COVID-19 News and Updates
Hello all,
Nina Duggan here with the latest COVID-19 news and updates.
This week we will be discussing the end of the COVID national and public health emergencies this spring in the U.S., the WHO’s statement on the end of the pandemic, and the bivalent booster’s efficacy against the new XBB.1.5 variant.
COVID Communication:
U.S. COVID-19 Emergency Declaration Ending May 11th
In a statement released on Monday from the White House, the Biden administration announced it will be ending the national COVID-19 public health emergency on May 11th of this year. In practicality, this means than many benefits provided by the emergency status will be coming to an end. This means that testing, vaccines, and various “social safety net” programs will no longer be provided at no charge. As of May 11th, those on Medicare will have some out of pocket costs for at-home testing and for all treatment (such as the monoclonal antibody treatments). Those on Medicare will see their vaccines and testing ordered by a physician covered at no cost to them. Those on State Medicaid programs will have tests ordered by a physician and vaccines covered at no charge.
Individuals on private insurances could potentially face charges for testing even if ordered by a physician, depending on their insurance provider. Vaccination for those with private insurance should remain free for those who to in-network providers.
In regards to social programs, there are concerns over the number of people who will be disenrolled from Medicaid, the end of a boost to food stamp programs (expected in March of this year), and other state programs.
For a full analysis of how the ending of the emergency declaration could impact you, see these analyses by CNN Politics: These benefits will disappear when Biden ends the Covid national and public health emergencies in MayCOVID in the News:
State of COVID-19 in Maine
State of COVID-19 in Maine
COVID-19 cases in the state of Maine have dropped by 16% on average across the state, with hospitalizations and I.C.U. admissions seeing a slight increase. Deaths have decreased by an average of 89% across the state since the two weeks prior. Test positivity hovers at about 10%.
WHO: End of the Pandemic Potentially In Sight in 2023
The World Health Organization made a statement this past week stating we are in the best position we have been in since the pandemic started to beat back COVID-19. Thanks to effective vaccines and potent antiviral treatments, an end to the acute phase of the pandemic may be in sight this year. The WHO states that though the virus remains a public health emergency of international concern, we still need to make sure that the life-saving vaccines and anti-viral treatments make it to those who most need them, and ensure we protect those most vulnerable to the virus in our communities, we have seen a drastic decrease in both deaths and hospitalizations worldwide since the virus’ peak when Omicron first emerged.
The virus is still deadly and evolving, at this point killing roughly twice as many people as the flu does per year, but as we enter the fourth year of the global pandemic some cautious optimism is warranted in light of the progress we have made in the field of public health. We cannot afford to be complacent, the virus still demands our attention and precautions at this stage, but with vaccines continuing to be effective against the new variants, adequate testing, and the use of antivirals early on in infection, we may finally see COVID-19 reduce to a manageable level.
Links and Sources: ABC News COVID-19 pandemic ‘is probably at a transition point’, WHO says; WHO says Covid remains a global emergency but pandemic could near its end in 2023
Bivalent COVID-19 Boosters Remain Effective Against New XBB.1.5 Variant
The new bivalent boosters, updated to target Omicron variants as well as the original strain, are proving to be quite effective against the new XBB.1.5 variant. Data released by the CDC shows they reduce the risk of symptomatic infection, hospitalization, and deaths even when compared to the original vaccine. Despite the clear efficacy of the new booster, and warnings that the original vaccine will no longer protect against the new Omicron variants, only about 15% of individuals in the U.S. have received their updated booster. Experts urge people to get their updated boosters in an effort to finally put the pandemic down to medically sustainable levels.
Links and Sources: NBC News Updated Covid boosters cut the infection risk from XBB.1.5 subvariant by nearly half, CDC finds
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