Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Collapsing Toxic Waste Reservoir Threatens Hundreds In Florida
CBS News: Toxic Wastewater Reservoir On Verge Of Collapse In Florida Could Cause "Catastrophic Event"
Hundreds of residents in Manatee County, Florida, were ordered to evacuate their homes over Easter weekend as officials feared that a wastewater pond could collapse "at any time." On Saturday, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency for the area. ... Phosphogypsum is the "radioactive waste" left over from processing phosphate ore into a state that can be used for fertilizer, according to the Center for Biological Diversity. "In addition to high concentrations of radioactive materials, phosphogypsum and processed wastewater can also contain carcinogens and heavy toxic metals," the center said in a statement on Saturday. (Cohen, 4/4)
Charleston Gazette-Mail: WV Senate Panel Protects Doctors From Liability In Abortion Bill
The West Virginia Senate Health Committee on Thursday amended the bill pertaining to medication abortion to provide protections to doctors who assist women in the mandated, but scientifically untested, procedure of stopping an abortion. House Bill 2982, or the Second Chance at Life Act, requires a patient undergoing a medication-induced, or “chemical,” abortion to be informed that it may be possible to counteract the effects of the procedure after taking the first of the two drugs in the recommended regimen. The state Department of Health and Human Resources will have to post information about stopping a medication-induced abortion. (Stuck, 4/4)
In covid updates from Indiana and California —
AP: NCAA Fan's Death Prompts Contact Tracing In Indiana
Health officials in Indiana said Saturday they are investigating whether anyone was exposed to COVID-19 by Alabama residents following Friday night’s death of a Crimson Tide fan who was in Indianapolis for the NCAA Tournament last weekend. Luke Ratliff, a 23-year-old Alabama student, died after a brief illness, his father, Bryan Ratliff, told The Tuscaloosa News. The newspaper, citing multiple sources it did not identify, reported Ratliff died of complications related to COVID-19. The elder Ratliff could not immediately be reached for comment Saturday by The Associated Press. (4/4)
KQED: Finally Some Good News For California Nursing Home Residents
After a devastating sweep that killed more than 9,000 residents and workers, COVID-19 has nearly disappeared from California’s nursing homes. At the height of the winter surge, more than 80 residents of nursing facilities died every day from COVID-19. In March, however, fewer than 15 new cases were reported each day, and deaths dropped to between one and six people daily, according to the California Department of Public Health. Health experts credit a massive nationwide campaign to vaccinate elderly and frail residents and their caregivers. About 87% of the 85,000 people who live in California’s skilled nursing facilities have been fully vaccinated, according to the state health agency. (Feder Ostrov, 4/4)
