Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Airlines Push To Lift Many International Restrictions
The Washington Post: U.S. Airlines Push To Slash International Travel Restrictions, Implement Universal Testing
The country’s biggest airlines are asking the Trump administration to institute a “global program to require testing for travelers to the United States” — and to scrap many travel restrictions. In a letter to Vice President Pence on Monday, the advocacy group Airlines for America said it was supporting a proposal by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to implement the universal testing. The organization, which represents airlines including American, Delta, United and Southwest, said it also urged the administration to eliminate entry restrictions on people traveling “from Europe, the United Kingdom and Brazil.” (Sampson, 1/5)
The Washington Post: Emotional Support Animals Will No Longer Be Permitted, Airlines Warn
New federal rules set to go into effect next week significantly narrow the definition of service animals. As a result, emotional support animals are no longer considered service animals, and airlines — which previously had to make accommodations for them — will no longer be required to do so. (Aratani, 1/5)
In other public health news —
The Wall Street Journal: As Covid-19 Surges, Colleges Make Last-Minute Changes To Spring Calendars
Syracuse University laid out its plan for the spring semester back in September, scheduling classes to start Jan. 25 and eliminating spring break to minimize potential travel-related exposure to Covid-19. On Monday, the school scrapped that calendar and said it would start and end the spring term two weeks later than anticipated, in the hopes of staving off further outbreaks as case numbers surge nationwide. (Korn, 1/5)
The Washington Post: Boston University, Holy Cross Basketball Teams Are First To Both Wear Masks
Boston University’s mask mandate is meant to help protect the health of the school’s basketball teams, as well as that of their opponents, during the coronavirus pandemic. The mandate — and its impact on the competition — was on display for the first time Tuesday, when the Terriers fell, 68-66, to Holy Cross in their home opener, believed to be the first men’s college basketball game this season in which both teams wore masks on the court. (Hill, 1/5)
CNBC: Red Cross Raffles Super Bowl Tickets To Solicit Convalescent Plasma Donors
The Red Cross is teaming up with the NFL to urge people to donate blood and plasma, especially from those who have recovered from Covid-19 to combat a convalescent plasma shortage. In return, donors will be entered to win two tickets to next year’s Super Bowl LVI in Los Angeles. (Bhattacharjee, 1/5)
The Wall Street Journal: Grammy Awards Postponed Amid Covid-19 Concerns
The Grammy Awards ceremony has been postponed for two months, as concerns surge over the spread of Covid-19, according to the Recording Academy, which hosts the annual music-industry awards show. The ceremony was originally set to take place on Jan. 31 in Los Angeles, with “The Daily Show” host and comedian Trevor Noah as host. Grammy organizers have pushed the event to March 14. The academy’s website earlier Tuesday showed the date had been pushed back to March 21. (Shah, 1/5)
KHN: Children’s Hospitals Grapple With Wave Of Mental Illness
Krissy Williams, 15, had attempted suicide before, but never with pills. The teen was diagnosed with schizophrenia when she was 9. People with this chronic mental health condition perceive reality differently and often experience hallucinations and delusions. She learned to manage these symptoms with a variety of services offered at home and at school. But the pandemic upended those lifelines. She lost much of the support offered at school. She also lost regular contact with her peers. Her mother lost access to respite care — which allowed her to take a break. (Heredia Rodriguez, 1/6)
KHN: Black Women Find Healing (But Sometimes Racism, Too) In The Outdoors
It would be the last hike of the season, Jessica Newton had excitedly posted on her social media platforms. With mild weather forecast and Colorado’s breathtaking fall foliage as a backdrop, she was convinced an excursion at Beaver Ranch Park would be the quintessential way to close out months of warm-weather hikes with her “sister friends.” Still, when that Sunday morning in 2018 arrived, she was shocked when her usual crew of about 15 had mushroomed into about 70 Black women. There’s a first time for everything, she thought as they broke into smaller groups and headed toward the nature trail. What a sight they were, she recalled, as the women — in sneakers and hiking boots, a virtual sea of colorful headwraps, flowy braids and dreadlocks, poufy twists and long, flowy locks — trekked peacefully across the craggy terrain in the crisp mountain air. (Thomas Whitfield, 1/6)
KHN: ‘An Arm And A Leg’: A Look Back At 2020 — What We Learned And Where We’re Headed
This episode turns the tables: Host Dan Weissmann gets interviewed about what he learned in 2020 and what’s ahead for the show — with T.K. Dutes, a radio host and podcast-maker who is also a former nurse, so she knows a thing or two about the health care system. She chronicled her career transition in an episode of NPR’s “Life Kit.” During their conversation, Dutes shared stories about life before and after health insurance. She coins what could be a new tagline for “An Arm and a Leg”: “Where there’s money, there’ll be scams.” (Weissmann, 1/6)
AP: 1 Dead, 3 Hospitalized In Legionnaires’ Disease Outbreak
An outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease at a North Portland apartment complex has killed one person and sickened three others, county health officials said. Multnomah County health officials said Tuesday they told more than 100 residents of Rosemont Court on Dekum Street to leave after residents contracted pneumonia, The Oregonian/OregonLive reported. (1/5)
