Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Kentucky Supreme Court Clears Way To Cancel Governor's Emergency Powers
The Hill: Kentucky High Court Clears Way For Legislature To Rein In Governor's COVID-19 Emergency Powers
The Kentucky Supreme Court on Saturday issued a ruling clearing the way for several bills limiting Gov. Andy Beshear’s (D) coronavirus-related emergency powers after telling a circuit court that it should not have issued an injunction against the legislation. One of the bills that took aim at Beshear’s emergency powers would require the Kentucky legislature to vote to extend the governor’s COVID-19 regulations and emergency orders or have them face expiration after 30 days, the Louisville Courier Journal reported. (Vakil, 8/22)
AP: Beshear Critics Vow To Work With Governor To Fight Pandemic
Top Republican lawmakers are promising to work with Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear to fight COVID-19 after a court ruling cleared the way for new limits on the Democratic governor’s emergency powers. Beshear’s allies said they’ll be watching to see if the governor’s critics follow through. Kentucky Republicans cheered the state Supreme Court ruling Saturday. The ruling ordered a lower court to dissolve an injunction that for months had blocked the GOP-backed laws. It comes as the highly contagious delta variant drives up coronavirus cases and hospitalizations in Kentucky. (Schreiner, 8/22)
AP: Beshear Names Aug. 22-28 Healthcare Heroes Appreciation Week
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear has declared the week of Aug. 22 to 28 as Healthcare Heroes Appreciation Week. The declaration is in honor of the doctors, nurses, hospital and clinic staff, and others who have helped the Bluegrass state during the COVID-19 pandemic. “They are heroes, they have earned that title,” Beshear said at a press briefing Thursday, urging local businesses and community members to find ways to show gratitude for healthcare workers. (8/23)
In news from elsewhere around the US —
WUSF Public Media: Tampa COVID Antibody Treatment Site Sees Long Lines
The new monoclonal antibody treatment site in Tampa had closed to walk-in COVID-19 patients within hours of opening on Friday. The site, located at Kings Forest Park near the Florida State Fairgrounds, was opened as part of a statewide effort to expand availability of the therapy in an attempt to curb COVID hospitalizations in Florida, which have consistently hit all-time highs in recent weeks. (Colombini, 8/22)
Albany Herald: Hospitals At Breaking Point As COVID Ravages Dougherty County, Region
As a mobile morgue was scheduled to roll into the city on Monday, officials outlined this week a hospital system that is stretched to the limit with a record number of COVID-19 patients. “Today we had more patients in our hospital than we have had since the beginning of the pandemic,” Dr. Kathy Hudson, chief medical officer at Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital, said as she began her remarks during a Friday news conference with medical and community leaders. “We have 161 people in Albany, 34 in Americus and four in Sylvester. That’s 199 patients in the hospital with COVID-19. That’s a 50 percent increase over last week.” (Mauldin, 8/21)
AP: Maryland Gov. Hogan, Cancer Survivor, Gets 3rd Vaccine Dose
Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, a cancer survivor, said Sunday he’s received a third shot of the coronavirus vaccine and he’s urging the federal government to make booster shots available earlier than currently planned. Hogan appeared on CBS’ “Face the Nation” and said he received the additional dose this week on the recommendation of his doctors. (8/22)
WJCT 89.9 FM Jacksonville: Can A Duval Student Ask To Sit Away From One Who's Unmasked? District Says 'No'
More than 8,000 students have opted out of wearing masks within Duval County Public Schools within the second week of school — a small number representing only about 6.5 percent of the 125,000 students on campus. But teachers say the numbers are disproportionately dispersed classroom-to-classroom. In teacher Andrew Mathis' classes at Oceanway Elementary, he says about eight of his 47 students — 16 percent — have opted-out of wearing masks. "Our elementary children aren't vaccinated and now some are also without masks," Mathis told The Times-Union. "I know the district wanted to make masks a mandate. Last year I found it easy to enforce. It wasn't a problem to say, 'Put your mask on.' Everyone was doing the same thing." (Bloch, 8/22)
