• In today’s Recommendations for Industry, we discuss international, and U.S. initiatives intended to help businesses prepare for public health crises, to ultimately “make COVID-19 the last pandemic. Read more below.
• The Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness & Response has put out a report titled, “COVID-19: Make it the Last Pandemic,” which we will discuss more of today. See the brief here and the Lancet article here.
• UNICEF says more affluent countries can donate COVID-19 vaccine doses to COVAX.
• Pre-Olympics, 10 weeks from now, the increase of COVID-19 cases has prompted Japan to widen its State of Emergency.
• Taiwan, which had been able to control its COVID-19 cases/outbreak since the start of the pandemic now has its own endemic cases; with 333 new infections. There is now a shutdown of all schools in Taipei and New Taipei for two weeks. In addition, there is a ban on non-residents and visitors entering Taiwan for a month.
• The head of Dubai’s airport has said that the only way for us to begin mass foreign travel is to roll out vaccine passports.
• Uruguay currently has the highest death toll per capita.
• More and more fast-food places are offering incentives for those who are getting vaccinated! For example, if you have a Shake Shack near you, you can now get free fries! Yum!
• With increasing vaccinations, states in the North East United States (including C.T., MA, PA, and R.I.) have seen a significant drop in cases and hospitalizations.

Can We Make COVID-19 the “Last Pandemic”?

COVID-19 has significantly increased the awareness of the extent to which an airborne infectious disease can impact all facets of our lives, both business and personal. It is why international bodies have begun looking to the future to “make COVID-19 the last pandemic” – and why we’re starting to see regulation within the U.S. on protecting the workforce against future public health issues.

Having been one of the most COVID-affected states early on, New York is the first to pass regulation requiring businesses to implement an airborne infectious disease exposure prevention standard and allow for employee input on its airborne infectious disease programs. (Watch for TAG’s weekly newsletter this Thursday in which we will further detail New York’s law and its implications.)

This is a momentous event for all businesses across the U.S., as at least some of the other 49 states will undoubtedly be watching New York and considering similar laws, or at least guidance, of their own. But, like other workforce considerations, public health protection is not something for which any business should need a law or legal enforcement. Not only is it a responsible act to protect your employees, but ongoing employee protection is essential to business continuity.

Additionally, employing general protections regularly and having an infectious disease plan may not “make COVID-19 the last pandemic.” Still, it will ensure you are more prepared to deal with the challenges of the next international, national, local, or business-specific public health crisis you face.

If you worked with TAG during COVID to meet the challenges of the pandemic, we can help convert your program for preparation for future challenges. If not, and you want to add TAG’s expertise to your public health planning, we can help create a program to ensure your preparedness. Give us a call today!

• In today’s Recommendations for Industry, we discuss CDC’s updated COVID-19 recommended on the unmasking of fully vaccinated people – and TAG’s recommendations for a judicious transition. Read more here.
• A panel to explore WHO’s response to the COVID-19 outbreak has critical issues to WHO’s response which was complicated by global governments. The reports suggested reforms include:
  • A new global threats council should be created with the power to hold countries accountable
  • There should be a disease surveillance system to publish information without the approval of countries concerned
  • Vaccines must be classed as public goods and there should be a pandemic financing facility
  • There was an immediate request for the wealthy G7 nations to commit $1.9bn (£1.3bn) to the WHO’s Covax programme providing vaccine support to low income countries.
• In order to get the American public vaccinated, NPR and LYFT are starting to offer free rides to and from COVID-19 vaccination locations (from May 24^th through July 4^th). This is to increase access and encourage individuals to be vaccinated!
• Medicare has a new policy requiting nursing homes in the U.S. to report COVID-19 vaccination numbers of its residents and staff.
• Germany is warning of increased counterfeit COVID vaccines.
• Ontario, one of Canada’s province, Will be extending stay-at-home orders until June 2.
• A new study on dental procedures during COVID-19 have found that they are “no riskier than a drink of water”.
• An increasing number of states are incentivizing vaccinations, including in Ohio wherein vaccinated individuals “would be eligible for $1M in lottery prizes” and more.
• Because of definitions of “droplet” versus “airborne tranmissions”, WIRED explores how “The 60-year-old scientific screwup” helped COVID spread and kill.
• A recent study finds that the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine can neutralize B1526 and B1429 variants first identified in N.Y. and C.A., respectively).
• In Wednesday’s update, we discussed TAG’s weekly Risk Matrix and the significance of indoor activities in relation to COVID risk. Read More Here.
• The FDA has authorized the use of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine for adolescents 12-15 years old.
• The CDC has released good communication information for talking about COVID-19 vaccines with friends and family who may have be expressing hesitancy. As part of having these conversations, it is important to:
  • Listen to their questions with empathy
  • Ask open-ended questions to explore their concerns
  • Ask permission to share information
  • Help them find their own reason to get vaccinated
  • Help make their vaccination happen
• Furthermore, the CDC has released even more information that “wearing masks” DOES NOT CAUSE changes in “oxygen or carbon dioxide levels” when worn “while resting and exercising.” Studies conducted included hospital workers, older adults, and adults with COPD.
• The WHO has named the COVID-variant identified in India (B1617) as a fourth variant of concern, in addition to the B117, B1351, and P1 variants.
• COVID cases across India and Asia are rising steadily. This is cause for concern!
• Brazil’s president will allocated over $1B dollars to produce and distribute COVID-19 vaccines.
• Public Health
  • An increasing number of complaints have emerged regarding JAMA and other elite medical journal’s handling of routine exclusion, minimization, and mishandling of race issues in medicine.
  • There are two MMRW Notes from the Field that have been released: (a) multistate outbreak of E.coli O26 linked to raw flour in 2019; (b) outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 in rommain lettuce, 2019.