Standing Committee on Emerging Infectious Diseases and 21st Century Health Threats

Consensus

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The lack of a clear and consistent definition for Long COVID presents challenges for policymakers, researchers, public health professionals, clinicians, support services, and patients. As such, the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response and the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health asked the National Academies to assemble a committee of experts to produce a consensus definition for Long COVID. The resulting report, A Long COVID Definition: A Chronic, Systemic Disease State with Profound Consequences, presents the 2024 NASEM Long COVID Definition, developed based on findings reported in existing literature, as well as stakeholder and patient input.

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186 pages · 6 x 9 · paperback
ISBN Paperback: 0-309-71908-9
ISBN Ebook: 0-309-71909-7
DOI: https://doi.org/10.17226/27768

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National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2024. A Long COVID Definition: A Chronic, Systemic Disease State with Profound Consequences. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.

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Consensus

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At the request of the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response, the National Academies convened a committee to examine lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic and mpox multi-country outbreak to inform an evaluation of the state of smallpox research, development, and stockpiling of medical countermeasures (MCM). In the resulting report, the committee presents findings and conclusions that may inform U.S. Government investment decisions in smallpox MCM readiness, as well as the official U.S. position on the disposition of live viral collections at future World Health Assembly meetings.

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Briefing Slides

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194 pages · 6 x 9 · paperback
ISBN Paperback: 0-309-71737-X
ISBN Ebook: 0-309-71738-8
DOI: https://doi.org/10.17226/27652

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National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2024. Future State of Smallpox Medical Countermeasures. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.

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Since March 2020, the standing committee has consistently generated real-time policy recommendations and paved the way for the National Academies to produce an unprecedented amount of timely, evidence-based guidance in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This Annual Report summarizes the committee's work in 2020 and highlights the short consensus study reports, rapid expert consultations, meetings, and affiliated activities conducted during the year.

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12 pages · 8.5 x 11 ·
ISBN Ebook: 0-309-69376-4
DOI: https://doi.org/10.17226/26715

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National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2022. Standing Committee on Emerging Infectious Diseases and 21st Century Health Threats: Annual Report 2020. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.

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The wide-ranging portfolio of the standing committee's work has illuminated many aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic and response efforts. This Annual Report summarizes the committee's work in 2021 and highlights the short consensus study reports, rapid expert consultations, and meetings conducted during the year.

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15 pages · 8.5 x 11 ·
ISBN Ebook: 0-309-69377-2
DOI: https://doi.org/10.17226/26716

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National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2022. Standing Committee on Emerging Infectious Diseases and 21st Century Health Threats: Annual Report 2021. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.

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Consensus

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The U.S. medical countermeasures (MCMs) enterprise is interconnected, complex, and dynamic. It includes public and private entities that develop and manufacture new and existing MCMs, ensure procurement, storage, and distribution of MCMs, and administer, monitor, and evaluate MCMs. The interagency group known as the Public Health Emergency Medical Countermeasures Enterprise (PHEMCE) is the nation's sole coordinating body, responsible for ensuring end-to-end MCM preparedness and response.

Ensuring an Effective Public Health Emergency Medical Countermeasures Enterprise provides recommendations from an expert committee for a re-envisioned PHEMCE. Four priority areas of improvement emerged from committee deliberations: (1) articulating PHEMCE's mission and role and explicating the principles guiding PHEMCE's operating principles and processes, (2) revising PHEMCE operations and processes, (3) collaborating more effectively with external public and private partners, and (4) navigating legal and policy issues.

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138 pages · 6 x 9 · paperback
ISBN Paperback: 0-309-27148-7
ISBN Ebook: 0-309-27149-5
DOI: https://doi.org/10.17226/26373

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National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2021. Ensuring an Effective Public Health Emergency Medical Countermeasures Enterprise. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.

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Rapid_expert_consultation

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This rapid expert consultation responds to a request from the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) concerning the possibility that the SARS-CoV-2 virus could be spread by conversation, in addition to sneeze/cough-induced droplets.

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine convened a standing committee of experts to help inform OSTP on critical science and policy issues related to emerging infectious diseases and other public health threats. The standing committee includes members with expertise in emerging infectious diseases, public health, public health preparedness and response, biological sciences, clinical care and crisis standards of care, risk communication, and regulatory issues.

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3 pages · 8.5 x 11 ·
ISBN Ebook: 0-309-67632-0
DOI: https://doi.org/10.17226/25769

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National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2020. Rapid Expert Consultation on the Possibility of Bioaerosol Spread of SARS-CoV-2 for the COVID-19 Pandemic (April 1, 2020). Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.

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This rapid expert consultation focuses on monoclonal antibody (mAbs) therapies authorized for use in patients infected with SARS-CoV-2. This consultation describes the approaches taken in different jurisdictions at the federal, state, and local/institutional levels to ensure an effective, equitable, and fair allocation of mAbs and points to challenges in reaching underserved patients.

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine convened a standing committee of experts to help inform the Office of Science and Technology Policy on critical science and policy issues related to emerging infectious diseases and other public health threats. The standing committee includes members with expertise in emerging infectious diseases, public health, public health preparedness and response, biological sciences, clinical care and crisis standards of care, risk communication, and regulatory issues.

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34 pages · 8.5 x 11 ·
ISBN Ebook: 0-309-27008-1
DOI: https://doi.org/10.17226/26063

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National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2021. Rapid Expert Consultation on Allocating COVID-19 Monoclonal Antibody Therapies and Other Novel Therapeutics (January 29, 2021). Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.

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The COVID-19 pandemic has created both acute and chronic stresses on the health care system and on health care personnel nationwide. At present, the nation lacks a uniform system to collect, collate, and report illnesses and deaths among health care workers due to COVID-19, and only a few studies report on efforts to improve the health and well-being of health care workers.

At the request of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response, this rapid expert consultation reviews current resources and methods for tracking and evaluating health care worker deaths related to COVID-19 in the health care setting. This rapid expert consultation also examines some ways to support health care worker well-being and safety during the pandemic.

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Errata

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10 pages · 8.5 x 11 ·
ISBN Ebook: 0-309-13225-8
DOI: https://doi.org/10.17226/26018

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National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2020. Rapid Expert Consultation on Understanding Causes of Health Care Worker Deaths Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic (December 10, 2020). Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.

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Since the start of the pandemic, diagnostic testing has been critical to the medical care of those infected with COVID-19, the protection of health care and other essential workers, and the efforts to contain the spread of the disease. This rapid expert consultation draws attention to four critical areas in developing diagnostic testing and strategies to reduce the number of COVID-19 infections and deaths: (1) advantages and limitations of reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing for viral RNA; (2) the status of POC testing; (3) testing strategies, namely, considerations in the deployment of types and sequences of tests; and (4) next-generation testing that offers the prospect of highthroughput, rapid, and less expensive testing.

This rapid expert consultation was convened under the auspices of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine's Standing Committee on Emerging Infectious Diseases and 21st Century Health Threats.

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21 pages · 8.5 x 11 ·
ISBN Ebook: 0-309-68514-1
DOI: https://doi.org/10.17226/25984

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National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2020. Rapid Expert Consultation on Critical Issues in Diagnostic Testing for the COVID-19 Pandemic (November 9, 2020). Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.

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Consensus

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In December 2019, new cases of severe pneumonia were first detected in Wuhan, China, and the cause was determined to be a novel beta coronavirus related to the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) coronavirus that emerged from a bat reservoir in 2002. Within six months, this new virus—SARS coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)—has spread worldwide, infecting at least 10 million people with an estimated 500,000 deaths. COVID-19, the disease caused by SARS-CoV-2, was declared a public health emergency of international concern on January 30, 2020 by the World Health Organization (WHO) and a pandemic on March 11, 2020. To date, there is no approved effective treatment or vaccine for COVID-19, and it continues to spread in many countries.

Genomic Epidemiology Data Infrastructure Needs for SARS-CoV-2: Modernizing Pandemic Response Strategies lays out a framework to define and describe the data needs for a system to track and correlate viral genome sequences with clinical and epidemiological data. Such a system would help ensure the integration of data on viral evolution with detection, diagnostic, and countermeasure efforts. This report also explores data collection mechanisms to ensure a representative global sample set of all relevant extant sequences and considers challenges and opportunities for coordination across existing domestic, global, and regional data sources.

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Report Recommendations

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110 pages · 6 x 9 · paperback
ISBN Paperback: 0-309-68091-3
ISBN Ebook: 0-309-68092-1
DOI: https://doi.org/10.17226/25879

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National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2020. Genomic Epidemiology Data Infrastructure Needs for SARS-CoV-2: Modernizing Pandemic Response Strategies. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.

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Rapid_expert_consultation

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This rapid expert consultation builds on prior National Academies reports on the Crisis Standards of Care (CSC) and the rapid expert consultation on March 28, 2020, and focuses on staffing needs for the care of COVID patients, including the deployment and allocation of expert clinical staff during COVID-19. It does not attempt to dictate exactly what choices should be made under exactly what circumstances, as that should be left to the judgment of the professional, institutional, community, and civic leaders who are best situated to understand the local conditions.

This rapid expert consultation was convened under the auspices of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine's Standing Committee on Emerging Infectious Diseases and 21st Century Health Threats.

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16 pages · 8.5 x 11 ·
ISBN Ebook: 0-309-68142-1
DOI: https://doi.org/10.17226/25890

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National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2020. Rapid Expert Consultation on Staffing Considerations for Crisis Standards of Care for the COVID-19 Pandemic (July 28, 2020). Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.

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This rapid expert consultation responds to a request from the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) concerning the duration of viral shedding by stage of infection, clinical signs and symptoms and patient attributes; the levels and duration of antibody response and related resistance to illness; and optimal duration of isolation of cases. For each of these questions, this document provides relevant scientific evidence and the state of current scientific knowledge; an overview of scientists currently working in the area and what new results are anticipated; and recommendations for investigations that should be initiated or extended to provide more complete information.

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine convened a standing committee of experts to help inform OSTP on critical science and policy issues related to emerging infectious diseases and other public health threats. The standing committee includes members with expertise in emerging infectious diseases, public health, public health preparedness and response, biological sciences, clinical care and crisis standards of care, risk communication, and regulatory issues.

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Publication information

6 pages · 8.5 x 11 ·
ISBN Ebook: 0-309-67654-1
DOI: https://doi.org/10.17226/25774

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National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2020. Rapid Expert Consultation on SARS-CoV-2 Viral Shedding and Antibody Response for the COVID-19 Pandemic (April 8, 2020). Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.

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This rapid expert consultation responds to a request from the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) for information on the interpretation of laboratory tests, future developments and research needs. This publication provides scientifically grounded principles that are relevant to decision-making about the interpretation of laboratory tests.

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine convened a standing committee of experts to help inform OSTP on critical science and policy issues related to emerging infectious diseases and other public health threats. The standing committee includes members with expertise in emerging infectious diseases, public health, public health preparedness and response, biological sciences, clinical care and crisis standards of care, risk communication, and regulatory issues.

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Publication information

7 pages · 8.5 x 11 ·
ISBN Ebook: 0-309-67656-8
DOI: https://doi.org/10.17226/25775

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National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2020. Rapid Expert Consultation on SARS-CoV-2 Laboratory Testing for the COVID-19 Pandemic (April 8, 2020). Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.

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Rapid_expert_consultation

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This rapid expert consultation responds to a request from the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) concerning the effectiveness of homemade fabric masks worn by the general public to protect others, as distinct from protecting the wearer. The request stems from an interest in reducing transmission within the community by individuals who are infected, potentially contagious, but symptomatic or presymptomatic.

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine convened a standing committee of experts to help inform OSTP on critical science and policy issues related to emerging infectious diseases and other public health threats. The standing committee includes members with expertise in emerging infectious diseases, public health, public health preparedness and response, biological sciences, clinical care and crisis standards of care, risk communication, and regulatory issues.

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7 pages · 8.5 x 11 ·
ISBN Ebook: 0-309-67658-4
DOI: https://doi.org/10.17226/25776

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National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2020. Rapid Expert Consultation on the Effectiveness of Fabric Masks for the COVID-19 Pandemic (April 8, 2020). Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.

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This rapid expert consultation responds to a request from the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) concerning survival of the SARS-CoV2 virus in relation to temperature and humidity and potential for seasonal reduction and resurgence in cases.

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine convened a standing committee of experts to help inform OSTP on critical science and policy issues related to emerging infectious diseases and other public health threats. The standing committee includes members with expertise in emerging infectious diseases, public health, public health preparedness and response, biological sciences, clinical care and crisis standards of care, risk communication, and regulatory issues.

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Publication information

6 pages · 8.5 x 11 ·
ISBN Ebook: 0-309-67639-8
DOI: https://doi.org/10.17226/25771

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National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2020. Rapid Expert Consultation on SARS-CoV-2 Survival in Relation to Temperature and Humidity and Potential for Seasonality for the COVID-19 Pandemic (April 7, 2020). Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.

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This rapid expert consultation responds to a request from the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) concerning the implementation of crisis standards of care (CSC) in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. Building on a 10-year foundation of work by the Institute of Medicine, this document summarizes the broad principles and core elements of CSC planning and implementation.

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine convened a standing committee of experts to help inform OSTP on critical science and policy issues related to emerging infectious diseases and other public health threats. The standing committee includes members with expertise in emerging infectious diseases, public health, public health preparedness and response, biological sciences, clinical care and crisis standards of care, risk communication, and regulatory issues.

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Publication information

9 pages · 8.5 x 11 ·
ISBN Ebook: 0-309-67618-5
DOI: https://doi.org/10.17226/25765

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National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2020. Rapid Expert Consultation on Crisis Standards of Care for the COVID-19 Pandemic (March 28, 2020). Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.

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A previous Rapid Expert Consultation, dated March 15, provided feedback to the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) concerning issues of virus survival on surfaces and in the air, and virus/disease incubation period. This publication provides an update and elaboration on these issues, as well as some caveats about the work performed so far and as yet unmet needs.

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine convened a standing committee of experts to help inform OSTP on critical science and policy issues related to emerging infectious diseases and other public health threats. The standing committee includes members with expertise in emerging infectious diseases, public health, public health preparedness and response, biological sciences, clinical care and crisis standards of care, risk communication, and regulatory issues.

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Publication information

9 pages · 8.5 x 11 ·
ISBN Ebook: 0-309-67611-8
DOI: https://doi.org/10.17226/25763

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National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2020. Rapid Expert Consultation Update on SARS-CoV-2 Surface Stability and Incubation for the COVID-19 Pandemic (March 27, 2020). Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.

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This rapid expert consultation responds to a request from the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) concerning questions about necessary data elements, sources of data, gaps in collection, and suggestions for data system design and integration to improve modeling and decision-making for COVID-19.

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine convened a standing committee of experts to help inform the Office of Science and Technology Policy on critical science and policy issues related to emerging infectious diseases and other public health threats. The standing committee includes members with expertise in emerging infectious diseases, public health, public health preparedness and response, biological sciences, clinical care and crisis standards of care, risk communication, and regulatory issues.

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4 pages · 8.5 x 11 ·
ISBN Ebook: 0-309-67578-2
DOI: https://doi.org/10.17226/25755

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National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2020. Rapid Expert Consultation on Data Elements and Systems Design for Modeling and Decision Making for the COVID-19 Pandemic (March 21, 2020). Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.

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This rapid expert consultation responds to a request from the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) concerning the survival of the SARS-CoV-2 virus on surfaces and the incubation period between exposure and onset of symptoms.

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine convened a standing committee of experts to help inform OSTP on critical science and policy issues related to emerging infectious diseases and other public health threats. The standing committee includes members with expertise in emerging infectious diseases, public health, public health preparedness and response, biological sciences, clinical care and crisis standards of care, risk communication, and regulatory issues.

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Publication information

2 pages · 8.5 x 11 ·
ISBN Ebook: 0-309-67562-6
DOI: https://doi.org/10.17226/25751

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National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2020. Rapid Expert Consultation on SARS-CoV-2 Surface Stability and Incubation for the COVID-19 Pandemic (March 15, 2020). Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.

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This rapid expert consultation responds to a request from the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) concerning questions about severe illness in younger adults in Italy infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine convened a standing committee of experts to help inform OSTP on critical science and policy issues related to emerging infectious diseases and other public health threats. The standing committee includes members with expertise in emerging infectious diseases, public health, public health preparedness and response, biological sciences, clinical care and crisis standards of care, risk communication, and regulatory issues.

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Publication information

3 pages · 8.5 x 11 ·
ISBN Ebook: 0-309-67567-7
DOI: https://doi.org/10.17226/25752

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National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2020. Rapid Expert Consultation on Severe Illness in Young Adults for the COVID-19 Pandemic (March 14, 2020). Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.

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This rapid expert consultation responds to a request from the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) concerning the effectiveness and costs of social distancing measures in contending with COVID-19.

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine convened a standing committee of experts to help inform OSTP on critical science and policy issues related to emerging infectious diseases and other public health threats. The standing committee includes members with expertise in emerging infectious diseases, public health, public health preparedness and response, biological sciences, clinical care and crisis standards of care, risk communication, and regulatory issues.

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Publication information

4 pages · 8.5 x 11 ·
ISBN Ebook: 0-309-67572-3
DOI: https://doi.org/10.17226/25753

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National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2020. Rapid Expert Consultation on Social Distancing for the COVID-19 Pandemic (March 19, 2020). Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.

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Standing Committee on Emerging Infectious Diseases and 21st Century Health Threats

A Long COVID Definition: A Chronic, Systemic Disease State with Profound Consequences

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