Latest KFF Health News Stories
Researchers Hail WHO Decision To Acknowledge That Airborne Transmissions Pose A Serious Threat
“Hopefully this will lead to greater emphasis on wearing of face coverings and avoiding the three Cs: close contact, closed and poorly ventilated spaces, and crowds,” said Linsey Marr, an aerosol expert at Virginia Tech.
Trump Makes Official The U.S. Exit From World Health Organization
The president has vowed for months to end U.S. participation in the World Health Organization, which he has criticized over its response to the pandemic. However, public health experts warn the move may leave the U.S. at a disadvantage.
Some ICUs Are Running Out Of Beds As Hospitalizations Spike In Most States
In Florida, 56 intensive care units are at or over capacity while 35 others are nearing it. And doctors in Texas and Arizona voice deep concerns about their ability to treat enough patients.
Fauci Warns Against ‘False Narrative’ Over Death Rates While Trump Says U.S. Is In A ‘Good Place’
As some other Trump administration officials point to the dropping number of deaths as a positive sign in the pandemic fight, Dr. Anthony Fauci warns against “false complacency” in a new round of comments.
3 Million And Counting: Number Of COVID Cases Reported In U.S. Continues To Accelerate
A new single-day record of 60,000 cases reported Tuesday pushed the U.S. over the dire 3 million mark. Texas — which reported its own new record of 10,400 cases confirmed in one day — and Florida are at the center of the spikes.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Editorial pages focus on these pandemic topics and others.
Opinion writers weigh in on these health care topics and others.
‘Needs To Happen Immediately’: Judges Press California Governor To Reduce Prison Populations
Over the weekend, four prisoners died at San Quentin, where there have been more than 1,500 confirmed infections. Other California news focuses on ICE detention facilities, rising hospitalizations, the Assembly’s recess and closures of more businesses, among other things.
China Issues Bubonic Plague Health Alert; One Australian City Locked Down Again
Global developments related to the coronavirus pandemic and other public health issues are reported from China, Australia, Canada, India, the UK, Saudi Arabia, France, Amsterdam, Chile, South Korea and other nations.
Media outlets report on news from Texas, Arizona, Tennessee, Georgia, Indiana, Maine and Florida.
As shootings increase in places like Atlanta, Chicago and New York City, local and state officials work to respond to multiple public health emergencies, including gun violence and the coronavirus crisis.
Trodelvy Boosts Survival Rate For Women With ‘Triple-Negative’ Breast Cancer, Study Shows
In other pharmaceutical news: Jonathan Sackler, co-owner of Purdue Pharma, dies at 65 of cancer; J&J lowers the price of a tuberculosis drug; the EPA approves Lysol to fight COVID-19; and more.
Food insecurity has surged over the last three months across all demographics, but has disproportionately impacted Black and Hispanic households with children. And other news stories on how racial and income disparities impact health care cover evictions and homelessness; period poverty; immigrant caregivers; child care challenges; and the potential for tech companies to try to close the gap.
After Reopening Of Public Spaces, Florida Education Official Orders Schools To Follow
“All school boards and charter school governing boards must open brick and mortar schools in August at least five days per week for all students,” state Commissioner of Education Richard Corcoran said — although some leeway was given to local jurisdictions as infections rise. New York and New Jersey schools are in the news, as well.
Trump’s Opposition To Masks Muddles Public Health Messages And His Re-Election Campaign
To wear a mask or not to? It’s a debate that marks the federal response as well as efforts at the state and local level to curb the spread of COVID-19. It is also a question that ignites deep political passions and personal reactions.
AIDS Advocates, Worried About Falling Behind During Pandemic, Call For Redoubling Response
“While tackling COVID-19 is a global priority, we must not turn our backs on the 38 million people living with HIV and the millions more at risk of infection,” Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said Monday at the International AIDS Conference. Public health news is on diabetes, strokes and zoonotic diseases, also.
Recent Surges Adding New Stress To COVID Testing Capacity
News outlets report that testing sites in areas such as New Orleans or Sacramento County in California, where COVID-19 case counts are on the rise, are running out of the needed supplies amidst skyrocketing demand. And as case counts increase rapidly, contact tracers efforts become more difficult.
Minimizing The Risks Of Aerosols: Experts Offer Guideline On Avoiding Exposure To The Pathogen
The virus does not travel long distances or remain viable outdoors, experts say, but evidence suggests it can traverse the length of a room and, remain viable for perhaps three hours. Public health news is on unsafe hospitals, patient bills, stimulus fraud, vulnerable patients, blood types, masks, health care workers and the challenges being faced by the sports’ world.
Older People Refusing To Take COVID Precautions, ‘Troubling’ Study Finds
Many seniors are having difficulty adjusting to their “new normal.” Meanwhile, some adults have moved to a new home to reduce their risk of catching the coronavirus or to be closer to family.
