Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Medical Debt Rises, But Unemployment Claims Hit Pandemic Low
NBC News: Medical Debt Is Engulfing More People As Pandemic Takes Its Toll
Andréa Ceresa said she may have to declare bankruptcy soon. She has paid off about $23,000 in medical bills so far, but she faces $133,000 more for a nine-day hospital stay in November. Since she tested positive for Covid-19 a year ago, Ceresa has joined the ranks of those who still struggle with various manifestations of the coronavirus. She's also one of a growing number of Americans who can't afford their medical bills. (McCausland, 4/23)
CBS News: Unemployment Claims Fall To Pandemic-Era Low
The number of Americans filing for first-time jobless aid last week fell to its lowest level since the COVID-19 pandemic erupted in 2020, a sign layoffs are easing as the economy recovers. Some 547,000 people applied for unemployment benefits in the week ended April 17, the Labor Department said Thursday. That's 39,000 fewer than the previous week and the lowest weekly number since March 14, 2020. About 133,000 others applied for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, a federal program for self-employed and gig workers. (Ivanova, 4/22)
Capital & Main: Winners And Losers After Gov. Newsom Signs California's Worker-Rights Bill
Last fall, Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed a bill designed to protect workers in certain industries who’d been laid off during the COVID-19 crisis. In doing so, Newsom practically invited state legislators to make another run at a worker-rights law. “I recognize the real problem this bill is trying to fix – to ensure that workers who’ve been laid off during the COVID-19 pandemic have certainty about their rehiring and job security,” the governor wrote in his veto letter to the California Assembly. But as drafted, he said, the legislation would create “a confusing patchwork of requirements” that could vary from county to county. (Kreidler, 4/20)
In other health-related news about the reopening of the economy —
AP: Topless Clubs Among Businesses That Can Reopen In Vegas
Topless dancers can shed coronavirus restrictions next weekend in Las Vegas and get face-to-face with patrons again, under rules accepted Thursday by a state COVID-19 task force. But masks still will be required for adult entertainment employees and recommended for customers. Sin City strip clubs that went dark when Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak ordered casinos, clubs and nonessential businesses closed in March 2020 will be able to open May 1 at 80% of fire code capacity under strict social distancing guidelines. (Ritter, 4/23)
AP: Kentucky State Fair Will Be Open To The Public This Year
The Kentucky State Fair will be open to the public this year, officials said. The Kentucky State Fair Board voted Thursday to hold the event Aug. 19-29, according to a statement from Kentucky Venues. Tickets will go on sale in July. Last year, the event was closed to the public due to the coronavirus pandemic. Some events were held but only participants were allowed to attend. (4/23)
NBC News: Is It Still Necessary To Wear Masks Outdoors? CDC 'Looking At' Revising Mask Guidance
On Thursday, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention told "TODAY" the agency is considering revising its mask guidance. “We’ll be looking at the outdoor masking question, but also in the context of the fact that we still have people who are dying of Covid-19,” Dr. Rochelle Walensky said. (Syal, 4/22)
The Washington Post: Should I Wear A Mask Outside? Experts Weigh In.
As more Americans are vaccinated against the coronavirus and a growing body of scientific evidence suggests that the risk of outdoor transmission is low, many people are wondering: Do we need to keep wearing face masks outside? The short answer is that masking outdoors can be “optional,” says Paul Sax, clinical director of the Division of Infectious Diseases at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. While he says people should still generally don masks indoors, Sax believes statewide mandates for wearing masks outdoors may no longer be necessary. “The science of the viral transmission is advanced enough that we really don’t want to be kind of confusing people by forcing them to wear masks in places where really they’re at minimal risk,” he says. (Chiu, 4/22)
