Podcasts about emergency temporary standard ets

Rancho Mesa's Alyssa Burley and Media Communications & Client Services Specialist Lauren Stumpf discuss California's latest COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS). Show Notes: Subscribe to Rancho Mesa's Newsletter Risk Management Center COVID-19 Information Page Director/Producer/Host: Alyssa Burley Guest: Lauren Stumpf Editor: Megan Lockhart Music: "Home" by JHS Pedals, “News Room News” by Spence © Copyright 2022. Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc. All rights reserved.

On the heels of the Supreme Court's stay of the private employer vaccine mandate, OSHA has withdrawn its Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) while it works on a permanent rule. In the meantime, employers remain responsible for keeping employees safe from COVID-19 at work. Ellen McCann joins guest host Nate Smith to discuss this latest development.OSHA withdrew the ETS but has not abandoned the idea of an employer mandate. On January 25, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced it was withdrawing its ETS, thereby making the litigation in the 6th Circuit moot. Instead it will focus on crafting a proposed permanent rule, based on public comments and likely what it has gleaned from the January 13 Supreme Court ruling that stayed the ETS. What might the permanent rule look like? OSHA asked some specific questions in its request for public comments, which may provide some clues about what the agency will consider when crafting the permanent rule. Does this change the CMS health care mandate? No. That mandate, which was issued by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) not OSHA, goes forward, although it is still being challenged in a lower court. Are any state or local laws affected by the OSHA decision? Since OSHA withdrew the ETS, it has no impact on state or local laws. . Employers should be aware of the patchwork of city and state laws out there — both requiring and prohibiting vaccine mandates.What should employers do next, in the midst of all this confusion? Employers should bear in mind that there is still a “general duty” clause under the Occupational Safety and Health Act which requires employers to provide their employees with a safe work environment. They should work with their counsel to determine how to fulfill this responsibility.Featured speakerEllen McCannAssistant Vice President, Unum Group SolutionsEllen McCann is an acclaimed national speaker on leave management issues including FMLA and ADA. She is also a certified trainer for SHRM and CE credit. As a former Legal Counsel for Unum's Employment Law Group, Ellen has advised companies on all employment-related legal issues. In her current role, Ellen serves as a leading expert in applying benefits and benefits technology to power modern solutions to more effective employee leave programs, stronger regulatory compliance and enhanced digital HR transformation.

Breaking Down Biden v. Missouri and NFIB v. OSHA   Mark and Vec discuss the Supreme Court's decisions in two COVID-19 vaccine mandate lawsuits, Biden v. Missouri and NFIB v. OSHA.  NCLA commends the ruling in NFIB v. OSHA to invalidate the private employer vaccine mandate that applies to 84 million Americans. On November 5, 2021, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued the Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS), which required private companies with 100 or more employees either to implement a mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policy or force employees to present a weekly negative COVID-19 test.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With the Supreme Court blocking the Biden administration's vaccine-or-test mandate for large employers from taking effect, what happens next? And, does the ruling leave companies on their own when it comes to vaccine-related safety measures? XpertHR Legal Editor David Weisenfeld breaks down this monumental ruling striking down the COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) that would have affected an estimated 84-million employees, and a separate opinion upholding a vaccine requirement for health care workers. Meanwhile, XpertHR Legal Editor Melissa Boyce, who leads our vaccination resource coverage, discusses how employers can proceed now that the Supreme Court has spoken.

National Federation of Independent Business v. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, is a Supreme Court of the United States case before the Court on an application for a stay of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's COVID-19 vaccination or test mandate. On January 13, 2022, the Supreme Court ordered a stay of the mandate. Background. In September 2021, President of the United States Joe Biden announced his administration would be promulgating a vaccination or test mandate for all private companies with 100 or more employees. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration announced its Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) on November 5, 2021. On November 6, 2021, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit issued a nationwide stay of the ETS's implementation; it issued an opinion explaining its reasoning on November 12, 2021. Challenges to OSHA regulations are randomly assigned to one of the twelve United States courts of appeals with geographic jurisdiction. The challenges to the COVID-19 ETS were all transferred to the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit on November 16, 2021. The petitioners sought initial hearing en banc for consideration of the challenges. On December 15, 2021, the court denied the petition by an 8 to 8 vote, over the dissents of Chief Judge Jeffrey Sutton and Judge John K Bush, joined by six additional judges. On December 17, 2021, a panel of the court dissolved the Fifth Circuit's stay of the ETS by a 2 to 1 vote. Judge Joan Larsen dissented. Supreme Court. Numerous challengers filed emergency applications at the Supreme Court of the United States in the days after the Fifth Circuit's stay was dissolved. The federal government responded to the applications on December 30, 2021. In an unusual proceeding for emergency applications, oral argument was held on January 7, 2022. The National Federation of Independent Business, representing many private companies, and Ohio, representing more than 20 states, argued for the petitioners. The Supreme Court granted a stay of the ETS in a per curiam order on January 13, 2022. The order stated that the OSHA mandate exceeded the authority that it was given by Congress; OSHA could only regulate occupational safety, and the vaccine mandate was seen as "broad public health measures." The order stated that "Permitting OSHA to regulate the hazards of daily life — simply because most Americans have jobs and face those same risks while on the clock — would significantly expand OSHA's regulatory authority without clear congressional authorization." In a concurring statement written by Justice Neil Gorsuch and joined by Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas, Gorsuch wrote that it should be up to states and Congress to decide best how to respond to a pandemic like COVID. A joint dissent to the order was written by Justices Stephen Breyer, Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan. They stated that employees have "little control, and therefore little capacity to mitigate risk", and that the ruling "stymies the Federal Government's ability to counter the unparalleled threat that COVID-19 poses to our Nation's workers." The three countered Gorsuch's statement and stated that OSHA was the actor with the best understanding of the workplace in light of threats like COVID, and not the court system.

In this episode of Dirty Steel-Toe Boots, host Phillip Russell is joined by Eric Hobbs, the chair of Ogletree Deakins' Workplace Safety and Health Practice Group. Phillip and Eric take a first look at the Supreme Court's decision staying the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA) enforcement of the Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) until the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals (and, ultimately, the Supreme Court) has an opportunity to weigh in on the merits. Phillip and Eric explore the implications of the Court's stay on future court decisions, OSHA's potential actions with regard to the ETS and the National Emphasis Program (NEP), and employer's next steps in light of these judicial and agency actions.

The Vaccine Mandate Lawsuits Before SCOTUS w/ Dan McLaughlin Vec interviews National Review's Dan McLaughlin (@baseballcrank on Twitter) to discuss the vaccine mandate lawsuits before the Supreme Court.  NCLA commends the U.S. Supreme Court for ruling on Thursday to invalidate the private employer vaccine mandate that applies to 84 million Americans. On November 5, 2021, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued the Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS), which required private companies with 100 or more employees either to implement a mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policy or force employees to present a weekly negative COVID-19 test.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Late in 2020, several pharmaceutical companies developed vaccines for Covid-19 that received FDA approval, first for emergency use and then for general use. Next came the question of whether the federal or state governments should mandate vaccination or leave that decision to individuals. The states have generally deferred to the federal government, and Congress punted punted the question to President Joe Biden. At first, he tried to persuade the public, and numerous people were vaccinated. In September 2021, however, the President changed course, expressing dissatisfaction with the rate of vaccination. Among other things, he ordered the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to promulgate an Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) requiring all employees at companies with 100 or more employees to be vaccinated or receive weekly negative test results to remain at the workplace. Numerous parties challenged the OSHA Vaccination Mandate. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit stayed the effect of the ETS, and OSHA agreed not to enforce it for the time being. All related cases have now been transferred to the Sixth Circuit, and the federal government has asked that court to dissolve the stay. Featuring: -- Paul Larkin, who is the John, Barbara, and Victoria Rumpel Senior Legal Research Fellow in the Meese Center for Legal and Judicial Studies. Larkin works on criminal justice policy, drug policy, and regulatory policy. -- Larry Stine, a Senior Principal in the firm of Wimberly, Lawson, Steckel, Schneider & Stine P.C., and an AV rated attorney, who enjoys a diverse practice in which he covers a broad range of labor and employment matters. Larry is the former Region IV Counsel for OSHA in the Office of the Solicitor for the U.S. Department of Labor. He is nationally known for his expertise in Occupational Safety and Health -- Moderator: R. Pepper Crutcher, General Counsel to the Mississippi Manufacturers Association. Pepper Crutcher advises and advocates for a wide range of Southeast U.S., private sector employers. As the leader of the firm's Affordable Care Act practice, Pepper also helps employers, insurers, brokers, administrators and providers achieve ACA compliance and appeal ACA assessments. Labor negotiation and arbitration, OSHA, work site immigration enforcement, and intellectual property protection also are in Pepper's portfolio.

The COVID-19 vaccine and testing mandate, otherwise known as the Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS), continues to generate concern across the business community. At NATSO, we recognize that the vaccine and testing rule would have a significant, negative impact on truck stops and travel centers, which already suffer from a fragile labor market. To help NATSO members prepare, we invited Robert J. Baker, shareholder, partner at Chartwell Law, on to the podcast to provide information on the OSHA ETS requirements and advice on how to comply with the rule. Baker answered specific questions from NATSO members on religious exemptions, which tests are considered acceptable and more. Hosted by: Amy Toner, Vice President Publishing and Digital Content, NATSO

The Recent Victories Against OSHA, Federal Contractor, and CMS Vaccine Mandates Mark and Vec discuss the recent victories against vaccine mandates. One of them is against the Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) issued by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) on November 5, 2021, which requires employers with 100 or more employees to either implement a mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policy or force employees to present a weekly negative COVID-19 test. The ETS is unprecedently broad, invasive, and an unconstitutional exercise of legislative power vested in Congress. NCLA has filed an amicus brief challenging the mandate. OSHA's ETS is expected to force 84 million employees nationwide—over half the U.S. workforce—to either take a novel vaccine against an infectious disease, navigate weekly costly testing, or forfeit their jobs.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On November 4, 2021, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued an Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) requiring employers with 100 or more employees to ensure that each of their workers is fully vaccinated or undergoes testing for COVID-19 on at least a weekly basis. The rule also requires that these employers provide paid time off for employees to obtain vaccination and ensure all unvaccinated workers wear a face mask in the workplace. Also on November 4th, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a rule that requires vaccination of all eligible staff at health care facilities that participate in Medicaid or Medicare. During this episode of Heath Care Beat, Seyfarth Labor & Employment partners Adam Young and Bill Schurgin join host Adam Laughton for a timely discussion about these new mandates and their overall impact on the health care industry.

On November 5, 2021, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued an Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS), which required employers who have more than 100 employees to mandate vaccination for their employees. A variety of plaintiffs requested a stay from the Fifth Circuit, and the Fifth Circuit granted a stay on November 6. On November 13, the Court issued a longer opinion, affirming its previous stay, and extended the stay till the final judgment.  BTS Holdings v. OSHA, (No. 21-60845, November 13, 2021).In this episode, we analyzed the Fifth Circuit's jurisprudence  toward administrative actions, and we also discussed the Court's  general position toward COVID 19.Speakers:Brian Owsley, University of North Texas School of Law Leo Yu, Southern Methodist University School of Law 

Brianna Santolli, ESQ and Terry Fletcher join Sean to discuss the realse on November 5, 2021 The CMS Interim Final Omnibus Rule followed by the OSHA ETS were released... These have been declared as "Mandates" but since their issuance there have been several legal maneuvers to block these mandates from being carried out. On Thursday November 11, 2021 several states led by Texas file a motion to block the mandates with the 5th Circuit Court out of New Orleans, LA. The filing was successful (Read my blog post on LinkedIn – Saturday November 13, 2021). On the same day the Department of Justice (DOJ) vowed to fight the block issued by the 5th to see that the mandates are enforced. Several states have had their measures blocked as well declaring them unconstitutional! The legal battles are far from over! What is contained in this podcast are the facts of the mandates at the time of release!

On Nov. 4, OSHA announced its Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) requiring employers with 100+ employees to mandate COVID-19 vaccinations or require weekly testing. The ETS faced an immediate challenge and is now making its way through the courts. Learn from ICI's labor team how the ETS impacts Hoosier employers. To watch the Faegre Drinker webinar, visit: https://event.on24.com/wcc/r/3478427/282C21BE479356BA01C7B3E796287B53?partnerref=Website To learn more about this week's sponsor, Zurich Surety, visit: https://members.indianaconstructors.org/A-Z/Zurich-Surety-1547

We pick up right where we left off on Tuesday with the OSHA Emergency Temporary Standard for “COVID-19 Vaccination & Testing” We answered a lot of your questions, but we have received many more since Tuesday morning – and we're going to answer them!

On November 4, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) released its much-anticipated Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS). The ETS covers COVID-19 vaccine, testing, and related requirements for most employers with at least 100 employees. Attorneys Bob O'Hara and Nancy Popper discuss how employers are beginning preparations to meet deadlines in early December and January, despite challenges to the standard already popping up in court.  Visit our site for this week's Other Highlights and links: https://www.ebglaw.com/eltw233. Subscribe to #WorkforceWednesday - https://www.ebglaw.com/subscribe/. Visit http://www.EmploymentLawThisWeek.com. The EMPLOYMENT LAW THIS WEEK® and DIAGNOSING HEALTH CARE podcasts are presented by Epstein Becker & Green, P.C. All rights are reserved. This audio recording includes information about legal issues and legal developments.  Such materials are for informational purposes only and may not reflect the most current legal developments.  These informational materials are not intended, and should not be taken, as legal advice on any particular set of facts or circumstances, and these materials are not a substitute for the advice of competent counsel. The content reflects the personal views and opinions of the participants. No attorney-client relationship has been created by this audio recording. This audio recording may be considered attorney advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and ethical rules. The determination of the need for legal services and the choice of a lawyer are extremely important decisions and should not be based solely upon advertisements or self-proclaimed expertise. No representation is made that the quality of the legal services to be performed is greater than the quality of legal services performed by other lawyers.

In this episode of Law & Mortar, Trent and John discuss new Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) regulations by OSHA, what employers should do regarding vaccination, how it is going to affect both employers and employers. On the other note, Trent talks about his upcoming business trips, when John presents the new Director of Estimating program from Cotney Consulting Group.Program is available to purchase at  https://www.cotneycl.com/o4ku 

Today, Burt and Phil discuss the OSHA “COVID-19 Vaccination & Testing” Emergency Temporary Standard that was issued on Thursday, November 4th.

WHEN TRUCKERS ATTACK TRUCKERS. A truck driver pulls in the wrong way at a truck stop. Another truck driver is coming out of the truck stop where the first driver is trying to pull in. Words are exchanged and both men get out of their trucks. More words are said and one driver retrieves a sword from his truck, swinging it at the first driver. One man is in the hospital and one man goes to jail. In another incident, two truckers are at a receiver. They get into an argument. One man is dead and the other is in prison for a very long time. This happens more often than most realize. Maybe not as extreme but every day truckers get into kittle fights with each other and t could end deadly. What is the best thing one can do while over the road? Number one, leave when you spot trouble. Number two, be alert to your surroundings. Truck Driver receives a DUI In White Plains truck driver Billy Robinson, 55, of Inwood, NY was given a DUI after he was tested positive for Alcohol with a level of 0.24% blood alcohol. He was released to a sober third party and must appear in court 11/19/21 A letter from the ATA The letter below was sent to one of our friends at a major trucking company. It outlines the issue of the mandatory vaccination Dear ATA members:We have outstanding news to share this morning regarding the vaccine mandate Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) that OSHA released yesterday.  We have received indications from senior Department of Labor officials that the exception for employees who exclusively work outdoors or remotely and have minimal contact with others indoors does exempt solo truck drivers from the mandate. Furthermore, Labor Secretary Marty Walsh is on record saying so. ATA will continue to advocate for the broader workforce as well.While we complete our due diligence to confirm this fact through official channels, this appears to be a major victory for ATA and our membership.  This is a result of our pressure campaign during the rulemaking process and all of your help as ATA drafted our comments and strategy.We continue to believe that OSHA is using an extraordinary authority unwisely and applying it across all industries at an arbitrary threshold of 100 employees in a way that fails to take into account the actual risks. ATA will continue to consider potential legal action to protect all segments of our workforce from this misguided mandate.We will be back in touch with you shortly regarding official confirmation from the Department of Labor, an updated tool kit to use for your workforce and our next steps.Thank you for your support, as always. We're happy to be able to share this great news with you this morning. TalkCDL Trucking Podcast Upcoming Interviews We are booked for the month of November for interviews but would love to schedule more in December. If you are wanting to be on the show please write Ruthann@TalkCDL.com or Troy@TalkCDL.com and let us know what you would like to tap about. JJ Keller the truckers Secretary National Carriers Hiring Solo Lease Purchase DriversCarter Lumber Hiring Local Class A and Class B DriversTrucker Stand TruckerDWI TruckerWaisted Trucker drivingSemi vs Train plus Trucker StuffTrucking Companies Not To Work For WHEN TRUCKERS ATTACK TRUCKERS

Now that OSHA has released its long-awaited Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) relating to the COVID-19 vaccine, join Littler for a discussion about how it will impact hospitality employers. Shareholders Alka Ramchandani-Raj, co-chair of Littler's Occupational Safety and Health Group, and Rachel Fendell Satinsky, discuss the OSHA ETS requirements and how hospitality employers can remain compliant.

Eight weeks after President Biden announced a federal vaccine mandate to help curb the transmission of COVID-19 in the U.S. workplace, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration has now issued an Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) for employers with at least 100 employees. Labor & Employment Practice Group attorney Mary P. Snyder highlights important takeaways, fast-approaching deadlines and action items that employers should pay attention to in order to comply with the ETS.  About: Mary P. SnyderAdditional Resources: OSHA Issues Long-Awaited COVID-19 Vaccine and Testing Rules for Private Employers, CMS Issues Mandatory COVID-19 Vaccination Regulations for Healthcare Facilities Connect with Crowe & Dunlevy: Website | Facebook | Twitter | LinkedIn 

OSHA issued its Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) effective November 5, 2021. The ETS requires employers with 100 employees or more to require employees be vaccinated or submit to weekly testing and wear masks.  The ETS requires that covered employers begin complying by December 5, 2021 (other than testing) and sets a deadline to begin testing employees who are not fully vaccinated by January 4, 2022. The rule and related materials, including FAQs and policy templates, can be found here: https://www.osha.gov/coronavirus/ets2Employers should bear in mind that despite having a short time frame for compliance, the ETS will be subject to immediate legal challenges. This combination of urgency and uncertainty means that covered employers should make planning their approach to the ETS a high priority.In this episode, the following questions will be considered:What employers are covered?What if employee numbers fluctuate above and below 100 employees?How should companies count the employees of their related entities?What employees are covered?What are covered employers required to do?What are the requirements for employee testing?Who pays for the tests?What are the masking requirements for unvaccinated employees?What must covered employers communicate to their employees?What are the reporting and record keeping requirements?Does the ETS address state laws that prohibit vaccine mandates or otherwise contradict its requirements?You can read more about the ETS here: https://www.kmklaw.com/newsroom-publications-1105Comments or questions: Contact Mark Chumley at mchumley@kmklaw.com or visit www.kmklaw.comMusic :Jamming with Leon by texasradiofish (c) copyright 2020 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial  (3.0) license. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/texasradiofish/61983 Ft: Scomber

After President Biden ordered OSHA to create a Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) requiring businesses with 100 or more employees to ensure each employee is vaccinated, the Chamber went to find out more details on what businesses can expect. We interviewed Marc Freedman, Vice President of Workplace Policy for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and Rep. Rick Allen, Georgia's Representative for the 12th District in the House of Representatives, to get their perspectives on the new order. Important Link Referenced in the Show: White House COVID Plan Page: https://www.whitehouse.gov/covidplan/  OSHA's Page: https://www.osha.gov/   Range of Influence is sponsored by Premier Networx. Visit them at www.AugustaITGuys.com  

Last week, President Biden announced that under an Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS), the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) soon will require all private employers with more than 100 employees to require workers to become vaccinated or submit to weekly COVID-19 tests. In this episode we discuss where OSHA came from, what it typically regulates, and how this mandate is currently being challenged by employers, including pros and cons to a mandate of such type. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/rory-bellina6/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/rory-bellina6/support

Join our host Shari Simpson (HR Program Manager, Paylocity), and guest Corinne Tirone (Director of Government Relations, Paylocity) as they walk you through the recent Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) on COVID-19.

In this episode, we summarize President Biden's Action Plan, The Path Out of the Pandemic, that was announced September 9. We delve into the impending updates to OSHA's Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) and how businesses need to prepare for what's coming. Subscribe to our podcast today to stay up to date on employment issues from law experts worldwide. View David and Bill's summary of Biden's Path Out of the Pandemic Plan here.Find additional resources for employers here.Moderator: Peter Walts (Employment Law Alliance / Global)Guest Speakers: David Fortney (FortneyScott, LCC / District of Columbia) & Bill Wahoff (Steptoe & Johnson PLLC / West Virginia & Western Pennsylvania - Ohio Office)

In today's new episode, we address President Biden's new directive that OSHA issue an Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) requiring employers with 100 or more employees to mandate vaccines or weekly testing. We also look at the import of New York State finally designating Covid-19 as a "highly contagious communicable disease."

On June 17, more than a month after the CDC announced that fully vaccinated people no longer need to wear a face covering or practice social distancing in most workplaces, California updated its workplace safety rules when the California Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board (OSHAB) passed a revised Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS). Join OSHA attorney Kevin Brown on this episode as he outlines the revised workplace standards and highlights the potential pitfalls.

This podcast summarizes the requirements in OSHA's new COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standard (“ETS”) for employers in the healthcare setting. While the ETS is long and detailed, some healthcare settings are exempt from its requirements. Join HortySpringer attorneys Dan Mulholland and Philip Zarone to learn what healthcare employers must do to comply and where they can turn for additional information.    

OSHA recently issued an Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) pertaining to worker safety and COVID-19.  Is your practice exempt?  This week's podcast dives into the ETS, the parameters for exemption and other key components of this standard.

On today's episode we discuss: —Climate: Authors from the Department of Environmental Health at George Washington University and Harvard University highlight the need for governmental interventions regarding workplace safety, specifically through the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), to protect workers reentering the workforce during the COVID-19 pandemic. Businesses are beginning to return to a normal work schedule, and they argue there needs to be an infection control protocol—PPE, symptom screening processes, hand sanitizer stations—to prevent further COVID-19 transmission. The authors ultimately advocate for OSHA to implement an Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) to facilitate the safe reopening of businesses. —Understanding the Pathology: Investigators at David Geffen School of Medicine at University California, Los Angeles performed serial measurements on the IgG levels of plasma from 34 mildly symptomatic participants with confirmed or suspected COVID-19. Based on these serial measurements (first measurement: mean 37 days after symptom onset; last measurement: mean 86 days after onset), the estimated mean change of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG was −0.0083 log10 ng/mL per day with an estimated half-life of 36 days (95% CI: 26 to 60 days), suggesting a short lifespan of humoral immunity against SARS-CoV-2 in mild cases. —Transmission & Prevention: A commentary by a multidisciplinary team of vaccine experts discusses the possibility of a second wave of COVID-19 cases near the end of 2020 and warns against the potential for co-occurrence with seasonal influenza. The authors advocate for public health authorities to prioritize influenza vaccination production and usage this year, especially among vulnerable populations (e.g.—pregnant women, the elderly, patients with multiple co-morbidities) and health care providers. The goal is to prevent severe complications caused by contraction of both COVID-19 and the influenza virus. —Management: A professional opinion piece by physicians at Holbael University Hospital (Denmark) suggest that cases of COVID-19 with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) resemble the low compliance seen in neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (NRDS). They discuss that SARS-CoV-2 replicates in alveolar type II cells, impacting the production and turnover of surfactant, and causes alveolar inflammation and collapse. The authors propose that severe COVID-19 cases should be evaluated for surfactant levels (for which a point of care test for babies has been developed), and individuals with low surfactant could be given surfactant treatment to possibly improve patient outcomes. —R&D: Diagnosis & Treatments: A special report by members of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) briefly describes the various COVID-19 diagnostic tests currently available and the new NIH Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics (RADx) initiative, which is aimed at rapidly increasing COVID-19 diagnostic capabilities in the US. Challenges this program will encounter include: digital connectivity, manufacturing, and distribution. The authors highlight how the RADx initiative will provide diagnostic testing solutions on a larger scale, promote entrepreneurship, and help address inequities in healthcare. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/covid19lst/support