Latest KFF Health News Stories
While the line is blurred between what’s essential and non-essential, many people are trying to follow guidelines to shelter-in-place in the first state issuing such drastic orders.
Governors Become Generals Of Coronavirus Crisis As Federal Government Dawdled
While President Donald Trump downplayed the seriousness of the outbreak, governors were thrust into the spotlight as they tried to manage the crisis in their states. “Our leaders in the federal government at every level ought to be thinking of this moment as December 8, 1941,” said Washington Gov. Jay Inslee, whose state was one of the first hit by the pandemic. He said states should be calling for “the same federal response we had the morning after Pearl Harbor.” Meanwhile, about half of Americans support stringent measures to curb the outbreak, and New York City leaders warn that a “shelter in place” order may be coming eventually. Media outlets look at how other states are dealing with the crisis, as well.
Health providers are among the most vulnerable workers to contract the coronavirus. But even as hospitals try to take measures to protect their staff during the crisis, shortages of masks and other protective gear threaten those efforts.
McConnell Vows Senate Will Work At ‘Warp Speed’ And Won’t Leave Washington Until Deal Is Passed
There’s reportedly a high-level of interest among Republicans to support the administration’s proposal to send checks to Americans to help stimulate the economy. The Senate will also take up, and expects to OK, a House-passed, $100 billion coronavirus stimulus bill referred to as “Phase 2.” Senate GOP aides said the bill could be through the chamber as early as Wednesday. Meanwhile, as industries scramble to get emergency money, Democrats try to stave off Congress writing business blank checks.
It’s difficult to determine the exact numbers for how much the health system will be taxed, especially now that states are taking measures to slow the spread. But one resounding message is that many hospitals are braced to be overwhelmed. The New York Times offers a look at what areas in the country are the most vulnerable.
Frustration has been growing over the country’s inability to properly test Americans to get an accurate count on just how bad the outbreak is. Meanwhile, rumors that the U.S. turned down tests offered by WHO are false — WHO does not sell tests to wealthy countries, which usually prefer to make their own.
When asked in January if he was worried about a pandemic, President Donald Trump said, “No, not at all. We have it totally under control. It’s one person coming in from China, and we have it under control. It’s going to be just fine.” This week he claimed he knew it was going to be a pandemic before it was called a pandemic. Meanwhile, a recent poll finds that many Americans don’t trust his response to the crisis.
Trump Administration Calls For ‘Big’ Stimulus Package, Including $1,000 Checks To Every American
The idea of sending checks to Americans isn’t new: During the Great Recession, the federal government sent about every adult a $300 to $600 check. Economists concluded that it was one of the most effective measures deployed to blunt the impact. Meanwhile, Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin warns of a grim economic future, including a 20% jobless rate, if lawmakers don’t act.
Although the military and some other agencies are ramping up efforts to address the crisis, many government resources are awaiting orders. Hospital ships are at port; the VA, which is legally designated as the backup health care system in national emergencies, awaits requests for help; and HHS’ system of of emergency doctors and nurses has yet to be deployed.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Editorial pages weigh in on these issues surrounding COVID-19.
Amid Pandemic, Programs Struggle To Reach Vulnerable Seniors Living At Home
Older adults are at serious risk during this pandemic and have been advised to avoid contact with others. Yet many still need essential services, and programs are scrambling to adapt.
Is The Bay Area’s ‘Unprecedented’ Lockdown The First Of Many?
About 7 million people across the San Francisco Bay Area began to “shelter in place” Tuesday to limit the spread of the new coronavirus. Although public health officials acknowledged the orders were drastic, they also agreed they were necessary.
Amazon announced a three-week pause of shipments of things like electronics and toys in order to get people groceries, baby products, pet supplies, health and household products and personal care items like shampoo.
The U.S. and governments around the world are taking extreme measures to stop the spread of the virus. But as a result the economy is tanking. “Everything else will come back,” President Donald Trump said. “Lives won’t come back.” But the economic health of a country is deeply tied to the physical health of its people, and the long-term stress could play out for years in the future. Meanwhile, media outlets take a look at some of the industries that have been hard-hit, including hotels, restaurants, gig jobs and small businesses.
Concerns Inside Prisons: ‘Staff Are Starting To Get Fearful’, Inmates Argue For Release
Prisons are taking steps to stem the flow of infection, according to a The New York Times report, as prisoners and guards fall sick.
As Coronavirus Testing Gears Up, Specialized Swabs Running Out
Nationwide, testing for coronavirus is ramping up. But the supply of specialty swabs needed to collect potential coronavirus specimens can’t keep up with demand, creating a bottleneck in testing capabilities. So two top manufacturers are working with U.S. and Italian governments to increase production.
Read recent commentaries about drug-cost issues.
Near Trump’s Florida Home, Drive-Thru COVID-19 Testing Gets Off To Rocky Start
Just 5 miles from Mar-a-Lago, the POTUS’ outpost, Florida residents find that the president’s pledge to make testing accessible hasn’t materialized.
Drug Coverage Is Shrinking, Leaving Vulnerable Patients In A Lurch. What’s Going On?
Read about the biggest pharmaceutical development and pricing stories from the past week in KHN’s Prescription Drug Watch roundup.