Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the influenza (flu) season has been hard to predict; however, experts expect this flu season to start early again, like last year. Typically, the height of flu season occurs between December and February, the coldest months. In addition to the flu, COVID-19 and respiratory syncytial virus …
President Biden signed a resolution on April 10, 2023, effectively ending the COVID-19 national emergency. The national emergency and public health emergency (PHE) were previously scheduled to end on May 11, 2023, but the bipartisan legislation ended the former earlier than expected, on April 10. Effects of terminating COVID-19 national …
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued an emergency use authorization (EAU) for the first over-the-counter (OTC) at-home test that can detect influenza (flu) and COVID-19. Created by Lucira Health, this test can be self-administered via nasal swab and provide results in 30 minutes. This single-use test is for individuals …
The Biden Administration announced its plan to end the COVID-19 national emergency and public health emergency (PHE) on May 11, 2023. The Department of Health and Human Services initially declared the COVID-19 PHE on January 31, 2020. The end of the PHE will significantly impact health plans. Health Plan Changes …
On January 11, 2023, the U.S. government extended the COVID-19 public health emergency until April. This extension comes as a highly transmissible Omicron subvariant, known as “Kraken,” has caused an increase in hospitalizations. Since the emergency was originally declared in January 2020, it has been renewed every 90 days by …
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 booster shots, targeting Omicron subvariants BA.4 and BA.5. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) determined that 90% of all new COVID-19 cases in the United States is from the BA.5 strain. This is the first time the …
After more than two years of the COVID-19 pandemic, new guidance has been released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), easing or ending several recommendations. The CDC claims that the vast majority of the U.S. population has gained some COVID-19 protection through previous infection, vaccination, or a …
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted emergency authorization for select COVID-19 vaccines. Pfizer’s vaccine for children aged six months to five years old and Moderna’s vaccine for children aged six months to six years old have been approved. Shortly after the FDA’s authorization, the Center for Disease Control …
The COVID-19 vaccine toolkit, issued by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, has been updated and now includes a list of vaccines and boosters that are required to be covered without cost-sharing. This chronological list contains COVID-19 vaccines and boosters approved and authorized by the Food and Drug Administration …
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the country’s top infectious-disease expert, stated the United States is “out of the pandemic phase.” The statement does not mean the COVID-19 pandemic is over, rather the level of hospitalizations and deaths has declined to a manageable point within the country. Fauci advises caution as the virus …
Massachusetts’ COVID-19 emergency paid sick leave program expired March 15, 2022. This law required employers to provide up to 40 hours of paid sick leave for certain COVID-19-related reasons. In late February, the Massachusetts Executive Office for Administration and Finance alerted employers that reimbursements for the program were reaching their …
Mask-wearing recommendations have been loosened by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Currently, with 70% of the nation residing in low- or medium-risk counties, only individuals in high-risk areas are recommended to wear masks in indoor settings. COVID-19 Community Levels can be used to determine the risk level …
Since the free at-home rapid antigen COVID-19 testing kits were offered, over 50 million have received them. For those that obtained the free kits but have not used them yet, it is important to know these tests have a limited shelf life. Luckily, the Food and Drug Administration has stated …
Pharmacy chains CVS and Walgreens are no longer limiting customers on the maximum number of rapid over-the-counter (OTC) COVID-19 tests that may be purchased at one time. Previously, CVS only allowed six tests to be purchased at once and at Walgreens, only four. Due to an increase in supply, these …
Offering extra perks helps to satisfy unique employee needs. More organizations are recognizing how beneficial voluntary benefits are to employees and their families while many of these benefits come at little to no cost for the employer. Holistic Benefits Offerings A recent Willis Towers Watson survey saw a 58% increase …
