National numbers, September 3
The late-summer COVID-19 surge is still in full swing, with all major metrics showing further increases in disease spread this week. BA.2.86 isn’t spreading widely yet but is worth continued surveillance.
Read MoreCategory: Federal data
This summer, COVID-19 safety is more individualized than ever
COVID-19 metrics have been on the rise in the U.S. for about a month now, indicating that we’re experiencing a summer surge. This is pretty unsurprising for many public health experts, as the country has experienced increased transmission during the last three summers. Unlike past years, though, this summer’s surge comes after the end of the federal public health emergency. We now have less data than ever to follow COVID-19 trends, combined with less access to health measures than ever.
Read MoreNew pandemic preparedness office at the White House
The White House has launched a new office focused on high-level pandemic preparedness, about six months after Congress requested this. The new Office of Pandemic Preparedness and Response Policy will be a permanent office in the executive branch, according to a fact sheet from the Biden administration.
Read MoreDebt ceiling deal will mean even less COVID-19 funding
In order to reach the debt ceiling deal, Biden had to make a lot of compromises—including limiting funding for COVID-19 and other public health needs. The deal could make it harder for state and local governments to distribute COVID-19 vaccines, track disease through programs like wastewater surveillance, and prepare for future health threats.
Read MoreThe CDC’s new COVID-19 dashboard hides transmission risk
On Thursday, the CDC revamped its COVID-19 dashboard in response to changing data availability with the end of the federal public health emergency. The new dashboard downplays continued COVID-19 risk across the U.S., by prioritizing hospitalizations and deaths over other metrics.
Read MoreEnding emergencies will lead to renewed health equity issues
Last week, I gave you an overview of the changes coming with the end of the federal public health emergency (PHE). This week, I’d like to focus on the health equity implications of the PHE’s end. With the end of extra supplies and resources tied to the emergency, people who are already vulnerable to other health issues will become more at risk for COVID-19.
Read MoreThe federal public health emergency ends next week: What you should know
We’re now less than one week out from May 11, when the federal public health emergency (or PHE) for COVID-19 will end. While this change doesn’t actually signify that COVID-19 is no longer worth worrying about, it marks a major shift in how U.S. governments will respond to the ongoing pandemic, including how the disease is tracked and what public services are available. Here’s all the key info you should know about this, in one place.
Read MoreCDC shifts away from COVID-19 Community Levels with the federal emergency’s end
After May 11, the CDC will stop reporting COVID-19 Community Levels, according to reporting by Brenda Goodman at CNN. The agency is overall planning to shift from using case data to hospitalizations and wastewater surveillance.
Read MoreSources and updates, April 2
Sources and updates for the week of April 2 include archived CDC data, federal COVID-19 emergencies, the global health workforce, and more.
Read MoreCOVID-19 dashboards that haven’t shut down yet
We are in an era of dashboard shutdowns. Government agencies, research groups, and media organizations alike are winding down their COVID-19 reporting efforts. So, here’s a list of dashboards that have NOT yet shut down.
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