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Rural Health
News by Topic: Infectious diseases

Jan 27, 2021 - Blog post discusses the mental health effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and describes five public health efforts to address these impacts. Recommends the Biden-Harris administration focus on investing in public health media campaigns, providing interventions for healthcare providers and other essential workers, increasing the behavioral health workforce, prioritizing mental health research, and expanding mental health screenings.
Source: Health Affairs
Jan 27, 2021 - Highlights creative ways rural healthcare providers are distributing COVID-19 vaccines in their communities. Features health centers in Pennsylvania and South Carolina that purchased mobile health systems to provide testing and vaccination, and a four-woman team providing vaccines in remote communities across Alaska.
Source: The Daily Yonder
Jan 27, 2021 - Features Washington State University (WSU) project, Marshallese: Alternate Surveillance for COVID-19 in a Unique Population (MASC UP), which focuses on reducing the spread of COVID-19 among Marshallese Pacific Islanders living in the United States. Describes how the Marshallese are a high-risk population, who often serve as frontline workers and suffer from existing health disparities.
Source: Washington State University
Jan 26, 2021 - Executive Order from the Office of the President directing the Secretary of State, Secretary of Defense, Secretary of Health and Human Services, Secretary of Homeland Security to take immediate action to secure the critical materials, treatments, and supplies needed to combat COVID-19.
Source: Federal Register
Jan 26, 2021 - Executive Order from the Office of the President directing the leaders of all executive departments and agencies to facilitate the gathering, sharing, and publication of COVID-19-related data. This Executive Order also directs the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to issue a report summarizing a review of public health data systems and data collected during public health threats and directs the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) to develop a plan to advance innovation in public health data and analytics.
Source: Federal Register
Jan 26, 2021 - Executive Order from the Office of the President creating the COVID-19 Health Equity Task Force to prevent and resolve differences in COVID-19 care and outcomes within communities of color and other underserved populations, including rural and tribal communities.
Source: Federal Register
Jan 26, 2021 - Executive Order from the Office of the President establishing a COVID-19 Pandemic Testing Board to coordinate COVID-19 diagnostic, screening, and surveillance testing. This Executive Order also aims to expand the public health workforce through the creation of the U.S. Public Health Job Corps, a national contact tracing and COVID-19 public health workforce program.
Source: Federal Register
Jan 26, 2021 - Executive Order from the Office of the President regarding the acceleration of COVID-19 therapies, including the support of research in rural hospitals and other rural locations. This Executive Order also directs the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and the leaders of other relevant agencies to provide targeted assistance to critical care and long-term care facilities and facilitate the equitable and effective distribution and utilization of COVID-19 therapeutics.
Source: Federal Register
Jan 26, 2021 - Executive Order from the Office of the President regarding guidance on workplace safety and the enforcement of worker health and safety requirements during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Source: Federal Register
Jan 26, 2021 - Analyzes new COVID-19 infection rates between January 17-26, 2021, finding a decline in both cases and COVID-related deaths in rural counties. Describes that even though nine out of every 10 rural counties remained in the red zone, the latest surge of infections is waning.
Source: The Daily Yonder