Face coverings need 2 or more layers

Scientists and policy experts weigh-in on vaccine distribution, while the USA opts out of global coordination. The CDC has new advice on masks and face shields.

• If a vaccine is proven safe and effective (or gets cleared by the FDA or the White House without proof of safety or efficacy,) the next big challenge is administering vaccinations. Even if the vaccine is rapidly manufactured, giving it to everyone who wants or needs it will take months — or more likely, years. Now, a draft report from the National Academies recommends that first-in-line for vaccinations should be those who work in jobs that can’t be done remotely and who are in groups that are at greatest risk for poor outcomes due to socioeconomic or other determinants of health. The final report will be published by the end of September. Public comments are invited through the end of this week.

• Meanwhile, the United States government says it will not work with the World Health Organization to coordinate manufacture and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines. (Editorial comment: Apparently the decision-makers in the U.S. government misunderstand what a “pandemic” is and how best to prevent new infections from reaching the United States.)

• Pay more attention to ventilation: Now that we understand more about how COVID-19 moves from person to person, our HVAC engineers have newfound importance. The Wall Street Journal looks at the changes that may help people return to indoor activity.

• Another blow to healthcare providers: While telehealth and virtual visits were wildly popular during shelter-in-place, remote medical encounters have dropped dramatically — from 69% of medical appointments in March to 21% in July.

• Big opportunity for communications firms: The U.S. Health and Human Services Department is requesting bids on a $250 million project to “defeat despair and inspire hope, sharing best practices for businesses to operate in the new normal and instill confidence to return to work and restart the economy,” according to Politico. The work is to be completed by January.

• In another example of the U.S. government relying on the private sector for leadership, the CDC published guidelines on preventing violence related to enforcement of COVID-19 prevention measures in stores or other businesses.

• Useful: The CDC has updated its mask guidance, recommending face coverings with at least two layers. Also, dentists and other clinicians are warned to wear face shields or other eye coverings that completely prevent droplets or other aerosols from getting into their eyes during a procedure.

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  Great learning opportunity: MIT and Harvard are inviting the public to watch a new online course, “COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2 and the Pandemic.” It began Sept. 1 (today.) Professors Richard Young and Facundo Batista lead the class, which is scheduled to include prominent guest speakers like Anthony Fauci and David Baltimore.