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COVID-19 News Updates – April 17, 2020
COVID-19 news update for April 17, 2020:
30 Days to Slow the Spread
President Trump announced updated guidelines to continue slowing the spread of Coronavirus in America. This 30-day window will be crucial: If every American does his or her part, the latest model suggests we could save 1 million or more U.S. lives. Please click here for more information: 30 Days to Slow the Spread (Español)
If you are a healthcare worker and would like to volunteer to assist in New York City, please find more information here.
White House COVID-19 Updates
· President Donald J. Trump Approves Mississippi Disaster Declaration (HERE)
· Monica Crowley: Together We Will Get Through This (VIDEO)
Secretary Azar Statement on New Partnership to Develop National Strategy for COVID-19 Therapies and Vaccines (HERE)
· On Friday, the National Institutes of Health and the Foundation for NIH announced plans underway to launch a public-private partnership, known as the Accelerating COVID-19 Therapeutic Interventions and Vaccines (ACTIV) partnership, with more than a dozen biopharmaceutical companies, HHS’s Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Food and Drug Administration, and the European Medicines Agency, to develop a national strategy for a coordinated research response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
CDC Has Developed A New Laboratory Test to Assist With Efforts to Determine How Much of the U.S. Population Has Been Exposed To Sars-Cov-2, the Virus That Causes COVID-19 (HERE)
· The serology test looks for the presence of antibodies, which are specific proteins made in response to infections. Antibodies can be found in the blood and in other tissues of those who are tested after infection. The antibodies detected by this test indicate that a person had an immune response to SARS-CoV-2, whether symptoms developed from infection or the infection was asymptomatic.
NIH to Launch Public-Private Partnership to Speed COVID-19 Vaccine and Treatment Options (HERE)
· The National Institutes of Health and the Foundation for the NIH (FNIH) are bringing together more than a dozen leading biopharmaceutical companies, the Health and Human Services Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the European Medicines Agency to develop an international strategy for a coordinated research response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Statement from Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin and Administrator Jovita Carranza on the Success of the Paycheck Protection Program (HERE)
· Today, the U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin and Small Business Administration (SBA) Administrator Jovita Carranza issued a statement regarding the success of the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).
VA Partners with Treasury Department to Deliver Economic Impact Payments to Veterans and Survivors (HERE)
· The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced today it is working directly with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and U.S. Treasury Department to ensure delivery of ‘Economic Impact Payments’ to Veterans and survivors who receive Compensation and Pension (C&P) benefit payments from VA without additional paperwork or IRS filings.
FCC COVID-19 Telehealth Program Will Provide $200 Million in Funding, Appropriated by Congress as Part of the CARES Act (HERE)
· The program will help health care providers provide connected care services to patients at their homes or mobile locations in response to the novel Coronavirus 2019 disease (COVID-19) pandemic. The Program will provide immediate support to eligible health care providers responding to the COVID-19 pandemic by fully funding their telecommunications services, information services, and devices necessary to provide critical connected care services until the program’s funds have been expended or the COVID-19 pandemic has ended.
USDA Announces Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (HERE)
· U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today announced the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP). This new U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) program will take several actions to assist farmers, ranchers, and consumers in response to the COVID-19 national emergency. President Trump directed USDA to craft this $19 billion immediate relief program to provide critical support to our farmers and ranchers, maintain the integrity of our food supply chain, and ensure every American continues to receive and have access to the food they need.
USDA Approves Program to Feed Kids in North Carolina and Massachusetts (HERE)
· U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today announced North Carolina and Massachusetts have been approved to operate Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT), a new program authorized by the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA), signed by President Trump, which provides assistance to families of children eligible for free or reduced-price meals dealing with school closures.
DC and North Carolina Added to Innovative SNAP Online Pilot Program (HERE)
· U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today announced approval of the District of Columbia (DC) and North Carolina’s requests to provide online purchasing of food to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Households. This approval will allow the State and Federal District to expedite the implementation of online purchasing with currently authorized SNAP online retailers with a target start date to be announced at a later time.
EPA Announces Coronavirus Resources for State, Local, and Tribal Governments (HERE)
· The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is updating its coronavirus website to include new resources for state, local, and tribal agencies and intergovernmental associations. These resources will help EPA and its partners continue to provide the environmental protection the nation depends on without interruption during the coronavirus public health emergency.
EPA’s Mountains and Plains Region Transfers N-95 Masks to Federal Emergency Management Agency (HERE)
· Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Mountains and Plains regional office announced that it has transferred more than 1,000 N-95 face masks to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA); as it assesses its supply of personal protective equipment in hopes of donating additional PPE to state and local agencies battling COVID-19. The Agency maintains a range of PPE for mission-critical work such as responding to emergencies; including chemical, oil, radiological and biological incidents.
Justice Department Seeks to End Illegal Online Sale of Industrial Bleach Marketed as “Miracle” Treatment for COVID-19 (HERE)
· The United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida has entered a temporary injunction halting the sale of an unapproved, unproven, and potentially dangerous coronavirus (COVID-19) treatment product, the Department of Justice announced today.
DLA Disposition Services Makes Excess Military Items Available for COVID-19 Response (HERE)
· Since a national emergency was declared as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the DLA has provided almost 50,000 excess items – $2 million worth – such as personal protective equipment, beds, cots, ventilators and pouches for bio-hazard and human remains. Lists of available excess medical equipment are being provided to the DLA Headquarters COVID-19 Task Force, which works with military commands, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to determine where the items should go.
Corps of Engineers Takes On 28 COVID-19 Bed Facilities (HERE)
· The Army Corps of Engineers is on Day 35 of building 28 alternate-care facilities with about 15,800 beds, Army Lt. Gen. Todd T. Semonite, commander of the Army Corps of Engineers, said today.
For the most up-to-date information, please see the CDC’s website: www.coronavirus.gov.