Key Points

November 18, 2020

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• In today’s Recommendations for Industry, we explore the TAG’s U.S. Risk Matrix. This week, all states except for Hawaii (and D.C.) have moved to into the High or Highest-Risk Quadrants. Twenty-seven (27) states have a TPR greater than 10% and a case rate ≥ 25/100K, indicating that testing may not be adequate to characterize the true severity of outbreaks across the U.S fully.

• Join our own Dr. Ben Miller, MPH with CIC Health and the University of Minnesota's Genomics Center on a webinar this Friday (November 20) at 12:00 PM E.T. as they discuss COVID-19 testing on campus, including how surveillance testing can help bridge the gap between now and widespread vaccination programs. Register here: https://link.achesongroup.com/0fdb2

• Be Antibiotics Aware. November 18 – 24th is Antimicrobial Awareness Week. Antimicrobial resistance (which includes antibiotic resistance) is a significant threat to both human health and sustainable food production. Drug resistance has made infections harder to treat; however, good hygiene can help stop the spread of infection (especially during the COVID-19 pandemic). Find out more about the effects antimicrobial resistance has on food, health, and more. 

• As a reminder, a mask is not a substitute for social distancing (maintain 6 feet or more from others around you). Masks should still be worn in addition to staying at least 6 feet (2  meters) apart.

• The “COVID-19 Symptoms Comparison Chart” is now downloadable at our COVID-19 Resources page.

• Did you miss the October’s FSMA Friday in which TAG’s own Eric Edmunds discussed  DA’s proposed Food Traceability Rule, the affected foods and ingredients on its Food Traceability List (FTL) and the rule’s foundational elements: Critical Tracking Events (CTEs) and Key Data Elements (KDEs), along with other key elements of the rule? Find the main points and recording here.

• In Case You Missed It:

  • On Monday, we discussed and answered the question: How Risky is International – and Domestic – Travel Today?

  • In last Friday’s Recommendations for Industry we explored testing and When and What COVID Tests Facilities Should Conduct.

  • OSHA and the U.S. Department of Labor have issued Guidance Alerting Employers to Frequently Cited Standards Related to COVID-19 Inspections. The most frequently cited standards and requirements for employers to follow include:

    • Providing a medical evaluation before a worker is fit-tested or uses a respirator.

    • Establishing, implementing, and updating a written respiratory protection program with required worksite-specific procedures.

    • Training workers to safely use respirators and/or other PPE in the workplace, and retrain workers about changes in the workplace that might make previous training obsolete.

    • Storing respirators and other PPE properly in a way to protect them from damage, contamination, and, where applicable, deformation of the facepiece and exhalation valve.

    • Keeping required records of work-related fatalities, injuries, and illness.

  • OSHA is also providing upated guidance for Holiday Workplace Safety. There is guidance for those in Retail Sales, for Delivery, and for Order Fulfillment.

  • This winter season, protect yourself and your family from fraudulent flu or antiviral products. Like with COVID-19, there are no legally marketed over-the-counter drugs to prevent to prevent, mitigate, treat, or cure the flu. The FDA advises that the flu vaccine is the best prevention against the influenza and its serious complications. 

  • China continues to report the presence of coronavirus on imported food products and packagingof shrimp, fish, beef, and pork. However, guidance from World Health Organization and other organizations continue to indicate that it is highly unlikely that people can contract COVID-19 from food or food packaging. Read the news from Food Safety News.