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The Department of Veterans Affairs is designated by federal law to act as back-up to other hospitals in times of crisis. Over the past two weeks, the VA expanded hospital capacity, dropping occupancy in acute care beds from about 80% to over 60% to make room for possible civilian patients
The simulations revealed shortcomings--such as a lack of supplies and staff for hospitals--that the government is now trying to address during the coronavirus outbreak. In other news, Stat provides a who's who list of those in the Trump administration handling the crisis.
Opinion writers weigh in on these topics and the impact the pandemic is having on everyday activities.
Today's early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
ProPublica talks to an election expert about the various ways that the outbreak could impact the elections. The bottom line: it would take an act of Congress to move the presidential election and that would be difficult to do. Meanwhile, states are trying to shift their primary strategies to avoid voters gathering in large groups.
With restaurants closing and people spending most of their time eating at home, the demand for food is "in fact unprecedented,'' says Tyson Foods chief executive Noel White. Related news reports on special shopping times for seniors, Walmart's shorter hours, price gouging, delivery workers and job safety.
The advisory says if Americans decide to travel overseas, "you may be forced to remain outside of the United States for an indefinite time frame." Also, millions of Americans are still overseas and are struggling with finding a way home. Changes are in effect on passports and troop deployments, as well.
Previous estimates had put the death rate somewhere between 2% to 3.4%. The new study places it at 1.4%. In other news: understanding what containment strategies work; why more men than woman are dying; a look at who is spreading the disease; what herd immunity has to do with mitigation; and more.
As of Thursday afternoon, Italy registered 41,035 diagnoses of the coronavirus and 3,405 deaths. Globally the total number of deaths climbed past 10,000.
Sens. Richard Burr (R-N.C.) and Kelly Loeffler (R-Ga.) dumped stocks before the coronavirus crisis erupted into the threat it has become today. As chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, Burr received daily briefings on the outbreak and warned a small group of constituents three weeks ago to prepare for what was coming. Critics of the two senators have called for their resignations.
Public health experts have been vocal about the need for Americans to practice social distancing. Those not getting the message--or not believing it--could start facing the wrath of the ones who are abiding by it. Meanwhile, experts explain why flattening the curve is so important, as they try to figure out what America will look like when the country emerges from the crisis.
Doctors and other health care providers are having to reuse face masks and replace FDA-approved protective gear with scarves, bandanas or homemade masks. Some hospitals say they're going through months-worth of supplies in a week span.
“The Federal government is not supposed to be out there buying vast amounts of items and then shipping," President Donald Trump said. "You know, we’re not a shipping clerk.” Meanwhile, Vice President Mike Pence said that new legislation will allow tens of millions more protective masks to reach health workers each month, but it still seems unclear if production can meet demand. Meanwhile, hospitals prepare to have to make tough ethical decisions amid bed and ventilator shortages.
President Donald Trump put the spotlight on potential treatments that are showing some promising results, but FDA Commissioner reiterated the importance of not giving people "false hope." Experts say that in times of crisis, it's tempting to want to cut corners and move as fast as possible, but science moves at the pace it does for a reason: patient safety. Meanwhile, the company who makes the drug the president touted instituted a price hike in January that nearly doubled the cost. But its officials have since cut the cost again.
Unemployment claims rose from 211,000 to 281,000, and the numbers come from before the worst of the shutdowns hit. State unemployment offices are buckling under the strain of the surge. Meanwhile, media outlets look at those most affected by the economic crisis, from mothers going without food so their children can eat to gig workers whose lives are upended. Meanwhile, the outbreak exposes vulnerabilities in America’s financial regulatory system, a decade after a massive overhaul was designed to prevent the next crisis.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) released his proposed $1 trillion package, but some financial experts think it's still not enough to counter the financial devastation of the coronavirus. Meanwhile, lobbyists and hospitals scramble to get a piece of the action.
Opinion writers weigh in on these public health issues and others.
Each week, KHN compiles a selection of recently released health policy studies and briefs.
The virus has killed 3,245 people in China so far, making up over a third of the global toll, but in recent weeks the country has been making strides in controlling the spread. Now, Beijing is mounting a humanitarian aid blitz in countries struggling with their own outbreaks.
While there are serious limitations to using telemedicine, it can be a powerful triage tool. Technology news is on smart thermometers and social media, as well.
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