Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Missouri Gov. Mike Parson, Who Railed Against Masks, Now Has Coronavirus
NPR: Missouri Governor And Wife Test Positive For The Coronavirus
Missouri Gov. Mike Parson, whose mask-wearing habits have been publicly inconsistent and who has declined to issue a statewide mandate for face coverings, has tested positive for the coronavirus. The Republican governor's wife, Teresa Parson, has also tested positive. In a brief video statement, Mike Parson said he is awaiting a second test to confirm the results. "Myself and the first lady are both fine," Parson said. "I was tested; the preliminary results have come back as a positive result." (Romo, 9/23)
In other news from the states —
AP: North Dakota Governor Boosts COVID-19 Measures For Elderly
Saying it’s time to “spring into action” to handle rising COVID-19 cases in long-term care facilities, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum is directing health officials to place those residents at the head of the line for testing and to shift medical personnel and supplies to congregate settings. The changes were outlined Wednesday after Burgum announced a “somber milestone” of topping 200 deaths due to complications from the coronavirus and “too many” fatalities in nursing homes. State health officials have reported 26 deaths in the last seven days, all of whom were men and women in their 70s, 80s and 90s with underlying health conditions, he said. (Kolpack, 9/23)
AP: South Dakota Reports Single-Day High For COVID-19 Infections
South Dakota on Wednesday reported 445 new cases of COVID-19, the highest number in a single day since the pandemic started. The state has seen the nation’s second-highest number of new cases per capita over the last two weeks. The rolling average of daily new cases has increased by nearly a third in that time. But Gov. Kristi Noem has continued to say that the state is “in good shape” when it comes to hospital capacity. (Groves, 9/23)
AP: Norman City Council Requires Masks At Indoor House Parties
The Norman City Council voted to require that masks be worn indoors at house parties if more than 25 people are present to slow the spread of the coronavirus in the college town — a step that angry residents said would infringe on their rights. The council voted 5-3 on Tuesday night in favor of the ordinance, which took effect immediately and expires Nov. 30, despite the objections of some locals. (Miller, 9/23)
Detroit Free Press: Oakland County Children's Village: 9 People Test Positive For COVID-19
Nine staffers and residents have tested positive for the coronavirus at Oakland County Children's Village and 17 other employees are self-isolating at home for 14 days. County health officials are working to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 at the juvenile detention facility after an employee tested positive Sept. 3, according to a statement from the county. (Hall, 9/23)
ABC News: 20 Inmates, Accomplices Charged In COVID-19 Unemployment Fraud
Pennsylvania officials charged nearly two dozen inmates and outside accomplices who allegedly conspired to obtain some $300,000 in fraudulent COVID-19 unemployment benefits. Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro charged 20 inmates and accomplices across three state prisons where inmates allegedly gathered personal information from other inmates and distributed them to people on the outside who applied for fraudulent relief funds in their names, officials said Wednesday. (Allen, 9/23)
In news on the West Nile Virus —
Fox News: Oklahoma Resident Hospitalized With Possible West Nile Virus
An Oklahoma resident is currently hospitalized with a possible case of the mosquito-borne West Nile virus, officials in the Sooner State announced this week. The patient, from Oklahoma County, was not identified. He or she has been tested for West Nile virus, though the results from the test are seemingly pending as the case was identified as “possible” in a news release from the Oklahoma-City County Health Department (OCCHD). The possible case marks the first in the county this year, per officials. (Farber, 9/23)
