Coronavirus Toolkit

Additional Resources

• The CDC has updated its page on Older Adults with the latest links and information.
• The FDA has published Face Masks, Including Surgical Masks, and Respirators for COVID-19, a comprehensive new page on FDA.gov with answers to frequently asked questions about face masks, surgical masks, and respirators. It has also released issued guidance on the use of dry heat to help support the single-user reuse of some N95 respirators.
• Knowing your state plan is the first step for COVID-19 vaccination prep. Find your state plan in this resource prepared by Holland & Knight, LLP, and contact the appropriate state leadership as soon as possible.
• How CDC Is Making COVID-19 Vaccine Recommendations gives insights and information on the evidence behind decisions
• The CDC’s Nov. 20 Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report is publishing Characterization of COVID-19 in Assisted Living Facilities—39 States, October 2020. “With ongoing community transmission, ALFs should take actions to prevent the spread of SARS-CoV-2 in their facilities, including rapid identification and response to residents and staff members with suspected or confirmed COVID-19,” the authors recommend.
• The CDC Nov. 19 posted recommendations on safety for Thanksgiving: “As cases continue to increase rapidly across the United States, the safest way to celebrate Thanksgiving is to celebrate at home with the people you live with. Gatherings with family and friends who do not live with you can increase the chances of getting or spreading COVID-19 or the flu.”
• The FDA has published two new pieces of consumer information that can help in understanding the vaccine situation and getting the facts: Vaccine Development 101 and Emergency Use Authorization for Vaccines Explained.
• The FDA published a new webpage, A Closer Look at COVID-19 Diagnostic Testing, to provide health care providers and other public health professionals, including those who might purchase COVID-19 tests, more technical information and resources.
• The CDC updated its mask guidance, indicating that wearing a mask can help protect wearers as well as those around them. The new guidance cites a number of studies which show a reduction in the risk of transmission with mutual-mask use.
• The CDC has posted considerations for holiday celebrations and small gatherings, reminding the public of the following: “Unfortunately, the COVID-19 epidemic is worsening, and small household gatherings are an important contributor to the rise in COVID-19 cases. CDC offers the following considerations to slow the spread of COVID-19 during small gatherings. These considerations are meant to supplement—not replace—any state, local, territorial, or tribal health and safety laws, rules, and regulations with which all gatherings must comply.”
• The CDC has updated its page on 10 Things Healthcare Professionals Need to Know about U.S. COVID-19 Vaccination Plans.
• The CDC November 3 made several updates to its Interim Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations for Healthcare Personnel During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic page:
  • Different options for screening individuals (healthcare personnel, patients, visitors) prior to their entry into a healthcare facility
  • Information on factors that could impact thermometer readings
  • Resources for evaluating and managing ventilation systems in healthcare facilities
• The FDA is alerting clinical laboratory staff and health care providers that false positive results can occur with antigen tests and has posted recommendations and further information.
• While there is not yet an authorized or approved vaccine against the COVID-19 virus, communities and health care are preparing for its release. The CDC has posted three pages for the general public that can be helpful to share with staff and families: Benefits of Getting a COVID-19 Vaccine, Busting Myths and Misconceptions about COVID-19 Vaccination, and Frequently Asked Questions about COVID-19 Vaccination.