COVID-19 Policy Update #301
COVID-19 Policy Update
THURSDAY 7/22
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TOP THREE
President Biden: At last night's CNN town hall:
On Masks: "[T]he CDC is going to say that what we should do is everyone ... under the age of 12 should probably be wearing a mask in school. That's probably what's going to happen."
On Timing for Vaccine for Children: "But the expectation -- they're not promising me any specific date, but my expectation talking to the group of scientists we've put together... is that sometime maybe in the beginning of the school year, at the end of August, beginning of September, October, they'll get a final approval..."
$3 billion in Investing in America’s Communities Grants: The Department of Commerce announced several competitive grants today:
Build Back Better Regional Challenge ($1 billion): Providing investment to 20 to 30 regions across the country to revitalize their economies. The challenge will invite regional coalitions to apply for funding to implement three to eight projects aligned with a cohesive regional development strategy, totaling $25 million -$75 million, and up to $100 million. These regions will have the opportunity to accelerate recovery and inclusive economic growth by developing new industries or expanding existing ones through planning, infrastructure development, workforce training, innovation and commercialization, access to capital, and more.
Good Jobs Challenge ($500 million): Will invest in building and strengthening regional workforce training systems and sector-based partnerships, with a focus on programs targeted at women, people of color, and historically underserved communities. This program will encourage community organizations, training providers, and unions to partner with employers to create the talent pipeline to meet industry needs for today and the future and create concrete pathways for American workers to secure good-paying jobs.
Indigenous Communities Challenge ($100 million): EDA will work with Tribal Governments and Indigenous communities to develop and execute the economic development projects they need to recover from the pandemic
Travel, Tourism, and Outdoor Recreation Grants ($750 million): Competitive grants to further invest in infrastructure, workforce, or other projects to support recovery and resilience in the communities hardest hit by disruptions in the travel, tourism, and outdoor recreation sectors
Statewide Planning, Research, and Networks Grants ($90 million)
White House: Boosts funding for Covid tests:
Directing $1.6 billion in Covid testing to high-risk settings like prisons and homeless and domestic violence shelters
$398 million in funding for small rural hospitals for testing
The administration is also establishing regional hubs to manage testing programs in schools and homeless shelters.
"The administration is also pushing for cheaper at-home tests that parents can use to distinguish among the flu, Covid and other respiratory illnesses that public health officials say could be rampant after a year of remote learning."
FEDERAL
Build Back Better Agenda: Punchbowl got a copy of the presentation White House Senior Adviser Anita Dunn gave to members of Congress today about how to talk about the Democrats’ Build Back Better agenda.
Couple of observations: Big focus on CTC and also childcare. No real mention of education policies. Sec. Cardona's recent trips are highlighted on page 22 as an example of how the Administration is focusing on local media stories. Flooding local media is a smart strategy - local stories reach voters more effectively than a story in the NYT, Washington Post, etc.
COVID-19 RESEARCH
Boosters: The CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices met today and recommended that regulators should determine if people with weakened immune systems should receive a third booster shot of the vaccine.
COVID Cases Are Up 55%: Axios: "New cases increased in 46 states, and many of those increases are substantial. Florida is now averaging just under 6,500 new cases per day — by far the most of any state, and a 91% jump from the week before."
Vox on Masks: 3 rules for when schools should keep masks
If Covid-19 is still quickly spreading in the community, mask
If vaccination rates are still low in the community, mask
When in doubt, mask
IHME Projections: Now projects more than 1 million cumulative excess deaths due to COVID-19 by November 1
Vaccinations Prevented Up to 279,000 COVID-19 Deaths: Estimates a new Yale study.
STATE
Colorado: Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment released new COVID-19 guidelines for schools
Students, teachers, and staff who are vaccinated will not have to wear masks at school and won’t have to quarantine if exposed to someone who is tested positive.
Masks are recommended but not required.
They also have an Adolescent COVID-19 Vaccination toolkit
Hawaii: The DOE released list of schools offering distance learning this fall.
North Carolina: One in four COVID-19 cases in Durham County is children under the age of 17.
Texas:
Via Margaret Spellings, "STAAR test scores are alarming, but they can help us improve Texas schools. Here’s how"
Houston ISD outlined their ARP spending priorities which include $135.91 million for a yearly $2,500 recruitment/retention stipend for teachers; $127.84 million on curriculum resources and professional development; and $113.33 million for student interventions to address learning loss; $59.93 million for SEL and counselors; $80 million on technology.
ECONOMIC RECOVERY
Opportunity Occupations: Heartland Forward, an Arkansas-based think tank, released a report by Julie Trivitt and Joel Kotkin that recommends states promote several "opportunity occupations" to help lift residents into the middle class.
Future of Work: McCormick is hiring a Director of Taco Relations
"You will be McCormick’s resident consulting taco expert. You will be our official eyes and ears for all things tacos."
Pays $100,000 which is enough to buy 84,033 crunchy tacos from Taco Bell.
RESOURCES
School Disrupted: Report from Tyton Partners (with support from the Walton Family Foundation)
The adoption of supplemental learning pods is real – the percentage of parents enrolling their child is expected to expand next year.
Parents report being highly satisfied with their decision to enroll their child in a supplemental learning pod, irrespective of their child’s core school.
Parent satisfaction with alternative school models increased since the start of the pandemic and was higher than the satisfaction of parents whose child continued their pre-pandemic school arrangements
Nearly all the parents who enrolled their child in a learning pod or microschool as a core school said they will continue with this model into the 2021-22 academic year
Feeling Uncertain and Unsettled: Great piece by Emily Oster.
Not All Dogs Are Athletic: Such as this one.