Yesterday, I joined WFAA's Inside Texas Politics with Jason Whitely to talk about re-opening Texas and the country. I told Jason that as we take the step forward, we need to be smart about it and be ready to respondif COVID-19 cases start to flare-up again.
Governor Abbott and President Trump are taking the right approach by having a gradual phase-in plan.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released guidance on providing essential non-COVID-19 care to patients in communities that are in Phase 1 of the plan for Opening Up America Again. Health care facilities and providers in areas with a higher number of COVID-19 cases should continue following the recommendations made by CMS last month.
Additionally, CMS announced regulations for nursing homes to ensure that COVID-19 cases are reported to the CDC, residents, and their families. Further explanation regarding these changes can be found here.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released new resources on serological testing. So far, the FDA has issued four Emergency Use Authorizations (EUAs) to fast-track the development of a reliable antibody test.
AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP announced a clinical trial to study whether CALQUENCE, an approved drug for blood cancers, can reduce the need for assisted ventilation in COVID-19 patients.Forbes reports on the trial here.
Until next time, this is your doctor's note.
Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D.
