How Awareness and Prevention Protect You Act

To direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, to carry out a national campaign to increase awareness and knowledge of the virus that causes COVID–19. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the How Awareness and Prevention Protect You Act 2. COVID–19 public awareness campaign (a) In general Not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, shall carry out a national awareness campaign to increase factual awareness and knowledge of the virus that causes COVID–19. (b) Content The campaign under subsection (a) shall— (1) create awareness of the signs and symptoms of the virus that causes COVID–19, including transmission with respect to an asymptomatic individual; (2) provide scientific information on the transmission and detection of the virus that causes COVID–19, including— (A) the differences (including degrees of risk) between transmission through droplets, aerosolization, and inanimate objects; (B) the risk of contracting the virus that causes COVID–19 at health care facilities and other facilities that treat individuals with COVID–19; (C) the benefits of health care workers using personal protective equipment; (D) the tests used to determine if an individual— (i) has been infected by the virus that causes COVID–19; and (ii) is infected by such virus at the time of the test; and (E) the strategies used by Federal, State, and local governments to reduce the transmission of COVID–19; (3) provide strategies for preventing transmission of COVID–19 in the home and at work, including best practices with respect to— (A) wearing and removing face masks, face coverings, and gloves; (B) physical distancing in outdoor and indoor spaces; (C) disinfecting surfaces with appropriate cleaning products; and (D) isolating a household member who is suspected or confirmed of contracting COVID–19; and (4) improve public understanding with respect to how an infectious disease develops into a public health threat, including— (A) the need for a vaccine and method of treatment; (B) factors that contribute to the transmission of an infectious disease in the population; and (C) factors that may contribute to scientific uncertainty with respect to the transmission of an infectious disease. (c) Requirements In carrying out subsection (a), the Secretary shall— (1) ensure the campaign under subsection (a)— (A) contains multilingual and culturally appropriate information and distribution strategies; (B) contains information that is updated on a monthly basis; and (C) is targeted toward communities and populations that are at a high risk of contracting COVID–19 (as determined by the Secretary); and (2) partner with community- and faith-based organizations. (d) Authorization of appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated $130,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2021 through 2023.

Summary: How Awareness and Prevention Protect You Act This bill requires the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to undertake a public awareness campaign to increase knowledge of COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019), including the signs and symptoms of the disease and strategies to prevent transmission of the virus that causes it. The CDC must partner with community and faith-based organizations to carry out the campaign, which must be multilingual, culturally appropriate, and target populations with a high risk of contracting COVID-19.