COVID-19

21 August

USDA Confirms SARS-CoV-2 in Mink in Utah

wsvma   |   COVID-19

The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) today announced on August 17 the first confirmed cases of SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19 in humans) in mink at two farms in Utah. These are the first confirmed cases of SARS-CoV-2 in mink in the United States. The affected farms also reported positive cases of COVID-19 in people who had contact with the mink. After unusually large numbers of mink died at the farms, the Utah Veterinary...

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14 August

Latest COVID-19 information

wsvma   |   COVID-19

OIE report on 5 new companion animals positive for SARS-CoV-2 in Hong Kong OIE report on puma in South Africa testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 Press release on positive dog in North Carolina Toolkit: One Health Approach to Address Companion Animals with SARS-CoV-2 There are slight edits to the Guidance for Veterinarians and Evaluation for SARS-CoV-2 Testing in Animals: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/animals/animal-testing.html https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/veterinarians.html Exposure is defined as: Being within approximately 6 feet (2 meters) of a person with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 starting from...

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07 August

New Washington COVID-19 resources for wellbeing

wsvma   |   COVID-19, Wellness

The Washington State Department of Health's (DOH) COVID-19 Behavioral Health Group Impact Reference Guide describes normal mental and emotional impacts that may manifest in the workplace. Stress over risk of job loss, changes in the nature of work, or personal challenges may contribute to lost productivity. Employees grappling with increased anxiety or stress may be irritable or forgetful. The DOH guide offers information that can help employers recognize symptoms of mental or emotional distress and offer relevant support strategies. The pandemic...

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24 July

New AVMA resource guides your practice as you expand operations

wsvma   |   COVID-19, Practice Management

Veterinarians and veterinary teams have been performing essential work throughout the pandemic, nimbly adapting procedures and adopting new processes. As some practices begin moving to expand operations, AVMA’s COVID-19 resource center has a new tool to help you stay competitive in this evolving environment. The AVMA and AVMA Trust have created a playbook for resuming veterinary practice operations to help practices navigate the unknowns and potential risks of expanding services. This resource will aid your veterinary practice in addressing specific issues...

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10 July

Tell Congress to act now!

wsvma   |   COVID-19, Legislative, Practice Management

As of July 7, 2020, over 18,500 veterinary practices took Paycheck Protection Loans to support their operations during the COVID-19 pandemic. Unfortunately, the IRS is prohibiting PPP borrowers from claiming federal tax deductions that are normally fully deductible - including some rent and utility payments, and wages and benefits paid to employees - for forgivable expenses paid with PPP funds. If this isn't reversed, veterinary small business owners could face an unanticipated additional tax burden. The IRS action contradicts congressional intent,...

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10 July

The deadline for making an application for a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan extended to August 8th

wsvma   |   COVID-19, Practice Management

Last week, the House passed a bill that extends the application deadline for the PPP. The Senate passed the bill by unanimous consent Tuesday night. The extension comes one day after the Small Business Administration (SBA)'s loan forgiveness program had reached its application deadline of June 30. The bill will extend the program's application deadline from June 30 to August 8. The bill is expected to be signed into law by the President shortly. With roughly $132 billion in remaining...

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10 July

New CDC COVID-19 document for pet owners

wsvma   |   COVID-19

The new CDC document, “What You Need to Know About COVID-19 and Pets” is intended to be shared with pet owners, and contains concise, plain language information on SARS-CoV-2 in pets. It provides information on clinical signs and testing in animals, what to do if an owner thinks their pet is sick, and guidance for owners who test positive for COVID-19. This handout can be distributed to concerned pet owners in COVID-19 positive households or to veterinary clinics fielding these questions. This...

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07 July

Gov. Inslee orders businesses to refuse service to customers not wearing masks

wsvma   |   COVID-19

Effective July 7, 2020, Washington businesses must refuse service to customers who are not wearing appropriate face coverings unless covered by a medical exemption. Gov. Inslee put the legal requirement in place to help curb the rising number of COVID-19 cases in the state. Face coverings are required statewide in all public spaces because they are effective in slowing the spread of COVID-19, especially when combined with 6 feet of physical distance. As Washington State counties begin to reopen and...

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26 June

Myths and Facts about Cloth Face Coverings

wsvma   |   COVID-19, Practice Management

This week, the Secretary of Health announced a public health order requiring everyone to wear face coverings in public. This requirement starts on Friday, June 26. The emerging science on face coverings indicates that they are effective at preventing the spread of COVID-19 if we wear them consistently. And “consistently” means that all of us—even if we feel healthy—need to wear a cloth face covering in public places. We’re going to be covering our faces for a while. Gather up the...

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22 June

COVID-19: A Guide to Reopening Veterinary Medicine in Washington – Phase 2

wsvma   |   COVID-19

The WSVMA is releasing a new version of COVID-19: A Guide to Reopening Veterinary Medicine in Washington – Phase 2 to give additional information for practices as counties open up into Phases 2 and 3 during the pandemic. The Guide, written by well-known expert Scott Weese, DVM, DVSc, DACVIM in partnership with the Ontario Veterinary Medical Association, lays out a comprehensive plan to assist veterinary practices to implement appropriate measures to ensure the health and safety of both veterinary clients...

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