Planning for Fall Respiratory Illnesses

• In today’s Recommendations for Industry, we discuss how and why businesses should be using the expected “quiet” of summer to develop plans to reduce the impacts of fall respiratory illnesses. Read more below.
• The HHS has begun a “We Can Do This: COVID-19 Public Education Campaign” to increase confidence in COVID-19 vaccines while reinforcing basic preventive measures (like wearing masks and social distancing). The idea is to drive communication science and provide tailored info for at-risk groups. Please check this out for further messaging for your communities!
• As cases in Delhi (and across India) slowly decrease, Delhi and other areas are easing lock-down measures to allow operations and construction activities to continue.
• Like Ohio (which has incentivized vaccinations), California will give away $116.5M to vaccinated residents!
• In its testing phases, Moderna has announced that its COVID-19 vaccine appears to be safe and effective in adolescents (12 – 17 years).
• Researchers are designing a new way to deliver vaccines using inhaled nanobodies. So far, the research in hamsters is showing promise!

Planning for Fall Respiratory Illnesses

With vaccinations continuing to increase and cases continuing to decrease, TAG is seeing all indications pointing to a relatively quiet summer as far as COVID-19 is concerned. But while you enjoy that bit of reprieve, know that the fall will undoubtedly bring a return to the usual respiratory illnesses – i.e., colds and flu. What will be different this year from pre-COVID years is that the “usual” respiratory illness symptoms will need to be taken more seriously as many of the symptoms (e.g., fever, cough, chills) are similar to those of COVID-19, and are highly transmissible regardless of the person’s viral condition. Thus making a focus on respiratory hygiene of continued importance for businesses. On the plus side, the pandemic has provided us all with more awareness of the risks and impacts of respiratory illnesses – and we have more strategies to fight against their transmission and the increased employee absences and business impacts. As we move through the summer, TAG will continue to keep an eye on the public health situation and advise readers accordingly. We also are developing fall/respiratory illness strategies to assist businesses, restructuring our Hierarchy of Controls for relevance, and will be helping businesses convert or develop programs to be prepared for, and reduce the impact of, fall and winter illnesses. Keep an eye on this space and give us a call with any questions or pre-planning assistance.

• In Wednesday’s Recommendations for Industry, we discussed this week’s COVID-19 Risk Matrix as well as a perspective on CDC’s travel recommendations. Read more here.
• The CDC has provided new recommendations for domestic travel for vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals in the U.S. including recommending that unvaccinated individuals should not travel until they are fully vaccinated. However, if unvaccinated individuals do want to travel, they should follow CDC’s recommendations for unvaccinated people. 
• NPR reports that in 25 states, more than 50% of all adults are fully vaccinated! The majority are in the Northeastern states of Maine, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut.
• In South Africa, testing of wastewater is helping to identify the spread of COVID-19.
• Moderna is applying for FDA approval of its COVID-19 vaccine for 12-17 year olds.
• In Monday’s Recommendations for Industry, we discussed the importance of maintaining robust hygiene practices even while reducing other COVID-19 protections. Read more here.
• At this time, OSHA tells employers to follow CDC’s mask guidance. Both National Law Review & JD Supra break down what this means.
• Hospitals in Japan continue to struggle with the COVID-19 outbreak. However, the International Olympic Committee has said that Tokyo Summer Games will continue
• CNN discusses the “black fungus” infections that are also an epidemic in India at this time.
• A new study estimates that COVID-19 may have killed 20% more individuals than currently reported, specifically, “[f]or every 100 deaths attributed to COVID-19, another 20 deaths were ascribed to other causes.”
• CIDRAP reports, “at the G20 Global Health Summit […] world leaders and drug companies announced major commitments to boost the supply of COVID vaccine for low- and middle-income countries, but stopped short of endorsing a full waiver of vaccine patent rights.”
• Food Safety & Public Health:
  • Scientists at Cornell University have discovered 5 new species of Listeria (one of which is immotile). This will inevitably lead to a “rewrite of the standard identification protocols issued by food safety regulators.” [News Release / Journal Article in Microbiology Research]
  • CDC is currently investigating multiple outbreaks of Salmonella associated with backyard poultry. There have been 163 individuals reported sick in 43 states with 1/3 of the patients under the age of 5.
  • Colorado is investigating a potential norovirus outbreak near Denver.
  • The CDC is urging Americans not to kiss chickens because of Salmonella.
  • There is currently an ongoing Hepatitis A outbreak associated with dates in the United Kingdom that has infected at least 30 individuals.
  • Natural Balance Pet Foods is recalling cat food due to Salmonella concerns.