- In parallel to its vaccination efforts, the White House is developing a national COVID-19 testing strategy.
- The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a new over-the-counter COVID-19 test that can be performed at home.
- Preliminary data suggests the drug, molnupiravir, is an effective COVID-19 treatment.
- The CDC updated many of its guidances including U.S. COVID-19 Cases Caused by Variants, Key Things to Know About COVID-19 Vaccines and Vaccines.
Congress
- The Senate passed the $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill, the American Rescue Plan (ARP), although it made some changes to the House-passed version – meaning the House must vote on the Senate’s version. The House is expected to pass the Senate version on Tuesday or Wednesday. President Biden, who outlined this bill and championed it as his top legislative priority, will sign the bill once passed by the House.
- The ARP provides $1,400 payments to individuals ($2,800 to families) to supplement $600 payments to individuals ($1,200 to families) from the year-end COVID-19 relief bill. These payments phase out above a certain income threshold. President Biden said the payments will be issued this month.
- The bill also extends $300 in weekly federal unemployment benefits to supplement state unemployment benefits through September.
- It provides new funding to state and local governments for expenses related to the COVID-19 pandemic response.
- In addition to COVID-19 relief measures, the bill provides federal subsidies for COBRA health insurance premiums through September and eliminates the income cap on eligibility for ACA health insurance premium subsidies to make this premium assistance available to people earning above 400% of the federal poverty line (FPL). The ACA premium subsidy expansion applies to 2021 and 2022. The ARP also provides new incentives for states to expand their Medicaid programs under the ACA.
White House and Federal Agencies
- President Biden will give a nationally televised address on Thursday evening to mark one year since many lockdowns were put in place.
- In parallel to its vaccination efforts, the White House is developing a national COVID-19 testing strategy
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Updates
- The CDC issued new guidelines for how vaccinated people can lift certain public health protections. For the purposes of this guidance, people are considered fully vaccinated for COVID-19 at least two weeks after they have received the second dose in a 2-dose series (Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna), or at least two weeks after they have received a single-dose vaccine (Johnson and Johnson).
- According to the guidance, fully vaccinated people can:
- Visit with other fully vaccinated people indoors without wearing masks or physical distancing.
- Visit with unvaccinated people from a single household who are at low risk for severe COVID-19 disease indoors without wearing masks or physical distancing.
- Refrain from quarantine and testing following a known exposure if asymptomatic.
- Fully vaccinated people should continue to practice other public health and safety measures including:
- Take precautions in public like wearing a well-fitted mask and physical distancing.
- Wear masks, practice physical distancing, and adhere to other prevention measures when visiting with unvaccinated people who are at increased risk for severe COVID-19 disease or who have an unvaccinated household member who is at increased risk for severe COVID-19 disease.
- Wear masks, maintain physical distance, and practice other prevention measures when visiting with unvaccinated people from multiple households.
- Avoid medium- and large-sized in-person gatherings.
- Get tested if experiencing COVID-19 symptoms.
- Follow guidance issued by individual employers.
- Follow CDC and health department travel requirements and recommendations.
- The CDC updated its websites for:
- Overall US COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution and Administration Update as of Mon, 08 Mar 2021 06:00:00 EST.
- When You’ve Been Fully Vaccinated.
- Science Brief: Background Rationale and Evidence for Public Health Recommendations for Fully Vaccinated People.
- U.S. COVID-19 Cases Caused by Variants.
- Key Things to Know About COVID-19 Vaccines.
- Possible Side Effects After Getting a COVID-19 Vaccine.
- COVID-19 Vaccine Information for Specific Groups.
- What to Expect at Your Appointment to Get Vaccinated for COVID-19.
- COVID-19 Vaccines for People at Increased Risk for Severe Illness from COVID-19.
- Science Briefs.
- Things to Know about the COVID-19 Pandemic.
- Vaccines.
- COVID-19 Travel Recommendations by Country.
- How to Protect Yourself & Others.
- COVID-19 Vaccines for Teachers, School Staff, and Childcare Workers.
Economy, Vaccines, Testing and Treatment
- The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a new over-the-counter COVID-19 test that can be performed at home.
- Preliminary data suggests the drug molnupiravir is an effective COVID-19 treatment.
- The National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases’ (NIAID) Director Dr. Anthony Fauci said he believes high school students will begin receiving COVID-19 vaccines in the fall.
