POLITICO NIGHTLY: Biden tries to teach to the Covid test

 

BY RENUKA RAYASAM Presented by Cars lineup at a drive-thru Covid-19 testing site at Tropical Park in Miami. | Joe Raedle/Getty Images HOLIDAY HOMEWORK — By the time the Biden administration makes 500 million at-home, rapid Covid tests available to the public, we will be deep into our post-holiday hangovers. The festivities will be over, and unvaccinated Omicron patients will be filling hospital beds. And the number of tests — which adds up to not even two for every American — will barely make a dent in the country’s overall testing infrastructure, especially given how quickly Omicron can spread. “It’s a speck in the ocean,” said Eric Topol, director of the Scripps Research Translational Institute, who estimates that the country will actually need billions of tests in order to contain Covid spread. The free Covid tests will help people make decisions about whether to gather more safely or attend school or work. Yet early studies show that an Omicron infection replicates about 70 times faster than Delta, so an infected person could show a negative test in the morning then be infectious by the time an evening party rolls around. There are “worrisome signs” that, with Omicron, a symptomatic person could initially test negative, meaning they would need to test multiple times to make sure they are not infectious, said Michael Mina, a former Harvard epidemiologist who is chief science officer at eMed, a company promoting rapid at-home testing, on a call with reporters today. The criticism about how often to test obscures bigger questions about what to do after the test, said Jennifer Nuzzo, an epidemiologist at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security. “Our problems are not just about technology,” she said. “It’s about the absence of a strategy.” Even if the administration were to blanket the country with billions of tests, there would still need to be updated guidance on how to react to test results, as well as better incentives to convince people to get tested, public health experts said. On the first point, there are glimmers that new advice is on the way. The CDC is considering cutting isolation time down from 10 days for fully vaccinated individuals who test positive for Covid but don’t show symptoms. The agency endorsed a new approach last week that keeps unvaccinated kids in schools through testing. But on the second point, the country still has a long way to go. For some people, a positive test doesn’t mean just missing out on a party or canceling a flight. Those who miss work and lose out on pay after a positive test or who can’t follow guidelines because they have nowhere to isolate probably aren’t going to get tested. Even NFL players under the league’s new guidelines may not report a sore throat for fear of getting a positive test and missing a game, said Asaf Bitton, executive director of Ariadne Labs and associate professor of health care policy at Harvard. “A true pandemic response should include a way to incentivize someone to isolate,” Mina said. The country continues to underinvest in public health infrastructure that would help more Americans safely quarantine with paid time off and a place to go, Bitton said. The U.S. would rather invest in equipping hospital systems with the latest technology than simpler tools that help people from getting sick in the first place, he said. “All of Covid — and this testing microcosm of Covid — show we invest in a sick care system,” Bitton said. At least one big incentive for rapid, at-home tests is coming later this week when the FDA is expected to approve the first pills to treat Covid, which need to be taken early in the illness. “It is the most important thing we have seen since the vaccines to get us out of the pandemic,” Topol said about the coming Covid therapies. Welcome to POLITICO Nightly. It looks like many of you spent quite a bit of time reading POLITICO journalism this year: Chartbeat’s Most Engaging Stories of 2021 included three POLITICO stories in its top 10 articles — including two of the top five — that readers spent the most time interacting with over the past 12 months. Reach out with news, tips and ideas at nightly@politico.com. Or contact tonight’s author at rrayasam@politico.com, or on Twitter at @RenuRayasam. A programming note: Nightly won’t publish from Friday, Dec. 24 to Friday, Dec. 31. But don’t fret: We’ll be back and better than ever on Monday, Jan. 3.   A message from Mastercard: Holiday cheer is in the air and shoppers are returning to stores in force, including millions of small businesses across America. Mastercard SpendingPulse data shows that total retail sales are up nearly 30% compared to last year. By empowering small businesses with digital payment solutions, data insights and the tools to operate more efficiently, Mastercard is committed to helping them during this holiday season, and thrive in the future.   WHAT'D I MISS? — Education Department considers extending student loan relief: The Biden administration is considering extending the freeze on federal student loan payments amid the surge of Covid cases and pushback from Democrats who objected to sending student loan bills to tens of millions of Americans in the coming weeks. Education Department officials have for months publicly insisted that student loan payments would begin on Feb. 1 when the existing pandemic relief — which was extended several times by both the Trump and Biden administrations — is set to expire. But today, an Education Department official indicated that the restart of student loan payments could again be postponed. — Democrats not yet ready to trim climate ambitions: Democrats aren’t giving up yet on their hopes to go big on climate change — once they can figure out where Sen. Joe Manchin’s red lines are . A day after the West Virginia senator abruptly repudiated their $1.7 trillion climate and social spending package, progressive Democrats were still holding out hope that Manchin might agree to a sweeping series of tax credits aimed at encouraging a transition to clean energy. But they don’t know how close that might be to the House-passed reconciliation bill’s $550 billion in overall climate and clean energy incentives — more than $300 billion of which was directed toward tax credits. And there are still unsettled questions on some of the finer details of the tax credits, most notably on providing extra credits for electric vehicles made by unionized labor, which Manchin said was “not American.” — NHL reportedly set to withdraw from Olympics after Covid surge: The NHL will withdraw from the Winter Olympics after the league’s regular-season schedule was disrupted by coronavirus outbreaks , a person with direct knowledge of the decision told The Associated Press today. The NHL informed the NHLPA today that it was retaining its right to withdraw from Olympic participation because there was a material disruption to the season, the person said. The NHLPA was not going to dispute the decision.       — Boston mayor lines up vaccine mandates despite pushback from city workers: Mayor Michelle Wu’s sweeping new vaccine mandates for restaurants, gyms and city workers are drawing mixed reactions from businesses and public employees as local officials scramble to blunt the latest Covid-19 surge. Patrons and staff at certain indoor spaces — restaurants, bars and nightclubs; gyms and fitness centers; and entertainment venues such as theaters and sports arenas — will have to show proof of at least one vaccine dose by Jan. 15 and two by Feb. 15. Wu is also requiring all city employees to get vaccinated along the same timeline unless granted an exemption — a departure from the previous policy that gave workers the option of weekly testing. — Biden Justice Department reverses on returning federal convicts on home detention to prison: Under intense pressure from criminal justice reform advocates, the Justice Department has reversed a Trump-era legal opinion that could have required several thousand federal convicts to return to prison from home confinement if the Biden administration declares an end to the pandemic-related national emergency. The new opinion from the Justice Department’s Office of Legal Counsel meets demands from reformers and lawmakers that officials find a way to allow prisoners who’ve typically been living at home for a year or more under pandemic-related legal authorities to remain at home to serve out the remainder of their sentences. — Fauci rebukes Fox News host: Fauci, the nation’s top infectious disease expert, called on Fox News to fire host Jesse Watters for saying earlier this week that attendees of a conservative conference should “ambush” him with a “deadly” rhetorical “kill shot” question . “That’s awful that he said that. And he’s going to go, very likely, unaccountable,” Fauci told CNN of Watters’ remarks. “I mean, whatever network he’s on is not going to do anything for him. I mean, that’s crazy. The guy should be fired on the spot.” Speaking on Monday at Turning Point USA’s AmericaFest conference, Watters encouraged attendees to ask Fauci dubious questions about the National Institutes of Health allegedly funding “gain-of-function” research at the Wuhan Institute of Virology.   POLITICO TECH AT CES 2022 - We are bringing a special edition of the POLITICO Tech newsletter to CES 2022. Written by Alexandra Levine and John Hendel, the newsletter will take you inside the most influential technology event on the planet, featuring every major and emerging industry in the technology ecosystem gathered together in one place. The newsletter runs from Jan. 5-7 and will focus on the public policy related aspects of the gathering. Sign up today to receive exclusive coverage of the Summit.     AROUND THE WORLD A Ukrainian soldier uses a hand-held periscope to view the positions of Russian-led forces in Zolote, Ukraine. | Brendan Hoffman/Getty Images DOD REJECTS MOSCOW CLAIMS — The Pentagon is flatly rejecting Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu’s claim that American military contractors are smuggling chemicals into eastern Ukraine to incite a “provocation,” Paul McLeary writes. Shoigu’s comments came during a meeting in Moscow today with the country’s top military officials and President Vladimir Putin, who issued new threats against NATO if the alliance continues with unspecified “aggressive steps.” The suggestion that U.S. contractors were smuggling “tanks with unidentified chemical components” into Ukraine’s Donetsk region was met with a swift response from the Pentagon, where spokesperson John Kirby said “those statements by Minister Shoigu are completely false.” The rhetoric coming out of Moscow has been increasingly aggressive, and it appears meant to portray a sense of helplessness in Russia in the face of NATO expansion. In recent months, Russia has massed about 100,000 troops, along with advanced artillery, logistics and support elements that could support a major thrust over the border into Ukraine.   STEP INSIDE THE WEST WING: What's really happening in West Wing offices? Find out who's up, who's down, and who really has the president’s ear in our West Wing Playbook newsletter, the insider's guide to the Biden White House and Cabinet. For buzzy nuggets and details that you won't find anywhere else, subscribe today.     NIGHTLY NUMBER 0.1 percent The growth of the U.S. population in 2021, the slowest rate since the nation was founded in the 18th century, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau . The Census Bureau attributed the slow population growth to the Covid-19 pandemic, though the country has been experiencing low birth rates and net migration for several years. PARTING WORDS Shoppers visit the Dolphin Mall in Miami. | Joe Raedle/Getty Images ECONOMY FACES COLD WINDS — Wall Street forecasters are dialing back their growth projections for next year as fading hopes for the president’s sweeping economic agenda and heightened concerns about the new Covid variant have suddenly clouded the outlook, Kate Davidson writes. The twin blows are coming on top of a fiscal drag that was already expected in 2022 as support from earlier economic-relief efforts has wound down. That creates even more challenges for Democrats in an election year in which they’re struggling to maintain control of Congress. “It can’t be good for Democrats’ chances in the midterms,” Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody’s Analytics, said of the possibility that Biden will fail to get his signature policy proposals across the finish line. “On one level, the economy is going to be growing more weakly, particularly as we head into the election, because that’s when fiscal headwinds are going to be blowing the hardest. It also makes it harder for Democrats to argue they’re getting things done.” Those headwinds are also coming at a delicate time for the Federal Reserve as it moves to withdraw its massive aid to the economy to bring spiraling inflation under control. If overall growth slows markedly, the central bank would have much less of a cushion to raise interest rates without injuring the broader economy.   A message from Mastercard: What do you do when your dreams don’t go according to plan? That’s what many small business owners who depended on foot traffic wondered last year when the pandemic suddenly forced them to close their doors and change their business models. Small businesses are the backbone of our economy, serving as the lifeline through which goods, services and livelihoods flow. And, when the pandemic hit, Mastercard solutions, insights and tools helped entrepreneurs evolve to succeed in the new digital economy. Now, as shoppers return to small businesses this holiday season, Mastercard is helping entrepreneurs prepare for the future.     Follow us on Twitter Chris Suellentrop @suellentrop Tyler Weyant @tweyant Renuka Rayasam @renurayasam Myah Ward @myahward   FOLLOW US

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MASSTERLIST: What will it take to slow omicron's spread?

 

By Chris Van Buskirkwith help from Keith Regan and Matt Murphy

12/20/2021

What will it take to slow omicron's spread?

Happening Today     Today | The MBTA, Merrimack Valley Regional Transit Authority, and the Massachusetts Port Authority kick off a two-year pilot program that will allow buses to use the breakdown lane during rush hour along a seven-mile stretch of Interstate 93 in Woburn, Stoneham, Medford and Somerville. 10 a.m. | Mass. Gaming Commission meets to go into an executive session to "evaluate a matter relative to the Nondisclosure Agreement between the Commission and Wynn MA, LLC." 10 a.m. | Boston Mayor Michelle Wu holds a press conference at City Hall Plaza to make "an announcement related to the city's COVID-19 response," an advisory said. 11 a.m. | House meets an informal session and Senate meets without a calendar. 12:30 p.m. | U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern and state Sen. Jo Comerford hold press conference with UMass researchers to highlight work to combat PFAS chemical contamination. 12:30 p.m. | Assistant Speaker Katherine Clark and Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley tour the Cambridge Economic Opportunity Committee to highlight the federal funding that has helped to reduce food insecurity, including the monthly Child Tax Credit payments.

Today's News   Harvard shifts to remote model for start most of January   What will it take to stop the spread of the new omicron variant? Is it shutdowns? Remote learning and work? Additional mask mandates? All three? These are the questions that public and private leaders are grappling with as hospitalizations continue to climb and flu season starts up. For weeks, health officials have called on Gov. Charlie Baker to implement a statewide universal mask mandate. He hasn't budged on the issue, instead pointing to targeted mandates in places like congregate care settings and public schools. If you want to read more, we wrote about mask mandates on Friday. But at least one major institution in Massachusetts is making a move intended to stop the surge of local COVID cases. Harvard Crimson's Cara J. Chang and Isabella B. Cho report that the university is moving to remote operations for the first three weeks of January. The duo also report that 344 affiliates tested positive in the last seven days. The decision is somewhat reminiscent of the first few months of the pandemic when colleges and universities quickly transitioned to all remote learning and work. It was a hectic time when many students had to quickly formulate plans to either get home or stay in the city. The interesting question here is whether other campuses will follow suit? This isn't a perfect rule of thumb to follow, but Harvard sometimes leads the way on decisions like these within Boston's education community. Nurses, hospital reach agreement to end strike   More than 280 days later, an agreement has been reached. Telegram & Gazette's Marco Cartolano reports that St. Vincent Hospital and the Massachusetts Nurses Association reached an agreement to end a nurses strike that will go down in history as one of the longest in the state. About 700 nurses started striking on March 8. More from Cartolano: "If the agreement is ratified, all striking nurses will be returned to their prior positions while hired replacement nurses will also keep their position, possibly resolving the biggest roadblock to ending the strike which entered its historic 285th day Friday." Telegram & Gazette     Cronin confirmed to ambassadorship in Ireland   Shipping over to Ireland. The U.S. Senate on Saturday confirmed state Rep. Claire Cronin to serve as ambassador to Ireland. State House News Service's Michael Norton reports that Cronin serves in House Speaker Ronald Mariano's leadership team and her confirmation sets up another slot to fill in the House. State House News Service via WBUR     Showdown coming? Wu poised to announce tougher vaccine mandate   Boston Mayor Michelle Wu is poised to announce new steps the city will take to address the latest surge of coronavirus on Monday – likely including a toughened vaccine mandate that could lead to a showdown with city employee unions, Rick Sobey of the Boston Herald reports. Wu is expected to eliminate the option city workers currently have of being tested regularly and may also announce a vaccine passport program for accessing city businesses and services. Boston Herald Lawmakers crack through differences, find common ground on egg bill   A group of lawmakers have hatched a compromise on legislation that leaders in the egg industry say could stave off a surge in price for the breakfast staple. State House News Service's Chris Lisinski reports that the two lead negotiators of a six-member panel of legislators tasked with finding a deal announced a consensus Sunday night. The bill looks to make tweaks to a 2016 voter-approved animal welfare law that would alter requirements for housing egg-laying hens. State House News Service     Breakthrough: Warren among Dems to announce Covid infection   U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren announced Sunday she tested positive for COVID-19 and is experiencing mild symptoms, Jim Puzzanghera of the Globe reports. Warren, who lost her older brother to the virus last year, said she is vaccinated and has received a booster shot. Fellow Democratic Sen. Cory Booker and at least one House lawmaker also reported testing positive. Warren, meanwhile, is still seen among the most-likely 2024 Democratic presidential nominees not named Joe Biden, with Aaron Blake of the Washington Post ranking her third behind only VP Kamala Harris and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg in his oh-so-early look-ahead.     Winds of change: Salem big winner in next phase of offshore wind project   Wish granted. They’re rejoicing in Salem after state officials announced Friday that Commonwealth Wind had been tapped to provide 1,200 megawatts of power with an offshore wind project based out of Salem Harbor. Dustin Luca of the Salem News reports Mayor Kim Driscoll hailed the news as “transformative” for the city’s working waterfront. Bruce Mohl of CommonWealth reports Brayton Point in Somerset, where a deep-sea cable manufacturing plant will be built, is another winner in this third and largest round of wind-power procurement.     Prior police, prosecutorial misconduct leading to releases   Police or prosecutorial misconduct is leading to peoples' release from prison. Boston Globe's Andrew Ryan reports that since 2020, nine men have been freed from prison because of misconduct, cut-rate investigations, or evidence pointing to a another culprit. All the released men were Black and served two decades or more each. More from Ryan: "The driving force behind many of the cases is Suffolk District Attorney Rachael Rollins’s Integrity Review Bureau. With each new revelation of wrongdoing or injustice come increasing questions about the police department’s willingness to reckon with the sins of its past and reexamine its work, particularly when victims of that injustice remain behind bars." Boston Globe     City school officers union warry of effects of police reform law   They're feeling toothless. A memo from city school officers to administrators lays out how they feel like a new police reform law stripped them of powers to intervene and breakup fights. Boston Herald's Joe Dwinell reports that administrators were worried about a "communication" from the city school officers union advising members to "not to break up fights." Boston Herald     Bruins season put on hold as team deals with COVID cases   Shut them down. The National Hockey League put the Bruins' season on hold Saturday as an outbreak of COVID-19 engulfed the team. Associate Press' Jimmy Golen reports that the shut down takes effect immediately and will last at least through the start of the new year. Associated Press     Long way down: Sagging enrollment, empty dorm signal woes at Mass. College of Liberal Arts   The pandemic has been bad for all colleges, but especially for this one. Danny Jin of the Berkshire Eagle chronicles the flagging fortunes of the Mass. College of Liberal Arts, where enrollment has fallen 35 percent in the last two years. One dormitory at the North Adams campus of the UMass system is closed entirely and some students say a shortage of professors makes finding the right classes a challenge. Berkshire Eagle     'Worcester is his life'   Who is the man behind Worcester's Renaissance? MassLive' Douglas Hook takes an inside look into the mind of City Manager Edward Augustus Jr. who helped lead Worcester's revival over the last eight years and even saw it land on Bloomberg's top 10 cities to bounce back after the pandemic. MassLive     Today's Headlines   Metro   Federal marshals won’t provide a security detail for confirmed US Attorney Rachael Rollins despite recent threats against her life - Boston Globe Boston police bought spy tech with a pot of money hidden from the public - WBUR   Massachusetts   Easthampton earmarks cannabis money for roadwork, library, police contract expenses - Daily Hampshire Gazette Cape Cod hospital beds filled to capacity as COVID-19 cases rise - Cape Cod Times   Nation   Burlington, Vermont decided to cut its police force 30 percent. Here’s what happened next. - NBC News Manchin Rejects Landmark Legislation, Putting Biden’s Climate Goals at Risk - New York Times MASSterList, 568 Washington St, Wellesley, MA 02482