Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
COVID-Sniffing Dogs Will Scan Travelers At Finland Airport
The Washington Post: Finland To Deploy Coronavirus-Sniffing Dogs At Helsinki Airport
Finland is set to launch a pilot program involving coronavirus-sniffing dogs at Helsinki Airport on Wednesday, amid hopes that dogs could come to play a key role in screening for the virus. The voluntary canine tests will deliver results within 10 seconds and require less than a minute of travelers’ time, said Anna Hielm-Björkman, a researcher at the University of Helsinki who is using the trial to gather data. (Noack, 9/22)
The New York Times: A Somber Boris Johnson Offers Britain A New Plan To Halt The Virus
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has always looked for the silver lining in Britain’s response to the pandemic. Last spring, he promised to “send coronavirus packing” in 12 weeks. In the summer, he cajoled people to return to their offices and restaurants, even offering to subsidize their meals. On Tuesday, however, an uncharacteristically somber Mr. Johnson offered no sweeteners as he announced a raft of new restrictions on British society to try to keep the second wave of infections now hitting the country from getting far worse through the fall and winter. (Landler and Castle, 9/22)
The Wall Street Journal: As Covid-19 Fatigue Fuels Infections In Europe, Italy Resists Second Wave
Months after Italy’s lockdown against the coronavirus ended, Enrica Grazioli still sanitizes everything that comes into her Milan apartment, wears face masks diligently and limits interactions between her sons and their grandparents. Ms. Grazioli, a self-proclaimed social butterfly who loves to cook for guests, still hasn’t had friends over for dinner since the virus struck. “Am I overdoing it?” says Ms. Grazioli. “Maybe, but we had a national tragedy of epic proportions and you don’t quickly forget something like that.” (Sylvers and Stancati, 9/22)
AP: Vatican: Assisted Suicide, Euthanasia "Intrinsically Evil"
The Vatican on Tuesday reaffirmed its stance that euthanasia and assisted suicide are “intrinsically evil,” and told priests they should minister to those contemplating such deaths to try to change their minds but shouldn’t be present at the end if they don’t. The Vatican’s doctrine office, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, issued a lengthy new document on end-of-life care for the terminally ill on Tuesday. It takes into account medical advances, the advent of “do not resuscitate” orders and legal approval for assisted suicide, as well as new Vatican perspectives on palliative care, including for children. (Winfield, 9/22)
The Wall Street Journal: Tokyo Olympics’ Biggest Coronavirus Challenge Could Be Team USA
The U.S. has won more medals than any other nation in Olympic history. It usually has the largest contingent of athletes at the Summer Games. And it’s the highest-value single market for Olympic broadcast rights, the International Olympic Committee’s primary source of revenue. It’s also, by coronavirus metrics, the least desirable guest at any party. The U.S. leads the world in confirmed cases of the virus and in confirmed deaths from the disease. Only 15 countries currently welcome U.S. visitors without qualification, according to the online tool Covid Controls. (Bachman and Radnofsky, 9/22)
