Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Clemson QB Trevor Lawrence, Top Contender For Heisman, Has COVID
The New York Times: Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence Tests Positive For The Coronavirus
Trevor Lawrence, the star quarterback at top-ranked Clemson and a leading contender for the Heisman Trophy, has tested positive for coronavirus, the university said Thursday night. Tigers Coach Dabo Swinney said in a statement that Lawrence was “doing well with mild symptoms” but that he would miss Saturday’s home game against Boston College. Perhaps more crucially for the race toward the College Football Playoff, Swinney did not say when Lawrence had tested positive or when he had developed symptoms — distinctions that could determine whether he would be eligible to play at No. 4 Notre Dame on Nov. 7. (Blinder, 10/29)
Tampa Bay Times: Wife Of Rays Player Tested Positive For Coronavirus
The Rays had a COVID-19 issue of their own to deal with as the World Series was ending, as the wife of one of their players tested positive. The player has not been identified. He and his wife did not fly with the team back to Tampa on Wednesday night, instead renting a car and driving home. The positive test was processed on Tuesday, the day of the final game. (Topkin, 10/30)
AP: NASCAR Pit Crew Benched For Positive COVID Tests
The pit crew for NASCAR driver William Byron has been benched because of multiple positive tests for COVID-19. The regular Hendrick Motorsports crew for the No. 24 did not participate in Wednesday night’s race at Texas Motor Speedway and will also miss Sunday’s race at Martinsville Speedway. (10/29)
The New York Times: Travis Roy, Who Inspired Millions After A Hockey Tragedy, Dies At 45
Travis Roy, who suffered a paralyzing injury just 11 seconds into his first hockey game for Boston University in 1995 and, as a philanthropist and motivational speaker, was revered by the sports world as an example of determination and courage, died on Thursday in a hospital outside Burlington, Vt. He was 45. The cause was complications of surgery he needed after two and a half decades of being in a wheelchair, Keith VanOrden, his brother-in-law, said. (Paybarah, 10/30)
In airline industry news —
AP: JetBlue Is The Latest Airline To Retreat From Blocking Seats
The days of airlines blocking seats to make passengers feel safer about flying during the pandemic are coming closer to an end. JetBlue is the latest to indicate it is rethinking the issue. A spokesman for the carrier said Thursday that JetBlue will reduce the number of seats it blocks after Dec. 1 to accommodate families traveling together over the holidays. (Koenig, 10/29)
The Wall Street Journal: Covid-19 Testing Vs. Quarantines For International Flights: Airlines And U.S. Transportation Officials Spar With CDC
U.S. transportation officials and airlines are at odds with public-health officials over whether people who test negative for coronavirus before they travel should still have to quarantine when they arrive in the U.S., according to people familiar with the matter. The rift has emerged as U.S. officials have also been looking to strike deals with their foreign counterparts to establish safe-travel corridors between major American and international cities. (Sider, Hackman and Tangel, 10/29)
And bad news for anyone who relies on Netflix while self-isolating —
USA Today: Netflix Prices Going Up: Most Popular Plan Now $14, Premium To $18
The price to binge watch Netflix is going up. The most popular plan, which lets subscribers watch in high-def on two screens at the same time, has increased by $1 to $13.99, up from $12.99 monthly, for new subscribers. As in the past, current subscribers will see their monthly bill increase, too in the coming weeks. The premium plan ($15.99), which lets you watch up to four screens with Ultra HD, will now cost $17.99. The lowest priced plan of $8.99 for one standard-def stream remains the same price. (Snider, 10/29)
