Governor’s Office Rescinds Capacity Limits for Businesses
On March 5, 2021, Governor Doug Ducey issued an executive order lifting the capacity limits for Arizona businesses. The limits were initially set in place by the Governor in a series of executive orders and emergency measures issued last year which included Executive Order 2020-47 Reducing the Risk, Slowing the Spread. The executive order clarifies that all other mitigation measures required by the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) remain in effect including mask wearing and physical distancing. Moreover, Governor Ducey ordered that all businesses continue to promote a number of mitigation measures including regular cleaning, limits on indoor congregations, and the use of protective equipment.
The executive order also specified that Spring Training and Major League Sports must submit plans to ADHS demonstrating an intent to use mitigation measures and safety precautions.
Click here to read the executive order.
Governor Announces Schools Must Open In Person
Governor Ducey announced that all Arizona schools must reopen for in-person learning by March 15, or immediately after Spring Break. Teachers have been eligible for vaccination for over a month, so many education leaders believe it is safe for teachers and students to return to in-person instruction. Three counties remain in CDC designated ‘high transmission’ areas, so they will retain some flexibility—Coconino County, Yavapai County and Pinal County.
In accordance with CDC guidance, the executive order does state that students in the high risk category for COVID-19, or living with someone at high risk, will retain the option to receive virtual learning.
You can read the full executive order here.
CDC Updates Quarantine, In Person Learning Guidance
The CDC recently released updated guidance on quarantining as well as guidance for K-12 schools transitioning to in person learning.
- Updated quarantine guidance: The CDC has advised that individuals fully vaccinated against COVID-19 do not need to quarantine when exposed to COVID-19; in order to be exempt from quarantining, individuals must have received their final vaccination shot at least fourteen days prior to exposure, but not more than 90 days prior. Individuals should still monitor themselves for symptoms of COVID-19 after exposure regardless of vaccination status and if symptoms are detected, should quarantine. Individuals working or living in certain settings are exempt from this updated guidance and are required to quarantine regardless of vaccination status.
- Guidance for K-12 schools: The CDC has also issued mitigation strategies for K-12 schools that intend to transition to in person learning. The guidelines are composed of five core mitigation strategies which include hand washing, mask wearing, regular cleaning, social distancing, and contact tracing. The CDC also advised that indicators of transmission in the school’s community should be used, and that mitigation should be phased accordingly. The CDC also recommended regular testing and vaccination for school staff as soon as the vaccine supply allows.
Click here to read more on the CDC’s updated quarantine guidelines, or here to read more on mitigation strategies for K-12 schools.
CMS Holds Physicians Harmless from MIPS Penalties During Pandemic
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced it will hold physicians harmless from up to 9% of Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) penalties due to the disruptions of the COVID-19 public health emergency on practices’ performance in 2020. The American Medical Association (AMA) advocated for the automatic relief from MIPS penalties and was pleased CMS made these changes.
The Extreme and Uncontrollable Circumstances Hardship Exception policy will be automatically applied to all MIPS eligible clinicians who do not submit any MIPS data for the 2020 performance period and avoid a 2022 payment penalty. CMS is also reopening the hardship exception application for group practices, virtual groups, and alternative payment model entities who missed the previous 2020 deadline. The re-opened application deadline is March 31, 2021. Please note that groups and eligible clinicians who submit data in at least two MIPS categories will override the hardship exception and be eligible to earn a bonus from the exceptional performance bonus pool or potentially be subject to a penalty.
Click here to learn more about these changes.
AMA Partners with ArMA to Oppose Senate Bills
The American Medical Association (AMA) partnered with the Arizona Medical Association (ArMA) to send a letter to the entire Arizona Senate that opposes two bills — SB1457 and SB1381. These bills subject physicians to criminal liability (class six felony) and potential imprisonment for counseling and providing reproductive health options to their patients. ArMA has a long-standing policy of opposing the criminalization of physicians for providing legal medical care. These bills have been introduced in prior sessions but unfortunately, this year they are moving forward and being approved by Senate Committees.
Take action against these bills now. Please tell your Senators that you oppose the criminalization of physicians by clicking here!
Scientists, Experts Ask CDC to Publish Guidelines on Ventilation in Public Spaces
Scientists and experts are criticizing the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for not mandating stricter environmental measures to mitigate the transmission of COVID-19 in indoor spaces. Experts say that combining environmental measures like increased ventilation with mask wearing will greatly decrease the risk of infection in places like offices, schools, and hospitals. The CDC’s recently released guidelines for the reopening of schools did not provide guidance for improving ventilation in school buildings.
Scientists wrote a letter to the Biden administration that gave evidence of the COVID-19 virus being an airborne virus. The letter also impressed the importance of taking swift action as COVID-19 variants spread rapidly throughout the country and vaccines continue to be inaccessible to portions of the population.
Click here to read more on this story.
Arizona Seeing Slow and Steady Rate of COVID-19 Variant Transmission
ASU’s Biodesign Institute is discovering an average of three to seven cases per week of COVID-19 variants in the state and has been since late last year. The Biodesign Institute says the cases are likely the B.1.1.7 variant, more commonly known as the U.K. variant. While the numbers are relatively low right now, experts are forecasting that the variant could be the driver of COVID-19 cases in the U.S. by March. If this becomes the case, the vaccination rate required for herd immunity would jump by 10 to 15%.
Click here to read more on this story.
State and County Launch Vaccine Data Dashboards
The Arizona Department of Health Services and Maricopa County have launched COVID-19 data dashboards where the public can track vaccine distribution in Arizona. The ADHS dashboard shows the number of vaccine doses distributed in the state, as well as in each county. It also shows vaccine distribution by race/ethnicity, age, and gender. The launch of the site will make the process of vaccine distribution more transparent to Arizona citizens.
In addition to the launch of their dashboard, Maricopa County has lowered the age limit for vaccinations to individuals 65 and older. ADHS officially expanded the 1B category to include adults 65 and older last month, but the county decided to wait due to a limited supply of doses. The decision to expand the eligible for vaccination was made in part because nearly half of adults 75 and older have received at least one dose of the vaccine. To keep up with the increasing number of Arizonans eligible for the vaccine, Maricopa County is in the process of planning pop-up vaccination events that will take place in communities and neighborhoods.
Click here to read more on this story. You can access the ADHS dashboard here, or the Maricopa dashboard here.
White House Secures 600 Million COVID-19 Vaccine Doses
The U.S. has secured additional COVID-19 vaccine doses from vaccine manufacturers Moderna and Pfizer. The companies plan to deliver by the doses by the end of July. Together, the companies have committed to sending the U.S. 600 million doses of the vaccine, enough to vaccinate 300 million citizens. The securing of the additional doses puts the U.S. on pace to not only meet, but exceed the Biden administration’s goal of distributing 100 million shots in its first 100 days of holding office.
There is hope that vaccination rates will increase further should the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approve Johnson & Johnson’s one dose vaccine in the near future.
Click here to read more on this story.
White House Taking Action to Increase Vaccine Availability
The White House administration announced that it will begin distributing COVID-19 vaccine doses directly to pharmacies to expand vaccine access for Americans. 6,500 pharmacies have already been selected to receive the first round of vaccines from the federal government. Among those selected are CVS, Walgreens, Walmart, Rite Aid and Costco; White House staff elucidated that shipments to pharmacies will begin on February 11. Jeff Zients, COVID-19 response coordinator, cautioned that while this is a huge step in increasing vaccine access for Americans, supply will be limited at the start. It is estimated that one million doses will be shipped to pharmacies each week.
Click here to read more on this story.