CDC

President-elect Joe Biden formally announced top members of his administration’s health care team — the first step in a sign of who might take the reins on the COVID-19 pandemic and the future of American health care in the coming years.

As federal health IT officials are looking toward 2021, their focus is on leveraging data more effectively, furthering cloud adoption, investing in their workforces and partnering with industry teams who can offer packaged rather than point solutions.

The coronavirus pandemic has presented an opportunity for government to lead the charge on expanding access to care and address long-standing health equity challenges within the U.S. public health system, according to a leading public health official.

Since the onset of public health concerns surrounding the pandemic in late March, schools nationwide pivoted their operations to support modified environments like virtual classes to accommodate public health directives.

The agency released new data on COVID-19 cases in nursing homes and tactics that will support infection control.

Federal leaders emphasize the role of data in vaccine and treatment development, economic relief funding and contact tracing.

• Workforce

Several confirmed cases in DC area are prompting federal government to implement emergency working procedures.

Health agencies point to a need for modernized IT infrastructure and data-driven decisions.