Over 4 million people have lost their lives to COVID-19 to date. As cases continue to rise due to the DELTA variant, hospitals, nursing homes and assisted living communities continue to be impacted, but not just concerning patients. The nation’s workforce crisis is deeply affecting the ability to provide high level care to all patients.

Stay up-to-date on the latest developments surrounding COVID-19 by reading the articles below.

Biden-Harris Administration Issues Emergency Regulation Requiring COVID-19 Vaccination for Health Care Workers

CMS.gov

The Biden-Harris Administration is requiring COVID-19 vaccination of eligible staff at health care facilities that participate in the Medicare and Medicaid programs. The emergency regulation issued by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) today protects those fighting this virus on the front lines while also delivering assurances to individuals and their families that they will be protected when seeking care.

Survey: Nearly Every U.S. Nursing Home and Assisted Living Community Is Facing A Workforce Crisis

AHCA/NCAL

According to a recent survey conducted by The American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL), 86 percent of nursing homes and 77 percent of assisted living providers said their workforce situation has gotten worse over the last three months. These facility managers and directors are asking their staff to work overtime and are now limiting their admissions as a result.

Vaccine Mandates Hit Amid Historic Health-Care Staff Shortage

Bloomberg

Hundreds of beds can’t be filled, and the reason is exclusively staff. What some are calling the worst U.S. health-care labor crisis in memory is sharpening concerns about attrition from resistance to vaccine mandates. About 16% of American hospitals had critical staffing shortages as of Oct. 1, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Recovery Focused Nutritional Therapy across the Continuum of Care: Learning from COVID-19

MDPI

Take a closer look at the relationship between nutrition and COVID-19 through this recent study on how nutritional therapy is used to optimize a patient’s outcome when dealing with a severe illness. The study focuses on the importance of nutrition to preserve life and prevent clinical deterioration during the acute phase of an illness.

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update: FDA Takes Additional Actions on the Use of a Booster Dose for COVID-19 Vaccines

FDA

As of October 20, 2021, the FDA is amending the emergency use authorizations (EUA) for COVID-19 vaccines to allow for the use of a single booster dose. This article goes into detail about the amendments made, including who is eligible for each dose of the booster, when they are able to get it and the analysis of each booster.