Latest KFF Health News Stories
Different Takes: Treat Essential Workers Like They’re Essential; Medicine Fails People Of Mixed Race
Editorial pages focus on these public health topics and others.
Mask Mandates Prove Effective In Oklahoma
The Oklahoman reports that state data shows cities with mask mandates nearly cut by half the number of new virus infections after three weeks. Other news from around the nation comes from Wisconsin, Montana, South Dakota, Texas, California, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Kansas, Mississippi, Georgia, Illinois, Arizona, Maine, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico and North Dakota.
Young People With Chronic Conditions Fear Return To Campuses
With weakened immune systems, they fear COVID could be fatal. Pubic health news is on unanswered questions about COVID, dieting, hydroxychloroquine, and more.
More Police Turn To Ketamine To Help Calm People Under Arrest
The AP reports that the drug is increasingly being used by police in arrests despite conflicting medical standards and reports of resulting hospitalizations and even deaths. Other science and health news explores the study of dangerous mosquitos, stuttering and paralympic athletes.
CDC Director Questions ‘Critical Worker’ Designation For Teachers
Federal and state officials, as well as university leaders, continue to struggle with how to safely bring students and teachers back to day cares and classrooms.
‘Building The Bridge As We Cross It’: How Firefighting Is Adapting To COVID
So far, virus protections among wildfire fighters seem to be working, but the battle is far from over. In other news, evacuations at Bay Area hospitals and nursing homes; COVID adaptations at evacuation centers; and how two Gulf Coast storms could hamper the pandemic response.
Pharma And Trump Square Off On Drug Prices
President Trump, looking for anything positive in health care, hopes to batter drug companies on prices to find a winning campaign issue. Pharma batters back.
Four Insurance Carriers Hit Big Profits Compared To A Year Ago
Part of the reason is patients putting off care during the pandemic. Industry news looks at mergers, lawsuits, ethics, and surprise medical bills, as well.
The People Behind The COVID Vaccine Effort
A profile of a Pfizer scientist and a volunteer for a vaccine trial provide a glimpse of the progress being made for a vaccine. Meanwhile, Russians are upset their vaccine didn’t get much attention.
Poll Finds Vast Divide Among Parties’ Acceptance Of COVID Death Toll
Republicans are much more likely to say the number of deaths is acceptable when considering how the U.S. is responding to the pandemic and more likely to believe the number is inflated, according to a USA Today survey.
DIY Home Tests Can Lead To Abrupt Turn Around In Nation’s Health
Scientists argue the FDA places such strict limits on the tests that few will be approved. News is on India’s problems with fast tests, Michigan’s contract with a company under scrutiny, and more, as well.
Republicans’ 336 Delegates Enter Convention Semi-Bubble
Testing, temperature checks and digital tracking tools are in use at the Republican National Convention physical site in Charlotte, North Carolina, to try to control coronavirus spread. President Donald Trump will make his case for reelection virtually, due to the pandemic.
As Stalemate On Relief Efforts Persists, GOP And Democrats Exchange Barbs
White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows over the weekend criticized House Speaker Nancy Pelosi for the lack of progress and she returned the favor. Meanwhile, millions of Americans are facing dire economic realities. In other news, The New York Times reports that administration officials have suggested to congressional leaders that a vaccine may be approved even before Phase 3 trials are complete. The administration denies that.
Virus May Be Spreading More Easily In Hospitals As Staff Is Spread Thin
Because of the crush of work in the pandemic, less attention is being devoted to the usual infection control priorities, experts suggest to Modern Healthcare. Reports on a variety of health workforce issues, include a profile of a nurse in Miami who has taken on a mission of helping the dying, Florida’s hollowed out public health infrastructure, care cubes and an amateur epidemiologist who saw the need for face masks early.
CDC Drops 14-Day Quarantine For Travelers But Not Social Distancing, Masking Wearing
Other news on travel affected by COVID includes longer wait times at the border and a new surface coating for airliner interiors that works for 7 days.
Biden: Obamacare Is Under Attack Again, Public Health Officials Will Get My Backing
Also, the presidential candidate issues a ”Watch Me” warning to President Donald Trump over his “Sleepy Joe” attacks, and more as well.
Twitter Flags Trump Tweet For ‘Making Misleading Health Claims’
Twitter’s action was in response to President Donald Trump claiming that mail drop boxes for voting “are not Covid sanitized,” and a “voter security disaster.” In other election news, Trump’s chief of staff weighs in on security at polling places and the House passes a bill to delay changes at the Postal Service until after the election.
Trump’s ‘Deep State’ Claim Puts More Pressure On FDA; Experts Call It ‘Baseless’
President Donald Trump accused the FDA of delaying coronavirus vaccine approval until after the election. His unsubstantiated charge, delivered via Twitter on Saturday, even took some of his own administration officials by surprise and drew outrage and criticism from Democrats, drug companies and fact checkers.
HHS Tied Hospitals’ Relief To Mandate To Report Cases To Private Firm
In April, the administration told hospitals that they must share information with TeleTracking Technologies, a company whose government contract has drawn scrutiny on Capitol Hill.
FDA Gives Emergency OK To Convalescent Plasma As COVID Treatment
Calling the move a “breakthrough,” President Donald Trump announced that the Food and Drug Administration is issuing emergency authorization to treat COVID-19 patients with convalescent plasma. Experts caution that the treatment shouldn’t be oversold.