Policy Engagement
SWHR signed on to a recent letter urging the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to renew the public health emergency (PHE) declaration for COVID-19 before it expires on July 25, 2020. The letter, led by the American Society for Microbiology and signed by 90 different stakeholders, asked HHS Secretary Alex Azar to renew the current PHE declaration for at least an additional 90 days. Renewing the PHE declaration will allow the government to increase the pace of research on SARS-CoV-2; accelerate development of medical countermeasures; streamline efforts to bring novel diagnostics, vaccine candidates, and therapeutic options to market; and ensure that the public has access to health care and other social services.
The coronavirus pandemic affects women’s health in a multitude of ways. In addition to the threat to women’s physical health, COVID-19 and its ramifications are creating burdens on women that negatively influence their mental, emotional, social, and financial health as well.