From apta.org

APTA, AOTA, and ASHA Issue Joint Statement and Call for Professional Action on COVID-19 Vaccination and Education
APTA, the American Occupational Therapy Association, and the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association came together to call for members and professionals to lead the way in adhering to public health practices and guidance on vaccinations and masking, to mitigate the recent surge in COVID-19 infections.  

The Power of Human Connection: An ICU Recovery Clinic Perspective
APTA member Kirby Mayer, PT, DPT, PhD, writes about how treating patients recovering from COVID-19 has inspired him "to work harder, to be a better physical therapist, and to live life with purpose."

APTA Magazine: A Long-Term View of the Profession Following COVID-19
Physical therapists responded quickly when the COVID-19 pandemic began, installing safety protocols and changing the way they worked with patients. Now, more than 18 months later, a lot of these short-term changes remain, and many believe that physical therapy is forever altered — for PTs, PTAs, patients, and students who seek to enter the field.

From CDC

U.S. COVID-19 New Cases Surge, Deaths Continue To Increase
Total coronavirus cases have reached 35,824,258 as of Aug. 9, according the CDC COVID-19 Data Tracker — an increase of 51,638 over the previous day. A total of 614,856 people have died from the virus to date. As of July 31, the delta variant of the virus was responsible for more than 93% of new cases in the U.S. The percentage of U.S. adults who have received at least one dose of the vaccine has surpassed 71%.

In the Media

Studies: COVID Tied to Persistent Cognitive Deficits in Seniors
From CIDRAP: "New studies show an association between COVID-19 and cognitive impairment in older patients, with one reporting memory problems and worse physical health eight months after diagnosis and others finding cognitive decline and accelerated Alzheimer's disease symptoms as long as six months after infection."

COVID-19 Surge Hits Hospitals
From AP: "Florida hospitals slammed with COVID-19 patients are suspending elective surgeries and putting beds in conference rooms, an auditorium, and a cafeteria. As of midweek, Mississippi had just six open intensive care beds in the entire state. Georgia medical centers are turning people away. And in Louisiana, an organ transplant had to be postponed along with other procedures."

Fauci Hopeful COVID Vaccines Get Full OK by FDA Within Weeks
From AP: "The U.S. government’s top infectious disease expert, Dr. Anthony Fauci, said Sunday that he was hopeful the Food and Drug Administration will give full approval to the coronavirus vaccine by month’s end and predicted the potential move will spur a wave of vaccine mandates in the private sector as well as schools and universities."

AAP: COVID-19 Cases in U.S. Children Jump 84% in a Week
From CNN: "Almost 72,000 children and teens caught Covid-19 last week, the American Academy of Pediatrics reported Tuesday. … That is a 'substantial' increase from the nearly 39,000 cases reported a week before, and five times as many kids who were sick at the end of June."

FDA Expected To Recommend Boosters for Immunocompromised Americans Within Weeks
From ABC News: "Within the next few weeks, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is expected to recommend a plan for immunocompromised Americans to get a COVID-19 booster shot, a senior government official familiar with the agency's planning told ABC News on Thursday."

States, Companies Shift From Carrot to Stick on Coronavirus Vaccinations
From the Washington Post: "Across the United States, governments and businesses are starting to shift from the carrot to the stick in an effort to boost coronavirus vaccinations as cases rise. The effort comes as the Biden administration considers withholding federal funds from institutions to persuade them to mandate vaccines."

New in Research

Pediatric Telehealth Physical Therapy May Be an Effective Model After COVID-19
In a study published in Pediatric Physical Therapy, physical therapists surveyed indicated that the most important factors in telehealth effectiveness were high caregiver engagement and access to stable technology. Authors write that, although telehealth was implemented to meet a need during the pandemic, "emerging evidence suggests that it could be considered as an effective service delivery mode postpandemic."

Vaccination Did Not Cause Flare-ups in Patients With Rheumatic Disease
Authors of a report published in Arthritis & Rheumatology write that in patients with rheumatic or musculoskeletal disease who received a two-dose mRNA vaccine, only 11% reported flares requiring treatment, and none reported severe flares.