Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
CDC Steps Up Pandemic Guidance While White House Is Distracted
The New York Times: CDC Issues Increasingly Assertive Advice As Coronavirus Pandemic Surges
As the pandemic engulfs the nation, recent recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have been as notable for what they do not say as for what they do. In a turnabout, the agency now is hewing more closely to scientific evidence, often contradicting the positions of the Trump administration. In scientific briefs published on Tuesday, the C.D.C. described the benefits of masks to wearers, not just to those around them. Agency researchers also urged people to celebrate Thanksgiving only with others in their households or, failing that, to wear a mask with two or more layers. (Mandavilli, 11/13)
USA Today: 'CDC Is Putting American Lives At Risk': Members Of Congress Call For CDC To Reinstate Cruise 'No-Sail' Order
Members of Congress are calling for the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to reinstate its "no-sail" order, which expired at the end of October and was replaced by a "Conditional Sailing Order" that allows a phased-in return to cruising. "The CDC is putting American lives at risk, not to mention the potential for enhancing the spread worldwide," Sen. Richard Blumenthal, a Democrat from Connecticut, told USA TODAY Friday. (Hines, 11/13)
FastCompany: Experts Say CDC's Thanksgiving Guidelines Are Too Lenient
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has published its guidelines for a safe Thanksgiving, noting: “The safest way to celebrate Thanksgiving this year is to celebrate with people in your household.” But then it goes on to allow for less-appropriate behavior: “If you do plan to spend Thanksgiving with people outside your household, take steps to make your celebration safer.” Most of the rest of the document lists ways families can mitigate risks for in-person gatherings—limiting guests, cleaning surfaces frequently, bringing your own food and utensils to dinner, and using single-use salad dressing packets. But experts worry that these official guidelines are too lax in that they do not issue a sterner warning to cancel in-person Thanksgiving altogether. (Visram, 11/16)
In other administration news —
NPR: U.S. Surgeon General Blames 'Pandemic Fatigue' For Recent COVID-19 Surge
The COVID-19 crisis in the U.S. is getting worse by nearly every metric. On Friday alone, there were more than 184,000 new confirmed cases and 1,400 deaths, the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center reported. Hospitals are reaching capacity. To date in the U.S., there have been more than 10 million confirmed cases of the virus and more than 240,000 have died — more than any other nation. U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams says "pandemic fatigue" is largely to blame. People are tired and aren't taking mitigation measures as seriously as before, he says. (Silva and Martin, 11/14)
Modern Healthcare: COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Declaration Set To Expire On Inauguration Day
An HHS COVID-19 public health emergency declaration tied to regulatory flexibilities and funding for healthcare providers is set to expire on Inauguration Day. A drawn-out vote count and the lack of a concession from President Donald Trump has slowed the transition process for President-elect Joe Biden's team. Stakeholders and public health experts say the emergency declaration will likely still be necessary as case numbers are trending upward and potential vaccine distribution is on the horizon. (Cohrs, 11/13)
