(CNN) The Biden administration on Friday extended the public health emergency to Covid-19 for another three months.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra has officially renewed the statement, extending it until October 13, 2022.
The declaration of urgency is in place as of January 2020, and the latest renewal comes as the Omicron offshoot BA.5, the most contagious variant ever, continues to make its claim in the United States. Daily home rates, although greatly underestimated, are the highest they have been in months, as were Covid-19 hospitalizations and deaths.
Data released this week by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that more than half of the country’s population lives in a county with a “High Level Covid-19 Community,” where the health care system is at risk of becoming overloaded and universal. The inner mask is recommended.
“The Public Health Emergency Report continues to provide the necessary tools and authorities to respond to the highly transmissible COVID-19 variants currently circulating in the country,” a Biden administration official told CNN. “PHE provides essential capabilities and flexibility to hospitals for better patient care, especially if we see a significant increase in hospitalizations in the coming weeks.”
In fact, overall forecasts from the CDC released this week predict that hospitalizations in the United States will increase over the next month. It is the first time in weeks that forecasts predict an increase in hospitalizations, rather than a stable outlook.
“Without PHE in place, we will be limited in our ability to provide broad and equitable access to safety treatments through our Test to Treat initiative, for example, which is based on flexibility for telehealth and safety. ‘operations,’ ‘the officer said. “Not renewing the PHE would leave us with fewer tools to respond and would mean more Americans would get seriously ill and end up in hospital.”
The public health emergency statement allows many Americans to get free tests of Covid-19, therapeutic treatment and vaccines. Once it ends, people could face the costs out of pocket depending on whether it is covered by Medicare, Medicaid or private insurance. But vaccinations in general continue to be free for those covered by Medicare and private insurance, while state Medicaid programs determine whether to continue to cover vaccinations for their members.
In addition, Medicare has relaxed the rules governing telehealth so that many more beneficiaries can access such services during the declaration. Telehealth services are no longer limited to those living in rural areas, and members can visit at home, instead of having to travel to a health care facility, and receive a wider range of services via telehealth. These flexibilities will end for most beneficiaries after the expiration of the emergency.
And states did not inadvertently disqualify Medicaid residents during the declaration, in exchange for receiving more generous federal funds. Up to 14 million people could lose Medicaid coverage after the end of the emergency, according to separate projections from Kaiser and the Urban Institute.
In addition, many low-income families receive benefits from reinforced food stamps thanks to the declaration, even though some states have ended their public health emergencies and stopped the reinforced allocation.
A separate emergency declaration allows emergency use of tests, treatments, and vaccines. Its end date will be determined by the secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Its end date will be determined by HHS, and the agency is committed to providing at least 60 days notice prior to any change.
CNN’s Kaitlan Collins and Tami Luhby contributed to this report.
Close contact with someone with COVID-19 Evidence shows that most COVID-19 transmission is closer when symptoms begin, usually within 1-2 days before and 2-3 days after symptoms begin. However, spread is still possible up to 10 days after infection.
How do we achieve herd immunity against COVID-19?
To safely obtain herd immunity against COVID-19, a substantial portion of the population must be vaccinated, reducing the overall amount of virus capable of spreading throughout the population.
Why is herd immunity important in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic? Tree immunity occurs when a large portion of the population becomes immune to an infectious disease, usually due to vaccination – limiting the risk of infection passing through a community from person to person. This may interest you : A real health perspective.
What is the percentage of people who need to be immune against COVID-19 in order to achieve herd immunity?
We will always learn about immunity to COVID-19. Most people who are infected with COVID-19 develop an immune response in the first few weeks, but we do not know how strong or lasting that immune response is, or how it differs for different people. There have also been reports of people infected with COVID-19 for a second time. Until we better understand COVID-19 immunity, it will not be possible to know how immune a population is and how long the immunity lasts, let alone make future predictions. These challenges should prevent any plan trying to increase immunity in a population by allowing people to become infected.
What is herd immunity?
The general concept of tree immunity implies that the transmission of an infectious agent can be curtailed, except for sporadic outbreaks, because a certain proportion of the population is already protected from vaccination or previous infection. On the same subject : The number of health professionals entering substance use and mental health programs is increasing.
What are the recommended surfaces to clean and disinfect during the COVID-19 pandemic?
High-touch surfaces in these health care settings should be identified for priority disinfection, such as door and window handles, kitchen and food preparation areas, benches, bathroom surfaces, toilets and faucets, personal appliances. This may interest you : Sales of video games in the United States fell by 10% in the first half of 2022. touchscreen, personal computer keyboards, and work. surfaces.
How to properly sanitize something to prevent coronavirus disease? Hand sanitizers are not intended to replace hand washing in food production and sales parameters. However, hand sanitizers can be used in excess or in combination with proper hand washing. The CDC recommends that everyone wash their hands with soap and water. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers can be used if soap and water are not available. As an interim measure, we understand that some food establishments have installed hand-dip quaternary ammonium stations and sprays at a concentration of 200 ppm. These products are intended for use on the surface, and as such, cannot be formulated for skin use. The FDA is aware of reports of adverse events from consumers using such products as a hand sanitizer replacement and recommends using these products as a hand sanitizer replacement.
What is the best household disinfectant for surfaces during COVID-19?
Regular cleaning and disinfection of the house will effectively remove the virus from the surfaces of the house. For cleaning and disinfection of households with suspected or confirmed COVID19, surface virulent disinfectants, such as 0.05% sodium hypochlorite (NaClO) and ethanol-based products (at least 70%), should be used.
What is the recommended surface cleaning method to prevent the spread of COVID-19?
In most situations, the risk of infection from touching a surface is low. The most reliable way to prevent infection from the surface is to regularly wash your hands with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Cleaning and disinfecting surfaces can also reduce the risk of infection.
Which types of settings does COVID-19 spread more easily?
The “Three Cs” are a useful way to think about this. They describe parameters where COVID-19 virus transmission spreads most easily: • Crowded places, • Close contact parameters, especially where people have conversations very close to each other, • Confined and closed spaces with little ventilation .
How long does the virus that causes COVID-19 last on the surfaces? Recent research has evaluated the survival of COVID-19 virus on various surfaces and said the virus can be viable for up to 72 hours in plastic and stainless steel, up to four hours in copper, and up to 24 hours in cardboard. .
Can COVID-19 spread through water while swimming?
Fact: Water or swimming does not transmit the COVID-19 virus The COVID-19 virus is not transmitted through water while swimming. However, the virus spreads among people when someone has close contact with an infected person. WHAT YOU CAN DO: Avoid crowding and keep a distance of at least 1 meter from others, even when you are swimming or in swimming pools. Wear a mask when you are not in the water and you cannot stay away. Clean your hands often, cover up a cough or sneeze with a handkerchief or bent neck, and stay home if you get sick.
Will climate change make COVID-19 worse?
There is no evidence of a direct connection between climate change and the emergence or transmission of COVID-19 disease. Since the disease is now well established in the human population, efforts should focus on reducing transmission and treating patients.
What are the common side effects of COVID-19 vaccines?
The most commonly reported events with COVID-19 vaccines are predicted side effects of the vaccine, such as headache, fatigue, muscle and joint pain, fever and chills, and pain at the injection site. The occurrence of these adverse events is consistent with what is already known about vaccines from clinical trials.
What are the common side effects of COVID-19? Common symptoms include local pain, redness, swelling, systemic fatigue, headache, muscle aches, fever and nausea. Regulatory authorities suggest facial paralysis and swelling as possible orofacial adverse effects of the COVID-19 vaccine, which is rarely taken [6].
What are the common side effects of the Moderna COVID-19 booster vaccine?
The most common side effects reported by people who received a booster dose of Modern COVID-19 Vaccine after the end of a two-dose primary series were pain, redness, and swelling at the injection site, as well as fatigue. , headache, muscle or joint pain. pain and cold.
Are long term side effects possible with COVID-19 vaccination?
Serious side effects that could cause a long-term health problem are extremely unusual after each vaccination, including the COVID-19 vaccination. The benefits of COVID-19 vaccination outweigh the known and potential risks.
