Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Cities, States Weigh New Restrictions As COVID Scales Tip
The Hill: Philadelphia Health Officials Mull 'Complete Lockdown'
Philadelphia officials say “a complete lockdown” is among possible options for the city as coronavirus cases continue to rise. Philadelphia Health Commissioner Thomas Farley noted Tuesday that in addition to 3,400 new cases of the virus in Pennsylvania, the virus has sharply risen in the city in recent days. “Everything is on the table, right down to a complete lockdown to very targeted restrictions,” Farley said. (Budryk, 11/10)
Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Vermont Suspends COVID Travel Map, Requires Quarantines
Anyone coming into Vermont for nonessential travel will need to quarantine, a shift prompted by COVID-19 activity in the Northeast. Gov. Phil Scott announced the change during his news conference Tuesday. "If you don't need to travel right now, don't," the governor said. The Agency of Commerce and Community Development typically updates its travel map weekly to reflect the virus's activity in neighboring states. Vermont did not require incomers from counties marked green to quarantine. (Syed, 11/10)
AP: Gov. Evers Advises People To Stay Home As Coronavirus Surges
Gov. Tony Evers renewed his pleas Tuesday for people to stay home to avoid the coronavirus in an unusual prime-time speech hours after the state set new records for infections and deaths. The governor announced he was advising people to stay in their houses and businesses to allow people to work remotely, require masks and limit the number of people in stores and offices. He said projections show that if nothing changes deaths could double to 5,000 by January. (Richmond, 11/10)
The Hill: NC Reduces Indoor Gathering Limit To 10 To Curb Coronavirus Spread
North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper (D) signed an executive order Tuesday to reduce the number of people who can gather indoors to 10 people, down from 25, in an effort to curb the spread of the coronavirus. The change comes as the state reported an increase in infections, adding 2,582 new cases since Monday, bringing its cumulative total to 297,442 cases. (Williams, 11/10)
The Salt Lake Tribune: Iron County Sheriff Says He Won’t Enforce Statewide COVID-19 Mandates
Gov. Gary Herbert has called on everyone in Utah to wear masks, socially distance in public and limit casual gatherings to the people they live with, otherwise they could face penalties. But at least one county won’t be helping the governor enforce his emergency order. “We don’t really believe that this is entirely the right solution,” said Iron County Sheriff Ken Carpenter. “If our store owners and citizens wish to follow those mandates, that’s their choice. But health care is a personal decision and shouldn’t be a government mandate.” (Larsen, 11/10)
The Oklahoman: Doctors Make Impassioned Plea For Oklahomans To Wear Masks
A group of Oklahoma City doctors and hospital leaders are begging Oklahomans to wear masks to reduce the spread of COVID-19. At a news conference outside the University of Oklahoma Medical Center on Tuesday, local doctors pleaded with the public to wear masks as the state continues to see a surge in new COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations. (Forman, 11/11)
Also —
Lexington Herald Leader: KY Blood Center: Need For Blood Donors Is Critical
The Kentucky Blood Center says it “has been battling a critically low blood supply since early summer,” and the organization has put out an “urgent plea” for people to donate blood. Through the end of the year, blood donors will be able to receive free COVID-19 antibody testing. People who test positive for coronavirus antibodies might be asked if they would be willing to donate plasma for critically ill patients who are fighting the virus. (Ward, 11/10)
