First Edition: May 21, 2021

KHN: Colorado Will Pay Hospitals To Close Expensive Free-Standing ERs
Colorado health officials so abhor the high costs associated with free-standing emergency rooms they’re offering to pay hospitals to shut the facilities down. The state wants hospitals to convert them to other purposes, such as providing primary care or mental health services. At least 500 free-standing ERs have set up in more than 20 states in the past decade. Colorado has 44, 34 owned by hospitals. (Galewitz, 5/21)

KHN: As Pandemic Eases, Many Seniors Have Lost Strength, May Need Rehabilitative Services
Ronald Lindquist, 87, has been active all his life. So, he wasn’t prepared for what happened when he stopped going out during the coronavirus pandemic and spent most of his time, inactive, at home. “I found it hard to get up and get out of bed,” said Lindquist, who lives with his wife of 67 years in Palm Springs, California. “I just wanted to lay around. I lost my desire to do things.” Physically, Lindquist noticed that getting up out of a chair was difficult, as was getting into and out of his car. “I was praying ‘Lord, give me some strength.’ I kind of felt, I’m on my way out — I’m not going to make it,” he admitted. (Graham, 5/21)

Reuters: COVID-19 Death Tolls Are Likely A "Significant Undercount", WHO Says
Official tolls showing the number of deaths directly or indirectly attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic are likely to be a "significant undercount", the World Health Organization said on Friday, saying 6-8 million people may have died so far. Presenting its annual World Health Statistics report, the WHO estimated that total deaths from the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 were at least 3 million last year or 1.2 million more than officially reported. "We are likely facing a significant undercount of total deaths directly and indirectly attributed to COVID-19," it said. (5/21)

CIDRAP: Nearly 1 Million Excess Deaths In 29 Nations During Pandemic
Nearly 1 million more people than normal died in 29 high-income countries during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, according to a time series study yesterday in BMJ. University of Oxford researchers led the study, which involved calculating weekly excess deaths for each included country in 2020, adjusting for age, sex, and seasonal and annual mortality trends in the previous 5 years. (Van Beusekom, 5/20)

CNN: The Pace Of Vaccinations Is Down By Nearly Half In The Last Month. These States Slow To Vaccinate May Struggle This Summer, Expert Warns
For many, a nationwide return to normalcy from the Covid-19 pandemic is expected to accelerate into the summer as more businesses and state governments prepare for a large-scale reopening. Sports stadiums are filling up, mask mandates are being shed, and travel and tourism industries anticipate a rebound with cruise lines planning for passengers once again. Health officials have pointed out, however, that such successes are largely contingent on getting the US fully vaccinated as quickly as possible. And right now, the rate of vaccination is slowing. (Caldwell, 5/21)

Axios: Fauci: If 70% Of Americans Get Vaccinated, U.S. Can Avoid A Fall Surge 
NIAID director Anthony Fauci told the Washington Post leadership summit Thursday that if 70% of Americans get at least one dose of the coronavirus vaccine by July 4, the U.S. could avoid a case surge later in the year. Fauci called the COVID-19 vaccine a "positive wild card" that wasn't present in the previous case upticks, but urged the U.S. to continue aggressively vaccinating its population. (Saric, 5/20)

CNBC: Is Herd Immunity Possible? New Covid Variants Could Be A Problem
When the coronavirus pandemic started to sweep around the world in 2020, a number of governments and health authorities appeared to pin their hopes on “herd immunity.” This approach would see the virus spread though society and cause infections, but also provoke an immune response in those who have recovered. (Ellyatt, 5/21)

The Wall Street Journal: New Yorkers Vaccinated Next Week Could Win $5 Million
In an effort to encourage more New Yorkers to get vaccinated, Gov. Andrew Cuomo plans to roll out a one-week incentive program giving a lottery ticket to anyone who gets a Covid-19 shot at a state-run site. The “Vax & Scratch” program, which runs May 24-28, will give adults vaccinated at one of the 10 state-run sites one scratch-off ticket for the New York Lottery, which has a first prize of $5 million and other prizes going down to $20. The tickets have a one-in-nine chance of being a winner, Mr. Cuomo said Thursday as he announced the incentive. (Grayce West, 5/20)

The Hill: Ohio Vaccination Rate Jumps 28 Percent After Lottery Announcement
Coronavirus vaccinations in Ohio jumped 28 percent in the days following the governor's announcement of a lottery for residents who get the shots, state health officials said Thursday. Vaccinations among people 16 and older had been down 25 percent May 7 to 10, compared to the previous weekend. After Gov. Mike DeWine (R) announced the lottery on May 12, and vaccination rates increased 28 percent in the period of May 14 to 17, the state Department of Health said. Residents who have been vaccinated will be eligible for five drawings of $1 million each. (Sullivan, 5/20)

Grow: Covid Vaccine Incentives: Which States Will Pay You To Get The Shot
In late April, West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice made a major announcement: Any state resident between 16 and 35 who got vaccinated for Covid-19 would receive a $100 savings bond. “I’m trying to come up with a way that’s truly going to motivate them — and us — to get over the hump,” Justice said in a statement released after the press conference. (Cortes, 5/20)

The New York Times: They Haven’t Gone for a Shot. So Shots Are Coming to Them
From the East Coast to the West, health officials are taking the Covid-19 vaccines on the road. Across the country, nurses, technicians, emergency medical workers and community partners are rolling up to the doorsteps, streets and churches of people who are homeless, who live in areas without reliable transportation or who have no internet access. Their goal: to reach the unvaccinated stragglers in overlooked neighborhoods, plugging a vulnerable gap in the nationwide effort to outmaneuver death. Some people are encumbered by jobs or the responsibility of child care. Others struggle with dire poverty. Many are adrift, out of reach or uninformed. (Hauser and Fremson, 5/20)

Axios: White House Enlists Dating Apps In Vaccination Push 
The White House is hoping that the urge to merge will motivate more Americans to get vaccinated, teaming up with nine of the largest dating sites to offer badges and other perks to those who have gotten their COVID-19 shot. The White House has an ambitious goal to get 70 percent of American adults to have had at least their first vaccine shot by July 4. (Fried, 5/21)

Roll Call: Sanders Says US Physician Shortage Is A ‘Solvable Problem’ 
Senators on both sides of the aisle agreed at a hearing Thursday that Congress should work to address the nation’s physician shortages, especially in primary health care, including through changes to training programs. At a Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Primary Health and Retirement Security Subcommittee hearing, Chair Bernie Sanders said the federal government could help boost the number of practicing physicians in the United States. The government spends about $16 billion every year to fund thousands of medical residency programs. (Cohen, 5/20)

ABC News: Pandemic Has Made Shortage Of Health Care Workers Even Worse, Say Experts
The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the ongoing shortage of health workers, leaving many health care facilities short-staffed even as the number of nationwide coronavirus cases plummets, experts say. "Nurse shortages are a long-standing issue, but because of COVID, it is anticipated to grow even more by next year," Dr. Ernest Grant, president of the American Nurses Association, told ABC News. "Nurses and other health workers are overworked and they are exhausted from the pandemic." (Romero and Bhatt, 5/21)

ABC News: Rapid School Reopenings May Have Led To Thousands Of COVID Cases, Hundreds Of Deaths In Texas
A plan to rapidly reopen schools in Texas may have contributed to thousands of COVID-19 cases and hundreds of deaths, according to an analysis by economists and public policy experts from the University of Kentucky. The analysis, which has not yet been peer reviewed, used a statistical model to estimate that roughly 43,000 people contracted COVID-19 and 800 people possibly died in Texas two months after schools reopened statewide, when virus transmission already was high. The research highlights how in-person learning and its potential "spillover" can affect nearby communities. (Lenthang, 5/20)

CNBC: Conceivable Middle, High Schools Will Be Mask-Free In The Fall: Fauci
Dr. Anthony Fauci, chief medical advisor to the White House, said that it’s conceivable for middle schools and high schools to be completely mask-free in the fall. “If the children get vaccinated, it is conceivable that that would actually wind up being a recommendation. We’ll just have to wait and see,” said Fauci. (DeCiccio, 5/20)

Axios: More Hospitals Require Health Care Workers To Get COVID Vaccine 
More hospitals and health systems nationwide are requiring their health care workforce to get the COVID-19 vaccine. RWJBarnabas Health in New Jersey announced a mandate on Thursday, saying supervisors and those of higher rank must get the vaccine by June 30. They will eventually require the system's 35,000 employees to do the same. (Fernandez, 5/21)

Noticias Telemundo: Latinos Want COVID Vaccines But Can't Take Time Off 
The number of vaccinated U.S. Latinos is increasing after months of unequal access, but hurdles remain for this especially hard-hit group to get COVID-19 vaccines at the same rate as others. President Biden wants 70% of U.S. adults vaccinated by July 4. 33% of unvaccinated Latinos are more likely to say they’d like to get vaccinated than white and Black non-Hispanics, according to a Kaiser Family Foundation poll. (Franco, 5/20)

Noticias Telemundo: Digital Gap Leaves Latino Students Behind 
COVID-19 and the digital divide have taken a severe toll on Latino students' education, from the U.S. to Patagonia. In the U.S., Latinos students have fallen considerably behind during the last year, while in Latin America dropout rates are rising. (Franco, 5/20)

CBS News: Over A Quarter Of Americans Have Worried About Homelessness - CBS News Poll
The fear of losing one's home has weighed on the minds of many Americans at some point. A recent CBS News poll shows that more than a quarter say there has been some point in their lives when they worried about not having a place to live: this is true for 28% of Americans. And for some, that fear has become a reality at some point. Thirteen percent of Americans say that they have been evicted or have lost a home in their lives. Another 33% of Americans know someone else who has lost a home. (Backus, 5/20)

Axios: Prescription Drug Price Fight Gets A Funding Infusion 
Millions of dollars are being poured into the fight over prescription drug costs — and not just from pharmaceutical companies and their allies. Consumer groups are making clear that they're not letting up on the issue, either. Lowering prescription drug costs has been a top Democratic priority for years and is hugely popular among the public, a fact that both supporters and opponents of reform aren't taking lightly. (Owens, 5/21)

The Washington Post: Colorado Bans Doxing Of Health Workers Amid Rise In Online Harassment
Seeking to address the mounting online harassment endured by health workers across the state during the pandemic, Colorado Gov. Jared Polis (D) signed a bill Tuesday making it illegal to post personal information about health workers, officials and their families that threatens their safety. “What they have been through this last year is absolutely extraordinary,” Polis said before he signed the bill. “The work that’s been called upon them, the way they have risen to the occasion and the piece that this bill addresses, which is some of the doxing and the targeting.” He added, “You are doing your job as public health officials, and you should not be subject to this kind of online targeting at home, at work.” (Kornfield, 5/20)

AP: 'I Was Afraid': Prince Harry, Oprah Discuss Mental Health
For Harry, returning to London to attend Prince Philip’s funeral last month meant once more facing a place where he felt trapped and hunted by cameras. It would be a test of his ability to cope with the anxiety that was bubbling up again. “I was worried about it, I was afraid,” Harry told The Associated Press during a recent joint interview with Oprah Winfrey to promote a mental-health series they co-created and co-executive produced for Apple TV+. He was able to work through any trepidation using coping skills learned in therapy. “It definitely made it a lot easier, but the heart still pounds,” said Harry, the Duke of Sussex and grandson of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II and her late husband Philip. (Rancilio, 5/21)

Axios: Sen. Cortez Masto: Funding Schools Can Help Improve Children's Mental Health 
Funding schools, and specifically hiring additional counselors, can help address children's mental health concerns, Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) said at an Axios Event on Thursday. Demand for mental health services for teens has skyrocketed amid the coronavirus pandemic, though Cortez Masto said the country didn't have a strong grasp on the issue even before the virus started forcing schools to cease in-person classes. (5/20)

WSB TV Channel 2: Kroger Says Fully-Vaccinated Customers, Workers No Longer Have To Wear Masks 
Kroger has announced it will not require fully-vaccinated customers and most fully-vaccinated associates to wear masks starting Thursday. The updated policy includes all stores, distribution centers, plants and offices unless masks are required by the state or local jurisdiction. “Based on the CDC’s science-based guidance and the input of our associates, we are updating our mask policy in a way that balances our values of safety and respect,” the company said in a statement. (5/20)

WUSF Public Media: Rays, Marlins Update Mask Policies While Increasing Stadium Capacities 
Fans won’t be required to wear masks the next time they watch the Miami Marlins or the Tampa Bay Rays play at their home stadiums. The teams updated their coronavirus mask policies on Wednesday following recent changes to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations, which now say fully vaccinated people do not need to wear masks in most indoor and outdoor settings. (Lisciandrello, 5/20)

Reuters: COVID Vaccines Possibly Less Effective Against Indian Variant -German Health Official
The currently available COVID-19 vaccines could be less effective against the coronavirus variant that was first found in India, the chief of Germany's public health agency said on Friday, referring to initial studies. However, the level of knowledge was still very poor and he hoped for better data within two weeks, said Lother Wieler at a news conference. Health Minister Jens Spahn said that Germany was currently reassessing its travel recommendations for Britain, which is currently listed as a risk region becase the spread of that variant there has caused concern in recent days. (5/21)

CIDRAP: Low Vitamin D Not Associated With COVID-19 Infection
Low levels of vitamin D were not associated with SARS-CoV-2 positivity after data were adjusted for variables such as comorbidities, race, and sex, according to a JAMA Network Open study yesterday. The researchers looked at data from 18,148 Quest Diagnostics employees and spouses across the country who participated in both a health screening from September 2019 to January 2020 (pre-pandemic) and August and November 2020. The mean age of participants was 47 years, and 67.1% were women. Nine hundred (5.0%) tested seropositive, or having SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. The researchers note that similar to other studies, racial disparities appeared: 1 in 3 seropositive people were Black, compared with 1 in 6 seronegative people. (5/20)

CIDRAP: 1 In 7 Adult COVID-19 Patients Requires Care For New Illness After Infection
One in seven US adult COVID-19 patients developed at least one new illness requiring medical care after recovery from their infection in 2020, finds an observational study yesterday in BMJ. The so-called COVID-19 "long-haulers" developed complications involving a range of organs and systems at least 3 weeks after infection. The complications affected the heart, kidneys, lungs, and liver, along with mental illnesses. (5/20)

The New York Times: The Latest Coronavirus Comes From Dogs
Scientists have discovered a new canine coronavirus in a child who was hospitalized with pneumonia in Malaysia in 2018. If the virus is confirmed to be a human pathogen, it would be the eighth coronavirus, and the first canine coronavirus, known to cause disease in humans. It is not yet clear whether this specific virus poses a serious threat to humans, the researchers stress. The study does not prove that the pneumonia was caused by the virus, which may not be capable of spreading between people. But the finding, which was published on Thursday in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases, highlights the need to more proactively search for viruses that could jump from animals into humans, the scientists said. (Anthes, 5/20)

AP: Old Records Shed New Light On Smallpox Outbreaks In 1700s
A highly contagious disease originating far from America’s shores triggers deadly outbreaks that spread rapidly, infecting the masses. Shots are available, but a divided public agonizes over getting jabbed. Sound familiar? Newly digitized records — including a minister’s diary scanned and posted online by Boston’s Congregational Library and Archives — are shedding fresh light on devastating outbreaks of smallpox that hit the city in the 1700s. And three centuries later, the parallels with the coronavirus pandemic are uncanny. (Kole, 5/21)

Axios: Telephones Played A Key Role In Pandemic Telehealth 
More than a quarter of all Medicare beneficiaries had a telehealth visit between the summer and fall of 2020 and, for more than half of them, that visit took place over an actual telephone, a KFF Analysis found. "Telehealth" usually conjures the idea of video visits from a computer or a smartphone. However, for many seniors, the telephone was a key connection to care made available during the pandemic. (Reed, 5/20)

Today: Study Finds Longevity Benefits Of 'Short Spurts' Of Exercise
The more steps you take each day, whether they are in short spurts or all at once, may lead to a longer life, a new study suggests. While walking in bouts of 10 minutes or more appear to have the most impact on life expectancy, shorter strolls, if there are a lot of them, can also contribute, researchers reported Thursday at the American Heart Association’s Epidemiology, Prevention, Lifestyle and Cardiovascular Health Conference. “This is just one study, but it suggests that there is a lot of flexibility in the way people can accumulate physical activity throughout the day," the study’s lead author, Chris Moore, told Today. (Carroll, 5/20)

Stat: In New Study, Stem Cells Self-Organize Into A Mini Model Of A Beating Heart
Researchers have worked for years to create organoids — miniature cellular structures that recapitulate features of larger organs — for nearly every organ in the body, in the hope that these tissue samples can serve as models in which to study everything from how diseases develop to which drugs could potentially work to combat a host of conditions. In a new study published Thursday in Cell (and previously posted to the preprint server bioRxiv), researchers describe a new mini model of the heart, one they call a cardioid. In a departure from other efforts to recreate heart muscles and function in a dish, this latest attempt did not use external scaffolding around which heart cells organized themselves. (Chakradhar, 5/20)

Stat: As Mallinckrodt Sells Rare Disease Drug, Parents Worry About Access
As it looks to emerge from bankruptcy, Mallinckrodt (MNK) has sold an experimental medicine that until recently was being tested to treat a fatal genetic disorder. But the company has said it will work with the buyer to ensure it remains available to children, an unexpected twist in the latest controversy over access to a rare disease drug. (Silverman, 5/20)

Stat: When Health Records Are Held Ransom, Patients Are Often Last To Know
Allison Savage waited years for surgery to remove the elongated bones at the base of her skull that have compressed her jugular artery, making her vision blur and head spin every time she leaned over to garden, fold laundry, or look at her computer. “I have to rest up before I brush my teeth, and I have to rest up after,” said Savage, 54. Covid-19 postponed a second surgery to remove the bone on the right side of her neck; during the 14-month delay, her symptoms became “a nightmare.” “It feels literally like someone is strangling me,” Savage said. (Renault, 5/21)

AP: JPMorgan Dives Back Into Fixing Health Care With New Venture
JPMorgan Chase will take another crack at fixing health care after a push with two other corporate giants dissolved earlier this year. The bank said Thursday that it formed a new business focused on improving care provided for about 285,000 people through its employer-sponsored health plan. Morgan Health will start with $250 million for investments and a health policy veteran as its CEO, former Clinton administration official Dan Mendelson. (Murphy, 5/20)

AP: Kansas Governor Vetoes Bill On Short-Term Health Insurance
Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly on Wednesday vetoed a bill favored by many Republican lawmakers that could have encouraged some people to stick longer with short-term health coverage that critics label “junk insurance.” The bill’s backers said it simply would have given people who buy limited duration health insurance more protection against premium increases or coverage changes. Such plans, lasting up to a year, offer lower premiums than comprehensive plans but don’t cover pre-existing medical conditions and other items such as medications or maternity care. (Hanna, 5/21)

The Wall Street Journal: Iowa Bans Face-Mask Mandates In Schools, Joining Texas
In a last-minute move at the end of the Iowa’s legislative session, Gov. Kim Reynolds signed a bill banning mask mandates in public schools across the state. “Iowa is putting parents back in control of their child’s education and taking greater steps to protect the rights of all Iowans to make their own health care decisions,” Ms. Reynolds, a Republican, said. The state’s seven-day Covid-19 case average has dropped below April 2020 levels. According to the latest seven-day average from Wednesday, 202 people have tested positive in Iowa. (Ansari, 5/20)

The Oregonian: Fake, Stolen Vaccination Cards Have Become Commonplace In Recent Weeks – And Identifying Them Can Be Difficult
Oregon announced Tuesday that fully vaccinated people now can go maskless in public indoor spaces, but only with proof that they’ve been inoculated against COVID-19. Some other states are considering similar approaches as they too fully reopen their economies. Anticipation of this development is surely one of the reasons fake vaccination cards have been selling briskly on eBay, Etsy and other internet sites for weeks. (Perry, 5/20)

WUSF Public Media: AARP: New COVID Cases At Florida Nursing Homes More Than National Average 
The latest AARP data shows that Florida is trending higher than the national average for new reported cases of COVID-19 among nursing home residents and staff. Jeff Johnson, the Florida director for AARP, said part of the problem is only about 38% of long-term care workers have been vaccinated. "For the staff members who have been caring for them, many of whom have had people they care for a pass away during this pandemic from COVID, to not get vaccinated has been staggering for us," Johnson said. (Miller, 5/20)

WUSF Public Media: Florida Records Three Straight Days With Less Than 3,000 New COVID Cases 
On Wednesday, 2,811 people tested positive for the coronavirus. It was the third day in a row that Florida's new cases were under 3,000. The positivity rate for new cases reported was 4.16%, which marks 10 consecutive days below 5%. Health experts say rates consistently below 5% could indicate community transmission is under control. The state recorded the deaths of 45 people due to complications from COVID-19. More than half, or 24, of those deaths were reported in the greater Tampa Bay region, including 15 in Hillsborough County. (Carter, 5/20)

Health News Florida: Regulators Propose Changes In Disputed NICU Hospital Rules 
After drawing challenges from major hospitals, state health care regulators this week offered to change a pair of proposed rules about neonatal intensive care services. Whether the proposed changes will be enough to stop administrative challenges filed by Tampa General Hospital or the North Broward Hospital District, which does business as Broward Health, remains to be seen. A two-day hearing on the dispute is scheduled to start June 28. (5/20)

AP: Washington State's Largest County Says Keep The Masks On
Despite recent guidance from federal and state officials, the top health official in Washington’s most populous county urged people Thursday to keep wearing face masks in public, indoor settings. King County Health Officer Dr. Jeff Duchin issued a directive strongly recommending that residents age 5 and up wear face coverings whether or not they are vaccinated until 70% or more of the county’s residents 16 and older are fully inoculated. The agency projects the county will reach the threshold in late June. (Baumann, 5/21)

AP: Kentucky Receives Grant For Suicide Lifeline Transition
Kentucky has received $340,000 to help plan for changing over to a crisis phone line that will be known as 988, Gov. Andy Beshear said. The funding came from Vibrant Emotional Health, which is the nonprofit administrator of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, Beshear’s office said in a news release Thursday.“ A simplified, three-digit national hotline creates access to mental health care similar to that available for physical health through the 911 system and represents the next giant step in reducing stigma for those at risk or in need of behavioral health services and care,” Beshear said. (5/21)

CNN: Lawsuit Aims To Force Missouri Governor To Enact Voter-Approved Medicaid Expansion 
The battle to expand Medicaid in Missouri has now shifted to the courtroom. A lawsuit was filed Thursday to force GOP Gov. Mike Parson to expand Medicaid on July 1, as voters approved in a ballot measure last year. The move comes a week after Parson said he will not broaden the public health insurance program to roughly 275,000 low-income residents because lawmakers did not appropriate funding. (Luhby, 5/20)

The New York Times: Judge Dismisses Murder Charge Against California Mother After Stillbirth
A California judge on Thursday dismissed a murder charge against a woman who delivered a stillborn child in 2019 after consuming methamphetamine. Judge Robert Shane Burns of Kings County Superior Court dismissed the charge because prosecutors had failed to present sufficient evidence that the woman, Chelsea Becker, had ingested drugs with the knowledge and intent that doing so could cause a stillbirth, according to Jacqueline Goodman, a lawyer for Ms. Becker. (Paybarah, 5/20)

Athens Banner-Herald: Athens Mask Mandate Is No Longer Being Enforced As COVID-19 Cases Drop
Athens is no longer enforcing mask-wearing as COVID-19 cases in the county dip below 100 cases per 100,000 residents. On May 4, the mayor and commission approved the 16th declaration of local emergency for COVID-19. As part of this declaration, mask-wearing in Athens would be required throughout the city. The mask requirement has been in place since July 7. (5/20)

AP: 'Like Hell:' As Olympics Loom, Japan Health Care In Turmoil
Hospitals in Osaka, Japan’s third-biggest city and only 2 1/2 hours by bullet train from Summer Olympics host Tokyo, are overflowing with coronavirus patients. About 35,000 people nationwide — twice the number of those in hospitals — must stay at home with the disease, often becoming seriously ill and sometimes dying before they can get medical care. As cases surge in Osaka, medical workers say that every corner of the system has been slowed, stretched and burdened. And it’s happening in other parts of the country, too. (Yamaguchi and Komiya, 5/21)

The New York Times: Severe Covid Is More Often Fatal In Africa Than In Other Regions
People in Africa who become critically ill from Covid-19 are more likely to die than patients in other parts of the world, according to a report published on Thursday in the medical journal The Lancet. The report, based on data from 64 hospitals in 10 countries, is the first broad look at what happens to critically ill Covid patients in Africa, the authors say. The increased risk of death applies only to those who become severely ill, not to everyone who catches the disease. Over all, the rates of illness and death from Covid in Africa appear lower than in the rest of the world. But if the virus begins to spread more rapidly in Africa, as it has in other regions, these findings suggest that the death toll could worsen. (Grady, 5/20)

The Wall Street Journal: South Korea’s Fix For Covid-19 Vaccine Shortages: Ask U.S. For A Swap
South Korea has a wealthy-country solution to alleviate its delayed rollout of Covid-19 vaccines: propose a swap with the U.S., which has one of the world’s biggest supplies. With its president visiting the White House on Friday, South Korea is expected to suggest an exchange of millions of doses on a one-for-one basis: The U.S. provides vaccinations now from its growing pile of unused shots. South Korea—with less than 3% of the population fully vaccinated—will send its supply to the U.S. in the months ahead. (Yoon, 5/21)

The New York Times: Japan Approves The Moderna And AstraZeneca Shots, Hoping To Speed Up Its Vaccination Campaign
Japan on Friday approved the Moderna and AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccines for use in adults, giving the country much-needed new options as it tries to speed up an inoculation campaign that has been one of the slowest in the developed world. Previously, only the Pfizer vaccine had been authorized for use in Japan, where just 4.1 percent of the population has received a first shot. Vaccinations have been held up by strict rules that allow only doctors and nurses to administer shots, and by a requirement that vaccines be tested on people in Japan before they are approved for use. (Hida, 5/21)

CIDRAP: Europe Makes Cautious Progress, Urged To Monitor COVID-19 Variant Spread
Europe's COVID-19 cases have dropped 60% over the past month, but progress is fragile, as the region once again is on guard against a more transmissible SARS-CoV-2 variant, B1617, the head of the World Health Organization (WHO) European regional office said today. Hans Henri Kluge, MD, MPH, the group's director, said, "We have been here before. Let us not make the same mistakes that were made this time last year." (Schnirring, 5/20)

The New York Times: Covid News: W.H.O. Notes Sharp Drop In New Cases In Europe Over Past Month 
Europe has recorded a 60 percent drop in new coronavirus infections over the past month, the World Health Organization said Thursday, encouraging news that comes as the continent plans to reopen its borders. Still, “this progress is fragile,” a top agency official cautioned. On Wednesday, the 27 member states of the European Union agreed that the bloc would reopen its borders to nonessential travelers who have been fully vaccinated against the coronavirus with an approved shot, as well as to those coming from a list of countries where the coronavirus is relatively under control. (Cumming-Bruce and Slotnik, 5/20)