Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Idaho Deaths Reinforce Nursing Homes' Ongoing Covid Vulnerability
AP: Idaho Officials: 1 In 4 COVID Deaths Was In Nursing Homes
One out of every four COVID-19 deaths in Idaho was among residents of nursing homes and other long-term care facilities, public health officials said Tuesday. “Just a few days ago on Friday, Dec. 2, the state crossed the grim milestone of 1,000 COVID deaths among long-term care residents,” Idaho Department of Health and Welfare Director Dave Jeppesen said during a briefing on Tuesday. “I would encourage all of those who live or work at a long-term care facility to choose to get vaccinated.” (Boone, 12/15)
In related news —
AP: Healey Appeals Dismissal Of Charges In Veterans' Home Case
Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey said Tuesday she’s seeking to reverse the dismissal of criminal neglect charges against two former leaders of a veterans’ home where nearly 80 veterans died after contracting the coronavirus, in one of the worst COVID-19 outbreaks in a long-term care facility in the nation. A Massachusetts judge dismissed the charges in November against former Holyoke Soldiers’ Home Superintendent Bennett Walsh and former Medical Director Dr. David Clinton, saying there was a lack of evidence that their actions led to the deaths. (12/14)
Modern Healthcare: Hospitals Innovated Safety Practices To Keep Patients From Harm During Pandemic
The novel coronavirus forced hospitals to quicken the pace when it comes to safety improvement, which was a departure from what's normally a glacial pace. As the virus continues to mutate, hospital administrators now see that some of the changes they implemented to react quickly back in 2020 should stay in place. From allowing patients to sleep longer to instituting daily escalation huddles, there are processes that will likely stick around long even after COVID-19's severe consequences fade because they've enhanced safety and quality. (Gillespie, 12/14)
In other news about the spread of covid —
Axios: COVID May Qualify As Disability Under ADA, EEOC Says
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) updated guidance on COVID-19 on Tuesday stating that employees who have had the disease may be protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act. The updated guidance expands on previous announcements that people with long-haul COVID could qualify for disability resources. Not everyone who tests positive will qualify and the EEOC said that employers must individually evaluate each employee to determine if they meet the requirements. (Frazier, 12/14)
USA Today: More Than 40% Of People With COVID-19 Never Show Symptoms, Study Finds. What Experts Have Learned About These Cases
Health officials have long wondered how many people who get COVID-19 show no symptoms. Because those who don't feel sick rarely get tested, experts have only been able to estimate the number of such asymptomatic cases. But new research now shows more than 40% of those who tested positive for COVID-19 were asymptomatic, according to the study published Tuesday in JAMA Network Open. Researchers looked at 95 studies from January 2020 to February 2021 consisting of nearly 30 million people in Asia, Europe, North America, South America and Africa. More than 60% of confirmed COVID-19 cases among people under 20 were asymptomatic; nearly 50% in people 20 to 39; about 32% in people 40 to 59, and about 33% in those over 60. (Rodriguez, 12/14)
KHN: Colorado Hospitals In ‘Critical Condition’ As State Weathers Another Surge
Harold Burch’s home has a spectacular view in Paonia, a rural part of Colorado’s Western Slope at the foot of Mount Lamborn. But the landscape has been little consolation to the 60-year-old as he has battled a cascade of health problems during the pandemic. “It’s been a real rodeo,” Burch said. “It’s been a lot of ups and downs and lately it’s been mostly just downers.” Burch has battled chronic osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis and has had two major intestinal surgeries. One specialist he was seeing left her practice last year. Another wouldn’t accept his insurance. Then, Nov. 1, he started experiencing major stomach pain. (Daley, 12/15)
Stateline: More States To Provide Free Home COVID Test Kits
New Jersey announced yesterday that it is joining New Hampshire and Washington state in sending free COVID-19 testing kits to the homes of residents who request them. New Hampshire made rapid tests available late last month, while Washington state began offering them to residents of nine counties starting in mid-November. Meanwhile, Massachusetts announced today that it will send 2 million free rapid test kits to 102 cities and towns in the state that have the highest proportion of families living in poverty, so officials can distribute to them residents. (Ollove, 12/14)
Also —
Axios: Fighting COVID Misinformation Among Latinos With Cartoons
Latinos are using cartoons to combat the coronavirus-related misinformation that is prominent in their communities. The project, "COVID Latino," aims to disseminate COVID-related information to U.S. Latinos through art and social media posts that prominently feature visual staples of Latino culture, with an emphasis on the U.S. Southwest. (Reyes, 12/14)
