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Admiral Karl Schultz, Commandant of the Coast Guard, stated,
“The Coast Guard is working closely with all state and local first
responders and federal partners in response to Hurricane Delta. This is
the sixth major storm to impact the Gulf coast during this year’s historic
hurricane season. As with previous storms, the Coast Guard had assets
pre-staged throughout the region to be ready to immediately respond where
needed. Amidst the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic, Coast Guard women
and men across the country and around the world remain
Semper Paratus.”
Cyber Security and
Infrastructure Agency (CISA)
Continuing to
Secure the Election Process. On October 7th, CISA
released the Election Infographic Products,
a set of infographics products that identify changes in mail-in voting
this year as a result of COVID voting policies. The series includes
three infographics and two maps designed to combat disinformation
by equipping election officials, stakeholders, and voters with information on
the mail-in voting, post-election, and election results processes, and the
security measures that were implemented to safeguard the 2020 election season
and increase the resilience of the American electorate.
Federal Emergency
Management Agency (FEMA)
Providing Grants to States for Supplemental Lost Wages Payments. To
ease the economic burden for those struggling with lost wages due to the
coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, President Trump authorized FEMA to expend up
to $44 billion from the Disaster Relief Fund for lost wage payments. As of
October 9th, Administrator Gaynor has approved 49 states, Puerto
Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana
Islands and the District of Columbia for FEMA grants under this unprecedented
program. FEMA’s grant funding will allow the approved states to provide those
unemployed due to COVID-19 $300 or 400 per week on top of their regular
unemployment benefit. As of October 9th, FEMA has awarded more
than $42.3 Billion in support of Lost Wages supplemental assistance. All
approved grant applicants receive an initial obligation of three weeks of
funding, with additional disbursements made on a weekly basis.
Providing Full Federal
Reimbursement for States’ National Guard Forces. On
August 3rd, President Trump granted an extension for the use of
the National Guard under Federal Title 32 orders to respond to COVID-19 until
December 31, 2020. As of October 8th, 16,267 National Guard troops
have activated in T-32 duty status and 432 troops have activated in State
Active Duty status to help with testing and other response efforts. To date,
President Trump has approved 49 National Guard requests for federal support
for the use of National Guard personnel in a Title 32 duty status through
December 31. For those states and territories that are approved under these
criteria, FEMA executed a fully reimbursable mission assignment to the
Department of Defense, including reimbursement for pay and allowances of National
Guard personnel serving in a Title 32 duty status in fulfillment of the FEMA
mission assignment.
Federal Law Enforcement
Training Center (FLETC)
Graduating
the Next Generation of Law Enforcement. FLETC
continues to successfully implement testing, identification, isolation and
containment protocols in managing the COVID-19 virus. As of October 9,
nearly 3,700 officers and agents have successfully graduated and are now in
the field performing work that is critical to protect the homeland since
training was restarted on June 17. There are currently 2,159 students
attending in-residence training at Glynco, Charleston, and Artesia
training delivery points, with an additional 97 students attending training
at the Cheltenham training delivery point. Their graduation in the coming
months and the continual influx of new students ensures that our federal law
enforcement partners receive the trained personnel they need to help keep our
nation secure. In addition, more than 7,100 officers and agents from federal,
state, local, and tribal have taken part in FLETC online training, including
nearly 4,200 participants for the Integrated Use of Force series.
Science and Technology
(S&T)
Driving Evidence-Based Policymaking. On October 7, the
DHS Science and Technology Directorate updated its Master Question List (MQL),
and does so weekly, to compile available research on operationally-relevant
questions to aid decision makers in the COVID-19 response. The MQL is a
quick-reference guide covering what is known about the virus, what additional
information is needed, and who may be working to address these fundamental
questions. New entries include:
Cross-reactivity from seasonal coronaviruses enhances the immune
response toward the S2 unit of the SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein.
- Nguyen-Contant, P.; Embong, A. K.; Kanagaiah,
P.; Chaves, F. A.; Yang, H.; Branche, A. R.; Topham, D. J.;
Sangster, M. Y., S Protein-Reactive IgG and Memory B Cell Production
after Human SARS-CoV-2 Infection Includes Broad Reactivity to the S2
Subunit. mBio 2020,11 (5),
e01991-20. https://mbio.asm.org/content/mbio/11/5/e01991-20.full.pdf
India has approved a rapid CRISPR-based test paper capable of
generating results with 96% sensitivity and 98% specificity within an hour of
nasopharyngeal swab.
Regular disinfection of hospital rooms (with benzalkonium wipes)
can reduce the presence of SARS-CoV-2 on surfaces, though contamination is
widespread without regular cleaning.
- Kim, U. J.; Lee, S. Y.; Lee, J. Y.; Lee, A.; Kim, S.
E.; Choi, O.-J.; Lee, J. S.; Kee, S.-J.; Jang, H.-C., Air and
Environmental Contamination Caused by COVID-19
Patients: a Multi-Center Study. J Korean Med
Sci 2020,35 (37). https://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2020.35.e332
Methylene blue (in combination with visible light) is being
investigated for decontamination of N95 respirators.
Transportation Security
Administration (TSA)
Keeping Americans Safe While Ensuring Continuity of U.S. Travel and
Commerce. Between Oct. 4th through Oct. 10th,
TSA screened more than 5.7 million passengers, who have all reached
their destinations safely. TSA officers are required to wear facial
protection and gloves while on duty at the checkpoint. In support of air
travel and all other modes of transportation, the agency continues to follow
CDC guidance to protect Americans, its workers, and the nation’s
transportation system. TSA continues to promote its “Stay Healthy. Stay
Secure” campaign which outlines significant airport checkpoint modifications,
including new technologies that reduce or eliminate physical contact,
implemented to contain the spread of COVID-19, comply with CDC guidelines,
and promote healthy and secure summer travel.
Ready to Ensure Safety
During the Summer Travel Period. TSA announced the
implementation of new credential authentication technology (CAT)
at Albany International Airport on
Oct. 5 and at Billings International Airport on
Oct. 8 that allows the TSA screening officer to verify the traveler’s
identity with little to no physical contact with the airline traveler. On Oct
6, TSA announced new 3D checkpoint scanner technology at Long Island’s MacArthur Airport. The
3-D imagery allows TSA officers to manipulate the image on screen to get a
better view of a bag’s contents and often clear items without having to open
a carry-on bag, thereby reducing physical contact. On
Oct 7, TSA announced new acrylic barriers deployments throughout various
checkpoint areas at Philadelphia International
Airport to help reduce the spread of COVID-19.
United States Coast
Guard (USCG)
Monitoring Vessels
that Pose a Risk to Public Health. As of October 8th,
the USCG is tracking 61 cruise ships moored, at anchor, or underway in
vicinity of a U.S. port, or with potential to arrive in a US port, with
approximately 9,296 crewmembers. This includes an estimated 184 American
Citizens crewmembers dispersed among 31 vessels. The Coast Guard is working
with the CDC based on its extension of the No Sail Order for cruise ships,
which permits the off-loading of crewmembers following submission of a plan
to the CDC.
Reservists. As
of October 10th, the USCG has recalled and deployed 442 Reservists
in support of COVID-19 operations. They are activated to serve in
numerous types of roles, including work in IT support, medical clinics, PPE
warehouses, command centers and other incident management roles, notably
assisting federal partners such as HHS, and supporting state emergency
operations centers on behalf of FEMA.
U.S. Immigration
and Customs Enforcement (ICE)
Keeping the Public
Safe from COVID-19-related Fraud. ICE’s Operation Stolen
Promise (OSP) targets fraudulent activity stemming from the pandemic. The
initiative combines ICE’s Homeland Security Investigation’s (HSI) expertise
in global trade investigations, financial fraud, and cyber investigations
with robust private and public partnerships to disrupt and dismantle this
criminal activity and strengthen global supply-chain security. As of October
7, as part of OSP, the agency has made 135 criminal arrests,
analyzed 65,573 COVID-19-related domains, seized more than
$12,004,505 million in illicit proceeds,
disrupted 51 instances of illicit activity,
sent 1,392 leads to domestic and international field offices,
executed 126 search warrants and
made 1,437 COVID-19-related seizures to include prohibited test
kits and pharmaceuticals, counterfeit masks and more.
U.S. Customs and
Border Protection (CBP)
Protecting American Businesses. Last week, CBP announced the
seizure of nearly 60,000 counterfeit facemasks by the Baltimore Field Office
that violated trademarks of numerous U.S. consumer brands.
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