Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Ivy League Cancels Winter Sports; Cruise Ship Reports More Positive Tests
The Hill: Ivy League Cancels Winter Sports Amid US COVID-19 Pandemic Surge
The Ivy League on Thursday announced that it would be cancelling competitions for winter sports and postponing spring sports through February 2021 due to continued safety concerns amid the coronavirus pandemic. The league is the first Division I college athletics conference to cancel its winter sports seasons. The league includes Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Harvard, Penn, Princeton and Yale. (Castronuovo, 11/12)
The Washington Post: Maryland Football Players At Hotel After Game Is Canceled
Maryland’s football players are quarantining at a hotel near campus after eight members of the team tested positive for the novel coronavirus. They moved into individual rooms Wednesday evening after their game against No. 3 Ohio State scheduled for Saturday was canceled. Coach Michael Locksley said the team plans to stay in the hotel until Sunday afternoon, but there is no timeline for when the players could return to practice. The Terrapins are scheduled to play Michigan State at home Nov. 21, and Locksley said the team is preparing as though the game will go on as planned. (Giambalvo, 11/12)
The Hill: At Least 5 Passengers On First Caribbean Cruise In Months Tests Positive For COVID-19
At least five people who were aboard the first Caribbean cruise ship in months tested positive for COVID-19, according to a CNN report. NBC reported earlier on Wednesday that a passenger tested positive for the virus, citing a report from Gene Sloan, a reporter for the website The Points Guy who was on the ship. (Williams, 11/12)
The Hill: Hawaiian Airlines Letting Customers Trade Points For COVID-19 Test Kits
Hawaiian Airlines is now allowing their customers to use their frequent-flier miles in exchange for COVID-19 test kits. The airline announced a partnership with Vault Health that provides members of their loyalty program with an opportunity to put their unused HawaiianMiles to use as air travel is down due to the global pandemic. (Polus, 11/12)
The Wall Street Journal: Travel Insurance: What You Need To Know For Covid-19 And Beyond
The Covid-19 pandemic is prompting many travelers to take a new look at buying trip insurance. How much is this peace of mind worth? A typical plan covering contingencies like trip cancellation, interruption and medical emergencies could run from 5% to 10% of the total tab of your vacation, says Stan Sandberg, co-founder of travelinsurance.com, a policy-comparison site. Unless you choose carefully, however, you could still end up holding the bag if the worst happens. (Peterson, 11/12)
AP: Critics Speak Out On Tokyo Olympic Costs, Pandemic, Fairness
Three-time Olympic champion gymnast Kohei Uchimura wants the postponed Tokyo Olympics to happen next year. But he’s also talked openly about the skepticism in Japan where enthusiasm is muted by health risks, billions of dollars in taxpayer bills, and questions why the Games are a priority amid a pandemic. Polls over the last several months show Japanese — and Japanese companies — are divided about holding the Games, or doubtful they should be held at all. (Kageyama, Wade and Ueda, 11/13)
