Category: COVID-19

  • How Do CDC’s Adjusted Community Levels Apply to Your Workforce Levels?

    Key Points: In today’s Recommendations for Industry, we discuss the impact of the national COVID plans on workforce decision-making. Read more below. White House Releases National COVID-19 Preparedness Plan. On Wednesday, the U.S. government released the National COVID-19 Preparedness Plan laying out the “roadmap to help us fight COVID-19 in the future as we begin to…

  • CDC Updates Mask Guidance, Provides County-Searchable Tool

    Key Points: In today’s Recommendations for Industry, we discuss CDC’s new masking guidance and the utilization of the County-Searchable Tool. Read more below. A recent CDC study has found that about 43% of individuals (>140 million) in the U.S. have been infected with COVID-19 (Washington Post). States like Wyoming, Texas, Wisconsin, and Illinois have had…

  • Is COVID Shifting from a Pandemic to an Endemic Disease?

    Key Points: In today’s Recommendations for Industry, we discuss TAG’s weekly COVID matrix and its indicators for endemic vs. pandemic and related masking requirements. Read more below. A new, two-dose COVID vaccine showed 100% efficacy against severe disease. Two doses of a new COVID vaccine, made by the Europe-based Sanofi and GSK, achieved 100 percent…

  • Assessing Risk for Lifting Mask Requirements in Your Business

    Key Points: In today’s Recommendations for Industry, we discuss how businesses can assess risk when considering lifting of COVID protections, including masking.  Read more below. US COVID cases, hospitalizations continue steady decline. Average daily COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations are continuing to fall in the U.S., an indicator that the Omicron variant’s hold is weakening across…

  • When Can We Reduce Masking Requirements?

    Key Points: In today’s Recommendations for Industry, we discuss the question: When can our business reduce or rescind our masking requirements? Read more below. Further decline in global COVID cases as deaths stabilize. COVID-19 cases across the globe declined last week for the second week in a row, with illness levels dropping in every region…

  • As COVID Recedes, New Challenges Arise

    Key Points: In today’s Recommendations for Industry, we discuss how COVID-19 has impacted other areas of public health. Read more below. In the U.S., new COVID-19 cases have dropped by 42%; although death rates and hospitalizations remain high (CIDRAP). However, around the world, COVID-19 still persists. In fact, in Hong Kong, daily cases have now…

  • COVID Declining; Continuing to Impart Lessons for Infectious Disease Control

    Key Points: In today’s Recommendations for Industry, we discuss the continued decline of COVID and the lessons it continues to impart for infectious disease (and “next pandemic”) control. Read more below. The future of the pandemic is looking clearer as we learn more about infection (NPR). New studies are providing an optimistic picture about immunity…

  • COVID Transitional Period Increases Masking Debate

    Key Points: In today’s Recommendations for Industry, we discuss the current “transition” status of COVID-19, mask mandates, and recommendations. Read more below. Is the Coronavirus in Your Backyard?. A study of white-tailed deer killed by hunters or car crashes found more than 60 percent to be infected with COVID-19, showing that deer could become a…

  • TAG COVID Matrix Showing Encouraging Trends

    Key Points: In today’s Recommendations for Industry, we discuss TAG’s matrix and the current trends of COVID and its variants. Read more below. As countries have begun accepting the endemicity of COVID-19 in society and many countries are loosening pandemic protocols, the WHO warns that it is not the time to completely let go of…

  • Cliché but True: Keep Calm and Carry On

    Key Points: In today’s Recommendations for Industry, we discuss the current progression of COVID and the flu and why keeping calm is the phrase of the day. Read more below. Happy Lunar New Year to all our readers! The U.S. FDA has given full approval to Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine, henceforth known as Spikevax (VOA News,…