Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
As New Case Counts Trend Down, US Officials Watch Out For Backslide
CNN: New Covid-19 Cases Are Declining Across The US, Official Says, But That Could Quickly Change If People Aren't Careful
States across the US are now seeing a decline in coronavirus cases, a US top official said this week, though he warned things could quickly change again if Americans aren't careful. US trends are now "going in the right direction," said Adm. Brett Giroir, the Trump administration official overseeing US coronavirus testing, attributing the decline in part to safety protocols like masks and social distancing. (Maxouris, 8/20)
The Wall Street Journal: U.S. Coronavirus Deaths Top 173,000
The number of new U.S. coronavirus cases edged up to more than 46,000, while countries including India and South Korea faced a rise in new infections. Total U.S. coronavirus cases passed 5.5 million—just under a quarter of the global tally—as the nation’s death toll topped 173,000, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. Johns Hopkins’s data showed California had more than 9,000 new cases, Texas had more than 5,000 and Florida had over 4,000, Georgia and Illinois had more than 2,000 each, while Alabama, North Carolina and Tennessee all exceeded 1,000 each. (Hall, 8/20)
The Hill: Florida Surpasses 10,000 Coronavirus Deaths
Florida on Wednesday surpassed 10,000 deaths from COVID-19, according to state figures, almost six months since the first case was identified in the state. The state reported 174 new deaths Wednesday, bringing its total since the pandemic began to 10,067. California, New York, Texas and New Jersey are the only other states whose COVID-19 fatalities have reached five digits. (Weixel, 8/19)
In related economic news —
NBC News: Fed Officials Expect That The Coronavirus Will 'Weigh Heavily' On The Economy, Minutes Show
The Federal Open Market Committee expressed concern at their last meeting over the future of the economy, saying that the coronavirus likely would continue to stunt growth and potentially pose dangers to the financial system. At the July 28-29 session, the Federal Reserve’s policymaking arm voted to keep short-term interest rates anchored near zero, citing an economy that was falling short of its pre-pandemic levels. (Cox, 8/19)
