Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
End To England's Quarantine?: British Airways Announces Testing Plan
AP: BA, American Airlines Plan Voluntary COVID-19 Testing Plan
British Airways said Tuesday that it will start testing passengers flying from the U.S. to London’s Heathrow Airport for COVID-19 in an effort to persuade the British government it should scrap rules requiring most international travelers to quarantine for 14 days. The airline says the pilot program will offer voluntary testing starting Nov. 25 in partnership with American Airlines for passengers flying to Heathrow from New York, Los Angeles and Dallas. (Kirka, 11/17)
The Washington Post: How Do Travel Bubbles Work? 4 Questions Answered As Hong Kong And Singapore Team Up.
In the early days of the coronavirus pandemic, even as nations shut their borders and airlines struggled with record-low passenger levels, there was a lot of optimism about “travel bubbles” — a controlled return of quarantine-free air travel between designated cities or countries. Since then, with few countries’ outbreaks truly under control, there has been far more chatter about potential travel bubbles than there have been actual bubbles implemented. But this weekend, Asia’s first bubble, between Hong Kong and Singapore, will finally make its debut.The two cities’ “Air Travel Bubble,” set to start Sunday, will test whether regions can safely partner in a return to quarantine-free travel in the pandemic era. (McMahon, 11/17)
The Washington Post: Cruise Operator SeaDream Cancels Caribbean Sails Following Covid-19 Cases
Norwegian-owned cruise ship operator SeaDream Yacht Club, which returned to Barbados just five days ago, has canceled sailing for the rest of the year after several positive coronavirus tests among passengers and staff on one of its cruises. (Hassan, 11/17)
In sports news —
AP: Canada Reviewing NBA Plan To Play In Toronto Amid Pandemic
The Canadian government is reviewing a proposal from the NBA and the Raptors to play in Toronto amid the pandemic. A spokesman for Health Minister Patty Hajdu said Tuesday officials have been in contact with the Raptors and will continue to engage with them “in the coming weeks.” Raptors general manager Bobby Webster told Sportsnet television the team needs to know “in the coming days. This is not a next week type thing.” (Gillies, 11/18)
AP: New Mexico State Basketball Temporarily Moving To Phoenix
New Mexico State’s men’s basketball team will temporarily move to Phoenix due to coronavirus restrictions in its home state. The Aggies are expecting to be in Arizona for five weeks, but could extend their stay depending on developments with the pandemic, deputy athletic director Braun Cartwright said Tuesday. They are hoping to play their first game next week. (11/18)
The Wall Street Journal: A College Basketball Tournament Needed A Safe Home. It Moved To A Covid Hot Spot.
Dr. Tom Frieden, the former director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, was unequivocal when asked if holding a basketball tournament in South Dakota at the moment was a sensible idea. “That’s a no-brainer,” he said. “The answer to that is a slam dunk: no.” (Cohen and Radnofsky, 11/17)
