Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Maryland Discourages Out-Of-State Travel; D.C. Relaxes Rules On Churches
The Washington Post: Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan Issues Order Requiring Coronavirus Test After Out-Of-State Travel
Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan issued an emergency order Thursday requiring anyone who travels outside the state to get tested for the coronavirus and to self-quarantine for 10 days when they return. Hogan said out-of-state travel should happen only if necessary as virus levels continue to hover at elevated rates across the region. The new protocols do not apply to people visiting the District or the bordering states of Delaware, Pennsylvania and Virginia. (Schneider, Wiggins and Zauzmer, 12/17)
The Washington Post: D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser Eases Covid Restrictions On Churches
Facing a federal lawsuit from the Archdiocese of Washington over rules prohibiting large gatherings — including Christmas services — during the coronavirus pandemic, D.C. Mayor Muriel E. Bowser issued a late-night order Wednesday modifying the city’s rules on worship services and other activities. Bowser (D) revoked the cap of 50 people that she had previously imposed on worship services and instead ordered that religious facilities fill no more than 25 percent of their pews, up to a maximum of 250 people at one event, no matter how large the venue. (Zauzmer and Boorstein, 12/17)
The Washington Post: D.C., Teachers? Union Reach Deal On How To Reopen School Buildings In Pandemic
The District’s public school system and the Washington Teachers’ Union reached a deal late Thursday on how to reopen schools, capping months of contentious negotiations in a city that has so far been unable to bring teachers and students back together in classrooms. The deal settles a major dispute that has held up previous agreements: Teachers who do not have medical exemptions may be required to go back to classrooms, even if they do not want to. (Stein, 12/17)
Philadelphia Inquirer: Philadelphia Urgent Care Centers Are Still Coping With Shortages Of COVID-19 Tests
In recent months, the cracks that still exist in the country’s COVID-19 testing system have been exposed as case numbers have surged. Over the Thanksgiving holiday, many Philadelphians waited for hours to get tested. Some didn’t receive their test results for weeks. Pennsylvania is ranked 51st among U.S. states and territories in the number of tests conducted per 100,000 people as of Dec. 16, according to data compiled by the Johns Hopkins University of Medicine. (Ao, 12/18)
Philadelphia Inquirer: Philly’s Overworked 911 Dispatchers Are On The ‘Brink Of A Collapse.’ City Council Promises Fixes
Insufficient staffing. Mandatory overtime. Unsafe working conditions. More responsibilities. Less respect. During a virtual City Council hearing Thursday, frustrated Philadelphia police dispatchers said they have been pushed to the breaking point this year as the city has grappled with the coronavirus pandemic, civil unrest, and a surge in gun violence. Morale has plummeted among dispatchers, a mostly female unit of 220 civilians that fields emergency calls 24 hours a day. (Bender, 12/17)
The Washington Post: Long Beach Police Department Holds Indoor Superspreader Event With Hundreds Of Maskless Officers
Nearly 300 Long Beach, Calif., police officers, uniformed and masked, gathered close together for a group picture on Nov. 5 at the city’s convention center to commemorate the end of a weeks-long tactical training. But an informal image from that same day captured a different story — the officers are seen standing side-by-side and barefaced, the Long Beach Post first reported earlier this month. (Peiser, 12/17)
The Hill: Michigan Reinstates Pandemic-Related Moratorium On Water Shutoffs
Michigan's state House of Representatives passed a bill Thursday to reinstitute the state's moratorium on water service shutdowns during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to The Associated Press. The bill, which passed with near-unanimous support in the state legislature, puts in place restrictions barring water shutdowns for late payments through March. (Bowden, 12/17)
The New York Times: Benny Napoleon, Wayne County Sheriff, Dies At 65
Benny Napoleon, the sheriff of Wayne County in Michigan and a former Detroit police chief who ran unsuccessfully for the city’s mayor, died on Thursday. He was 65. The current mayor of Detroit, Mike Duggan, confirmed the death on Twitter. Sheriff Napoleon had been hospitalized in Detroit for weeks with Covid-19 complications. (Gray and Ives, 12/18)
