Latest KFF Health News Stories
In At Least A Dozen States, Testing Woes Reappear With A Vengeance
Issues like longer wait times and supply shortages are becoming apparent in many areas. In related news: Wyoming will test all prisoners for COVID-19.
Florida’s HCA Hospitals Slam Brakes On Non-Emergency Surgeries
Other health care companies in the news: Oscar, Sutter Health, Teladoc Health and United Hospital Fund.
Debate Over Reopening Schools — And How To Do It — Continues
The science seems iffy, political messages pitched and school officials say it will take an infusion of funds to pull it off. The stakes are high as school systems around the country begin to release their plans.
Foreign Students In Fraught Position Due To Trump Visa Rule
Harvard and MIT, as well as the state of California, are among entities filing suit against a Trump administration immigration policy which could lead to the deportation of international students who only take online higher-education courses — even though many institutions are not planning to offer in-person learning this fall.
Drug Behemoths Toss $1 Billion Lifeline To Small Antibiotic Companies
The fund aims to help struggling startups survive a collapsing antibiotic market that has dramatically reduced the number of promising drugs.
Study: Evidence Suggests Fetal Transmission Of Coronavirus Possible
Italian researchers studied 31 women with COVID-19 who delivered babies in March and April.
CDC Director Says Closed Schools Pose ‘Greater Public Health Risk’ For Kids
In public comments Thursday, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Robert Redfield said, “the reason I push it is that I truly believe it’s for the public health benefit of these kids.” The agency’s final guidelines for reopening schools are still in flux after criticism from President Donald Trump.
Trump Takes Step Back From Previous Mask-Wearing Reluctance
The president said he will “likely” wear a mask when he visits combat veterans and health care workers at Walter Reed Medical Center this weekend.
WHO Recognizes That Airborne Spread Of Coronavirus Indoors Is Possible
The World Health Organization previously dismissed the possibility that respiratory droplets can linger in the air and transmit the virus. A group of 200 scientists penned a letter to the agency earlier this week urging them to acknowledge the scientific evidence.
WHO Director’s Urgent Solidarity Plea To Global Leaders: ‘How Is It Difficult For Humans To Unite?’
In an impassioned speech, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warns that the greatest threat to effectively fighting the pandemic is a lack of global leadership and unity.
COVID Cases Keep Accelerating In U.S., Passing Another Single-Day Record
New outlets tallying the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases report that Thursday posted yet another daily high mark.
States Struggle To Cope With High Infection Tallies
This sampling of news stories reflects high numbers in Oregon, Wisconsin and Illinois as well as from a Navajo nation reservation that encompasses parts of Arizona, New Mexico and Utah.
Time To Pause Reopenings In States With Growing Infections, Fauci Says
In an interview with The Hill, Dr. Anthony Fauci said, “I think any state that is having a serious problem, that state should seriously look at shutting down.” With infections surging in so many places, the question of re-instituting restrictions is being fiercely debated by government and public health officials across the U.S.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Colorado, Like Other States, Trims Health Programs Amid Health Crisis
Across the country, the recession has cut state revenues at the same time the COVID-19 pandemic has increased costs, forcing state lawmakers into painful decisions about how to balance their budgets. Health care is one of the targets even in the midst of a health care crisis.
KHN’s ‘What The Health?’: ‘Open The Schools, Close The Bars’
While COVID-19 cases continue to surge in more than half the country, the Trump administration has decided its top priority is for schools to open for in-person learning this fall. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court hands Trump a victory in a case to limit the reach of the birth control benefit under the Affordable Care Act. Joanne Kenen of Politico, Mary Ellen McIntire of CQ Roll Call and Kimberly Leonard of Business Insider join KHN’s Julie Rovner to discuss this and more. Also, Rovner interviews KHN’s Sarah Varney about the latest KHN-NPR “Bill of the Month.”
Más pruebas para COVID, pero esperas demasiado largas por los resultados
Con la demanda en alza, los resultados de las pruebas para COVID-19 están tardando hasta 10 días, lo que dificulta los esfuerzos de salud pública para frenar la propagación.
La tasa de vacunación contra la culebrilla aumenta, pero muchos quedan atrás
Un nuevo informe de los Centros para el Control y Prevención de Enfermedades (CDC) revela que el porcentaje de vacunación es mucho más bajo entre las minorías.
Editorial pages express views on safe ways to educate students and operate sports programs during the pandemic.
Opinion writers weigh in on these public health issues and others.