Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
CDC Stumbling Over Accurate Covid Case Counts
Politico: ‘It Is Embarrassing’: CDC Struggles To Track Covid Cases As Omicron Looms
As the world experiences new, more transmissible Covid-19 variants, scientists and health officials in the U.S. are still struggling to gather accurate and timely domestic data to help inform policy decisions to safeguard Americans. Continuing gaps in the CDC’s data collection program, which almost two years into the pandemic still relies on state health departments who use a mix of often incompatible and outdated state systems to identify cases, impedes the nation’s understanding of where and how fast the virus is spreading, according to more than a dozen state and federal officials involved in tracking cases. (Banco, 12/20)
In other news about the spread of the coronavirus —
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin Health Officials Warn COVID-19 Surge Could Overwhelm System
Wisconsin health officials are once again bracing for a breakdown of health care if COVID-19 does not slow down in the state. The leaders of the state’s Department of Health Services issued a “health advisory” on Monday urging Wisconsin residents to wear face masks indoors, get vaccinated against COVID-19, and consider gathering for the holidays in small groups. Their goal is to prevent hospitals from becoming so overwhelmed that not everyone who needs life-saving care will get it. (Beck and Bentley, 12/20)
Bloomberg: Covid Rationing Of Hospital Care Ends In Hard-Pressed Idaho
Rationing of hospital care is ending in Idaho after conditions improved in the northern part of the state where anti-vaccination sentiment has been widespread. “While the number of COVID-19 patients remains high and continues to stress healthcare systems, the surge is currently no longer exceeding the healthcare resources available,” according to a statement Monday by the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare. So-called crisis standards of care were withdrawn in the rest of Idaho last month. “We’re still watching the Omicron variant very closely because this is a precarious time,” said Dave Jeppesen, director of the state health department. (Del Giudice, 12/20)
Health News Florida: Florida Is Getting About 3,100 Doses Of Preexposure COVID Antibody Treatment For Cancer And Transplant Patients
Gov. Ron DeSantis says Florida is getting thousands of doses of an antibody treatment that protects immunosuppressed people and those allergic to the COVID-19 vaccines. The two-shot antibody treatment called Evusheld offers about six months of protection if administered before a patient is exposed to the virus. The treatment received an emergency use authorization from the Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday. (Prieur, 12/20)
AP: Maryland Governor Tests Positive For Coronavirus, Feels Fine
Maryland’s governor announced Monday that he has tested positive for the coronavirus and is experiencing cold-like symptoms. Gov. Larry Hogan tweeted that he received a positive rapid test Monday morning as part of his regular testing routine. Hogan, a cancer survivor, said he has been vaccinated and has had a booster shot. (12/21)
Los Angeles Times: COVID-19 Outbreak At SpaceX Yields 132 Positive Cases
At least 132 staffers at the SpaceX rocket factory in Hawthorne have tested positive for COVID-19 amid a large, active outbreak that coincides with a busy month of launches for the aerospace manufacturer. The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health released the data as part of a summary of COVID-19 cases throughout the county. There has been at least one other outbreak at SpaceX’s corporate headquarters, where the Elon Musk-led company’s main design, manufacturing and engineering is done, including work on its Falcon 9 rockets and Dragon capsules. (Seidman and Masunaga, 12/20)
Bloomberg: N.Y. Health Commissioner Bassett Tests Positive For Covid, Governor Hochul Says
New York Health Commissioner Mary Bassett has tested positive for Covid-19, according to New York Governor Kathy Hochul. In a press briefing on Monday, Hochul said Bassett’s breakthrough case came through a regular rapid test and that Bassett has also received her Covid booster. The number of Covid cases in New York has surpassed records in recent days, with over 23,000 daily cases, but hospitalizations remain below last year’s winter surge, Hochul said. Hospitalizations were 4,020, and 60 people died on Sunday, she said. (Clukey, 12/20)
Also —
The Baltimore Sun: More Than 2 Weeks After Cybersecurity Breach, Maryland Reports Thousands Of New COVID Cases, Surging Positivity
More than 28,500 Marylanders tested positive for COVID-19 during the two weeks since Maryland Department of Health servers were taken offline following a cyberattack and state officials reported little data. The state restored some data reporting Monday, the same day as Gov. Larry Hogan reported that he had tested positive for the virus. Some figures, such as how many people have died and where infections were logged and their ages and demographics, still have not been updated. (Cohn and Wood, 12/20)
Axios: How COVID Deaths Compare To Seasonal Flu
While the seasonal flu can be life-threatening, it paled in comparison to the overall numbers of COVID-19 deaths in the U.S. over the last two years. Experts warn about the dual threat from COVID surges and influenza, and say the flu season could be tough because this year's flu shot appears to be poorly matched to the flu strains circulating this season. (Alberti, 12/20)
KHN: Pandemic Poses Short- And Long-Term Risks To Babies, Especially Boys
The pandemic has created a hostile environment for pregnant people and their babies. Stress levels among expectant mothers have soared. Pregnant women with covid are five times as likely as uninfected pregnant people to require intensive care and 22 times as likely to die. Infected moms are four times as likely to have a stillborn child. Yet some of the pandemic’s greatest threats to infants’ health may not be apparent for years or even decades. (Szabo, 12/21)
