• In today’s Recommendations for Industry, we discuss the varying COVID protections that multi-national companies need to consider. Read more here below.
• The joint WHO-China study on COVID-19 origins has found, in a recent report, “that transmission of the virus from bats to humans through another animal is the most likely scenario and that a lab leak is ‘extremely unlikely’”.
• New York has launched their Excelsior Pass app to help New York businesses return to normal “by providing a free, fast and secure way to present digital proof of COVID-19 vaccination or negative test results.” Furthermore: “Businesses and venues can scan and validate your pass to ensure you meet any COVID-19 vaccination or testing requirements for entry. Along with your Pass, you’ll be asked to show a photo ID that shows your name and birth date to verify that the Pass belongs to you. Adults may hold passes for accompanying minors.”
• A recent CDC study on vaccinated health-care workers found that both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines were 80% effective in preventing COVID-19 infections (after the first dose).

Multi-National Businesses Face Varying COVID Protections

Q. Although vaccines are gradually becoming readily available for adults in the U.S., this is not the case in many other areas of the world. Because of this, TAG has received questions from multi-national businesses about when and how they may be able to draw down COVID-19 protections in their facilities in different countries.

A. This will vary significantly depending on the country’s case rate and government-enforced stringency as well as vaccines. In general, TAG recommends that no protections be reduced until there are no more than 10 cases per 100K population or at least 40% of the community is fully vaccinated – and even at this point, protections should be only moderately reduced. We wouldn’t see reaching a new normal until there are no more than 5 cases per 100K and at least 40% of the community is vaccinated.

However, because of the lack of vaccine availability in some areas, and because the overarching goal is to make changes based on low case rates, there are times when other considerations can be made. For example, in Australia and New Zealand vaccines are hard to get but they have other controls in place. So the first consideration is always to follow the government/public health office dictions.

However, even if a country reduces protections, reducing protections may not be the best move forward while the epidemic continues to surge. This is because if an unvaccinated individual did not have a mask on, were symptomatically infected (and airflow was not properly managed), there is potential for COVID-19 to “hang in the air” and infect someone who also may be unvaccinated and unprotected.  We still do not know for sure the impact of the vaccine on asymptomatic transmission, but are learning more about that each week, so that is factor to keep in consideration as things evolve.

• In Friday’s Recommendations for Industry, we discussed the importance of continuing COVID-19 testing, despite the increasing vaccination rate. Read more here.
• If you have been vaccinated (even with 1 shot of the Moderna or Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine), you can get a free Krispy Kreme donut!
• The World Health Organization is reporting that new cases have increased by 8% over the last week (around the world, including Poland and Brazil), especially with the increase in variants. CIDRAP reports that COVID-19 totals exceed 125 million cases.
• The pandemic is not over yet; however, in the S., testing has seemingly been replaced with increased vaccinations when in fact, to be protective, testing (as a preventive tool) and vaccinations must both be increasing.
• AstraZeneca continues to make the news. Firstly, AstraZeneca’s newly released data indicates that it has 76% efficacy (as opposed to its initial 79% efficacy) reported in the U.S. Secondly, the U. considers that AstraZeneca has not honored its contract; the EU had expected 30M doses by end of March 2021; however, they’ve received less than third of such doses. Finally, due to India’s rapidly increasing number of cases (and as India is a supplier of AstraZeneca), the country is cutting back AstraZeneca exports.
• Germany requires that all flight arrivals be tested for COVID.
• Africa’s second COVID-19 wave has been worse than the first; it has approximately 30% more daily new infections across the continent.
• The CDC has published a new release to “Help Stop the Spread of Coronavirus and Protect Your Family”. The steps include:
  • Getting a COVID-19 vaccine.
  • Washing your hands often with plain soap and water.
  • Covering your mouth and nose with a mask when around others.
  • Avoiding crowds and practice social distancing (stay at least 6 feet apart from others).
• A recent comprehensive review in Nature of current literature on post-acute COVID-19 “discusses relevant considerations for the multidisciplinary care of COVID-19 survivors and propose a framework for the identification of those at high risk for post-acute COVID-19 and their coordinated management through dedicated COVID-19 clinic”. The study identified and characterized COVID-19 long-haulers, “a syndrome characterized by persistent symptoms and/or delayed or long-term complications beyond 4 weeks from the onset of symptoms”. CIDRAP also summarizes the findings in which, “long-haulers need dedicated clinics” like as is currently being developed in Italy.