COVID-19 Update April 28, 2022: Biden Administration Continues Push to Combat COVID-19

Although day-to-day life in the U.S. has largely moved on from COVID-19, the Biden administration is continuing to pursue coordinated efforts to combat the COVID-19 pandemic and urge Congress to increase funding for antiviral treatments and preparation for future surges.

In Arizona, there were 2,350 new cases of COVID-19 and 99 new deaths related to the virus, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services’ (ADHS) COVID-19 data dashboard.

According to the Johns Hopkins University of Medicine Coronavirus Resource Center, Maricopa County alone has confirmed 1,275,525 COVID-19 cases and 17,103 deaths related to the coronavirus in total. These numbers make Maricopa the second-highest county in the nation for infections and deaths after Los Angeles County, California.

Last Friday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released two reports in the Mortality and Morbidity Weekly Report. The first found that the overall age-adjusted death rate increased by almost 1% in 2021 from 2020. The death rates were highest among non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaska Natives and non-Hispanic Black Americans.

The second report shows that the differences in COVID-19 death rates decreased among most racial and ethnic groups from 2020 to 2021. The report found disparities in the age-adjusted COVID-19 death rates for most racial and ethnic groups. From the CDC media statement:

The results of both studies highlight the need for greater effort to implement effective interventions. We must work to ensure equal treatment in all communities in proportion to their need for effective interventions that can prevent excess COVID-19 deaths.

Biden Administration Efforts

Vice President Kamala Harris tested positive for COVID-19 on Tuesday, NPR reports. The vice president is exhibiting no symptoms and is isolating at home, where she is taking Paxlovid, an antiviral pill manufactured by Pfizer that reduces the risk of COVID-19 hospitalization.

However, many Americans experience difficulty finding Paxlovid to similarly treat themselves. The drug has been in higher demand in recent weeks as COVID-19 positive cases are on the rise due to the Omicron subvariant BA.2.

According to the Washington Post, the Biden administration is taking steps to boost the drug’s availability through “test-to-treat” programs at pharmacies and clinics, where individuals who test positive may obtain a five-day regimen of the antiviral pill. The administration pledged to double the number of locations that carry the pills on Tuesday. From White House coronavirus response coordinator Ashish Jha:

Paxlovid is a really important step in our ability to fight this pandemic. Our job is to make sure those doses are getting our there and into the hands of patients that would benefit.

More than 600,000 courses of Paxlovid remain available and states have not ordered the full supply, but the U.S. has committed to purchasing 20 million treatment courses. The White House enumerated its efforts to acquire and distribute COVID-19 tests, treatments and therapies in a Fact Sheet:

Today, the Administration is announcing new actions to make these treatments even easier to access and to make sure health care providers and patients know about their safety, efficacy, and availability. These actions will help strengthen and further build the infrastructure to ensure that lifesaving treatments for COVID-19 are quickly distributed around the country, widely available, and easy to access. At the same time, ensuring that this remains the case—and securing more and even better treatments—will require additional funding from Congress.

The White House is continuing to urge lawmakers to act swiftly before drug manufacturers develop the next generation of COVID-19 vaccines and treatments. Associated Press reports that Japan, Vietnam, the Philippines and Hong Kong have all placed orders with manufacturers for treatments and vaccine doses that the U.S. cannot commit to order.

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced last Wednesday, April 20, that it coordinated a nationwide law enforcement action to combat health care fraud related to COVID-19. DOJ announced charges against 21 defendants across the country for their participation in health care fraud schemes that resulted in a total of $149 million in false billings to federal program and theft from pandemic assistance programs.

Several cases involve defendants who allegedly offered COVID-19 testing under false pretenses in order to collect personal information and DNA samples. They also include fraudulent Medicare billing for tests and services and in one case the money acquired was laundered through shell corporations in the U.S., transferred to foreign countries and was used to purchase “real estate and luxury items.” From Assistant Director Luis Quesada of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) Criminal Investigative Division:

These healthcare fraud abuses erode the integrity and trust patients have with those in the health care industry, particularly during a vulnerable and worrisome time for many individuals. The actions of these criminals are unacceptable, and the FBI, working in coordination with our law enforcement partners, will continue to investigate and pursue those who exploit the integrity of the health care industry for profit.