Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
'Massive Criminal Attack': Fraud Hinders Unemployment Claim Process
Stateline: Fight Against Fraud Slows Payments To Unemployed
As workers grow desperate for unemployment benefits, criminals filing fraudulent claims are clogging state unemployment systems, making legitimate claimants wait even longer for help. States that were generous and quick to help workers were also quick to be targeted by scammers. In response, states have had to slow down the processing of claims and even claw back some money, delaying payouts to people supposed to be getting them. (Henderson, 8/27)
In news from Massachusetts and Georgia —
WBUR: Judge Declines To Immediately Stop Mass. Evictions Ban
A Superior Court judge has refused to end the state’s ban on evictions, arguing any harm to landlords is “far outweighed” by the potential harm that would be caused by putting an end to the evictions moratorium.In his ruling Wednesday, Suffolk Superior Court Judge Paul Wilson declined to issue a preliminary injunction to stop the moratorium while the case proceeds. Wilson said the pause on evictions not only protects public health, but also the economic wellbeing of the commonwealth. (Rios, 8/26)
Atlanta Journal-Constitution: COVID-19 Cases Among Children Surge In Georgia
The number of Georgians under the age of 18 diagnosed with COVID-19 has jumped 65% in the past month, with more than 21,000 testing positive since March. And, as more children are diagnosed with the illness, doctors are encountering more with complications than they have so far in the 6-month-old pandemic, experts say. (Oliviero, 8/26)
In news from Kansas, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Idaho and Hawaii —
AP: Kansas Reports Highest 7-Day Spike In New COVID-19 Cases
Kansas officials on Wednesday reported the highest seven-day jump in new COVID-19 cases since the state confirmed its first positive case, albeit with a declining death rate. The state Department of Health and Environment reported 1,536 new cases since Monday, an increase of 4%, to bring the total to 39,937. The department reported an additional 11 COVID-19-related deaths, to put the pandemic total at 437. (Tsubasa Field, 8/26)
AP: Oklahoma Health Department Developing New Virus Alert Plan
The Oklahoma State Department of Health is working to revise the state’s COVID-19 alert system, which some state health officials have said is not “helpful” for areas at high risk due to the coronavirus pandemic, health department spokesperson Rob Crissinger said Wednesday. Planned changes in the alert system, first reported by the Tulsa World, are being made so local and state health officials can work more closely, according to Crissinger. (Miller, 8/26)
ABC News: Multiple States Report COVID-19 Cases Linked To Sturgis Rally
Health experts' fears about the hundreds of thousands of bikers who descended on South Dakota for the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in the middle of a pandemic are coming true. At least 100 coronavirus cases in eight states are believed to be linked to the 10-day motorcycle event earlier this month, according to The Associated Press. South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Nebraska, Montana, North Dakota, Wyoming and Washington state health departments all have reported cases. (Schumaker, 8/26)
ABC News: Ammon Bundy Arrested 2nd Straight Day For Violating Idaho Statehouse Ban
For the second time in 24 hours, Idaho state troopers arrested and physically removed state rights leader Ammon Bundy from the Boise statehouse after he violated the chamber's rules. Bundy, who joined several maskless protesters in three days of action against the state legislature over its coronavirus restrictions, showed up at the statehouse around 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, soon after he posted bond for his arrest during a legislative hearing Tuesday, the Idaho State Police said. (Pereira, 8/26)
AP: Hawaii Says 11% Of People Taking COVID-19 Test Are Positive
More than 10% of people tested for COVID-19 in Hawaii have been found to have the disease in the past 24 hours, new data showed Wednesday, underscoring that coronavirus was becoming more widespread in the community. “It’s basically telling us we’re in a very serious situation from a public health point of view,” Tim Brown, a senior fellow at the research program of the East-West Center in Honolulu, said in a telephone interview. (McAvoy, 8/26)
