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Lagging Vaccine Distribution and Rising Cases
In this email:
* The Pandemic’s Spread Continues in the New Year
* Vaccination Efforts Fall Short
* The Trump Administration’s Misplaced Priorities


American Oversight’s Covid-19 Oversight Hub ([link removed]) provides news and policy resources to help you keep track of the investigations into the government’s pandemic response. The project brings together a public documents database, an oversight tracker of important ongoing investigations and litigation, regular news updates, and deeper dives into key issues.

The Pandemic’s Spread Continues in the New Year
On Jan. 1, the United States surpassed ([link removed]) 20 million Covid-19 cases. On Sunday, Jan. 3, more than 125,000 Americans were in the hospital due to Covid-19 — a record high ([link removed]) . The same day, 1.3 million travelers went through the nation’s airports, the highest count ([link removed]) since last March.

As the pandemic continues to spread, the virus itself is posing new challenges. As of writing, at least four states have ([link removed]) reported ([link removed]) cases of a new, more contagious, Covid-19 strain (known as B117) that was first identified in the United Kingdom (and a new strain that was first identified in South Africa has been reported ([link removed]) in the U.K. and other countries as well). Though scientists believe existing vaccines will protect against the B117 strain, more research is needed.

In the States
* In Los Angeles County, Calif., as in other areas across the country ([link removed]) , hospitals are struggling ([link removed]) to find space for patients in crowded emergency rooms and packed intensive care units. In L.A., the crisis has even led to patients being treated directly in ambulances, which worsens ([link removed]) emergency response times by decreasing the number of ambulances in circulation.
* Oklahoma has had the highest test-positivity rate ([link removed]) in the nation since mid-December. But before the holidays, Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt encouraged ([link removed]) tourists to visit, saying, “We’re open.”
* In Texas, hospitalizations continue to increase ([link removed]) and intensive care units in multiple parts of the state are approaching capacity.


Vaccination Efforts Fall Short
In November ([link removed]) , Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said that 40 million coronavirus vaccine doses would be available in the United States by the end of the year. Operation Warp Speed officials later amended the goal to 20 million distributed doses. But by the final day of 2020 ([link removed]) , only around 14 million doses had been distributed, and fewer than 3 million people had been inoculated.

In the absence of an integrated federal plan, the slow distribution pace has frustrated local officials. It also runs the risk of wasting ([link removed]) millions of doses. Currently, most Covid-19 vaccines are held in storage units that have only been cleared to store doses for 30 days, so much of this first batch will expire by late January. If vaccinations continue at the current pace, millions of doses may not be used by this date.

States Face Vaccination Hurdles
* In California, some health care workers refused ([link removed]) to take the Covid-19 vaccine. Frontline workers in nursing homes in Ohio ([link removed]) also refused to take the vaccine, raising concerns among medical experts and public health officials.
* In Florida, a “first-come, first-served” vaccination plan for the elderly led to people waiting in line ([link removed]) for hours, even through the night, to get a vaccine.
* In New Jersey and New York, more than 70 percent of the Covid-19 vaccine supply hadn’t been used ([link removed]) as of last Thursday. Neighboring states like Pennsylvania and Delaware have also been slow to distribute, reflecting a nationwide lag.
* In Wisconsin, a health care worker allegedly intentionally removed ([link removed]) 57 vials of a Covid-19 vaccine from refrigeration, destroying more than 500 doses as a result.

Inequities in the Paycheck Protection Program
A ProPublica investigation ([link removed]) found that at least 15 large companies collectively received more than half a billion dollars in Paycheck Protection Program loans, which were designed to support struggling small businesses during the pandemic. Each of these companies applied for loans through multiple smaller companies they own, and were able to get multiple loans as a result, with one company even receiving loans for 51 entities. Additionally, data analyzed by the Associated Press ([link removed]) showed that many minority small business owners did not receive a PPP relief loan until the program’s last few weeks in July and August.

The Pandemic in Prisons
* As prison officials and guards contract Covid-19, state officials have begun shutting down prisons ([link removed]) entirely. The shutdowns are accompanied by large-scale transfers, which may help spread the virus to other prisons and put even more people at risk.
* As the Trump administration increases federal executions, the coronavirus is spreading rapidly ([link removed]) among those on death row at a federal prison in Terre Haute, Ind. At least 14 of the roughly 50 men on death row there have tested positive.
* In Colorado, Gov. Jared Polis walked back a vaccination plan ([link removed]) that prioritized incarcerated people, even though many of the state’s largest outbreaks have occurred in prisons or jails.

The Trump Administration’s Misplaced Priorities
Even in his administration’s waning days, President Donald Trump continues to reject facts about the pandemic. Over the weekend, Trump falsely stated ([link removed]) that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention “exaggerated” it’s Covid-19 data, a claim that was rejected by Surgeon General Jerome Adams.

Before the holidays, Vice President Mike Pence spoke ([link removed]) in front of thousands of people, many not wearing masks, at an indoor summit hosted by conservative youth group in Florida. Pence told the crowd, “We’re healing America.” Just a few days before the event, he had encouraged Americans to maintain social distance to mitigate Covid-19’s spread.

Trump’s administration is also rushing to finalize ([link removed]) a rule to make permanent faster slaughterhouse line speeds in poultry plants, a policy that boosts poultry production. In April ([link removed]) , the administration allowed 15 poultry line plants to increase line speeds, despite the fact that the faster speeds increase the risk of injury ([link removed]) and make it difficult for workers to remain distanced.

The Eighth Report of the Congressional Oversight Commission
The eighth report ([link removed]) of the Congressional Oversight Commission focused on the Treasury Department and Defense Department’s $700 million loan to YRC Worldwide Inc., which was made under a coronavirus relief loan program for businesses deemed critical for maintaining national security. The commission recommended that these agencies use more robust criteria and processes for designating a business as such.

Covid-19’s Toll on VA Medical Centers
ProPublica investigated ([link removed]) the pandemic’s toll in the medical centers run by the Department of Veterans Affairs, which together comprise the nation’s largest hospital system. The investigation revealed that even as the VA publicly claimed to have sufficient personal protective equipment, hospital staff were rationing masks and re-using PPE. The agency and its medical personnel also suffered due to the depletion of the Strategic National Stockpile, which last February had less than 1 percent of the needed N95 masks. American Oversight previously wrote about documents ([link removed]) we obtained showing that in the spring and summer of 2020, VA officials were privately acknowledging PPE scarcity while publicly claiming to have sufficient equipment.

Congressional Investigations
* Housing Finance System: Democrats from the Senate Banking Committee and House Financial Services Committee requested ([link removed]) that Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin halt any significant changes to the country's housing finance system during the Covid-19 crisis.
* The Federal Government’s Covid-19 Response: The Senate Homeland Security Committee requested ([link removed]) documents from Pence relevant to the federal government's pandemic response. The committee will also seek information from the White House Coronavirus Task Force, the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Defense, the Department of State, the Office of Management and Budget, and HHS to analyze the Trump administration's pandemic preparedness and response.
* Vaccine Distribution to Nursing Homes: Democrats from the Senate Finance Committee and the Senate Aging Committee requested ([link removed](FINAL)%20Signatures.pdf) that Azar and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Administrator Seema Verma publicize data on Covid-19 vaccine distribution to nursing homes.

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Thank you again for following our latest news. We are grateful for your support and for helping us hold the administration accountable.

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