Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
4,320 Fatalities: U.S. Reports Highest Daily Number Of Covid Deaths
CNN: US Coronavirus: The US Has Suffered Its Worst Day Ever For Covid-19 Deaths
The US reported its highest daily number of Covid-19 deaths on Tuesday with more than 4,320 fatalities attributed to the virus. It marked the second time -- both this month and since the pandemic's start -- that the US reported more than 4,000 Covid-19 deaths in a single day. Over the past week, the US has averaged more than 3,300 deaths every day, a jump of more than 217% from mid-November. (Maxouris, 1/13)
AP: California Lifts Stay-Home Order For Sacramento Region
California lifted a stay-at-home order in the 13-county Sacramento region on Tuesday as hospital conditions improved, a rare turn of good news as the state pushes through what Gov. Gavin Newsom called “its most intense surge” of the coronavirus. The order imposed Dec. 10 banned gatherings outside a household and shuttered or restricted many businesses. With virus cases and hospitalizations more stable now, the region can resume outdoor dining and worship services, reopen hair and nail salons and other businesses, and increase capacity at retailers Gatherings of up to three households are allowed. (Ronayne, 1/12)
In updates from Maryland, Nevada, Texas, Georgia and Virginia —
The Hill: Maryland Residents Test Positive For UK Strain Of Coronavirus
Two Maryland residents have tested positive for the United Kingdom variant of the coronavirus, becoming the first confirmed cases in the state, Gov. Larry Hogan (R) said Tuesday. According to Hogan, one of the individuals had recently returned from traveling abroad, while the other is that person's spouse. Both are in isolation, and health authorities are conducting contact tracing, Hogan said. (Weixel, 1/12)
Las Vegas Review Journal: Las Vegas Hospital Issues Disaster Declaration Because Of COVID Wave Of Patients
With COVID-19 patients pushing hospitals across Southern Nevada to near capacity, one Las Vegas hospital issued a disaster declaration over the weekend. St. Rose Dominican Hospital, San Martin campus, issued the declaration Saturday, when a surge in patients increased occupancy in its intensive care unit to 137 percent, according to an email obtained by the Review-Journal that was sent by the administration to hospital physicians. The 147-bed hospital had a general occupancy of 121 percent as it treated 73 patients with COVID-19. “As we experience a sustained increase in critically ill COVID-19 patients, key resources are in limited supply: hospital beds, ICU and health care staff,” hospital spokesman Gordon Absher said in response to questions about the declaration. (Hynes, 1/12)
AP: Austin Opens COVID-19 Field Hospital In Convention Center
The Austin area opened a field hospital in a convention center Tuesday as cases of the disease caused by the coronavirus continue to soar. The opening came as state health officials reported that Texas had surpassed 14,000 hospitalized COVID-19 patients for the first time, as well as 22,000 more newly confirmed cases. For now, the Austin field hospital will have 25 beds and can expand if needed. (1/13)
Georgia Health News: Georgia Hits Daily Record On COVID-19 Deaths; Kemp Voices Frustration On Vaccine Situation
Georgia reported 145 COVID-related deaths Tuesday, the state’s highest single-day total recorded since the pandemic began. More than 9,000 new infections were also reported Tuesday, along with 435 new hospitalizations. The overall number of COVID hospitalizations currently has hit 5,700, continuing its steady, record-breaking climb. (Miller, 1/12)
Macon Telegraph: Teacher Who Retired Over COVID Concerns In GA Dies: Family Says
An imminent spike in COVID-19 cases after Thanksgiving forced a Georgia educator to choose between her health and the work she loved, family members said. Maude Jones, a special education paraprofessional with Gwinnett County Public Schools, decided she wouldn’t return to the classroom and submitted her paperwork to retire on Dec. 18, the final day of fall semester, according to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Weeks later, complications from the virus claimed her life. (Kenney, 1/12)
The Washington Post: Fairfax County Sheriff's Office Deputy Dies Of Covid-19, Officials Say
A veteran Fairfax County Sheriff’s Office deputy has died of covid-19 amid an outbreak of the coronavirus at the county jail that has sickened more than 30 guards and inmates in recent days, authorities said. The Fairfax County Sheriff’s Office declined to say whether the death of Frederick “Butch” Cameron, 51, was directly related to the current wave of cases at the jail, but a spokeswoman described his death as in the “line of duty.” Sheriff’s deputies guard the jail and the courthouse in Fairfax County. (Jouvenal, 1/12)
