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Key Points
December 09, 2020
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In todays’ Recommendations for Industry, we find, through the Risk Matrix, that overall conditions in the U.S. remain mostly “the same” (as in, things are not going well – case rates are increasing and Test Positive Rates are increasing all across the country).
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With vaccines being administered in the UK and moving towards approval in the US, TAG will be providing a Weekly Vaccine Update each Friday and is developing a COVID Vaccine FAQ Resource Page at AchesonGroup.com. Keep an eye out for our Friday discussion.
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As COVID-19 cases in the US top15 million and continue to surge, the CDC put out thoughts on travel related to the upcoming Holiday Travel Season:
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Travel can increase your chance of spreading and getting COVID-19. Postponing travel and staying home is the best way to protect yourself and others.
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You and your travel companions (including children) may feel well and not have any symptoms, but you can still spread COVID-19 to family, friends, and community after travel.
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Don’t travel if you are sick or test positive for COVID-19. Don’t travel with someone who is sick.
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The FDA analysis of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine is briefly discussed in CIDRAP’s update. While minor side effects occurred (i.e. chills and muscle pain), the vaccine’s efficacy is high and the company’s data shows strong protection after the first dose.. The FDA’s Briefing Document is accessible here. The Pfizer vaccine requires a second booster dose 21-days after the first dose.
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Last week, the FDA authorized the first diagnostic test for use with home-collected patient samples to detect both COVID-19 and flu for Quest Diagnostics RC COVID-19 + Flu RT-PCR Test with a prescription.
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A recent report, “Take off your mask so I know how much to tip you: Service Workers’ Experience of Health & Harassment During COVID-19” finds that service industry workers have seen an 80% decrease in tips and an over 40% increase in sexual harassment from customers – including male customers asking for female-presenting workers to remove masks to “judge their looks” to determine tip outcome. Additionally, service industry workers are reluctant to enforce social distancing and mask usage, especially towards customers who may give tips.
Recommendations for Industry
TAG’s US Risk Matrix: Week of December 08, 2020
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Thirty-eight (38) states are in the Highest-Risk Quadrant (Outbreak Index > 50) (Figure 1, Figure 2). This is up from last week’s 34 states. States in the High and Highest-Risk Quadrants are Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming.
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The Government Stringency Index remains at 47, the same as last week’s, indicating that stringent government regulations are in place. The average U.S. Mobility Index (Residential) has decreased to 9%, down from last week’s 12%, indicating that mobility has increased throughout the U.S. (which we have seen through this holiday season).
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Eleven (11) states’ (Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, Idaho, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maine, North Carolina, New York, Vermont) businesses are in mixed opening stages. Nine (9) states’ (California, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Washington) businesses are mostly closed.
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Thirty-five (35) states have a TPR ≥10% and a case rate ≥ 25/100K people (Table 1, Table 2). This indicates that testing may not be adequate to fully characterize the true severity of the outbreak in the states. On the other hand, 12 states and Washington D.C. have a TPR < 10% and a case rate≥ 25/100K people indicates inadequate testing that is likely finding most symptomatic cases of illnesses (Table 1, Table 2).
Figure 1. Case Rates per 100K Population and Stringency
Figure 2. Total Tests per 100K Population and Test Positive Rates
Table 1. States with TPRs >10% and < 10% with Case Rates > 25/100K population
Table 2. Case Rater per 100,000 persons (7-day average)
In Case You Missed It...
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In Monday’s Recommendations for Industry, we provide an overview of vaccines along with status of the current COVID-19 vaccines developed or in development. Read the brief below, then link to the paper for the full story.
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With vaccines now a top-of-mind focus for the pandemic, TAG will be providing a Weekly Vaccine Update each Friday and is developing a COVID Vaccine FAQ Resource Page at AchesonGroup.com. Keep an eye out for that!
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This week is National Influenza Vaccination Week (December 06 – 12, 2020). Food, beverage, and agricultural industries are all part of the Critical and Essential workforce, to keep our communities running amid #COVID19. Flu vaccination can help keep healthy so you can continue your vital work. It is not too late to get your flu shot! Find a vaccination location near you using Vaccine Finder.
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The Associated Press reports that this year, Thanksgiving car travel was only 5% less than that of pre-pandemic times (including 2019).
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In last Friday's Recommendations for Industry, we discuss CDC’s recent updates for quarantining and what these mean to your business.
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Previously, we discussed a few of the vaccines that hold promise to protect us against COVID-19
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The “COVID-19 Symptoms Comparison Chart” is now downloadable at our COVID-19 Resources page
Keep up to date with COVID-19:
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Please send us any questions, comments, and/or concerns! We are happy to talk with you.
OR call us at 1-800-401-2239
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