Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Financial Struggles: Low Occupancy Hits Connecticut Nursing Homes Hard
Connecticut Health I-Team: Pandemic Deals Another Blow To Nursing Homes: Plummeting Occupancy
While the deadly coronavirus seems to be subsiding in Connecticut for now, its impact on nursing homes has not. More than 6,700 beds are empty, and it may take many months of financial struggle before occupancy climbs back to pre-pandemic levels. (Jaffe, 9/16)
The Washington Post: Marylanders Are Still Calling About Stalled Unemployment Benefits. And No One Is Answering The Phone.
More than six months after the coronavirus pandemic triggered a deluge of unemployment claims in the Washington region, some jobless Marylanders are still experiencing major problems getting benefits and have endured weeks — or months — without the payments they are supposed to receive. The main frustration, they say, is they cannot get anyone to answer their calls. (Wiggins, 9/16)
The Washington Post: Maryland Prepares For Dual Viruses As Arlington Votes To End Sidewalk Crowding Ordinance
Maryland’s top health official warned Wednesday that the approaching flu season could coincide with a higher wave of coronavirus cases than the state saw in the spring, saying it could be more than a year until a vaccine makes it possible to do more than “coexist” with the virus. Meanwhile, Arlington County leaders decided this week to abandon a sidewalk crowding ordinance put in place this summer that was intended to slow the spread of the coronavirus, saying the measure had little success. (Cox, Sullivan, Tan and Wiggins, 9/16)
In other news —
The Hill: Health Officials Urge People Stay Indoors, Suspect Rare Mosquito-Borne Virus In Michigan
Health officials in Michigan are reportedly urging people to stay indoors after 10 counties confirmed cases of the mosquito-borne virus Eastern equine encephalitis in 22 horses and one suspected human case... Officials said they will begin aerial treatment Wednesday night in certain high-risk areas of the state to prevent the spread of Eastern equine encephalitis. (Klar, 9/16)
