White House updates COVID-19 response plan

This week, the White House released a National COVID-19 Preparedness Plan focused on four goals: protect against and treat COVID-19; prepare for new variants; prevent economic and educational shutdowns; and continue to vaccinate the world. Noteworthy aspects of the plan include the Test to Treat Initiative, which will make free antiviral pills available at COVID-19 testing locations; the distribution of free, high-quality masks; and the development of a universal COVID-19 vaccine to protect against all SARS-CoV-2 variants. The plan also addresses hospital capacity by mobilizing planning teams in collaboration with the Federal Emergency Management Agency. (Becker’s Hospital Review article, 3/2/22)