Coronavirus Roundup: Special IRS Assistance Hours During the Third Pandemic Tax Season; Clarification on Protections for People With Disabilities

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention director has endorsed the recommendation from a CDC advisory committee to give full approval to the Moderna vaccine for individuals 18 years and up, the second coronavirus vaccine to receive this status. 

“If you have been waiting for approval before getting vaccinated, now is the time to join the nearly 212 million Americans who have already completed their primary series,” said Dr. Rochelle Walensky, in a statement on Friday. “CDC continues to recommend that people remain up to date on their COVID-19 vaccines, including getting a booster shot when eligible.” Here are some of the other recent headlines you might have missed. 

The Biden administration decided to keep the Trump-era border policy that allows for the rapid deportation of migrants from the U.S.-Mexico border in order to limit the spread of COVID-19 for at least 60 more days, CBS News reported on Friday. “On Thursday, a [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] spokesperson said the agency decided to continue invoking the expulsion authority, known as Title 42, after a third 60-day assessment that was due on February 2,” said the report. “The Biden administration's decision to retain the Trump-era expulsions has alarmed human rights groups, public health experts and advocates for asylum-seekers, who are challenging the policy in federal court.” However, unlike under Trump, the Biden administration has not been using the authority to expel unaccompanied children.

During the briefing on Friday, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki was asked how many of the free COVID-19 test kits from the government have been shipped out. “I don't have an update on numbers” as “it's changing constantly,” Psaki replied. She repeated that she said last Friday there were about 60 million orders and tens of millions were sent out already. 

Some small businesses are calling on Congress to provide them relief as they have been severely impacted by the pandemic and haven’t benefited from earlier relief programs. The Economic Bridge Coalition, which was formed in May 2021, is composed of 17 trade associations that represent about $1.2 trillion in annual economic activity. “The businesses represented by [the coalition] are built on in-person gatherings or support businesses that rely on this type of travel for business or entertainment gatherings,” said the coalition in a recent letter to congressional leaders. “Yet, unlike other similarly situated businesses such as restaurants and theaters, our industries were ineligible for the Restaurant Revitalization Fund and the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant program.” 

The Food and Drug Administration is resuming domestic inspections on Monday following a pause due to the surge in coronavirus cases. “In addition to the resumption of planning and conducting domestic surveillance inspections on Feb. 7, the FDA continues to conduct both foreign and domestic mission-critical inspections, as well as provide effective oversight of foods, drugs, medical products and tobacco leveraging a variety of tools, including remote assessments,” said the agency in a press release. “The agency also continues to proceed with previously planned foreign surveillance inspections that have received country clearance and are within the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Level 1 or Level 2 COVID-19 travel recommendation.” 

During this tax filing season, the third during the pandemic, the Internal Revenue Service will have special Saturday hours at many Taxpayer Assistance Centers nationwide. “The IRS continues to do everything we can to help people during this unprecedented period," said IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig, in a statement on Friday. “Opening these assistance centers for special Saturday hours is designed to provide yet another way for people to get the help they need…I'm also extremely grateful to our employees who have stepped up to provide this special assistance.”

The American Institute of CPAs released a statement last week commending recent reports on how the IRS is working to address its current backlog of returns as the new tax season starts, but still urging them to do more. “The actions taken by the IRS a few days ago to suspend one notice and the press reports that they are considering additional steps–including shifting personnel to service centers–are positive steps in the right direction,” said Barry Melancon, AICPA president and CEO. “We are glad that the IRS seems to be listening and responding to the collective frustrations of all taxpayers. However, we must urge the [IRS] to move as quickly as possible to offer reasonable measures of relief as we are already in the beginnings of tax busy season.” Recommendations from AICPA and the Tax Professionals United for Taxpayer Relief Coalition “are actions that we believe the IRS can legally take right now to provide immediate relief to taxpayers.” 

The Health and Human Services Department clarified in new guidance that federal civil rights laws to protect individuals with disabilities apply to health care providers who are administering coronavirus tests, medical supplies and medication. “During a public health emergency like the COVID-19 pandemic, biases and stereotypes may impact decision-making when hospitals and other providers are faced with scarce resources,” said Lisa Pino, director of HHS’s Office for Civil Rights, in a statement. “OCR will continue our robust enforcement of federal civil rights laws that protect people with disabilities from discrimination, including when Crisis Standards of Care are in effect.”

Upcoming: White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki will give a briefing at 1:45 p.m.

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