ASM COVID-19 Initiatives
As the COVID-19 pandemic evolves, ASM is responding, from free access to coronavirus-related research from our journals, to advocating for the funding and resources we need to combat SARS-CoV-2. See what we're doing:
- Shaping the U.S. response.
- Leading on diagnostics & testing.
- Facilitating research.
- Providing trusted information.​
Shaping the U.S. Response
July 14, 2021: Don't Restrict Valid Pathogen Research, ASM & Partners Warn Congress
July 8, 2021: ASM Calls for Objective Evaluation into Pandemic Origins
March 26, 2021: ASM Joins with Groups Calling for Equity in Vaccine Distribution
Feb. 27, 2021 : ASM Hails the $1.75 Billion for Viral Sequencing in the American Rescue Plan Act Passed by the House
Feb. 11, 2021: ASM and Stakeholders Endorse Tracking COVID-19 Variants Act
Feb. 10, 2021: ASM Commends Congressional Proposal of $1.75 Billion for SARS-CoV-2 Sequencing
Feb 3, 2021: ASM Responds to House Committee Hearing on COVID Response
Jan 21. 2021: First Steps by Administration Key to Getting Pandemic Under Control
Nov. 12, 2020: ASM Urges Congress to Complete FY 2021 Appropriations Process
Oct 23, 2020: ASM Advocates for Equitable Access to Future COVID-19 Vaccine
Oct 7, 2020: ASM Statement on the FDA Guidance on EUAs for COVID-19 Vaccines
Sep. 17, 2020: ASM Commends Senate for Advancing RISE Act
Aug. 24, 2020: ASM Calls on Congress to Provide Relief for COVID-19
July 30, 2020: ASM Thanks HHS for Renewing COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Declaration
July 20, 2020: ASM and Partners Call for Reversal of Administration Policy Bypassing CDC on COVID-19
July 14, 2020: ASM Defends Science-Based Health Policy in Letter to Executive Branch
June 23, 2020: ASM and Stakeholders Urge HHS to Renew Public Health Declaration
June 23, 2020: ASM Reiterates Need for High-Level Review of Coronavirus Response
June 23, 2020: ASM Urges House Energy & Commerce Committee to Continue Efforts Toward Response and Recovery from the COVID-19 Pandemic
May 12, 2020: ASM Statement in Response to Senate HELP Committee Hearing on COVID-19
April 24, 2020: ASM Statement on the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act
April 21, 2020: ASM Endorses Bipartisan Letter in Support of Emergency Funding for Research Labs in Next COVID-19 Package
March 30, 2020: ASM Leads Stakeholder Letter Urging a Review of COVID-19 Response to Prepare for Future Pandemics
March 26, 2020: Breakdown of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act
March: 17, 2020 ASM Asks Congress for a High-Level, Comprehensive Review of the SARS-CoV-2 Response
March 4, 2021: ASM Applauds Action on Coronavirus Emergency Supplemental Appropriation
March 3, 2020: ASM Urges Senate Support for Coordinated Efforts to Combat COVID-19
Feb. 26, 2020: ASM Issues Response to House Hearing on FY2021 HHS Budget and Coronavirus
Feb. 5, 2020: ASM Responds to House Hearing on Wuhan Coronavirus
Leading on Diagnostics & Testing
March 4, 2021: Medical Microbiologist Lab Directors Needed to Run Clinical °®¶¹´«Ã½ LaboratoriesFeb. 1, 2021: New GAO Report Points to Need to Address On-going Testing Challenges
Jan. 21, 2021: First Steps by Administration Key to Getting Pandemic Under Control
Dec. 2, 2020: ASM Joins Letter to Biden Transition Team Highlighting Laboratory Supply Challenges
Nov. 9, 2020: Supply Shortages Impacting COVID-19 and Non-COVID Testing
Oct. 6, 2020: ASM and Partners Call for Transparency Regarding COVID-19 Testing Supplies
Aug. 27, 2020: ASM Statement in Response to Change in CDC COVID-19 Testing Guidelines
Aug. 25, 2020: ASM Reiterates Need for Continued Reimbursement of COVID-19 Tests
July 10, 2020: ASM Advocates for Increased Access to Testing Supplies and PPE
July 6, 2020: ASM Applauds Introduction of the TEST Act
July 1, 2020: ASM Statement on the Critical Role of Training Medical and Public Health Microbiologists in the Pandemic
June 24, 2020: Protocol to Verify Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) SARS-CoV-2 Antibody Tests
June 19, 2020: SARS-CoV-2: New Insights on Antibody Testing and RNA Testing
June 2, 2020: Small Study Demonstrates Sample Inactivation May Lead to SARS-CoV-2 False Negatives
May 4, 2020: ASM Thanks FDA for Clarifying SARS-CoV-2 Serology Test Guidance
April 27, 2020:
April 21, 2020: ASM Urges FDA to Affirm Role of Clinical Labs for COVID-19 Serology Testing
April 20, 2020:
April 17, 2020:
April 14, 2020: ASM Submits Letter to FDA Calling for Stronger Oversight of COVID-19 Serology Tests
April 3, 2020: Protocol to Verify Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) COVID-19 Diagnostic Tests
March 27, 2020: The Value of Diagnostic Testing for SARS-CoV-2: When, Whom, What and How Often To Test?
March 17, 2020: ASM Commends New Guidance to Increase COVID-19 Testing Capacity
March 11, 2020: A Possible Treatment for COVID-19 and an Approach for Developing Others
March 10, 2020: ASM Expresses Concern About Test Reagent Shortages
March 9, 2020: Expediting COVID-19 Testing and Expanding Access to Clinical Labs
Feb. 28, 2020: Amid COVID-19, ASM Voices Concerns about Clinical Access to Tests
Feb. 3, 2020: Novel Coronavirus Lab Protocols and Responses: Next Steps
Facilitating Research
March 2, 2021: COVID-19 Spread Tracked via a Rapid, Large-scale Early Wastewater Surveillance Alert System
Feb. 24, 2021: How to Neutralize the SARS-CoV-2 Virus
Jan. 22, 2021: NSAIDs Might Exacerbate or Suppress COVID-19 Depending on Timing, Mouse Study Suggests
Jan. 19, 2021: Sequencing of Wastewater Useful for Control of SARS-CoV-2
Jan. 12, 2021: Poor Gut Health Connected to Severe COVID-19, New Review Shows
Nov. 23, 2020: We Need to Start Planning for a Post-COVID-19 Research Ecosystem Now
Oct. 30, 2020: Washing Hands and Halloween Candy can Mitigate COVID-19 Contamination Risks
Oct. 20, 2020: In Recovering COVID-19 Patients, Antibodies Fade Quickly
Oct. 9, 2020: New Study Suggests Crucial Role for Lymphocytes in Asymptomatic COVID-19 Infection
Oct. 8, 2020: Detecting SARS-CoV-2 in the Environment
Sept. 21, 2020: Researchers Find Diminished Response by Killer T Cells in Elderly COVID-19 Patients
Aug. 26, 2020: Neutralizing Antibodies Appear to Protect Humans From Coronavirus Infection
July 15, 2020: Obesity and Metabolic Syndrome are Risk Factors for Severe Influenza, COVID-19
July 14, 2020: Ups and Downs in COVID-19 Data may be Caused by Data Reporting Practices
June 25, 2020: Researchers Identify N95 Respirator Decontamination Method Using Microwave-Generated Steam
June 24, 2020: Asymptomatic COVID-19 Patients Also Contaminate the Environment
June 19, 2020: MMR Vaccine Could Protect Against the Worst Symptoms of COVID-19
May 4, 2020: Two Drugs Show Promise Against COVID-19
April 15, 2020: ASM Launches a COVID-19 Research Registry
March 27, 2020: ASM COVID-19 International Summit Sets Research Priorities
March 23, 2020: Antimicrobials and COVID-19: Strategies for Treating a Pandemic
March 23, 2020: Researchers Investigate Potential Treatments for COVID-19
Jan. 31, 2020: 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) Update: Uncoating the Virus
Jan. 31, 2020:
Jan. 30, 2020: ASM Provides Free Access to Coronavirus Research Articles
Providing Trusted Information
March 5, 2021: COVID-19 Vaccines Signal Light After Dark DaysMarch 3, 2021: SARS-CoV-2 Variants vs. Vaccines
Feb. 22, 2021: COVID-19 Vaccinations in Underrepresented Communities
Feb. 20, 2021: Tracking COVID-19 Variants: The Role of Advanced Molecular Detection and Genomic Surveillance
Jan. 12, 2021: Immunological Memory to SARS-CoV-2: Microbial Minutes
Dec. 16, 2020: COVID-19 Webinar: Revving Up to Warp Speed
Dec. 4, 2020:
Nov. 10, 2020: Asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2: Microbial Minutes
Oct. 27, 2020: COVID-19 and the Flu
Sept. 21, 2020: SARS-CoV-2 Reinfection: Microbial Minutes
May 27, 2020: Coronavirus Webinar Series: The Microbial Sciences Respond to COVID-19
May 20, 2020: ASM Hosts COVID-19 Webinar with CDC
May 4, 2020: ASM President Robin Patel addressed stakeholders on the weekly Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Clinical Laboratory COVID-19 Response conference call. Her presentation discussed ASM's response to date to the pandemic, including support for research, support for clinical microbiologists, and communication with policymakers, stakeholders and the public. Access the .
March 20, 2020: Top COVID-19 Questions, Answered: An Interview with ASM President Robin Patel
Feb. 28, 2020: What to Know About the New Coronavirus: An Interview with Dr. Stanley Perlman
Jan. 30, 2020: Anthony Fauci Addresses Coronavirus at ASM Biothreats Conference