CDC Issues Interim Guidelines on How Fully Vaccinated People Can Safely Visit with Others

The CDC issued its first set of recommendations on activities that people who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 can safely resume. The new guidance includes recommendations for how and when a fully vaccinated individual can visit with other people who are fully vaccinated; how and when they can visit with other people who are not vaccinated; and how full vaccinated people should approach isolation, quarantine, and testing.

People are considered fully vaccinated for COVID-19 ≥2 weeks after they have received the second dose in a 2-dose series (Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna), or ≥2 weeks after they have received a single-dose vaccine (Johnson and Johnson [J&J]/Janssen ).

This guidance represents a first step toward returning to everyday activities in our communities. CDC will update these recommendations as more people are vaccinated, rates of COVID-19 in the community change, and additional scientific evidence becomes available. People are still urged to remain vigilant against infection even after full vaccination.

Click here to read the full recommendations.

 

Possible U.S. Covid-19 Variant Surge on the Horizon

CNN reports, “Experts project the country is about to see another dangerous Covid-19 spike. One that will be fueled by the B.1.1.7 variant, first spotted in the UK, and will come over the next six to 14 weeks. While there are multiple variants of coronavirus circulating in the US, experts have been particularly concerned with the highly contagious B.1.1.7 UK variant's dangerous potential.”

 

Therapy’s Future Under Patient-Driven Groupings Model Unclear Due to COVID-19 Chaos

Home Health Care News 
By Andrew Donlan | March 7, 2021
 
The Patient-Driven Groupings Model (PDGM) was described as home health care’s “boogeyman” before it was implemented.
 
One of the chief concerns, especially for therapists, was that therapy utilization would significantly decrease in 2020 — and beyond — because of what PDGM incentivizes. 
 
But preliminary data suggests that therapy did not decrease overall in 2020. It’s not that those who predicted a dramatic decrease in therapy were wrong, however. Instead, the answer is more nuanced. For a variety of reasons, therapy increased in some places — and decreased in others.
 
From January to October, in fact, the percentage of therapy visits compared to overall visits actually increased, from 45.9% to 46.8%, according to data from BlackTree Healthcare Consulting. Therapy visits per episode also increased slightly. 
 
“From my perspective, I think there [are] just so many variables that have figured into therapy utilization during the pandemic,” Mission Healthcare CEO Paul VerHoeve told Home Health Care News last week during HHCN’s PDGM Summit. 

Read the Full Article

 

Warning Against Complacency as COVID-19 Cases Begin to Plateau

As reported by CBS News (02/28/21), “Dr. Anthony Fauci, warned that Americans shouldn't get complacent about following mitigation measures to combat the spread of the coronavirus, as the number of new cases is leveling off despite more Americans receiving vaccines. While there has been a drop in the number of new coronavirus cases and hospitalizations since early January, Dr. Rochelle Walensky, head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), warned Friday that the declines could be stalling at a high number, which she said was a ‘very concerning shift in the trajectory.’ As of Friday, the seven-day average is just under 73,000 new infections, according to the CDC.”

 

A Cure for FOMO: Register for APTA CSM by Feb. 28

You don't have to miss out on APTA's virtual conference — register now, and access content until March 31.

APTA Combined Sections Meeting is in its last week of live content, but that doesn't mean you've lost the opportunity to watch hundreds of presentations, poster sessions, and more.

There's still time to register and view the remaining live events — and participate in live Q&A sessions with presenters — through Feb. 28. Recorded content will be available through the end of March.

Click here to read more. 

 
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