Latest KFF Health News Stories
Drug Abuse Treatment Plan Follows Decriminalization Effort
Oregon must develop a drug abuse recovery system; Detroit approves the sale of recreational marijuana.
Hasidic Wedding Draws Thousands In Defiance Of N.Y. COVID Rules
The celebration broke rules set by city and state officials and organizers face a $15,000 fine. In other news related to the virus; some people note their hearing loss when trying to hear others speak through masks; and the news media’s reaction to the pandemic is scrutinized.
Food Banks Struggle To Keep Up With Demand Ahead Of Holiday
At the Family Pantry in Harwich, Mass., executive director Christine Menard said dozens of people have waited before the pantry opened for free turkeys — something she had never experienced before. “This is absolutely the worst I’ve ever seen it,” she said.
Oklahoma Allows Nurses With COVID To Continue Working
But the state nurses association opposes the new rule by the Oklahoma health department. State officials said asymptomatic health care workers can only be used as a last resort during short periods of time where it is absolutely necessary.
Opioid Epidemic: Purdue Pleads Guilty
In doing so, the opioid maker admits it did not prevent prescription drugs from being diverted to the black market and that it provided misleading information to the government.
Biden’s Top Choices For HHS Floated
As expected, New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and former Surgeon General Vivek Murthy are reportedly the top choices to head the Department of Health and Human Services. In other Biden transition news: the president-elect plans Thanksgiving address; stimulus deal debated; and more.
Drugmakers Sue To Stop Trump Importation Rules
In what is likely only the first of many lawsuits to come, drugmakers are trying to prevent the states’ importation of cheaper prescription drugs.
White House Mulls Lifting Travel Ban For Europe, Brazil: Report
Reuters reports that President Donald Trump is considering a proposal to quit barring U.S. entry to travelers from 28 European nations as well as Brazil.
Other Countries Roll Out Their COVID Vaccine Plans
But suspicions persist that Russians aren’t being honest about the efficacy of their Sputnik vaccine.
CDC To Announce Shorter Quarantine Time
The CDC is expected to recommend a shorter quarantine of between seven and 10 days and include a negative COVID test.
Pfizer’s Deal With Operation Warp Speed Excludes Common Government Rights
The $1.95 billion contract does not contain government rights to intellectual property developed in the manufacture of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine. Other news on vaccine delivery, development and hesitancy is also reported.
First Vaccine Dispatch Of 6.4M Doses To Be Sent To States As Soon As FDA OKs
Operation Warp Speed officials outlined what the first 24 hours of their vaccine distribution plan will look like, once a COVID-19 vaccine is granted FDA authorization. That milestone is expected in the second week of December. Meanwhile, CDC advisers recommend warning Americans about potential side effects they should expect.
Some States Get Serious About Thanksgiving Travelers
Several states and cities are cracking down on the movement of Thanksgiving travelers as a survey shows a lot of people are disregarding warnings about COVID transmission during the holiday.
Super-Spreader Holiday? Thanksgiving COVID Warnings Abound
The White House coronavirus task force is stressing that the new surge in infections can only be minimized through the “significant behavior change of all Americans.”
Deaths Reported In Single Day Climb To Highest Point In Six Months
First it was a surge in infections. Then hospitalizations. And now, as experts warned, deaths due to COVID-19 are rising in the U.S. back to peak-levels of the spring. There were 2,100 COVID deaths on Tuesday.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Note to readers: KHN’s Morning Briefing is off for the rest of the week. Check for it next in your inbox on Nov. 30.
Editorial pages focus on these pandemic topics and other public health issues.
Kremlin Says Until Vaccine Is Certified Safe, Putin Will Wait To Take It
News reports are from Russia, England, Mexico, Serbia and Spain.
When the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently asked young adults if they had thought about killing themselves in the past 30 days, 1 of 4 said they had.
Workers Ask Large Retailers To Boost Pay, Safety During Shopping Season
In other news, people again are panic-buying toilet paper, fans are off limits at a South Dakota basketball tournament, recovery groups go online and more.
