- HHS officials are expected to announce plans to launch an office tackling climate change as a public health issue. According to people familiar with the plans, the office it is expected to focus on initiatives that touch on health care, like offering protections for groups at higher risk of poor health tied to climate change and enacting policies to compel health care facilities to reduce carbon emissions. It’s unclear when the new office will be up and running. (Article here)
- The European Union plans to recommend that its member states tighten restrictions on tourists and other nonessential travelers from the U.S. because of the country’s COVID-19 surge. The change, which could come as soon as this week, would reinstate restrictions that had been lifted in June. (Articles here and here)
- Anthony Fauci said that surging COVID-19 cases and stagnating vaccination rates in parts of the U.S. could lead to 100,000 new COVID-19 related deaths by December. According to Fauci, the potential outcome is entirely preventable if the 80 million unvaccinated Americans get the shot. He also said that the Biden administration still plans to begin administering booster shots in September to those vaccinated at least eight months ago as data shows waning efficacy of vaccinations over time. (Articles here and here)
August 30, 2021
Public Health/Prevention