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MMWR Early Release: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, April 21, 2021: COVID-19 Outbreak Associated with a SARS-CoV-2 R.1 Lineage Variant in a Skilled Nursing Facility After Vaccination Program -- Kentucky, March 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] Outbreak Associated with a SARS-CoV-2 [severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2] R.1 Lineage Variant in a Skilled Nursing Facility After Vaccination Program -- Kentucky, March 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.)
2021-04-21
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MMWR: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, April 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: "State-Level Economic Costs of Opioid Use Disorder and Fatal Opioid Overdose - United States, 2017"; "Progress in Immunization Safety Monitoring - Worldwide, 2010-2019"; "Update: COVID-19 Pandemic-Associated Changes in Emergency Department Visits - United States, December 2020-January 2021"; "Factors Associated with Participation in Elementary School-Based SARS-CoV-2 Testing - Salt Lake County, Utah, December 2020-January 2021"; "Trends in Racial and Ethnic Disparities in COVID-19 Hospitalizations, by Region - United States, March-December 2020"; "Emergency Department Visits for COVID-19 by Race and Ethnicity -13 States, October-December 2020"; "Notes from the Field Update on Excess Deaths Associated with the COVID-19 Pandemic - United States, January 26, 2020-February 27, 2021"; "COVID-19 Stats"; and "QuickStats."
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.)
Luo, Feijun; Li, Mengyao; Florence, Curtis
2021-04-16
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MMWR Early Release: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, April 14, 2021: Laboratory Modeling of SARS-CoV-2 Exposure Reduction Through Physically Distanced Seating in Aircraft Cabins Using Bacteriophage Aerosol -- November 2020
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: "Laboratory Modeling of SARS-CoV-2 Exposure Reduction Through Physically Distanced Seating in Aircraft Cabins Using Bacteriophage Aerosol -- November 2020." 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.)
2021-04-14
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MMWR: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, April 12, 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: "Emergency Department Visits for COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] by Race and Ethnicity -- 13 States, October-December 2020." 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.)
Smith, Amanda R.; DeVies, Jordan; Caruso, Elise . . .
2021-04-12
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MMWR Early Release: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, April 12, 2021: Trends in Racial and Ethnic Disparities in COVID-19 Hospitalizations, by Region -- United States, March-December 2020
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: "Trends in Racial and Ethnic Disparities in COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] Hospitalizations, by Region -- United States, March-December 2020." 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.)
2021-04-12
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SBA Shuttered Venue Operators Grant Program (SVOG) [Updated April 12, 2021]
From the Document: "Most of the SBA's [Small Business Administration's] funding during the 116th Congress was provided through supplemental appropriations for new and expanded programs, including the Paycheck Protection Program ($806.45 billion), Economic Injury Disaster Loans ($50.02 billion), Emergency Economic Injury Disaster Loan advance (grant) payments ($20 billion), Targeted Economic Injury Disaster Loan advance (grant) payments ($20 billion), and the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant (SVOG) program ($15 billion). This report focuses on the new $16.25 billion SVOG program--authorized by P.L. [public law] 116-260, the Economic Aid to Hard-Hit Small Businesses, Nonprofits, and Venues Act (Division N, Title III of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021), provided an additional $1.25 billion by P.L. 117-2, the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, and administered by the SBA's Office of Disaster Assistance--which provides grants to shuttered venues affected by the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Dilger, Robert Jay, 1954-; Lowry, Sean
2021-04-12
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MMWR: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, April 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: "Use of Real-Time PCR for 'Chlamydia psittaci' Detection in Human Specimens During an Outbreak of Psittacosis - Georgia and Virginia, 2018"; "COVID-19 Incidence and Mortality Among American Indian/Alaska Native and White Persons - Montana, March 13-November 30, 2020"; "Use of Stay-at-Home Orders and Mask Mandates to Control COVID-19 Transmission - Blackfeet Tribal Reservation, Montana, June-December 2020"; "Provisional Mortality Data - United States, 2020"; "Death Certificate-Based ICD-10 Diagnosis Codes for COVID-19 Mortality
Surveillance - United States, January-December 2020"; "Community Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 Associated with a Local Bar Opening Event - Illinois, February 2021"; "COVID-19 Stats: College and University COVID-19 Student Testing Protocols, by Mode of Instruction§ (N = 1,849) - United States, Spring 2021"; and "QuickStats: Age-Adjusted Percentage of Adults Aged ≥18 Years Who Had an Influenza Vaccination in the Past 12 Months, by Sex and Race/Ethnicity§ -National Health Interview Survey, United States, 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.)
McGovern, Olivia L.; Kobayashi, Miwako; Shaw, Kelly A. . . .
2021-04-09
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Resources for Tracking Federal COVID-19 Spending [Updated April 9, 2021]
From the Summary: "Congress has responded to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic with supplemental appropriations measures providing relief and assistance to individuals and families, state and local governments, businesses, health care providers, and other entities. This report provides selected sources for tracking COVID-19 relief and assistance spending. It contains links to and information on government sources detailing spending amounts at various levels, including consolidated spending by multiple government agencies, spending by individual government agencies, and spending for specific recipients and geographies. The sources themselves are large government databases, individual agencies, oversight entities, and selected nongovernmental entities that attempt to repackage information on spending amounts obtained from available government sources."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Teefy, Jennifer; Kreiser, Maria
2021-04-09
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EMR-ISAC: InfoGram, Volume 21 Issue 14, April 8, 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: "OSHA [Occupational Safety and Health Administration] National Emphasis Program focuses on protecting workers against COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019], impacts EMS [Emergency Medical Services] agencies"; "Resources for security awareness and mitigation against vehicle ramming attacks on soft targets and crowded places"; "DHS S&T [Science and Technology] partnership and grant funding support regional planners in pre-coordination, licensing, and distribution of 700 and 800 MHz [Megahertz] safety band"; "Webinar: 911 - Sticking together in the critical hours"; "FBI-CISA [Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Protection Agency] joint advisory on exploitation of Fortinet FortiOS vulnerabilities"; "CISA gives agencies 90 days to further harden networks against Microsoft email threat"; "Ransomware crooks are targeting vulnerable VPN [virtual private network] devices in their attacks"; and "Meet Janeleiro, a new banking Trojan striking company, government targets."
Emergency Management and Response-Information Sharing and Analysis Center (U.S.)
2021-04-08
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FEMA Funeral Assistance for COVID-19 [Updated April 8, 2021]
From the Document: "Congress authorized the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to provide Funeral Assistance for deaths associated with the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic through the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 [hyperlink] and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 [hyperlink]. This Insight provides an overview of FEMA COVID-19 Funeral Assistance, including eligible expenses, applicant eligibility criteria, and award amounts."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Webster, Elizabeth M.
2021-04-08
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Medicare Accelerated and Advance Payments and COVID-19: Frequently Asked Questions [Updated April 8, 2021]
"In rare situations, Medicare Part A providers (e.g., acute care hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, and other inpatient care facilities) and Part B suppliers (e.g., physicians, nonphysician practitioners, durable medical equipment [DME] suppliers, and others who furnish outpatient services) face cash flow challenges due to specified circumstances beyond their control. Under such circumstances, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) can provide temporary relief through the accelerated payment program (Part A) and the advance payment program (Part B). CMS has offered these programs, collectively referred to as the Accelerated and Advance Payment (AAP) programs, in an attempt to alleviate some concerns about the financial challenges faced by Medicare suppliers and providers. These amounts eventually are recovered by Medicare, typically by withholding payment for subsequent claims up to the amount of the accelerated or advance payments. [...] This report addresses frequently asked questions about the Medicare AAP programs, including the terms and conditions of eligibility, payment amounts and sources of funds, recovery of payments, applicable interest charges, and administrative and legislative changes during the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] PHE [public health emergency]."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Hahn, Jim; Villagrana, Marco A.
2021-04-08
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MMWR Early Release: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, April 7, 2021: Factors Associated with Participation in Elementary School-Based SARS-CoV-2 Testing--Salt Lake County, Utah, December 2020-January 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: "Factors Associated with Participation in Elementary School-Based Sars-Cov-2 [severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2] Testing--Salt Lake County, Utah, December 2020-January 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.)
2021-04-07
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Is High Inflation a Risk in 2021? [April 6, 2021]
From the Document: "Assuming public health continues to improve, many economists project rapid economic growth in 2021. The unprecedented fiscal [hyperlink] and monetary [hyperlink] stimulus in response to the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic is also expected to continue in 2021. Some observers have questioned whether the combination of stimulus and rapid growth will result in rising prices [hyperlink]. [...] The economy experienced persistently high inflation in the 1970s and early 1980s [hyperlink], last reaching double-digits in 1981. Most economists believe this high inflation was caused by overly expansionary monetary and fiscal policies, along with significant increases in energy prices. Additionally, as expectations of higher inflation became incorporated into consumer and business decisions, these expectations contributed to actual increases in inflation. The Federal Reserve (Fed) raised short-term interest rates significantly in the early 1980s, which successfully brought inflation down quickly, though at the cost of a recession."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Keightley, Mark P.; Labonte, Marc; Weinstock, Lida R.
2021-04-06
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MMWR Early Release: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, April 5, 2021: Community Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 Associated with a Local Bar Opening Event -- Illinois, February 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: "Community Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 [severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2] Associated with a Local Bar Opening Event -- Illinois, February 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.)
2021-04-05
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Small Businesses and COVID-19: Relief and Assistance Resources [Updated April 5, 2021]
From the Document: "This CRS [Congressional Research Service] Insight presents selected websites and CRS products potentially relevant to small businesses that are directly affected by the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and seeking economic relief and assistance."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Kreiser, Maria
2021-04-05
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MMWR: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, April 2, 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: "Use of Selected Recommended Clinical Preventive Services -- Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, United States, 2018"; "Community-Associated Outbreak of COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] in a Correctional Facility -- Utah, September 2020-January 2021"; "Willingness to Receive a COVID-19 Vaccination Among Incarcerated or Detained Persons in Correctional and Detention Facilities -- Four States, September-December 2020"; "Rapid Spread of SARS-CoV-2 [severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2] in a State Prison After Introduction by Newly Transferred Incarcerated Persons -- Wisconsin, August 14-October 22, 2020"; "Counties with High COVID-19 Incidence and Relatively Large Racial and Ethnic Minority Populations -- United States, April 1-December 22, 2020"; "Symptoms of Anxiety or Depressive Disorder and Use of Mental Health Care Among Adults During the COVID-19 Pandemic -- United States, August 2020-February 2021"; "Interim Estimates of Vaccine Effectiveness of BNT162b2 [Pfizer-BioNTech] and mRNA-1273 [Moderna] COVID-19 Vaccines in Preventing SARS-CoV-2 Infection Among Health Care Personnel, First Responders, and Other Essential and Frontline Workers -- Eight U.S. Locations, December 2020-March 2021"; and "'QuickStats': Percentage of Adults with Fair or Poor Health, by Home Ownership Status and Age Group -- National Health Interview Survey, United States, 2019." 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.)
2021-04-02
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Water Service Issues and COVID-19: Recent Congressional Funding [April 2, 2021]
From the Document: "Several water service issues have garnered increased congressional attention during the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Pandemic. Among these, some are long-standing concerns over household water-rate affordability and the condition of municipal water infrastructure. Other issues have emerged as water systems and/or local governments have experienced COVID-19-related revenue shortages, which may affect water systems' operations, maintenance, and/or financial sustainability. During the pandemic, Congress has enacted a number of proposals to address these and other issues. To address water-rate affordability, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (P.L. 116-260) provided $638 million for water or wastewater rate assistance on behalf of low-income households. The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA; P.L. 117-2) included another $500 million for such assistance, and provided $350 billion for state and local governments for COVID-19-related purposes, among them water or sewer infrastructure investments. This Insight briefly reviews water system financial practices, and identifies some challenges for water service providers and their customers raised by the pandemic. It also discusses recent congressional actions to address these issues."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Humphreys, Elena H.; Perl, Libby
2021-04-02
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Spending Clause Conditions and the Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund [April 2, 2021]
From the Document: "The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 [hyperlink] (ARPA) tasks the Department of the Treasury (Treasury) with disbursing to states more than $190 billion appropriated for the Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund [hyperlink] ('CSFRF'). States may use CSFRF dollars to cover a wide range [hyperlink] of costs incurred by December 31, 2024. States must certify [hyperlink] that they will comply with statutory conditions on the use of CSFRF funds. States that violate a condition must [hyperlink] repay Treasury 'an amount equal to the amount of funds used' in the violation. [...] One condition has attracted legal controversy. ARPA prohibits [hyperlink] states from using CSFRF funds to 'directly or indirectly offset a reduction in the net tax revenue of such State' resulting from 'a change in law, regulation, or administrative interpretation' that reduces 'any tax' or delays the imposition of any tax or tax increase. [...] For states participating in the CSFRF program, this tax condition applies during a 'covered period' that began [hyperlink] on March 3, 2021, and ends on the last day of the fiscal year in which a state spends or returns all CSFRF funds or Treasury recovers improperly spent funds. [...] In general, States objecting to the tax condition argue, in part, that the condition is impermissibly coercive and ambiguous. This Sidebar examines both contentions and considers what might be next for the tax condition"
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Stiff, Sean M.
2021-04-02
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Mexican Drug Trafficking and Cartel Operations Amid COVID-19 [Updated April 2, 2021]
From the Document: "Mexico is a primary foreign producer and transit country for illicit drugs destined [hyperlink] for the United States. Policymakers, including many in Congress, have closely watched how the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is affecting drug flow patterns out of Mexico, including the flow of potent opioids and other illicit drugs. Any changes could affect the extent to which Mexico-based transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), popularly described as cartels, pose a threat to U.S. national security. To date, U.S.-bound illicit drug supplies appear to be returning to pre-pandemic levels, despite early supply chain disruptions."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Beittel, June S.; Rosen, Liana W.
2021-04-02
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State and Federal Authority to Mandate COVID-19 Vaccination [April 2, 2021]
From the Summary: "The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines recently authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are a critical tool to address the pandemic. After determining that these vaccines meet the applicable statutory standards and the Agency's specific safety and efficacy standards, FDA issued Emergency Use Authorizations (EUAs) under Section 564 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act). [...] This report provides an overview of state and federal authority to mandate vaccination. The first part of the report provides background on state and local authority to mandate vaccination under states' general police power. It discusses the Supreme Court's long-standing recognition of state and local authority to mandate vaccination as an exercise of their police power, as well as modern courts' analyses of more recent challenges to state vaccination mandates based on the First Amendment's Free Exercise Clause. The first part of the report closes with a look at how the COVID-19 vaccines' EUA status may affect a court's analysis of a potential mandate. The second part of the report provides an overview of federal authority to mandate vaccination. It discusses one possible source of existing federal authority, Section 361 of the Public Health Service Act (PHSA), and reviews the extent of Congress's constitutional authority under the Constitution's Spending and Commerce Clauses to potentially mandate vaccination."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Shen, Wen S.
2021-04-02
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Commuter Rail: Information on Benefits and Funding Challenges for Service in Less Urbanized Communities
From the Document: "Commuter rail is a widely used public transit alternative to driving between suburban communities and city centers, and in many areas of the country transit agencies have extended their service areas further out from city centers to less urbanized communities. For people living in less urbanized communities who cannot drive due to age, disabilities, or income constraints, public transportation such as commuter rail may be critical to accessing essential services. Every year, commuter rail passengers across the country take hundreds of millions of trips not only to work, but also to school, medical appointments, recreational activities, and for many other purposes. Our review included 31 commuter rail systems operating in the United States. [...] The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has financially affected all modes of public transit. Beginning in March 2020, pandemic-related restrictions in some cities across the United States, among other factors, resulted in steep declines in commuter rail ridership and associated fare revenue. However, many transit agencies continued to provide commuter rail service at reduced frequencies. [...] In April 2020, we provided the relevant committees with information on the federal, state, and local funding sources that can be used to support the operation of commuter rail systems, as well as the federal funds expended by transit agencies in fiscal year 2018. This report finalizes and formally transmits the information we previously provided."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2021-04-01
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Tracking the Scale and Speed of the World Bank's COVID Response: April 2021 Update
From the Document: "Last year at this time, the World Bank announced its intention to provide $104 billion in financing to developing country governments to help them respond to the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] crisis. We took stock of those efforts seven months ago in a Center for Global Development working paper [hyperlink] and accompanying blog post [hyperlink]. We noted that Bank lending had accelerated significantly in 2020 relative to 2019, but that actual disbursements were not on track to meet the Bank's own COVID lending goals, that the absolute magnitudes were dwarfed by the depth of the crisis facing low- and lower-middle income countries, and that the Bank bureaucracy was failing to pivot to more flexible, rapid financing instruments at its disposal. More than a year into the pandemic, it's time to check in again on the Bank's crisis financing. We revisit four basic questions about the Bank's lending performance since it originally announced its COVID response."
Center for Global Development
Morris, Scott; Sandefur, Justin; Yang, George
2021-04
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Vaccine Financing: How a Redesigned IMF Instrument Can Provide a Shot in the Arm for the Global Pandemic Response
From the Document: "'COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] vaccine production lags far behind demand, especially from developing countries'. Low- and middle-income countries (not counting China and India)--some 3.6 billion people--will not have full access to vaccine until beyond 2022, leading to tragic loss of life, a delayed global economic recovery, and increased risk of new variants extending the worldwide pandemic. This outcome represents a major failure of international cooperation. It results from an inadequate advance ramp-up in global production, and inadequate initial financing. The IMF [International Monetary Fund] can play its part in addressing these two shortcomings by urgent redesign of its main rapid response instrument to be even more effective than it was in 2020. For the still urgent needs of this pandemic--and for the future--it could provide immediate financing to bolster initiatives, including along the lines of COVAX [COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access], that empower developing countries with greater collective clout to negotiate the required increase in production."
Center for Global Development
Hicklin, John, 1953-; Brown, Hannah
2021-04
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Vaccine Manufacturing in Africa: What it Takes and Why it Matters
From the Executive Summary: "Africa is home to 17 per cent of the world's population but, due to a lack of manufacturing capacity, can currently produce only 1 per cent of its vaccine needs. Only seven African countries have companies operating across the vaccine-manufacturing value chain, and of these, only one - Senegal - exports a WHO [World Health Organization] pre-qualified vaccine; most do not export at all. The uneven distribution of manufacturing and financing capabilities globally has led to an unequal distribution of global access to Covid-19 vaccines, with African countries largely reliant on external suppliers. This dependency is driving delays and uncertainty, which in turn affects governments' abilities to implement vaccine rollouts, protect their populations and ultimately rejoin the global economy. In this paper, we argue that the goal should be transitioning the continent from dependency towards greater self-sufficiency and security of supply. We also make key recommendations for policymakers on how to grow vaccine-manufacturing capacity across Africa."
Tony Blair Institute for Global Change
Abiodun, Toyin; Andersen, Hayley; Mamo, Liya Temeselew . . .
2021-04-01
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Covid-19 and Climate Change: How to Apply the Lessons of the Pandemic to the Climate Emergency
From the Introduction: "The challenges posed by coronavirus and climate change are, of course, different in nature. Covid-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] is health-related rather than environmental; Covid-19 is potentially acute and relatively short-term, while climate change is chronic and long-term. But there are also significant areas of commonality. Both are challenges with local, national and global implications, requiring local, national and global solutions. Both require urgency of action because of the scale and pace of the problem. And both are susceptible to exponential escalation. [...] This paper sets out the key lessons from the Covid-19 pandemic - and how we can apply them to tackling climate change: 1. Act quickly. 2. Tackle the problem - or face new and more difficult challenges. 3. Economic success depends on positive health and environmental outcomes. 4. Failure anywhere is failure everywhere. 5. Build a strategy with sustained political leadership and commitment. 6. Mitigate and adapt at the same time. 7. Gather and use the right data. 8. Markets and technology will provide solutions if government sets the right framework. 9. Success depends on the right skills and supply chains. 10. Build and retain public trust and understanding."
Tony Blair Institute for Global Change
Lord, Tim
2021-04
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Gendered Dimensions of Social Protection in the COVID-19 Context
From the Document: "In this policy brief, we summarize the findings of a CGD [Center for Global Development] working paper, 'The Gendered Dimensions of Social Protection in the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] Context'. We explore the role of social protection, with an emphasis on social assistance policies and programs, in addressing increasing poverty, food insecurity, unpaid care work, and gender-based violence-- all exacerbated by the onset of the crisis and associated containment measures. We document these trends and how they disproportionately impact women and girls, as well as the extent to which governments and donors are integrating a gender lens into their social protection efforts and make recommendations to ensure that future efforts effectively reach and benefit women and girls."
Center for Global Development
O'Donnell, Megan; Buvinić, Mayra; Bourgault, Shelby . . .
2021-04
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Payroll Tax Credit for COVID-19 Sick and Family Leave [Updated April 1, 2021]
From the Document: "Beginning in April 2020, employers were entitled to payroll tax credits for paid leave required in response to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. For employers choosing to continue providing eligible paid leave, these tax credits have been extended through September 2021. The paid leave mandate, however, expired at the end of 2020. This In Focus provides an overview of the tax credits for paid leave initially provided in the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA; P.L. 116-127) and later extended in the COVID-related Tax Relief Act of 2020, enacted as Division N, Title II, Subtitle B of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (P.L. 116- 260) and the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA: P.L. 117- 2)."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Sherlock, Molly F.
2021-04-01
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U.S. Agricultural Aid in Response to COVID-19 [Updated April 1, 2021]
From the Introduction: "Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) was first confirmed in the United States in mid-January 2020. In addition to the catastrophic health crisis it created, the COVID-19 pandemic has contributed to substantial economic upheaval across the U.S. economy, including the agricultural sector. This In Focus summarizes the major COVID-19-related agricultural programs, the types of support they provide, and their implementation period, funding levels, outlays to date, and underlying authorities."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Rosch, Stephanie; Schnepf, Randall Dean, 1954-
2021-04-01
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Year of COVID-19: The Pandemic's Impact on Global Conflict and Demonstration Trends
From the Introduction: "March 2021 marks the first anniversary of the declaration of the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO). One year on, this report explores ACLED's [Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project's] special coverage of the pandemic's impact on political violence and protest trends around the world - analyzing changes in demonstration activity, state repression, mob attacks, overall rates of armed conflict, and more through the 'COVID-19 Disorder Tracker' [hyperlink]. Earlier in the project we took stock of evolving political violence and protest patterns during the first 16 weeks of the crisis '(see this ACLED report)' [hyperlink], and again after more than five months had passed '(see this analysis for Foreign Policy)' [hyperlink]. This report draws on a full year of data and analysis from ACLED's 'COVID-19 Disorder Tracker' [hyperlink] to trace the pandemic's wider effects on global disorder trends."
Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project
Kishi, Roudabeh
2021-04
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Depot Maintenance: DOD Should Improve Pandemic Plans and Publish Working Capital Fund Policy, Report to Congressional Committees
From the Highlights: "Pandemics such as COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] can impact the productivity of critical DOD depots that maintain weapon systems if essential personnel are unable to report for work. Navy and Air Force WCFs [Working Capital Funds] must also maintain cash balances sufficient for the activities they support, including the eight depots operated by the Marine Corps, Navy, and Air Force, to sustain readiness. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to assess the effects of COVID-19 on WCF and depot operations as part of its CARES [Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security] Act oversight. This report (1) describes how COVID-19 impacted Marine Corps, Navy, and Air Force depot productivity; (2) examines the extent to which depot actions in response to COVID-19 addressed key practices to support the workforce, continue operations, and improve crisis response; and (3) examines the extent to which WCF cash management policy ensured financial solvency and reflected current guidance. GAO reviewed DOD guidance, depot revenue data for fiscal year 2020, and documents related to the impact of COVID-19 on productivity and WCF solvency; and interviewed depot and financial management officials."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2021-04
