Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
New York's Nursing Home Fatality Numbers Suspect; Anchorage Braces For 'COVID Storm'
AP: New York’s True Nursing Home Death Toll Cloaked In Secrecy
Riverdale Nursing Home in the Bronx appears, on paper, to have escaped the worst of the coronavirus pandemic, with an official state count of just four deaths in its 146-bed facility. The truth, according to the home, is far worse: 21 dead, most transported to hospitals before they succumbed. (Condon, Sedensky and Hoyer, 8/11)
PBS NewsHour: In Alaska, Geographic Isolation Delayed The Pandemic — But Hasn’t Prevented It
Alaska’s distance from the U.S. mainland delayed its pandemic pain -- but hasn't prevented it. Indeed, the mayor of Anchorage recently described the situation there as a coming “COVID storm.” New emergency orders restricting businesses and gatherings are being implemented as cases rise and the economy reels from major blows to the fishing and tourism industries. (Sy, Jackson and Kuhn, 8/10)
AP: Connecticut Issues First $1,000 Fines To Travel Violators
The Connecticut Department of Public Health issued its first $1,000 fines on Monday to two individuals who Gov. Ned Lamont said failed to comply with the travel advisory for residents who return home from states with high COVID-19 infection rates. The Democrat said the two unnamed people had flown back to Connecticut from Louisiana and Florida and neither filled out a health form that’s required from anyone entering from any state with a 10% or higher positive rate over a seven-day rolling average or a new daily positive test rate higher than 10 per 100,000 residents. (Haigh, 8/10)
Atlanta Journal-Constitution: How Much Does It Cost To Have A Baby In Georgia?
Having a baby can be the most wondrous and joyous time in a person’s life. It can also be one of the most stressful, especially during a worldwide pandemic. Pregnant women might have an increased risk of severe illness or birth complications due to coronavirus, according to the CDC. In addition, social distancing might prevent new parents from getting support from family and friends. (Clanton, 8/10)
Dallas Morning News: Amid Pandemic, Dallas County Is Devising A New Strategy To Deal With Prostitution Cases
COVID-19′s consequences have fallen hard on the vulnerable women — many already without a shred of hope — who walk Harry Hines Boulevard and other Dallas prostitution hot spots to line the pockets of sex traffickers. Even when police officers made arrests this year, the Dallas County District Attorney’s Office rejected case after case in order to keep the jail population down and reduce the chance of a coronavirus outbreak behind bars. (Grigsby, 8/10)
AP: Arizona Unveils Reopening Plan For Bars, Gyms, Water Parks
Gyms, bars and water parks in Arizona that were ordered closed six weeks ago by Gov. Doug Ducey due to the pandemic will be able to reopen at a limited capacity and with health precautions once the spread of the virus within their county is downgraded to moderate or minimal, state officials said Monday. The Ducey administration unveiled the standards as the state’s coronavirus outbreak has slowed and it faces a Tuesday deadline for creating an application process for reopening gyms. (8/10)
AP: New Guidelines For Gyms Go Into Effect In Washington State
New guidelines for fitness centers and gyms will go into effect Monday in Washington state in an attempt to slow the spread of the coronavirus. KING TV reports under the updated guidelines, gyms and fitness facilities will need to nearly triple the minimum distance required for patrons exercising indoors, except for those practicing certain team sports. (8/10)
Politico: Newsom Indicates California Health Officer's Abrupt Departure Related To Data Blunder
Gov. Gavin Newsom took responsibility Monday for California's coronavirus test data problems and hinted that the abrupt departure late Sunday of his state public health officer was related to the information blunder. "At the end of the day, the buck stops with me. I'm accountable," Newsom said. "And I recognize that as governor of the state of California as it relates to my responsibility, it extends to my team and it extends to our efforts to keep you safe, to keep you healthy and to mitigate the spread of this disease." (Yamamura and Colliver, 8/10)
In news from Michigan —
AP: Whitmer Vetoes Bill To Expand Immunity From Medical Lawsuits
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Monday vetoed Republican-sponsored legislation that would have given additional health providers and facilities legal protection from lawsuits in any state-declared emergency and have continued the immunity for longer during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The governor, a Democrat, said she would have considered signing the bill if it only had attempted to “mop up” an issued created when the GOP-led Legislature refused to lengthen her declared COVID-19 emergency. The measure goes “much further,” however, she wrote in a letter to senators. (Eggert, 8/10)
Detroit Free Press: Michigan Families Vulnerable As Economic Safeguards Expire
With unemployment at historic highs in Michigan and across the country, economic protections for people impacted by COVID-19 are expiring as the pandemic continues to flare. Those safeguards, put in place to soften the impact of job losses and other issues related to the coronavirus, include eviction moratoriums, utility shutoff protections and an extra $600 in federal unemployment aid. (Rahman, 8/11)
