Between 2013 and 2019, the yearly seasonal influenza deaths ranged from 23,000 to 61,000. However, the actual number of counted influenza deaths over that timespan ranged between 3,448 and 15,620 deaths each year. On average, the researchers said, CDC influenza death estimates are about six times greater than the number of counted deaths.

The process is based on a concept from the University of Nebraska and adheres to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines. It involves a commonly used UV-C light robot that VCU already had on hand to decontaminate hospital rooms, and employs materials which the VCU team sourced from The Home Depot, Lowe’s, and a tractor supply store.

Telemedicine provides physician practices with a safe method to interact with patients remotely during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Telemedicine also enables physician practices to expand services for patient care such as virtual patient check-in capabilities and remote patient monitoring that collects biometric data.

There have been several reports of ventilator rationing for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients in Italy and China. Last month, Manhattan, New York–based Northwell Health issued a memo that provided a guideline for clinicians to ration ventilators to COVID-19 patients who were most likely to benefit from the intervention.

People who are at least 65 and people living in nursing homes are at high risk of serious illness during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Nursing home residents face high risk because the facilities have a “congregate nature” and serve older adults with chronic medical conditions.

The blanket waiver was announced April 29 among several updates to previous waivers. While the waivers will help lighten the load somewhat, the most critical and often the most time- and money-consuming of the ITM requirements are not part of the waiver.