- New research highlights the importance of air ventilation as a COVID-19 mitigation measure.
- Public health experts are tracking a new COVID-19 sub variant, labeled XE.
- New research from JAMA Pediatrics found that the Omicron variant was contagious among children aged 5 or younger but that it was unlikely to cause severe symptoms for this group.
- The CDC updated its website and guidelines including Clinical Questions about COVID-19: Questions and Answers.
White House and Federal Agencies
- The Department of Defense is reestablishing pandemic and infectious disease preparedness plans, with an eye toward predicting personnel and material needs in advance of potential future pandemic responses.
Economy, Vaccines, Testing and Treatment
- A decrease in reported test results, due in part to the increased prevalence of at-home tests, likely means that daily COVID cases in the U.S. are being significantly undercounted.
- The seven-day nationwide COVID-19 case average increased for the first time since January 14.
- Public health experts are tracking a new COVID-19 sub variant, labeled XE.
- Moderna is recalling some doses of its COVID-19 vaccine that it produced for European countries.
- NIAID Director Dr. Anthony Fauci says that an increase in cases is to be expected when mitigation measures are lifted, and that people should continue assessing personal risk when making decisions.
- The CDC has defined a “close contact” for COVID-19 exposure as spending 15 minutes within six feet of another person who has confirmed COVID-19.
- New research highlights the importance of air ventilation as a COVID-19 mitigation measure.
- A study of the health care labor force during COVID-19 found increased rates of turnover and exiting the labor force during the pandemic. The effect was most prominent in the initial months of the pandemic, but turnover rates and unfilled positions remain higher than pre-pandemic levels.
- New research published in JAMA Pediatrics found that the Omicron variant was contagious among children aged 5 or younger, but that it was unlikely to cause severe symptoms for this group.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Updates
The CDC published the following reports and website updates:
