Latest KFF Health News Content

Latest KFF Health News Stories

Can Kids Trick-Or-Treat Safely? CDC Says They Should Stay Home.

Morning Briefing

Now for something really scary. “Many traditional Halloween activities can be high-risk for spreading viruses,” the CDC says in just-released guidance that recommends avoiding traditional door-to-door trick-or-treating. Meanwhile, families try to figure out how to celebrate Thanksgiving during a pandemic.

Lawmakers Call For Investigation Of Pentagon’s Reported Diversion Of Coronavirus Relief Funds

Morning Briefing

The Washington Post reported that the Pentagon chose to use money Congress allocated to “prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus” to defense contractors for things like body armor and dress uniforms.

Trump Chides Biden For Wearing Mask; Former Pence Aid Blasted For Siding With Biden

Morning Briefing

The president has also mocked the Biden campaign’s strict adherence to public health officials’ guidance on social distancing. Presidential election news is on GOP voters against Trump, an upcoming rally in Virginia, key topics of the first debate and more.

COVID Survivors May Lose Insurance Or Pay Much More If ACA Is Overturned

Morning Briefing

The law guarantees the ability to buy health insurance and bans insurers from denying coverage or charging more to people with preexisting conditions such as diabetes, cancer — and potentially COVID-19. Any change would affect the almost 7 million people in the United States who have already had the coronavirus.

FDA Proposes Harder-To-Clear Guidelines For Emergency Vaccine Approval

Morning Briefing

Draft guidelines submitted by the FDA to the White House propose standards for authorizing emergency use of a COVID-19 vaccine that match ones set for regular vaccine approval, The Washington Post reported. The agency’s move aims to reassure the public about vaccine safety and lowers the chances that one might be cleared before the Nov. 3 election.

Trump Expands Ban On Racial Sensitivity Training For Federal Contractors

Morning Briefing

On Tuesday, the president expanded his ban on “efforts to indoctrinate government employees with divisive and harmful sex and race-based ideologies” by extending it to government contractors and the military.

Health Crises Grow At Immigrant Detention Centers

Morning Briefing

Hundreds of detainees and staff are being tested for COVID-19 amid an outbreak at the Adelanto ICE Processing Center in California. And Mexican authorities say they will investigate claims that immigrant detainees were subjected to unwanted gynecological procedures at a rural Georgia hospital.

‘A Horrible Thing,’ Trump Says Of America’s 200,000-Death Mark

Morning Briefing

In remarks to reporters Tuesday, President Donald Trump said, “it’s a shame” that 200,000 have died from COVID-19 in the U.S. and that “it should have never, ever happened.” Trump did not acknowledge the death toll at a Pennsylvania campaign rally hours later. News outlets looks at other ways the president has responded to the state of the pandemic.

As US Passes 200,000 COVID Deaths, How Many More Will Die?

Morning Briefing

Public health experts offer thoughts on what the next six months of the pandemic could look like, as the nation tries to digest 200,000 lives lost — more Americans than those who died in World War I and the Vietnam War combined.

U.S. Airlines Call For Testing Prior To All International Flights

Morning Briefing

International travel has dropped to 82% compared to last year as the borders of many countries remain closed to U.S. citizens. Other public health news is on beating COVID at 102, main sources of infection, safety precautions on a cruise ship, and more.

Colleges’ Opening Fueled 3,000 COVID Cases a Day, Researchers Say

KFF Health News Original

In a draft study, researchers correlated cellphone data showing students’ back-to-campus movements and county infection rates to quantify how the coronavirus spread as colleges and universities reopened for the fall semester.