The IRS announcement indicated e-filing resumes today, but when I just tried to e-file a 2020 return, I was given the same error box indicating that e-filing will resume "sometime in late January/early February".

Can Intuit provide an update on when today we can start e-filing returns?

It is in the News and Updates

https://proconnect.intuit.com/community/proconnect-tax-news-updates/discussion/irs-individual-e-file...

That post says today, but it appears the IRS is only accepting 2021 returns as of today. 

2019 and 2020 returns are still not available for efile submission at this time.

I am only the messenger. Merely another user. Intuit sometimes has difficulties fulfilling their promises on time. 

Based on what I am seeing on #taxtwitter, this is an IRS issue, as users of other software are experiencing the same issue.  

What would be nice from Intuit is confirmation that 2019 and 2020 returns are not being accepted at this time.

I'm guessing someone from Intuit will look into and by the time they get back to us, the issue will be no more.