Topic: Coronavirus

BA.5 transmissibility, new mask mandates, and the WHO declaration regarding monkeypox

By Yvonne Puig (US) and Daphne Calderon (US) on July 25, 2022 Posted in Coronavirus, Regulatory

Between 60 to 75 percent of new COVID-19 diagnoses are now said to be attributed the BA.5 variant. Health officials have advised anyone who has not had a second booster to do so now, with fears that existing immunity could be waning. Researchers have branded BA.5 the worst variation yet, one that has increased the … Continue reading

A Solemn Milestone

By Yvonne Puig (US) and Daphne Calderon (US) on May 12, 2022 Posted in Coronavirus, General

Today, President Biden announced that one million persons have died in the United States due to Covid. Unfortunately, deaths from Covid-19 are on the rise again sparked by Omicron variants. The data on new cases are getting less reliable due to the widespread use of home tests. As experts warn, while the numbers are encouraging … Continue reading

COVID-19 Update: Federal Mask Mandate Struck Down by Florida Court

By Yvonne Puig (US), Daphne Calderon (US) and Hannah Putnam (US) on April 20, 2022 Posted in Coronavirus, Enforcement, General

On April 19, 2022, a federal district court in Florida determined the federal mask mandate from the Biden Administration was unlawful and therefore void. The mandate required patrons to wear a mask on public transportation, like airplanes, trains, and buses. The federal judge presiding over the case determined the mandate exceeded statutory authority created under … Continue reading

COVID-19 Update: Vaccine No. 4 and the CDC’s Quarantine and Isolation Calculator

By Yvonne Puig (US), Daphne Calderon (US) and Hannah Putnam (US) on March 30, 2022 Posted in Coronavirus, General

Yesterday, March 29, 2022, the CDC launched a new calculator designed to help individuals exposed to COVID-19 discern how many days of quarantine and/or isolation are necessary. This tool was created in order to aid in the prevention of spreading the virus. Users are first prompted to select whether they have tested positive for COVID-19 … Continue reading

COVID-19 Update: New Variants and Vaccine Research

By Yvonne Puig (US), Daphne Calderon (US) and Hannah Putnam (US) on February 11, 2022 Posted in Coronavirus, General

During a recent Q&A, a representative with the World Health Organization warned that the Omicron variant is not the last of its kind. Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove explained that the next variant is likely to be more transmissible and could be more deadly than any of the previous variants. Although receiving the COVID-19 vaccine remains … Continue reading

COVID-19 Update: More Reflections on a Pandemic

By Yvonne Puig (US), Daphne Calderon (US) and Hannah Putnam (US) on January 21, 2022 Posted in Coronavirus, General

Two years ago tomorrow, Norton Rose Fulbright shared the first of its many blog updates regarding the Coronavirus and the global pandemic that was about to unfold. On January 22, 2020, we shared news from the CDC that confirmed the United States identified its first infection in the country and authorities began scrambling to prepare. … Continue reading

COVID-19 Update: US Supreme Court decisions stay OSHA ETS, uphold CMS vaccine mandate

By Kevin Mayer (US), Mark Faccenda (US) and Hayley White (US) on January 19, 2022 Posted in Coronavirus, General, News from DC

In a 6-3 decision handed down on Thursday, January 13, 2022, the US Supreme Court ordered a stay on the federal OSHA COVID “vaccine-or-test” Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS). The stay is predicated on the Court’s finding that the petitioners’ challenges to the ETS are likely to succeed and will remain in effect until a final … Continue reading

COVID-19 Update: Omicron Variant Specifics

By Yvonne Puig (US), Daphne Calderon (US) and Hannah Putnam (US) on December 30, 2021 Posted in Coronavirus, General

Since its first detection, the Omicron variant of COVID-19 has been reported in numerous countries worldwide and in most of the United States. It is likely more transmissible than the other variants of COVID-19 and has officially surpassed the Delta variant contraction rates. As of December 25, 2021, the CDC reported the Omicron variant represents … Continue reading

COVID-19 Update: New CDC Guidance About the Omicron Variant

By Yvonne Puig (US), Daphne Calderon (US) and Hannah Putnam (US) on December 15, 2021 Posted in Coronavirus, General, Regulatory

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”) reported that the Omicron variant has been detected in all but sixteen of the United States. The Delta variant continues to be the main variant circulating in the United States, however. The World Health Organization (“WHO”) reported on December 14, 2021, that seventy-seven countries have reported cases … Continue reading

COVID-19 Update: Omicron- The New Variant of the Coronavirus

By Yvonne Puig (US), Daphne Calderon (US) and Hannah Putnam (US) on November 29, 2021 Posted in Coronavirus, General

On Friday, November 26, 2021, the World Health Organization (“WHO”) reported a new variant of COVID-19, the Omicron variant, was detected in South Africa. There is no indication the new variant is more contagious or more lethal, or that it is resistant to the COVID-19 vaccine. The WHO did report, however, that the Omicron variant … Continue reading

US 5th Cir. grants a nationwide stay of OSHA’s vaccine-or-test mandate

By Kevin Mayer (US) on November 9, 2021 Posted in Coronavirus, Enforcement, General

On November 6, 2021, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals granted a nationwide stay of the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA)‘s Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) vaccine-or-test mandate that was issued on November 5, 2021. The court granted the nationwide stay due to “grave statutory and constitutional issues” with the mandate. The emergency stay was requested by numerous … Continue reading

US OSHA issues COVID vaccine and testing Emergency Temporary Standard

By Kevin Mayer (US) on November 8, 2021 Posted in Coronavirus, News from DC, Regulatory

On Friday, November 5, 2021, the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (“OSHA”) published an Emergency Temporary Standard (“ETS”) “to protect unvaccinated employees of large employers (100 or more employees) from the risk of contracting COVID-19 by strongly encouraging vaccination.” The ETS compels covered employers to develop and enforce a mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policy unless … Continue reading

CMS Issues COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate Interim Final Rule

By Yvonne Puig (US), Thomas Dowdell (US) and Mark Faccenda (US) on November 5, 2021 Posted in Coronavirus, General, Regulatory

On November 4, 2021, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued an interim final rule requiring that Medicare-certified providers implement policies for vaccination of all health care workers against COVID-19. Compliance with the requirement will be a Condition of Participation in the Medicare program, and providers may be subject to survey, requests for … Continue reading

COVID-19 Update: Panel of FDA Vaccine Advisers Vote in Favor of Vaccination for Children

By Yvonne Puig (US), Daphne Calderon (US) and Hannah Putnam (US) on October 26, 2021 Posted in Coronavirus, General

On Tuesday, October 26, 2021, the FDA’s Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee members voted to approve vaccinations for children aged 5 through 11. Specifically, the panel addressed the following question: “Based on the totality of scientific evidence available, do the benefits of the Pfizer . . . Vaccine when administered as a 2-dose … Continue reading

COVID-19 Update: White House Plan for Vaccinating Children

By Yvonne Puig (US), Daphne Calderon (US) and Hannah Putnam (US) on October 21, 2021 Posted in Coronavirus, General

On Wednesday, October 20, 2021, the White House discussed in a press conference its plan for vaccinating children aged 5 through 11. The White House stated it has worked closely with “governors, pediatricians, pharmacies, community health centers, rural health centers, and other vaccine providers” in preparation of a vaccine rollout. Of course, these plans are … Continue reading

COVID-19 update: Efficacy of mask use and vaccinations for children

By Yvonne Puig (US), Daphne Calderon (US) and Hannah Putnam (US) on October 7, 2021 Posted in Coronavirus

On October 1, 2021, the CDC issued its weekly “Morbidity and Mortality” report and noted according to a July 1 – September 4, 2021 study that “[s]chool mask requirements, in combination with other prevention strategies, including COVID-19 vaccination, are critical to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in schools.” The study analyzed “differences between county-level pediatric … Continue reading

COVID-19 update: CDC panel recommends Pfizer booster shot for some

By Yvonne Puig (US), Daphne Calderon (US) and Hannah Putnam (US) on September 23, 2021 Posted in Coronavirus

On September 23, 2021, a panel of experts from the CDC, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practice (“ACIP”), recommended that three categories of people should receive a COVID-19 booster shot: (1) those aged 65 and older; (2) those in long-term care residencies; and (3) those over 18 with underlying medical conditions. ACIP members voted unanimously … Continue reading

COVID-19 update: Availability of the Pfizer vaccine

By Yvonne Puig (US), Daphne Calderon (US) and Hannah Putnam (US) on September 20, 2021 Posted in Coronavirus

On September 17, 2021, the US Food and Drug Administration’s (“FDA”) Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee rejected Pfizer’s application for the booster shot of its COVID-19 vaccine for all individuals. The advisory committee was tasked with discussing Pfizer’s supplemental application for administration of this third dose for individuals aged 16 and older, and … Continue reading

COVID-19 update: FDA warns against COVID-19 vaccine for children younger than twelve

By Yvonne Puig (US), Daphne Calderon (US) and Hannah Putnam (US) on September 13, 2021 Posted in Coronavirus

On September 10, 2021, the Acting Commissioner of Food and Drugs, Janet Woodcock, M.D., and Director of the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Peter Marks, M.D., PhD., issued a statement on behalf of the FDA regarding the vaccination of children under the age of twelve. The FDA noted there are different issues that need … Continue reading

COVID-19 Update: Biden Administration requires COVID-19 vaccine or proof of negative COVID-19 test for employees at large companies

By Yvonne Puig (US), Daphne Calderon (US) and Hannah Putnam (US) on September 10, 2021 Posted in Coronavirus, Regulatory

On September 9, 2021, President Biden announced a new, upcoming mandate that requires all employers with 100 or more employees “to ensure their workforce is fully vaccinated or require any workers who remain unvaccinated to produce a negative test result on at least a weekly basis before coming to work.” The Biden Administration projects this … Continue reading

COVID-19 update: United States military requires COVID-19 vaccine

By Yvonne Puig (US), Daphne Calderon (US) and Hannah Putnam (US) on August 28, 2021 Posted in Coronavirus, Regulatory

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III issued a memorandum on August 25, 2021, mandating immediate and full COVID-19 vaccines for all members of the United States Armed Forces, including the Ready Reserve and National Guard. The memorandum began, “To defend this Nation, we need a healthy and ready force.” The Secretary of Defense noted … Continue reading

COVID-19 Update: Pfizer vaccine fully approved by FDA

By Yvonne Puig (US), Daphne Calderon (US) and Hannah Putnam (US) on August 23, 2021 Posted in Coronavirus, FDA & Food Safety

On August 23, 2021, the US Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) granted full approval for the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 (“Pfizer”) vaccine for individuals sixteen-years-old and older. This change shifts the vaccine from emergency-use only and is the first COVID-19 vaccine granted approval by the FDA in the United States. For individuals aged twelve through fifteen, the … Continue reading

COVID-19 update: White House recommends COVID-19 booster shot for most Americans

By Yvonne Puig (US), Daphne Calderon (US) and Hannah Putnam (US) on August 18, 2021 Posted in Coronavirus, News from DC

On August 18, 2021, the Biden Administration announced with top US health officials a recommendation that Americans receive a COVID-19 booster shot eight months after their second dose was administered. The Administration is not recommending a booster for the one-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine pending additional data. The statement began, “The COVID-19 vaccines authorized in … Continue reading

COVID-19 Update: FDA announces availability of COVID-19 booster shot for immunocompromised

By Yvonne Puig (US), Daphne Calderon (US) and Hannah Putnam (US) on August 13, 2021 Posted in Coronavirus

On August 12, 2021, the United States Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) authorized a COVID-19 vaccine booster for immunocompromised individuals. Because booster vaccines were not previously authorized under the FDA’s emergency use authorization, the FDA’s announcement today was a necessary step to begin administering booster vaccines. This is the first time an additional dose of … Continue reading