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Origins of COVID-19: An Investigation of the Wuhan Institute of Virology
From the Executive Summary: "More than one year after the World Health Organization declared a pandemic, the world is still reeling from the emergence of the SARS-CoV-2 [severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2] virus and the disease it causes, COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019]. More than four million people have lost their lives worldwide, including more than 612,000 Americans, while economies around the world have been devastated by the fallout. This report investigates the origin of this virus and looks at how it became a deadly pandemic."
United States. Congress. House. Committee on Foreign Affairs
McCaul, Michael T.
2021-08
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Biodefense: After-Action Findings and COVID-19 Response Revealed Opportunities to Strengthen Preparedness, Report to Congressional Committees
From the Highlights: "The COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic shows how catastrophic biological incidents can cause substantial loss of life, economic damage, and require a whole-of-nation response involving multiple federal and nonfederal entities. The 2018 National Biodefense Strategy outlines specific goals and objectives to help prepare for and respond to such incidents. The CARES [Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act] Act includes a provision for GAO [Government Accountability Office] to conduct monitoring and oversight of federal efforts to prepare for, respond to, and recover from COVID-19. This report addresses: (1) interagency plans key federal agencies developed, and exercises they conducted, to help prepare for biological incidents; and (2) the extent to which exercises and real-world incidents revealed opportunities to better achieve National Biodefense Strategy objectives. GAO reviewed biological incident plans and after-action reports from exercises and real-world incidents from calendar years 2009 through 2019, including a non-generalizable sample of 19 reports selected based on threat scenario and other factors. GAO interviewed federal and state officials to obtain their perspectives on plans, exercises, and the COVID-19 response."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2021-08
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COVID-19 Pandemic: Actions Needed to Improve Federal Oversight of Assistance to Individuals, Communities, and the Transportation Industry, Statement of Heather Krause, Director, Physical Infrastructure and Chris P. Currie, Director, Homeland Security and Justice, Testimony Before the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, House of Representatives
From the Highlights: "In response to the public health and economic crises created by the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic, Congress provided billions of dollars across a range of agencies to mitigate the effects of COVID-19. This included billions to: [1] FEMA's Disaster Relief Fund to provide assistance to individuals as well as state, local, tribal, and territorial governments, and [2] DOT [Department of Transportation] and Treasury to provide financial assistance to the transportation sector. This statement describes: (1) the federal response and selected relief programs administered by FEMA, DOT, and Treasury and (2) lessons learned based on GAO's [Government Accountability Office's] reviews of selected COVID-19 relief programs, including related recommendations and their implementation status. This statement is based on GAO's body of work on the CARES [Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security] Act issued from June 2020 through July 2021. To update this information, GAO reviewed agency documentation; and interviewed agency officials, industry associations, and selected businesses that applied to these programs on the latest implementation efforts."
United States. Government Accountability Office
Krause, Heather; Currie, Chris
2021-07-29
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Bureau of Prisons: BOP Could Further Enhance Its COVID-19 Response by Capturing and Incorporating Lessons Learned, Report to Congressional Addressees
From the Highlights: "BOP [Federal Bureau of Prisons] was responsible for the custody and care of about 129,000 federal inmates in BOP-managed facilities, and employed more than 37,000 staff as of May 2021. Because of confined spaces, the prison population is particularly vulnerable during infectious disease outbreaks, such as COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019]. About $620 million has been appropriated to or designated by BOP for COVID-19- related efforts. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to review BOP's approach to responding to COVID-19. This report addresses, among other objectives: (1) BOP's development and updates of COVID-19 guidance; (2) BOP's provision of PPE [personal protective equipment], COVID-19 tests and vaccines, and infection and fatality rates for inmates and staff; and (3) the impact of COVID-19 on inmates and staff, and the extent to which BOP has incorporated lessons learned into its response. GAO reviewed BOP policies, data, and other documentation related to the impact of COVID-19 and how BOP addressed it. GAO also conducted non-generalizable interviews of officials from five BOP facilities and one private facility operating under contract with BOP, selected based on inmate infection rates and other factors. GAO is making three recommendations that BOP evaluate communication of COVID-19 guidance, develop an approach to capture and share best practices and lessons learned; and develop an approach to ensure facilities apply these practices as appropriate. BOP concurred with all three recommendations."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2021-07-29
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COVID-19 Contracting: Opportunities to Improve Practices to Assess Prospective Vendors and Capture Lessons Learned, Report to Congressional Addressees
From the Highlights: "In response to COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019], agencies awarded contracts for goods and services to vendors from a range of industries and with varying levels of federal contracting experience, but some vendors have been unable to deliver under those contracts. The CARES [Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act] Act included a provision for GAO [Government Accountability Office] to review COVID-19-related federal contracting under the act. This report addresses (1) COVID-19 contract obligations and characteristics of vendors, (2) contracting challenges, including with agency assessments of vendors, and (3) whether lessons learned efforts reflect those challenges. GAO analyzed federal procurement data on agencies' reported COVID-19 contract obligations through May 31, 2021. GAO examined a nongeneralizable sample of 28 contracts with high dollar values or other characteristics from four agencies--DOD, HHS [Department of Health and Human Services], USDA, and DHS. GAO interviewed officials, including Office of Management and Budget (OMB) officials about their emergency acquisition guidance. GAO is making 10 recommendations, including that agencies establish processes to better collect and communicate contracting lessons learned during emergencies such as COVID-19. Agencies agreed with nine recommendations. OMB did not agree to establish time frames for updating its guidance. GAO continues to believe OMB should do so, as discussed in this report."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2021-07-29
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Assessing the Federal Government's COVID-19 Relief and Response Efforts and Its Impact, Hearing Before the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, U.S. House of Representatives, One Hundred Seventeenth Congress, First Session, July 29, 2021
This is from the July 29, 2021 hearing, "Assessing the Federal Government's COVID-19 Relief and Response Efforts and Its Impact," held before the U.S. House Committee on Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. This hearing focuses on the oversight of government spending in relation to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. A video of the hearing is available for viewing, and statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Michael E. Horowitz, Heather Krause, Chris Currie, Eric J. Soskin, James Izzard, Paul Skoutelas, Juan Ortiz, Michael J. Boskin, Wendy Edelberg, and John Samuelsen.
United States. Congress. House. Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
2021-07-29
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MMWR Early Release: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, July 27, 2021: Guidance for Implementing COVID-19 Prevention Strategies in the Context of Varying Community Transmission Levels and Vaccination Coverage
he 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: "Guidance for Implementing COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] Prevention Strategies in the Context of Varying Community Transmission Levels and Vaccination Coverage." 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.)
2021-07-27
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COVID-19 State of Vaccine Confidence Insights Report 12 (June 21, 2021 - July 12, 2021)
From the Summary: "Consumer concerns about the safety of COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] vaccines were amplified by multiple, overlapping and widely circulating misinformation narratives. As a result, some consumers questioned the transparency of the government in reporting and addressing adverse events following COVID-19 vaccination. The Delta variant of the virus that causes COVID-19 continues to drive concerns about vaccine effectiveness, especially among those who are already vaccinated. However, those who remain unvaccinated are generally less likely to perceive the Delta variant as a threat, and vaccine intentions do not appear to be affected."
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.)
2021-07-26
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COVID-19 Contracting: Actions Needed to Enhance Transparency and Oversight of Selected Awards, Report to Congressional Committees
From the Highlights: "In March 2020, Congress passed the CARES [Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security] Act as part of the federal response to COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019]. The act had certain provisions for federal contracting, including providing additional flexibilities. Contracting plays a critical role in the pandemic response as agencies obligate billions of dollars for goods and services. The act also included a provision for GAO [U.S. Government Accountability Office] to review federal contracting in response to COVID-19. This report examines, among other objectives, the extent to which the Departments of Defense, Health and Human Services, and Homeland Security--the only agencies that reported using other transaction agreements in response to COVID-19 in the federal procurement database--used such agreements, including awards to consortia, and oversight of such use. GAO analyzed federal procurement data as of March 2021; reviewed a nongeneralizable sample of 15 agreements selected based on high dollar amounts, agency, a mix of products and services, among other criteria; reviewed agency policies; and interviewed agency officials. GAO is making 14 recommendations to selected agencies, to improve the transparency of agreement awards in the federal procurement database and update policies to improve the oversight of agreements awarded through consortium management firms. The agencies agreed with 11 of the recommendations and did not agree with three of them. GAO continues to believe the recommendations are valid, as discussed in the report."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2021-07-26
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Estimating SARS-CoV-2 Infections from Deaths, Confirmed Cases, Tests, and Random Surveys
From the Document: "There are multiple sources of data giving information about the number of SARS-CoV-2 [severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2] infections in the population, but all have major drawbacks, including biases and delayed reporting. For example, the number of confirmed cases largely underestimates the number of infections, and deaths lag infections substantially, while test positivity rates tend to greatly overestimate prevalence. Representative random prevalence surveys, the only putatively unbiased source, are sparse in time and space, and the results can come with big delays. Reliable estimates of population prevalence are necessary for understanding the spread of the virus and the effectiveness of mitigation strategies. We develop a simple Bayesian framework to estimate viral prevalence by combining several of the main available data sources. It is based on a discrete-time Susceptible-Infected-Removed (SIR) model with time-varying reproductive parameter. Our model includes likelihood components that incorporate data on deaths due to the virus, confirmed cases, and the number of tests administered on each day. We anchor our inference with data from random-sample testing surveys in Indiana and Ohio. We use the results from these two states to calibrate the model on positive test counts and proceed to estimate the infection fatality rate and the number of new infections on each day in each state in the United States. We estimate the extent to which reported COVID [coronavirus disease] cases have underestimated true infection counts, which was large, especially in the first months of the pandemic. We explore the implications of our results for progress toward herd immunity."
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Irons, Nicholas J.; Raftery, Adrian E.
2021-07-26
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Guidance on 'Long COVID' as a Disability Under the Ada, Section 504, and Section 1557
From the Document: "Although many people with COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] get better within weeks, some people continue to experience symptoms that can last months after first being infected, or may have new or recurring symptoms at a later time. This can happen to anyone who has had COVID-19, even if the initial illness was mild. People with this condition are sometimes called 'long-haulers.' This condition is known as 'long COVID.' [...] This guidance explains that long COVID can be a disability under Titles II (state and local government) and III (public accommodations) of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504), and Section 1557 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Section 1557). Each of these federal laws protects people with disabilities from discrimination. This guidance also provides resources for additional information and best practices. This document focuses solely on long COVID, and does not address when COVID-19 may meet the legal definition of disability."
United States. Department of Health and Human Services. Office for Civil Rights; United States. Department of Justice. Civil Rights Division
2021-07-26
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Fact Sheet: Biden-Harris Administration Marks Anniversary of Americans with Disabilities Act and Announces Resources to Support Individuals with Long COVID, July 26, 2021
This fact sheet details the Biden-Harris administration's policies aimed at improving available resources for Americans with disabilities and providing expanded resources for Americans with long COVID (coronavirus disease). This document also presents clarification for Long COVID's classification as a disability.
United States. White House Office
2021-07-26
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EMR-ISAC: InfoGram, Volume 21 Issue 29, July 22, 2021
The Emergency Management and Response Information Sharing and Analysis Center's (EMR-ISAC) InfoGram is a weekly publication of information concerning the protection of critical infrastructures relevant to members of the Emergency Services Sector. This issue includes the following articles: "Call for participants in study measuring impact of COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] on first responder organizations"; "NIST [National Institute of Standards and Technology] launches full technical investigation into Champlain Towers South collapse in Surfside, Fla."; "Updates to AirNow Fire and Smoke Map equip the public with air quality monitoring as wildfire smoke blankets the US; Webinar": "Community Awareness Briefing on violent extremist recruitment tactics"; "Four Chinese Nationals working with the Ministry of State Security charged with global computer intrusion campaign targeting intellectual property and confidential business information, including infectious disease research"; "CISA [Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency]: Alert (AA21-200B) - Chinese State-Sponsored Cyber Operations: Observed TTPs [tactics, techniques, and procedures]"; "US State Department offering $10 million reward for state-backed hackers"; "NIST outlines security measures for software use and testing under executive order"; and "2021 CWE [common weakness enumeration] Top 25 Most Dangerous Software Weaknesses."
Emergency Management and Response-Information Sharing and Analysis Center (U.S.)
2021-07-22
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Short Report on Long COVID
From the Document: "This report is provided at the request of SAGE [Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies] and includes information from ongoing studies investigating long COVID [coronavirus disease] including the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] Longitudinal Health and Wellbeing National Core Study-CONVALESCENCE Study, REACT-2 [Real-time Assessment of Community Transmission (REACT) Study-2], PHOSP-COVID [Post-hospitalisation COVID-19 study], ONS's [Office for National Statistics's] COVID-19 Infection Survey (CIS) and the COVID Symptom Study App [application]."
Great Britain. Office for National Statistics; COVID-19 Longitudinal Health and Wellbeing National Core Study
Park, Chloe; Chaturvedi, Nishi; Sterne, Jonathan A. C. . . .
2021-07-22
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Reopening the U.S.-Mexico Border: A Framework for Action
From the Introduction: "The year 2020 brought with it a global pandemic. This forced governments around the world to implement measures to stop the spread of COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019], which is now responsible for several million deaths. To contain the virus, one of the major points of actionable policy implemented by many countries was to close their borders. The U.S.-Mexico border was one of them. However, the U.S.-Mexico border remained partially open, although by March 2020 restrictions on cross-border travel were imposed on all land crossings. Almost a year-and-a-half after the restrictions were implemented, and with increasing vaccination rates that provide near herd immunity in the border region, there is now talk of lifting them. This brief describes the border restrictions put in place by the U.S. and Mexico, questions their overall utility, recommends reopening the border fully, and offers policy recommendations on how to do it."
James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy
Payan, Tony
2021-07-20
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FDA COVID-19 Response 'At-a-Glance Summary as of July 19, 2021'
From the Document: "The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, along with other federal, state, and local agencies and public health officials across the country, continues critical work to protect public health during the pandemic of COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019]. Major focus areas of the FDA's response include increasing the availability of tests, therapeutics, vaccines and devices such as ventilators and personal protective equipment, and many other important items necessary for the response. The FDA is also monitoring the human and animal food supply and taking swift action on fraudulent COVID-19 products."
United States. Food and Drug Administration
2021-07-19
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Risks and Restrictions: Striking the Right Balance
From the Overview: "Cases of the virus continue to rise in the UK, as do deaths and hospitalisations. While the vaccination programme is providing substantial protection, it does not remove the danger of the NHS [National Health Service] being overwhelmed again, and there are associated risks of additional pressures that come from all the untreated conditions and waiting lists that have accumulated over the course of the pandemic. Infections will continue to rise, putting an increasing number of people at risk of developing Long Covid [coronavirus disease]. [...] The problem with the government's present strategy is that it risks generating confusion that will undermine the efficacy of its approach. Our view is that everything is simpler to understand and implement if we are clear in the distinction between vaccinated and unvaccinated people. Otherwise we are in danger of loosening restrictions too extensively, for example, in relation to mask-wearing, while being too rigid in other instances, for example, the isolation provisions around NHS Track and Trace. We go on to explain here what we consider to be a far more balanced approach to risks and restrictions."
Tony Blair Institute for Global Change
De Boer, Joanna; Britto, David; Miller, Brianna . . .
2021-07-18
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Budgetary Effects of the Tax Credit for Employer-Paid Sick and Family Leave During the Coronavirus Pandemic
From the Document: "I am writing to provide information about the budgetary effects of the tax credit for employer-paid sick and family leave. The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) required qualifying businesses to provide paid leave to employees for absences related to the coronavirus pandemic. [...] Subsequent legislation--the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and the Economic Security (CARES) Act; the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (CAA); and the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA)--modified the credit and extended it through September 30, 2021. [...] CBO's [Congressional Budget Office] estimates of the credit's effects on revenues and outlays prepared near the time of FFCRA's enactment were reflected in its budget projections (often called its baseline) over the past year. On the basis of those original estimates of claims for the credit and the related behavioral responses, CBO increased projected deficits by approximately $113 billion in total--$105 billion upon the enactment of FFCRA and an additional $8 billion following the enactment of the CARES Act, the CAA, and ARPA."
United States. Congressional Budget Office
Swagel, Phillip
2021-07-16
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Audit of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Quality Assurance Over Contracts for the Conversion of Facilities to Alternative Care Sites in Response to the Coronavirus Disease-2019 Pandemic
From the Objective: "The objective of this audit was to determine to what extent U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) officials conducted appropriate quality assurance and contract administration related to alternative care site (ACS) facilities. We determined whether USACE officials appropriately developed quality assurance control plans (or used appropriate waivers), designated properly trained personnel to conduct quality assurance, coordinated the process, completed contractor assessments, and initiated contract closeout procedures in a timely manner."
United States. Department of Defense. Office of the Inspector General
2021-07-16
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DoD OIG COVID-19 Oversight Plan: 2021 Q3 Update
This is the 2021 third quarter (Q3) update of the Department of Defense (DoD) Office of Inspector General (OIG) coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) Oversight Plan. From the Introduction: "In 2020, the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) received more than $10.5 billion in appropriated FY 2020 funds in the Families First Coronavirus Response Act and the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act to prevent, prepare for, and respond to the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, domestically and internationally. Since that time, the DoD has participated in the global response to ensure that life-saving assistance and supplies reach those who need it most. During a press briefing on May 6, 2021, Secretary of Defense Austin reiterated his initial message to the force, stating, 'Today, the most urgent challenge that we face is COVID-19, and so the [D]epartment has stepped up to save American lives through vaccination. We've been a part of a whole-of-government effort to get shots into arms, and active duty and National Guard troops have administered more than 14 million total shots to the American people.' The DoD Office of Inspector General (OIG) released its initial COVID-19 Pandemic Oversight Plan in May 2020, and continues to publish regular updates listing DoD OIG pandemic-related projects and published reports. [...] The results of our work will assist the DoD in ensuring proper stewardship of pandemic funds and measure the impact of the pandemic on DoD programs and operations."
United States. Department of Defense. Office of the Inspector General
2021-07-16?
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MMWR: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, July 16, 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 issue of MMWR contains the following: "COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] Vaccination Coverage Among Insured Persons Aged ≥16 Years, by Race/Ethnicity and Other Selected Characteristics -- Eight Integrated Health Care Organizations, United States, December 14, 2020-May 15, 2021"; "COVID-19 Vaccine Administration, by Race and Ethnicity -- North Carolina, December 14, 2020-April 6, 2021"; "Acceptability of Adolescent COVID-19 Vaccination Among Adolescents and Parents of Adolescents -- United States, April 15-23, 2021"; "SARS-CoV-2 [severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2] B.1.617.2 (Delta) Variant COVID-19 Outbreak Associated with a Gymnastics Facility -- Oklahoma, April-May 2021"; and "'QuickStats': Percentage, of Men and Women Aged 25-49 Years Who Spent at Least One Night in the Past 12 Months at an Alternate Location Because They Did Not Have a Permanent Place To Stay, by Type of Location -- National Survey of Family Growth, United States, 2017-2019." 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.)
2021-07-16
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Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds: Frequently Asked Questions
From the Document: "This document contains answers to frequently asked questions regarding the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (CSFRF / CLFRF, or Fiscal Recovery Funds). Treasury will be updating this document periodically in response to questions received from stakeholders."
United States. Department of the Treasury
2021-07-14
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Violations of ICE Detention Standards at Adams County Correctional Center
From the Highlights: "In accordance with the 'Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021', we conduct unannounced inspections of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facilities to ensure compliance with detention standards. Between January and February 2021, we conducted a remote inspection of the Adams County Correctional Center (Adams) to evaluate compliance with ICE detention standards and COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] requirements. [...] We made seven recommendations to improve ICE's oversight of detention facility management and operations at Adams."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Office of Inspector General
2021-07-14
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Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA): Emergency Temporary Standards (ETS) and COVID-19 [Updated July 13, 2021]
From the Summary: "On June 21, 2021, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) promulgated an Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) for the prevention of the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 [severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2], the virus that causes COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] in health care employment settings. The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (OSH Act) gives OSHA the ability to promulgate an ETS that would remain in effect for up to six months without going through the normal review and comment process of rulemaking. OSHA, however, has rarely used this authority in the past--not since the courts struck down its ETS on asbestos in 1983. The OSHA COVID-19 ETS requires health care employers to develop COVID-19 plans and protect employees from COVID-19 exposure through health screenings, personal protective equipment (PPE), building ventilation, and physical distancing and barriers. The ETS requires healthcare employers to remove any employees with COVID-19 from the workplace while providing them with certain benefits. Health care employers are not required to mandate that their employees receive a COVID-19 vaccine but must provide reasonable time off for employees to receive a vaccine and recover from any vaccine-related side effects. The ETS includes new COVID-19 recordkeeping and reporting requirements for health care employers and permits health care employers to forgo the medical evaluation and fit-testing requirements of OSHA's respiratory protection standard when providing respirators to employees in certain circumstances."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Szymendera, Scott
2021-07-13
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COVID-19: Potential Implications for International Security Environment-- Overview of Issues and Further Reading for Congress [Updated July 13, 2021]
From the Introduction: "Some observers argue the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic could be a world-changing event with potentially profound and long-lasting implications for the international security environment. Other observers are more skeptical that the pandemic will have such effects. This report provides a brief overview of some potential implications the pandemic might have for the international security environment, and appendices listing CRS [Congressional Research Service] reports and other writings for further reading. Issues for Congress may include whether and how the pandemic could change the international security environment, whether the Biden Administration's actions for responding to such change are appropriate and sufficient, and what implications such change could have for the role of Congress in setting and overseeing the execution of U.S. foreign and defense policy. Congress's decisions regarding these issues could have significant implications for U.S. foreign and defense policy."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
O'Rourke, Ronald; McInnis, Kathleen J.
2021-07-13
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CARES Act: Selected Data on Coronavirus-Related Distribution and Loan Usage in 2020 [July 13, 2021]
From the Introduction: "Section 2202 of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act; P.L. 116- 136) waived the 10% penalty for certain early withdrawals from retirement accounts--referred to as coronavirus-related distributions (CRDs)--and modified rules for loans from defined contribution (DC) plans in 2020 to try to assist those who may have faced financial difficulties due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 1 Retirement plans were permitted, but not required, to adopt CRDs and/or the loan provisions. These provisions--which were similar to those enacted following certain previous federally declared major disasters--expired in 2020 and, as of the date of this report, have not been extended by subsequent legislation. Following enactment of the CARES Act, some expressed concern about the use of the provisions and the extent to which usage might negatively affect retirement security. 2 Selected data on employers' adoption and individuals' utilization of the CARES Act's CRD and loan provisions in 2020 seems to indicate modest usage of these provisions. This data might be informative to Congress in understanding retirement account withdrawal and loan behavior during disasters."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Myers, Elizabeth A.
2021-07-13
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Tokyo Olympic Summer Games [Updated July 13, 2021]
From the Document: "Japan and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) have vowed to go ahead [hyperlink] with the 2020 Olympic Summer Games beginning on July 23, 2021; the games were postponed in 2020 due to the global Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Japan has curbed the pandemic to under 14,954 total deaths [hyperlink] out of a population of around 125 million, a per capita rate around 15 times higher than the United States has experienced. The virus has continued to spread, due in part to the emergence of more communicable variants and Japan's slow progress on vaccinating the population [hyperlink]. In July 2021, the Japanese government declared a state of emergency [hyperlink] in several cities, including Tokyo, that will extend through August 22 and confirmed that no spectators would be permitted at the Games. Two weeks before the opening ceremonies, Japan's daily infections surpassed 2,000 per day, with nearly half of those in Tokyo [hyperlink]. Japan's national vaccination campaign started in mid-February--about two months after many other developed countries. Japan trails behind the United States and other countries in vaccinating its population, presenting increased risk for any Japanese athletes and volunteers that may attend the Games. A cautious vaccine approval process and a cumbersome bureaucratic approach to vaccination led to a slow rollout, though the pace of vaccinations increased in June. As of mid-July, around 28% of Japan's population had received at least one dose of the vaccine [hyperlink]."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Chanlett-Avery, Emma; Manyin, Mark E.; Halchin, L. Elaine
2021-07-13
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Lessons Learnt from the COVID-19 Pandemic from a Financial Stability Perspective: Interim Report
From the Executive Summary: "The COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic is the first major test of the global financial system since the G20 [group of twenty] reforms were put in place following the financial crisis of 2008. While significantly different in nature from the 2008 crisis, this real-life test may hold important lessons for financial policy, including the functioning of the G20 reforms. Any analysis at this stage needs to bear in mind that the pandemic is not yet over and that its economic and financial impact has been greatly mitigated by bold policy actions. The objective of this report, which has been prepared in collaboration with standard-setting bodies (SSBs), is therefore to identify preliminary lessons for financial stability from the COVID-19 experience and aspects related to the functioning of the G20 financial regulatory reforms that may warrant further attention at the international level."
Financial Stability Board
2021-07-13
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MMWR Early Release: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, July 9, 2021: SARS-CoV-2 B.1.617.2 (Delta) Variant COVID-19 Outbreak Associated with a Gymnastics Facility -- Oklahoma, April-May 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: "SARS-CoV-2 [severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2] B.1.617.2 (Delta) Variant COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] Outbreak Associated with a Gymnastics Facility -- Oklahoma, April-May 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.)
2021-07-09
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MMWR: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, July 9, 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 issue of MMWR contains the following: "Unexpected Hepatitis B Virus Infection After Liver Transplantation -- United States, 2014-2019"; "Outcomes Among Patients Referred to Outpatient Rehabilitation Clinics After COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] diagnosis -- United States, January 2020-March 2021"; "Efficacy of Portable Air Cleaners and Masking for Reducing Indoor Exposure to Simulated Exhaled SARS-CoV-2 [severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2] Aerosols -- United States, 2021"; "Use of mRNA [messenger ribonucleic acid] COVID-19 Vaccine After Reports of Myocarditis Among Vaccine Recipients: Update from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices -- United States, June 2021"; and "QuickStats: Percentage of Adults Aged ≥20 Years Who Consumed Vegetables on a Given Day, by Race and Hispanic Origin -- United States, 2015-2018." 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.)
2021-07-09
