Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Biden And Trump Teams Both Hit By New Infections
The New York Times: One Of Biden’s Closest Advisers, Cedric Richmond, Tests Positive For The Virus.
Representative Cedric L. Richmond, Democrat of Louisiana and one of President-elect Joseph R. Biden Jr.’s closest advisers, has tested positive for the coronavirus and has started a 14-day quarantine, a spokeswoman for the transition said Thursday evening. Mr. Richmond, who has been a lawmaker since 2011, is the first announced member of Mr. Biden’s White House staff to test positive. He is slated to join Mr. Biden’s administration as a senior adviser and director of the Office of Public Engagement. A rapid test for the virus on Wednesday was positive, the transition said, and a more precise test on Thursday was also positive. (Shear, 12/17)
Politico: HHS Secretary Tells Staff: My Wife Is Sick With Covid
Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar on Thursday night informed staff that his wife, Jennifer, tested positive for Covid-19, according to an email shared by HHS. "Today, my family learned that my wife Jennifer has tested positive for Covid-19," Azar wrote in an email. He added that his wife "scrupulously followed public health guidelines" and immediately self-isolated after her initial symptoms and even after she received a negative diagnosis from an initial instant test. A subsequent molecular test, which is more reliable, revealed that she was positive, Azar added. (Diamond, 12/17)
CNN: Alabama GOP Congressman Becomes 4th House Member In A Week To Disclose Covid-19 Diagnosis
Republican Rep. Mike Rogers of Alabama wrote on Twitter Thursday that he tested positive for Covid-19 and was experiencing mild symptoms, the fourth member of Congress in the past week to announce a positive test for the coronavirus. "This morning I tested positive for COVID-19," Rogers wrote in the tweet. "I immediately consulted with the Office of the Attending Physician and am currently self-isolating. I am experiencing mild symptoms but otherwise I am in good spirits and looking forward to getting back to work soon." (Fortinsky, 12/17)
The Hill: Federal Inmate Set To Be Executed Next Month Tests Positive For COVID-19
A federal death row inmate — the last person scheduled to be executed by the Trump administration before President-elect Joe Biden takes office on Jan. 20 — has contracted the coronavirus, The Associated Press reports. An attorney for Dustin John Higgs said he was notified of his client's diagnosis on Thursday. Higgs was convicted of kidnapping and murdering three women in 2000. (Polus, 12/17)
