Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Congress Using Covid Test That May Give False Results
Politico: Congress Using Covid Test That FDA Warns May Be Faulty
The House and Senate are screening members and staff with a Covid-19 test that the Food and Drug Administration says is prone to false results — complicating the already difficult task of stemming coronavirus outbreaks on Capitol Hill. The Office of the Attending Physician has been offering the test, made by Curative, to members, staff and reporters on Capitol Hill since at least November. The service, which typically offers results within 12 hours, is used by dozens, if not hundreds, of people a day when Congress is in session. (Lim and Ferris, 1/5)
NBC News: FDA Warns Congress About Covid Test That May Give False Results
On Monday night during the week in which most of the 535 lawmakers are expected to gather in one chamber to certify the Electoral College results, the Food and Drug Administration had a message for Congress — the tests available yield an alarmingly high rate of false negatives. After a monthslong delay on Capitol Hill to implement Covid-19 testing for the members and staff, thousands of those who work in the building have become reliant on the system due to increased holiday travel and exposure. ... For the first time since the pandemic began, almost the entire House gathered on the floor Sunday with less-than-ideal social distancing and mask wearing. Rep. Kay Granger, R-TX, was on the floor voting and mingling with members, and promptly tested positive for coronavirus the following day. (Talbot and Tsirkin, 1/5)
Texas Tribune: Texas Congresswoman Kay Granger Tests Positive For Coronavirus
U.S. Rep. Kay Granger, R-Fort Worth, a high-ranking member of Texas’ congressional delegation, has tested positive for the coronavirus, her office announced Monday afternoon. Granger, who was on the U.S. House floor during swearing-in proceedings in Congress on Sunday, is a ranking member of the House Appropriations Committee. (Samuels, 1/4)
NPR: Texas Republican Rep. Kevin Brady Tests Positive For Coronavirus
Texas Rep. Kevin Brady, the top Republican on the powerful House Ways and Means Committee, has tested positive for the coronavirus. He announced on Twitter Tuesday that was going into quarantine. Brady received the first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine on Dec. 18 and tested negative for COVID-19 as recently as New Year's Day. Brady, who was on the House floor this week and interacted with fellow members, said he would "begin treatment" Wednesday. (Diaz, 1/6)
