Latest KFF Health News Stories
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.
Opinion writers weigh in on the historic measures being taken at the state level and in other places around the world to control the spread of COVID-19.
Dozens of officers on the ship were called into tight quarters to be briefed on the situation, even as health experts have emphasized the need for social distancing to stop the spread of the virus.
Italy’s Morgues Inundated With Coronavirus Victims As Loved Ones Mourn In Isolation
In Italy, with the oldest population in Europe, the toll has been heavy, with more than 2,100 deaths — the most outside of China. On Monday alone, more than 300 people died. The nation is grieving, and yet cannot grieve together with everyone in isolation.
Australia opens grocery stores early for elderly shoppers who are more threatened by COVID-19. Other news on shopping looks at what to buy, risks for grocery store workers and panic buying, as well.
Doctors and other medical professionals are on the front lines of the crisis, and experience all the trauma that comes with that. In other news on how humanity is reacting to the outbreak: anxiety inspires charity in some, distilleries do their part to help with sanitizer shortage, fraudsters abound, and more.
Advocacy Groups Step Up Efforts To Free Health-Compromised Immigrants In Detention Centers
The lawyer for a Cuban asylum-seeker with breast cancer said exposure to COVID-19 could be deadly for his client. She was recently transferred to a detention center in Louisiana. News on how the pandemic is impacting immigrants comes out of Washington and Massachusetts, as well.