Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
After Short-Lived Dip, COVID Cases Ticking Up Again In 22 States
Reuters: U.S. Coronavirus Cases Surpass Seven Million As Midwest Outbreak Flares Up
The number of novel coronavirus cases in the United States topped 7 million on Thursday - more than 20% of the world’s total - as Midwest states reported spikes in COVID-19 infections in September, according to a Reuters tally. The latest milestone comes just days after the nation surpassed over 200,000 COVID-19 deaths, the world’s highest death toll from the virus. Each day, over 700 people die in the United States from COVID-19. (Maan and Abraham, 9/24)
ABC News: CDC Forecasts Up To 226,000 US Deaths By Mid-October
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention forecasts that the U.S. will lose another 3,400 to 7,400 lives to COVID-19 by Oct. 17, bringing the nationwide death toll to between 214,000 and 226,000. The national death toll currently stands at 202,404, according to Johns Hopkins University. (9/24)
CNBC: Coronavirus Cases Grow In More Than Half Of U.S. States
Coronavirus cases in the U.S. are beginning to rebound following weeks of reported declines and warnings from top U.S. health officials that the country could be vulnerable to fresh outbreaks coinciding with the forthcoming flu season. New cases were growing by 5% or more, based on a weekly average to smooth out the reporting, in 29 states and Washington, D.C., as of Monday, according to a CNBC analysis of data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. Wisconsin, Utah, Montana, Minnesota and Wyoming reported record high averages in daily new cases, according to the data. (Higgins-Dunn, 9/24)
New York Daily News: Coronavirus Cases On The Upswing In 22 States - New York Daily News
In Kentucky, new cases have increased by 21% since Sept. 13 while its seven-day fatality rate has doubled from 13.4 to 26.4 per 1 million population in the same time frame. According to the memo, the number of tests being conducted statewide dropped by 45.2% during the week of Sept. 17 when compared to the week prior. Meanwhile, the seven-day case rate in Michigan spiked by 154.4% from Sept. 13 to Sept. 20. Local officials have attributed the uptick to the reopening of schools and colleges, citing the fact that 20-year-olds make up a bulk of the cases there. (Schladebeck, 9/24)
CNN: US Still In First Covid-19 Wave And Should Be Prepared For 'Challenge' Of Fall And Winter, Fauci Says
The US remains in the first wave of the Covid-19 pandemic since cases never declined significantly to a good baseline, says Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's leading infectious disease expert. The idea of a second wave is based on the pattern seen during the 1918 pandemic, when cases were seen in the spring and then cases "literally disappeared" before there was an "explosion" of cases in the fall, Fauci said. "Rather than say, 'A second wave,' why don't we say, 'Are we prepared for the challenge of the fall and the winter?'" Fauci said. (Maxouris, 9/25)
In related news from Dr. Fauci —
CNN: Dr. Fauci Cautions That A Vaccine Won't Eliminate The Need For Masks And Public Health Measures
Dr. Anthony Fauci said Thursday that even an effective Covid-19 vaccine won't replace the need for other public health measures, such as wearing a mask, social distancing and washing hands. Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said the vaccine will not be 100% effective and taken by 100% of the population -- which means there still will be room for Covid-19 to spread.Fauci said he's being "practical" when he says, "I think if we can get 75 to 80% of the population vaccinated, I think that would be a really good accomplishment." (Maxouris, Levenson and Waldrop, 9/24)
