Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
'Assume You Were Exposed': Holiday Infections To Accelerate The Surge
Bloomberg: Thanksgiving Travel Data Point To Surge In Covid Infections And Deaths
Coronavirus infections are already reaching unprecedented levels throughout the U.S. Now with Thanksgiving in the rearview mirror and Christmas and New Year’s just around the curve, the question is: Just how much worse is the pandemic going to get? The latest travel data out Monday suggest that things are looking grim. Between 800,000 and 1.1 million people flew in the days leading up to and after the holiday, according to data released by the Transportation Safety Administration. Though those numbers are a fraction of typical Thanksgiving travel patterns, they are far higher than public health officials and epidemiologists hoped to see. (Brown, 11/30)
The Hill: US More Than Doubles Highest Number Of Monthly COVID-19 Cases
The U.S. more than doubled its highest number of monthly new COVID-19 cases in November, according to data from NBC News. As of 9 a.m. on Monday, the country has confirmed more than 4.2 million coronavirus cases this month, easily topping the record from October of almost 1.95 million, according to NBC News’s count. Before the fall, July had the most confirmed new cases with almost 1.93 million. (Coleman, 11/30)
Houston Chronicle: Why You Should Wait A Few Days Before Getting That After-Thanksgiving COVID Test
Those considering getting a COVID-19 test after celebrating Thanksgiving with a group should wait about five days before taking the test in order to get accurate results, according to Harris County Public Health officials. That’s about how long it takes for the virus to become detectable on a test. (Dellinger, 11/30)
NPR: So You Traveled Over Thanksgiving. Now What?
Despite the repeated warnings of public health experts and officials, millions of people traveled for Thanksgiving. Perhaps you're one of them. So what should you do now to keep from creating the "surge upon a surge" of coronavirus cases that Dr. Anthony Fauci is warning the U.S. could soon face? (Wamsley, 11/30)
In related news from Wisconsin and Texas —
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin COVID-19 Cases Down Monday Following Testing Site Closures For Holiday Weekend
As Wisconsin reported lower-than-usual COVID-19 numbers Monday following testing site closures over the holiday weekend, a Madison high school announced one of its students died of a "COVID-related illness." (Carson, 11/30)
Houston Chronicle: White House Report Calls On Texas To ‘Intensify’ COVID-19 Mitigation Efforts
The White House Coronavirus Task Force says Texas is in the swing of a “full resurgence” of COVID-19 and the state’s mitigation efforts “must intensify,” while Gov. Greg Abbott and other leaders decline to take some of the steps the Trump administration is recommending. A report issued by the task force before the Thanksgiving holiday calls for Texas to significantly reduce maximum occupancy for public and private indoor spaces and to conduct weekly coronavirus testing of teachers, college students, county workers, hospital personnel and others. (Wermund and Blackman, 11/30)
