Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
FEMA Might Stop Paying For PPE, Other COVID Supplies, States Say
The Hill: States Say FEMA May No Longer Pay For Protective Gear
State and local governments officials say the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has indicated it might no longer provide reimbursements for personal protective equipment (PPE) and other supplies needed to fight COVID-19. FEMA reimburses state and local governments for 75 percent of the costs for PPE and disinfectants, but that arrangement may soon end, according to state and municipal leaders. (Hellmann, 8/25)
The Washington Post: Cities, States Fear They May Lose Critical FEMA Dollars For Coronavirus Response
City and state leaders expressed fears Tuesday that the Trump administration may cease reimbursing some of their purchases of masks, gloves and other personal protective equipment, a move they said could tear new holes in their budgets while threatening public health. The trouble stems from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which typically provides funds for disaster relief and has played a central role in the coronavirus pandemic. In calls throughout August, FEMA signaled that it may soon seek to rethink the criteria by which it doles out those dollars, troubling local governments, which say they are desperate for easy-to-access federal cash as the contagion continues to spread. (Romm and Werner, 8/25)
In news from Georgia —
CNN: Georgia Is Among Worst States In The Nation For New Covid-19 Cases But The Governor Is Defending His Strategy
Amid pressure to decrease the number of coronavirus infections in Georgia, which are among the worst in the nation over the last two weeks, a spokeswoman for the governor pushed back on questions about a lack of progress made in combating Covid-19 in the state. As first reported by the Atlanta Journal Constitution and WABE, the latest report from the White House Task Force on coronavirus shows Georgia is in a "fragile" state and could suffer more without further aggressive actions to control the virus, including a statewide mandate on masks and closing bars in areas with high transmission rates, according to the report. (Valencia and Cartaya, 8/26)
Atlanta Journal-Constitution: DeKalb Commissioner Stalls Coronavirus Aid In Clash With Local City
A DeKalb County commissioner is using millions of dollars in coronavirus relief money as “leverage” to try and force a local city to discuss another long-standing dispute. That city isn’t taking the maneuver kindly. On Tuesday, DeKalb Commissioner Jeff Rader orchestrated a two-week delay on the vote to finalize an agreement giving the city of Brookhaven around $6.3 million of the county’s federal coronavirus aid. The county is set to vote on similar agreements with other local cities during a special-called meeting on Thursday. (Estep, 8/26)
In news from Hawaii and Michigan —
AP: The Latest: Hawaii’s Oahu Returns To Stay-At-Home Order
Hawaii’s most populous island is returning to a stay-at-home order while officials strive to conduct 70,000 COVID-19 tests in two weeks. Oahu has seen a surge in daily positive cases. The federal government will help officials test 5,000 people daily for two weeks. (8/26)
Detroit Free Press: Whitmer: Getting Flu Shot Can Help In Fight Against COVID-19
Michiganders who get the flu vaccine will help improve the health and safety of everyone, especially this year as the coronavirus continues to ravage the United States, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and state health officials said Tuesday. The flu vaccine works, and will help prevent people from rushing to the hospital in need of treatment due to the flu, said Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, the state's chief medical executive. More Michiganders getting the flu vaccine means hospitals and healthcare centers can devote fewer resources to the flu, focusing time and money instead toward the ongoing battle against COVID-19. (Boucher, 8/25)
