Update on Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Response

Update on Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Response

This week, CDC released the following new guidance related to use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and the COVID-19 response: Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Burn Rate Calculator – helps healthcare and nonhealthcare systems, such as correctional facilities, track how quickly personal protective equipment (PPE) will be used at their facilities. The calculator can be used to assist facilities to plan and optimize the use of PPE for response to COVID-19. CDC is working with partners across the global supply chain to evaluate and respond to reported shortages in PPE.

Decontamination and Reuse of Filtering Facepiece Respirators Using Contingency and Crisis Capacity Strategies – provides a summary of relevant research on potential methods of decontaminating NIOSH-approved filtering facepiece respirators for reuse.  Strategies for Optimizing the Supply of PPE – highlights some of the strategies to approach this issue, including information on eye protection, isolation gowns, facemasks, and N95 respirators. In addition to these materials, a number of interim guidance documents are available for businesses and employers, healthcare settings, and first responders. You can also stay up to date on the response on the COVID-19 webpage or sign up for the COVID-19 newsletter. A Commentary on Expanding the Field of OSH A recent commentary by NIOSH leadership and grantees discusses the idea of expanding the focus on traditional indicators of occupational safety and health (OSH) to better prepare for and respond to issues relevant to worker safety, health, and well-being. The commentary, published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, identifies solutions for employers and workers to address the changes that will challenge traditional OSH systems. Updated Worker Health Charts Makes Data Exploration Easier Than Ever NIOSH recently deployed a new release of the Worker Health Charts that includes user experience enhancements to the query and filtering functions to make them faster and more responsive. Read more on the NIOSH Worker Health Charts webpage.

NIOSH & Partners Announce Annual Safe + Sound Week Save the date for Safe + Sound Week 2020, August 10–16. This is a week-long nationwide event held each August by NIOSH, OSHA, and many other partners that recognizes the successes of workplace safety and health programs and offers information and ideas on how to keep America's workers safe. All organizations looking for an opportunity to recognize their commitment to safety are welcome to participate.

Learn About the NIOSH EIS Experience The Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS) is a two-year, post-graduate training program in applied epidemiology at CDC. As part of CDC, NIOSH offers opportunities for new EIS officers in occupational safety and health. Learn more on our updated EIS webpage or watch a short video about the NIOSH EIS experience.