Policy Updates

1/6/22 — CDC has released updated guidance for schools regarding COVID-19. Click on the links below to learn more. Guidance for COVID-19 Prevention in K-12 Schools – CDC update 1/6/22 Overview of COVID-19 Isolation for Schools – CDC update 1/6/22 Overview of COVID-19 Quarantine for Schools – CDC update 1/6/22 Responding to COVID-19 Cases in K-12 Schools: Resources … Continued

1/4/22 — The CDC has updated isolation and quarantine recommendations for the public. These recommendations do not apply to healthcare personnel. New recommendations state the people with COVID-19 should isolate for 5 days, and if they are asymptomatic or their symptoms are resolving, follow that by 5 days of wearing a mask when around others. … Continued

1/3/22 — Covidien, LP is recalling its Puritan Bennett 980 Series Ventilator due to a capacitor manufacturing assembly error that may cause the ventilator to become inoperable or stop working as intended. Read the FDA recall notice.

1/3/22 — The FDA amended the emergency use authorization (EUA) for the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. The revised EUA: Expands the use of a single booster dose to include use in individuals age 12 through 15 Shorten the time between the completion of the primary vaccination series and a booster dose to at least five months … Continued

12/28/21 — The FDA updated the emergency use authorization (EUA) of convalescent plasma to limit the authorization to plasma with high titers of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies for the treatment of COVID-19 in patients with immunosuppressive disease or who are receiving immunosuppressive treatment. These patients may be treated in outpatient or inpatient settings. Additionally, to help assure the manufacture of … Continued

12/29/21 — The HHS Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) and the FDA released a joint statement on the circulating SARS-CoV-2 viral variants, including Omicron, and how the variants may be associated with resistance to monoclonal antibodies. Data show that it is unlikely that bamlanivimab and etesevimab administered together or REGEN-COV will retain activity against this variant. … Continued

12/28/21 — The FDA issued an emergency use authorization (EUA) for Merck’s molnupiravir for the treatment of mild-to-moderate coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in adults with confirmed COVID-19 and who are at high risk for progression to severe COVID-19, including hospitalization or death, and for whom alternative COVID-19 treatment options are not accessible or clinically appropriate. Molnupiravir is available … Continued

12/27/21 — OSHA announced that it is withdrawing the non-recordkeeping portions of the COVID-19 Healthcare Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS). The COVID-19 log and reporting provisions remain in effect. The agency urges healthcare employers to continue to implement the ETS’s requirements. It will also continue to enforce requirements under the existing PPE and Respiratory Protection Standards to … Continued

12/22/21 — The FDA issued an emergency use authorization (EUA) for Pfizer’s Paxlovid (nirmatrelvir tablets and ritonavir tablets, co-packaged for oral use) for the treatment of mild-to-moderate COVID-19 in adults and pediatric patients 12 years of age and older with positive results of direct SARS-CoV-2 testing, and who are at high risk for progression to severe COVID-19, including … Continued