Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Hospitalizations Prove Surge Is 'Real,' Testing Czar Says In Foil To Trump
The Hill: Trump Administration Testing Czar: Rise In Cases Is 'Real,' Not Just From More Testing
The Trump administration’s testing czar, Brett Giroir, said Tuesday that the country’s increase in coronavirus cases is not just because of more testing but also a surge in the disease across the country. His comments offer a stark contrast with those of President Trump. “Testing may be identifying some more cases, I think that's clearly true, but what we're seeing is a real increase in the numbers,” Giroir, an assistant secretary of Health and Human Services, said at a Washington Post Live event. (Sullivan, 10/27)
The Hill: Trump Official Tests Positive For COVID-19 After Europe Trip
A senior Trump administration official has tested positive for the coronavirus after a trip to Europe, sparking concerns over transmission of the virus among government personnel. Peter Berkowitz, the director of policy planning at the State Department, met with officials at 10 Downing Street and the Foreign Office in London. He also had meetings in Paris and in Budapest, with Hungarian State Secretary Peter Sztaray and Deputy State Secretary Ferenc Dancs, earlier this month. (Axelrod, 10/27)
In other Trump administration news —
Politico: Feds Launch Investigation Into New Jersey Veterans Homes, Seek More Info From New York
The U.S. Department of Justice has launched a civil rights investigation into New Jersey’s state-run veterans homes, citing a lack of cooperation with an earlier probe as well as concerns over the quality of care at the facilities. New Jersey officials estimate that 190 residents at veterans homes in Paramus and Menlo Park have died of Covid-19, representing roughly a third of their population at the start of the pandemic. The official tally, according to the state’s Covid-19 data dashboard, remains at 143. (Sutton, 10/27)
KQED: US Treatment Of Migrant Children Falls Under UN Definition Of 'Torture,' Doctors Say
A new paper, published on website of the medical journal "Pediatrics" on Tuesday, calls the federal government's handling of migrant children at the border "consistent with torture" and recommends that pediatricians and child health care professionals take action. (Wiley, 10/27)
