Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Big Study Confirms That Coronavirus Antibodies Last At Least 6 Months
Bloomberg: Covid Antibodies Remain Six Months After Infection, Study Shows
The vast majority of people who contract Covid-19 still have antibodies at least six months after infection, a new study involving more than 20,000 people showed. Some 88% of participants who tested positive for a previous infection retained antibodies for six months, according to the report by UK Biobank, a major biomedical database. The number was 99% at three months. The results follow other, smaller studies that indicate a level of immunity following a natural infection for at least 6 months. (Gretler, 2/3)
CNN: Some People Test Positive After Getting A Covid-19 Vaccine. Here's Why.
A Covid-19 vaccine does not provide full or immediate protection, which means it's still possible to get infected and test positive for the virus. Democratic Rep. Stephen Lynch of Massachusetts did. He tested positive after he got his second dose of the Pfizer vaccine. Hall of Fame basketball coach Rick Pitino, who coaches the men's team at Iona College in New York, also tested positive after getting his first dose. (Christensen, 2/2)
In other news about the coronavirus —
The Hill: Line Cooks, Agriculture Workers At Highest Risk Of COVID-19 Death: Study
Essential workers in kitchens and in agricultural settings are most at risk of death from the coronavirus, according to a study that adds a new urgency to the race to vaccinate those on the front lines of the pandemic. The study, conducted by researchers at the University of California-San Francisco, examined the occupations of those who have died in California since the beginning of 2016. In the past year, researchers found an especially high rate of excess mortality — the measure of how many people died over what might have been an ordinary period — among those who work in proximity to others. (Wilson, 2/2)
The Wall Street Journal: Covid Wears On, Essential Workers Carry On: ‘Everybody Forgets That You’re Still On The Front Line’
When the state shut down around her in March, 67-year-old Joyce Babineau, a supermarket employee in Dartmouth, Mass., was among the many workers who stayed on the job providing basic needs during the pandemic. She felt pride walking into Stop & Shop at 6 a.m. five days a week. She also felt constant dread knowing she was risking the health of her husband, who had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. (Levitz, Bauerlein and Lazo, 2/1)
Bloomberg: Illinois’s Covid Curve Drops More Sharply Than Peers After Surge
As the pandemic begins to recede in U.S. states, Illinois is among America’s most improved. The nation’s sixth-most-populous state has had a notable turnaround since its case curve peaked in November, compared with large peers including California, Georgia, New York, Florida and Pennsylvania. The improved metrics follow almost two months of tightened restrictions that Governor J.B. Pritzker enacted to avoid a holiday surge. (Singh and Querolo, 2/2)
The Washington Post: Coronavirus Variants Call For Masks And Vaccines Instead Of Lockdowns
As America faces the potential for catastrophic coronavirus spikes fueled by highly infectious variants, public health authorities remain wary of imposing the stricter measures adopted by other nations. Instead, they continue to embrace a stick-to-the-basics strategy: Wear a mask, maybe even two. Avoid crowds. And get vaccinated — fast. The restrained approach differs from strict preemptive measures taking place in Europe, including lockdowns, classroom closures and requirements to wear medical-grade masks. It also illustrates the realities of the pandemic response in America, where there is little appetite for more limitations to curb viral spread. (Nirappil and Shammas, 2/2)
Also —
Politico: Yang Tests Positive For Covid-19
Andrew Yang has tested positive for Covid-19, his mayoral campaign announced Tuesday. “After testing negative as recently as this weekend, today I took a COVID rapid test and received a positive result,” Yang said in a statement Tuesday morning. “I am experiencing mild symptoms, but am otherwise feeling well and in good spirits.” Yang faced early criticism in his campaign for spending a significant chunk of the pandemic outside of New York City. Since kicking off his run last month he’s been fairly unique among the mayoral contenders in barnstorming the city on walking tours and holding in-person events — with staffers, press and supporters in tow. (Eisenberg, 2/2)
