental health have affected the physical activity levels of the general population. [...] The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of SD behaviors and prevailing mental health on the odds of being physically active during the early COVID-19 pandemic response"
JMIR Publications
Cross, Troy J.; Isautier, Jennifer; Morris, Sarah J. . . .
2021-09-24
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COVID-19 Workplace Safety: Guidance for Federal Contractors and Subcontractors
From the Introduction: "On September 9, President Biden announced his Path Out of the Pandemic: COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] Action Plan [hyperlink]. One of the main goals of this science-based plan is to get more people vaccinated. As part of that plan, the President signed Executive Order 14042, Ensuring Adequate COVID Safety Protocols for Federal Contractors [hyperlink], ('the order') which directs executive departments and agencies, including independent establishments subject to the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act, 40 U.S.C. [United States Code] § 102(4)(A), to ensure that covered contracts and contract-like instruments include a clause ('the clause') that the contractor and any subcontractors (at any tier) shall incorporate into lower-tier subcontracts. This clause shall specify that the contractor or subcontractor shall, for the duration of the contract, comply with all guidance for contractor or subcontractor workplace locations published by the Safer Federal Workforce Task Force ('Task Force'), provided that the Director of the Office of Management and Budget ('OMB') approves the Task Force Guidance (the or this 'Guidance') and determines that the Guidance, if adhered to by covered contractors, will promote economy and efficiency in Federal contracting. The actions directed by the order will ensure that parties who contract with the Federal Government provide COVID-19 safeguards in workplaces with individuals working on or in connection with a Federal Government contract or contract-like instrument. [...] Pursuant to this Guidance, and in addition to any requirements or workplace safety protocols that are applicable because a contractor or subcontractor employee is present at a Federal workplace, Federal contractors and subcontractors with a covered contract will be required to conform to the following workplace safety protocols: 1. COVID-19 vaccination of covered contractor employees, except in limited circumstances where an employee is legally entitled to an accommodation; 2. Compliance by individuals, including covered contractor employees and visitors, with the Guidance related to masking and physical distancing while in covered contractor workplaces; and 3. Designation by covered contractors of a person or persons to coordinate COVID-19 workplace safety efforts at covered contractor workplaces."
Safer Federal Workforce Task Force
2021-09-24
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MMWR Early Release: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, September 24, 2021: Association Between K-12 School Mask Policies and School-Associated COVID-19 Outbreaks -- Maricopa and Pima Counties, Arizona, July-August 2021
The Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) Series is prepared by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). [It] is the agency's primary vehicle for scientific publication of timely, reliable, authoritative, accurate, objective, and useful public health information and recommendations. This Early Release issue of MMWR contains the following article: "Association Between K-12 School Mask Policies and School-Associated COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] Outbreaks -- Maricopa and Pima Counties, Arizona, July-August 2021." Notifiable Diseases and Mortality Tables from MMWR can be accessed at the following link [http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/index2021.html].
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.)
2021-09-24
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MMWR Early Release: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, September 24, 2021: COVID-19-Related School Closures and Learning Modality Changes -- United States, August 1-September 17, 2021
The Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) Series is prepared by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). [It] is the agency's primary vehicle for scientific publication of timely, reliable, authoritative, accurate, objective, and useful public health information and recommendations. This Early Release issue of MMWR contains the following article: "COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019]-Related School Closures and Learning Modality Changes -- United States, August 1-September 17, 2021." Notifiable Diseases and Mortality Tables from MMWR can be accessed at the following link [http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/index2021.html].
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.)
2021-09-24
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MMWR Early Release: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, September 24, 2021: Pediatric COVID-19 Cases in Counties with and Without School Mask Requirements -- United States, July 1-September 4, 2021
The Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) Series is prepared by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). [It] is the agency's primary vehicle for scientific publication of timely, reliable, authoritative, accurate, objective, and useful public health information and recommendations. This Early Release issue of MMWR contains the following article: "Pediatric COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] Cases in Counties With and Without School Mask Requirements -- United States, July 1-September 4, 2021." Notifiable Diseases and Mortality Tables from this issue can be accessed at the following link [http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/index2021.html].
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.)
2021-09-24
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Current Responses to Housing Insecurity: A Focus on Vulnerable Residential Renters and Landlords
From the Document: "On July 31, 2021, the federal eviction moratorium that kept an estimated 30 million people in their homes at the height of the pandemic officially expired. While the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a subsequent order on August 3, 2021 to temporarily halt evictions in counties where COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] is spreading rapidly, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled later that month that the CDC exceeded its statutory authority by imposing the nationwide eviction moratorium, effectively ending it. The ruling means that eviction proceedings can resume where state or local moratoriums are not currently in place. [...] Although certain state and local governments extended their eviction moratoriums, housing experts still expect a wave of evictions this year, prompting an immediate need to alleviate the pressures on renters and landlords. In response, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (New York Fed), in partnership with the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia (Philadelphia Fed), the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), and the Housing Initiative at Penn (HIP), convened a roundtable of housing practitioners, policymakers, and funders to identify solutions. This roundtable discussion is part of the New York Fed's broader body of work seeking to enable economic mobility for low- and moderate-income households, especially those facing poverty or structural disparities related to race or ethnicity. Below are key takeaways that we heard from experts on the experiences of renters and landlords."
Federal Reserve Bank of New York
Body, Dyvonne; Landau, Rebecca; Reyes, Edison . . .
2021-09-23?
