Coronavirus Roundup: Presidential Election Result Remains Unclear, But Trump Will Manage Pandemic Response Until At Least January 20

As of early afternoon on Wednesday there is not a clear winner of the presidential election with many votes still being counted nationwide. “Election night results are always unofficial,” Benjamin Hovland, chairman of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission, told Government Executive earlier this week, as states have varying laws regarding when they can process and count ballots. “Twenty years ago, most Americans, by far, voted on Election Day,” but “we've seen this transition over time [with] more Americans voting in advance” which the pandemic has accelerated. Here are some other recent headlines you might have missed. 

Regardless of who wins the presidential election, Trump will be in charge of the response to the novel coronavirus pandemic until at least January 20, but he has “largely shuttered the White House coronavirus task force and doubled down on anti-science language,” The New York Times reported on Tuesday. This is making experts fearful due to the anticipated surge of coronavirus cases during the winter. 

NBC News explained in an article on Tuesday what the Food and Drug Administration meant over the summer in saying that a coronavirus vaccine must be 50% effective in order for it to get emergency use authorization. “Even if a COVID-19 vaccine is only 50% effective, it could make a difference, experts say, pointing out that the flu vaccine effectiveness can vary widely from year to year, anywhere from 20% to 60% over the last decade, and the shots still offer benefits,” according to the report. “When the flu vaccine matches up well with the influenza viruses that are circulating, the shots can reduce illness, hospitalizations and deaths, the [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] says.”

In April, the FDA loosened regulations for temperature-detecting scanners/cameras–– expecting a shortage during the pandemic––but many security camera manufacturers are asking for more oversight because some of the machines are inaccurately registering fevers, The Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday. “Established thermal camera makers say that the relaxed rules have allowed hundreds of companies to undercut them and steal away customers who don’t know the difference between accurate thermal cameras and cheap knockoffs,” according to the report. 

The Health and Human Services Department announced on Wednesday it issued a proposed rule that would require certain regulations to be reviewed every 10 years to see if they’re still needed. “While many HHS employees are focusing on the COVID-19 response full- or part-time, the department has also been able to continue moving forward on a range of priorities to enhance and protect the health and well-being of the American people,” said the department. “For over 40 years, presidents and Congress have been calling for retrospective review. HHS believes it is long overdue to begin implementing this intent. In May 2020, the president issued Executive Order 13924, directing all agencies to examine opportunities for regulatory reform to support the economic recovery from the recession caused by COVID-19.” 

On Tuesday, the CDC put out a request for information for a cloud platform to better centralize coronavirus testing data. “Currently, testing entities are ‘developing individual or using multiple reporting solutions’ to share testing data, the CDC says in the posting, adding that more than 200 large entities have asked about the possibility of a more centralized option,” FedScoop reported. Responses are due by November 30. 

The Defense Department’s Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency posted a contract opportunity on Tuesday seeking devices that can detect coronavirus in the air. Read NextGov’s full coverage here. 

The Veterans Health Administration said their “innovative ecosystem” was ready for the pandemic after years of cultivation, Federal News Network reported on Tuesday. “VA doctors from Richmond, Virginia, for example, found a way to more safely intubate veterans by developing a clear box to place around their patients,” said the report. Also, “employees from VA Puget Sound Health Care System in Washington developed new shields to place between optometrists and their patients, so doctors could more safely perform eye exams during the pandemic.”

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is seeking public comment on an interim final rule regarding how laboratories report coronavirus testing results to HHS, according to a notice posted in the Federal Register on Wednesday. Comments are due by November 19.

Today’s GovExec Daily podcast episode looks at the impact of early voting during the election, presidential transition efforts and top congressional races for federal employees to watch. This episode was recorded shortly before midnight on Tuesday, so vote tallies may have changed. 

Help us understand the situation better. Are you a federal employee, contractor or military member with information, concerns, etc. about how your agency is handling the coronavirus? Email us at newstips@govexec.com.