Update on Administration Efforts on COVID-19 | March 23, 2020

Editor’s note: Here are the recent actions from the Trump administration on COVID. Note especially the FDA actions relaxing certain rules for ventilators and other regulated items.

Today President Trump signed an Executive Order providing the authority to address, if necessary, hoarding that threatens the supply of necessary health and medical resources. This includes the action of hoarding unnecessary quantities of items for the purpose of selling them above the fair market value. To implement the order, the President has delegated to HSS the authority to designate scarce resources or resources the supply of which would be threatened by hoarding. DOJ will work with HHS to enforce the anti-hoarding provisions of the order in cases where hoarding may be impeding the supply of health and medical resources needed to combat the spread of the coronavirus. This action will help ensure that hospitals, first-responders, and doctors receive sufficient supplies of critical medical equipment. President Trump is bringing to bear every resource, power, and authority necessary to defeat the coronavirus.

[Joseph Russo | March 23, 2020 | EOP/White House Office]

White House COVID-19 Updates

· White House Announces New Partnership to Unleash U.S. Supercomputing Resources to Fight COVID-19 (HERE)

· Factsheet: President Trump is Committed to Supporting Small Businesses Impacted by the Coronavirus (HERE)

· Vice President Pence Holds Video Teleconference with Governors on the Partnership to Prepare, Mitigate and Respond to COVID-19 (READOUT, REMARKS)

· Vice President Pence Remarks with Press Gaggle (HERE)

· Memorandum on Providing Federal Support for Governors’ Use of the National Guard to Respond to COVID-19 (HERE)

· 1600 Daily: Americans need help. Democrats must stop blocking it. (HERE)

List: 74 Actions Taken by President Trump to Fight Virus and Bolster Economy (HERE)

· In less than a week, the Trump administration has greatly expanded the actions it’s taken to fight the coronavirus and boost the economy, according to its latest tally of “response efforts.”

Surgeon General: Delay elective medical, dental procedures to help us fight coronavirus (HERE)

· The lives of many, especially our most vulnerable, are at stake. We can win this war if we all commit to taking the right actions for our country.

Peter Navarro: Coronavirus – How businesses are stepping up, collaborating with Trump administration (HERE)

· President Trump has promised to unite the full force of the federal government with the full power of American enterprise to respond to the China Wuhan virus – and the response from the private sector has been overwhelming.

DHS Announcement: Important Message on Essential Financial Services Sector Workers – From U.S. Treasury Secretary Mnuchin

· Workers across the financial services sector play an important role in supporting the American people and our Nation’s economy. Consistent with the need to ensure access for essential financial services workers, Secretary Mnuchin issued the attached memorandum. This memorandum points to guidelines from the President and the Department of Homeland Security, which provides guidance to State and local officials as they work to protect their communities while ensuring continuity of critical functions to public health and safety, as well as economic and national security. Everyone should follow guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as well as State and local officials regarding strategies to limit disease spread. We are dedicated to working closely with all of you to ensure the safety of the workforce and ensure the continued operations of the financial services sector in support of our Nation’s economy. For further information please see the Treasury memo and the CISA memo.

OCR Issues Guidance on Telehealth Remote Communications Following Its Notification of Enforcement Discretion (HERE)

· The Notification, issued earlier this week, announced, effective immediately, that OCR is exercising its enforcement discretion to not impose penalties for HIPAA violations against healthcare providers in connection with their good faith provision of telehealth using communication technologies during the COVID-19 nationwide public health emergency.

HHS Funds Phase 2/3 Clinical Trial for Potential Treatment for COVID-19 (HERE)

· An antibody medicine being evaluated to treat severe cases of COVID-19 will receive additional support from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response under an existing partnership with Regeneron Pharmaceuticals of Tarrytown, New York.

FDA Continues to Facilitate Access to Crucial Medical Products, Including Ventilators (HERE)

· Today, the FDA took significant action to help increase the availability of ventilators and accessories, as well as other respiratory devices, during the COVID-19 pandemic to support patients with respiratory failure or difficulty breathing.

FDA Provides Update on Patient Access to Certain REMS Drugs During COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (HERE)

· Today, as part of the FDA’s ongoing efforts to address COVID-19, the agency issued a new guidance to sponsors and healthcare providers regarding certain Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS)-required testing during this time.

CMS Announces Findings at Kirkland Nursing Home and New Targeted Plan for Healthcare Facility Inspections in light of COVID-19 (HERE)

· Today, CMS is announcing the preliminary results of a recent inspection of the Life Care Center nursing home in Kirkland, Washington – the epicenter of the COVID-19 outbreak in that state.

FEMA COVID-19 Pandemic: Public Assistance Simplified Application (HERE)

· The Fact Sheet supplements Fact Sheet: Coronavirus Pandemic Emergency Protective Measures and provides an overview of the FEMA Public Assistance application process for recipients and applicants requesting reimbursement related to federal emergency and major disaster declarations for Coronavirus.

DHS Measures on the Border to Limit the Further Spread of Coronavirus (HERE)

· In order to limit the further spread of coronavirus, the U.S. has reached agreements with both Canada and Mexico to limit all non-essential travel across borders. Working closely and collaboratively, the Department of Homeland Security is part of a North American approach to stop the spread of the virus.

Veterans’ GI Bill Benefits to Continue During COVID-19 Pandemic (HERE)

· President Trump signed into law S. 3503, March 21, which will enable the Department of Veterans Affairs to continue providing the same level of education benefits to students having to take courses online due to the coronavirus outbreak.

2020 Census Operation Adjustments Due to COVID-19 (HERE)

· The U.S. Census Bureau is adapting or delaying some of its operations to protect the health and safety of staff and the public.

DOJ Files Its First Enforcement Action Against COVID-19 Fraud (HERE)

· The enforcement action filed today in Austin against operators of a fraudulent website follows Attorney General William Barr’s recent direction for the department to prioritize the detection, investigation, and prosecution of illegal conduct related to the pandemic.

Secretary DeVos Published New Resources on Accessibility and Distance Learning Options (HERE)

· Secretary DeVos announced today the Department has released new information clarifying that federal law should not be used to prevent schools from offering distance learning opportunities to all students, including students with disabilities.

Treasury and Federal Reserve Board Expand Measures to Enhance Liquidity and Flow of Credit to American Workers, Households and Businesses (HERE)

· The spread of coronavirus has disrupted economic activity and put significant liquidity pressure on U.S. businesses. To immediately enhance liquidity and support American workers, households, and businesses through this challenging period, Secretary Mnuchin today authorized the expansion of two recently launched facilities and the establishment of three new facilities to provide liquidity to the financial system pursuant to section 13(3) of the Federal Reserve Act.

Carranza Implements Automatic Deferment on Existing SBA Disaster Loans Through End of 2020 (HERE)

· Today, SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza announced changes to help borrowers still paying back SBA loans from previous disasters. By making this change, deferments through December 31, 2020, will be automatic. Now, borrowers of home and business disaster loans do not have to contact SBA to request deferment.

State: Khamenei’s Lies About the Wuhan Virus Put Lives at Risk (HERE)

· Supreme Leader Khamenei’s fabrications regarding the Wuhan Virus are dangerous and they put Iranians and people around the world at greater risk. Facts matter.

For the most up-to-date information, please see the CDC’s website: www.coronavirus.gov.

Thank you,

Joe

Joe Russo

Special Assistant to the President and Director of Business Outreach

White House Office of Public Liaison

COVID-19: Background & Additional Information

The President’s Coronavirus Guidelines for America

For background and the most up-to-date information, please visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Coronavirus Disease 2019 website: HERE

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services:

· Twitter (here)

· Facebook (here)

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:

· Twitter (here)

· Facebook (here)

What you should know:

· Workplace, School, and Home Guidance

· People at Risk for Serious Illness from COVID-19

· How COVID-19 Spreads

· Symptoms

· Steps to Prevent Illness