Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
At-Home COVID Test Kits Now On Sale At Walmart.com
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette: Walmart Sites Offer Virus-Test Packages
Walmart Inc. said Thursday that access to covid-19 home-test collection kits is now available through its e-commerce sites Walmart.com and SamsClub.com. The kits, supplied by myLAB Box, range in price from $99 to $135. It is unclear whether the tests are covered by health insurers. Lori Flees, senior vice president and chief operating officer of health and wellness for Walmart U.S., said in a release that the company has made several test-kit options available. (McKay, 12/4)
The Washington Post: Airbnb Announces Covid-19 Rules For New Year’s Eve
With the coronavirus pandemic breaking grim records in the United States, Airbnb has announced stringent restrictions for New Year’s Eve bookings to discourage unauthorized house parties and large gatherings in the interest of public health. “We have carefully developed this New Year’s Eve initiative informed by [host] feedback along with a review of our data, systems and tools,” Airbnb said in a statement. “We believe this plan will help prevent large gatherings while supporting the type of safe, responsible travel that benefits guests, hosts and the neighborhoods they call home.” (Compton, 12/3)
Las Vegas Review Journal: New Year’s Eve Party Plans For Downtown Las Vegas Blocked
America’s Party appears to be canceled for now. The Fremont Street Experience does not have permission to host its annual New Year’s Eve celebration in downtown Las Vegas unless COVID-19 cases drop dramatically, according to documents obtained by the Review-Journal. It’s the second major Las Vegas Valley event designed to ring in the new year that will not happen in 2020. The Strip’s world-famous fireworks show was canceled by local government officials in October, also over public health concerns. (Scott Davidson, 12/3)
AP: No Fans To Be Allowed At Rose Bowl For CFP Semifinal Game
No spectators will be allowed at the Rose Bowl for the College Football Playoff semifinal on Jan. 1 because of COVID-19 restrictions imposed by the state, county and city of Pasadena. The Tournament of Roses said Thursday that it requested special permission to allow for a limited number of spectators or a select number of guests of players and coaches at the 90,888-seat stadium but was denied. (Harris, 12/3)
The New York Times: Warner Bros. Says All 2021 Films Will Stream On HBO Max Right Away
In a startling move that marked the biggest challenge yet to Hollywood’s traditional way of doing business, Warner Bros. announced on Thursday that 17 movies — its entire 2021 slate — would each arrive simultaneously in theaters and on its sibling streaming service, the underperforming HBO Max. ... Even with a widely deployed vaccine, which is expected in the coming months, WarnerMedia does not believe that moviegoing in the United States will recover until at least next fall, an assessment that stands in sharp contrast with what other major movie studios and multiplex chains have signaled. (Barnes and Sperling, 12/3)
Also —
CIDRAP: Study: Kids, Adults Equally Susceptible To In-Home COVID-19 Spread
A study published today in Pediatrics found that children in two states were just as likely as adults to become infected with COVID-19 within their households, and while kids spread the virus in one fifth of homes, their lack of severe symptoms may have allowed their infections to otherwise escape detection. Led by researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the study enrolled 58 households with 120 adult and 68 pediatric contacts from March to May in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Salt Lake City, Utah. The study involved administering questionnaires and collecting blood and respiratory samples. (Van Beusekom, 12/3)
The Hill: 102-Year-Old Woman Beats COVID-19 Twice
A 102-year-old woman living in New York has contracted the coronavirus — and beaten it — twice. Angelina Friedman, who survived the 1918 Spanish Flu and cancer, first tested positive for COVID-19 in March. During her first bout with the disease she had a relatively mild experience... Upon contracting the virus a second time in October, shortly before her birthday, she got seriously ill. (Polus, 12/3)
The Hill: Fox News Co-Host Juan Williams Tests Positive For COVID-19
Juan Williams, co-host of the Fox News afternoon talk show “The Five,” has tested positive for COVID-19, the television personality confirmed with The Hill. Williams, who is also a columnist at The Hill, said he was informed that he had tested positive Thursday after a routine Monday weekly test at Fox News’s New York headquarters. Upon receiving the news, he took another test, which confirmed he was carrying the virus. (Castronuovo, 12/3)
