Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Lawmaker Calls For Investigation Of Nursing Home Covid Deaths
USA Today: 'Profiteering, Cold-Hearted' Nursing Home Owners Should Be Investigated, Congressman Says
In a biting letter, U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush, D-Ill. urged Congress to investigate the failures of nursing homes during the pandemic, particularly “profiteering, cold-hearted” corporations that act as landlords in the industry. ... When USA TODAY investigated COVID-19 deaths at the country’s largest nursing home chains during the deadliest peak of the pandemic, Trilogy Health Services stood out for reporting the highest death rate to the federal government, twice the national average. The company filed a revision to reduce its official count of COVID-19 deaths by more than 40%, but its rate remains one of the highest among large chains. (Fraser and Penzenstadler, 4/8)
In other news about the spread of covid —
The New York Times: New Jersey Republican Stronghold Has State’s Worst Virus Death Rate
Ocean County, a coastal region in central New Jersey, is home to some of the state’s most exclusive waterfront communities and its fastest-growing town, Lakewood. A Republican bastion in a state controlled by Democrats, the county is largely suburban, encompassing more land than all but one other county in New Jersey. (Tully and Schorr, 4/10)
Politico: New York City Mayor Eric Adams Tests Positive For Covid-19 On His 100th Day In Office
Mayor Eric Adams has tested positive for Covid-19, a City Hall spokesperson announced Sunday afternoon. Adams’ press secretary, Fabien Levy, said the mayor woke up with a “raspy voice” Sunday morning — his 100th day in office — and took a PCR test “out of an abundance of caution.” The test has came back positive. (Toure, 4/10)
CNN: Ventilation: A Powerful Covid-19 Mitigation Measure
Two-plus years into the Covid-19 pandemic, you probably know the basics of protection: vaccines, boosters, proper handwashing and masks. But one of the most powerful tools against the coronavirus is one that experts believe is just starting to get the attention it deserves: ventilation. "The challenge for organizations that improve air quality is that it's invisible," said Joseph Allen, director of the Healthy Buildings Program at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. It's true: Other Covid tools are more tangible. But visualizing how the virus might behave in poorly ventilated spaces can help people better understand this mitigation measure. (Sealy, 4/10)
Also —
AP: With COVID Mission Over, Pentagon Plans For Next Pandemic
A COVID-19 patient was in respiratory distress. The Army nurse knew she had to act quickly. It was the peak of this year’s omicron surge and an Army medical team was helping in a Michigan hospital. Regular patient beds were full. So was the intensive care. But the nurse heard of an open spot in an overflow treatment area, so she and another team member raced the gurney across the hospital to claim the space first, denting a wall in their rush. (Baldor, 4/11)
