News Brief – COVID-19 Was Third Leading Cause of Death in the U.S. in 2020
On Wednesday
In 2020, a total of over 3.3 million resident deaths were registered across the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
This total from 2020—the first year of the coronavirus pandemic—marked the highest annual total of deaths the nation has ever recorded, with fatalities from COVID-19 contributing a significant number.
Notably, COVID-19 became the third leading cause of these deaths, accounting for around 350,000 deaths, according to the CDC.
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News Brief – FDA Authorizes Pfizer COVID-19 Treatment Pill
On Wednesday, Dec. 22, 2022, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued emergency use authorization for an antiviral pill intended to help treat COVID-19 cases.
Paxlovid, manufactured by Pfizer, is the first antiviral COVID-19 pill authorized for at-home use. According to the FDA, individuals ages 12 and up—weighing at least 88 pounds—should take the prescription-only pill as soon as they are diagnosed with COVID-19 and “within five days of symptom onset.”
The intention is to take the pill before getting sick enough to require hospitalization.
According to data released by Pfizer, Paxlovid treatment cut the risk of hospitalization or death by 88% among high-risk unvaccinated individuals when administered a few days after seeing symptoms.
“Today’s authorization introduces the first treatment for COVID-19 that is in the form of a pill that is taken orally—a major step forward in the fight against this global pandemic.”
Patrizia Cavazzoni, M.D., director of the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research
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What to Know About Omicron—the New Coronavirus Variant
A new variant of coronavirus initially detected in South Africa is prompting renewed concern regarding the pandemic. On Nov. 26, 2022, the World Health Organization (WHO) named the new variant “Omicron.” Omicron was labeled a “variant of concern,” the agency’s most serious category for tracking. Such a designation is reserved for dangerous variants that may be more transmissible or virulent or could decrease the effectiveness of vaccines or treatments.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that Omicron has yet to be detected in the United States. However, Omicron has been detected in numerous countries, including Australia, Belgium, Botswana, Britain, Canada, Germany, Hong Kong, Israel, Italy, the Netherlands, South Africa, and Switzerland. Several countries, including the United States, have already restricted travel while waiting for health experts to learn more about the potentially dangerous variant.
“This is the most concerning variant we’ve seen since Delta. It’s going to take a really high bar for something to take over for Delta, and we don’t know whether this is going to do it.”
Eric Topol, director of the Scripps Research Translational Institute
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Merck Antiviral COVID-19 Pill Found to Cut Risk of Hospitalization, Death
On Friday, Oct. 1, 2021, drug manufacturer Merck and its partner Ridgeback Biotherapeutics announced an antiviral pill that could drastically reduce the severity of COVID-19 infections.
The drug, molnupiravir, was shown in clinical trials to reduce the risk of COVID-19 hospitalizations and death by around 50%. Merck said they will be seeking emergency use authorization (EUA) from the Food and Drug Administration as soon as possible.
“Antiviral treatments that can be taken at home to keep people with COVID-19 out of the hospital are critically needed.” Wendy Holman, Ridgeback Biotherapeutics CEO
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Pfizer-BioNTech Vaccine Fully Approved by FDA
Authorizing the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is expected to open the floodgates for employers considering their own vaccine requirements. Many colleges, hospitals, corporations and even the federal government have announced tentative plans to require proof of vaccination as a condition of employment. United Airlines, for example, recently announced they will require vaccine proof among their employees. Other businesses are using vaccine cards to verify whether patrons need to wear face masks.
It is unclear how many organizations will require vaccination among employees in the near future, but employers should continue to monitor the situation as it evolves. We will be sure to keep you up to date on any new developments.
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Supreme Court Blocks Biden’s Eviction Moratorium
Renters no longer have federal protections provided by the eviction moratorium. However, many states currently have eviction moratoriums in place. Individuals should check for updates from local officials for more information.
We will keep you informed of any noteworthy updates.
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President Biden to Mandate COVID-19 Vaccine for Federal Employees and Large Employers
The federal employee mandate will apply to executive branch employees and members of the armed services, among others. Applicable federal employees will not be provided the option for weekly testing in lieu of vaccination.
The OSHA emergency rule—which is expected in the coming weeks—could affect as many as 80 million Americans. It will reportedly require large employers to provide their workers with paid time off to get vaccinated and recover from any vaccination-related side effects (e.g., chills). Companies that fail to comply may be subject to up to $14,000 in fines per employee.
Additionally, COVID-19 vaccinations will be required for more than 17 million health care workers at hospitals and other facilities that receive Medicare or Medicaid reimbursement.
What’s Next?
This hardline stance on vaccines is a stark contrast to the hands-off approach taken by most employers earlier in the year. However, as Delta continues to cause upticks in hospitalizations and deaths throughout the country, employers will need to ramp up efforts to protect their organizations.
Health experts and business leaders agree that vaccination is the most effective way to limit the spread of Delta and maintain uninterrupted operations. Employers should expect the Biden Administration to continue to take measures to increase vaccination rates.
For more information:
Updated CDC Guidelines
CDC Updates Guidance, Says Fully Vaccinated Individuals Should Wear Masks in Some Indoor Settings
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently announced updates to its mask guidelines as an emerging variant of COVID-19 known as Delta spreads across the country.
The CDC’s updated guidance now recommends that fully vaccinated individuals wear masks in public indoor settings when in areas with high or substantial transmission of COVID-19. Over 60% of U.S. counties have high or substantial transmission of COVID-19, according to CDC data. The guidelines also recommend masks be worn by all individuals in K-12 schools regardless of vaccination status.
In addition, the CDC encourages community leaders to promote vaccination and mask-wearing as preventive measures against COVID-19.
The CDC has expressed that COVID-19 vaccines are effective at protecting against the Delta variant, and they have been found to reduce the likelihood of severe illness, hospitalization and death.
Next Steps
This guidance from the CDC is not legally binding. As such, it is up to states and local officials to establish their own mask rules.
Employers should continue to monitor updates from local and state health officials. In addition, employers may need to update their own policies to comply with new guidelines.
We will keep you updated on noteworthy developments.
For more information:
News Brief: CDC Guidance for Fully Vaccinated People and Unvaccinated People
CDC Guidance for Fully Vaccinated People
According to the agency, people are considered fully vaccinated two weeks after their second dose in a two-dose vaccine series, like the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines. They are also considered fully vaccinated two weeks after a single-dose vaccine, like the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
The most notable update from the CDC’s new recommendations is that those who are fully vaccinated can resume indoor and outdoor activities without wearing masks or physically distancing, except where required by federal, state, local, tribal or territorial laws, rules and regulations, including local business and workplace guidance. In addition, this new CDC guidance says fully vaccinated people can:
- Resume domestic travel and refrain from testing before or after travel, or self-quarantine after travel
- Refrain from testing before leaving the United States for international travel (unless required by the destination) and refrain from self-quarantine after arriving back in the United States
- Refrain from testing following a known exposure, if asymptomatic, with some exceptions for specific settings
- Refrain from quarantine following a known exposure if asymptomatic
- Refrain from routine screening testing if feasible
- For now, the CDC recommends that fully vaccinated people continue to get tested if they are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms.
CDC Guidance for Unvaccinated People
According to the CDC, unvaccinated people should continue to take preventive steps, such as wearing a mask and practicing social distancing.
However, according to the agency, it’s safe for those unvaccinated people to walk, run or bike outdoors with members of their household without wearing a mask.
In addition, the agency says it is safe to take off the mask when attending a small, outdoor gathering with fully vaccinated family and friends.
Next Steps
As the CDC learns more, it will continue to update its recommendations for vaccinated and unvaccinated people. To learn more, the agency offers resources for choosing safer activities for both fully vaccinated and unvaccinated people.
We will keep you updated on noteworthy developments.
May News Brief: CDC Updates Outdoor Mask Guidance for Fully Vaccinated People
The new guidance says that people fully vaccinated can gather or conduct activities outdoors without wearing a mask except in certain crowded settings and venues. Fully vaccinated people can participate in the following activities without a mask:
• Walking, running or biking outdoors with members of the same household
• Attending a small, outdoor gathering with fully vaccinated family and friends
• Attending a small, outdoor gathering with fully vaccinated and unvaccinated people
• Dining at an outdoor restaurant with friends from multiple households
For those fully vaccinated, the CDC still recommends wearing a mask in indoor settings.
According to the agency, it is also safe for unvaccinated people to walk, run or bike outdoors with members of their household or attend a small, outdoor gathering with fully vaccinated family and friends without wearing a mask. However, the CDC recommends that unvaccinated people continue to wear a mask when around unvaccinated people, including at both indoor and outdoor gatherings.
Client and Employee Resources
The more your employees understand your benefit plans the more they become educated, empowered consumers. The programs you provide will also gain an enhanced value.
As your strategic partners in employee benefits, we can provide multiple avenues of ongoing support, including:
- Employee Meetings (English and Spanish)
- Webcasts
- Payroll Stuffers
- Poster Campaigns
- Newsletters
Carrier Directories
E-Verify is a web-based system that allows enrolled employers to confirm the eligibility of their employees to work in the United States. Click the image below to begin.
