Latest KFF Health News Stories
With Mount Rushmore Celebration, Trump Courts Danger From Dual Threats Of Wildfires, Virus
President Donald Trump wants to put on a massive fireworks display at Mount Rushmore, where pyrotechnics have been banned for at least a decade. Public health experts are alarmed not only about the potential spread of coronavirus but by the wildfire threat.
COVID Antibodies Could Fade In As Little As 2 Months Adding Layer Of Complexity To Vaccine Search
Public health experts also say that the findings suggest people shouldn’t assume they can’t be reinfected by the virus once they had it. Scientists warn that a vaccine will need to offer longer protection than the body’s natural immune response.
Trump Administration To End Funding For 13 Federally Run Coronavirus Testing Sites
The federal government plans to withdraw support for COVID-19 testing sites located in five states by the end of this month. Trump administration officials say that operations of facilities still open will be transferred to state or local governments. Seven of those sites are in Texas, where a record number of confirmed coronavirus cases and hospitalizations are being reported.
Dozens Of Secret Service Agents Self-Quarantine After Potential COVID Exposure At Tulsa Rally
Public health experts pleaded with President Donald Trump to either cancel or move his rally outdoors, but the event went on as planned. Now dozens of Secret Service agents who staffed the event are quarantined after at least two of their colleagues tested positive for the virus.
3 States Announce Travel Quarantine; Trump Says He Won’t Abide By The Advisory
New York, New Jersey and Connecticut say anyone traveling from other high-risk states must quarantine for two weeks upon arrival. Rhode Island is considering a quarantine rule, as well. In other news: the Department of Justice says it supports suing Hawaii over its quarantine rule.
On Wednesday, 36,880 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 were reported, as the outbreak spikes again primarily in the West and South. Public health experts fear “apocalyptic” surges in Texas, California and Florida cities. While new cases trend upwards, so far deaths are not rising at the same rate, though that may not continue to be the case for much longer.
‘Alarming’ Surge Of Cases In Texas Could Overwhelm ICUs, But Governor Hesitant To Shut Back Down
Gov. Greg Abbott (R) has done an about-face of sorts since he pushed the state to reopen in May. As Texas’ case counts skyrocket, Abbott has tried to impose new rules to help flatten the curve once more, but he sees another shutdown as a last option.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Research Roundup: Premature Births; Azithromycin; Alzheimer’s; Isolation; Insurance Coverage
Each week, KHN compiles a selection of recently released health policy studies and briefs.
Perspectives: To Win Opioid Epidemic, We Need Everyone To Participate
Read recent commentaries about drug-cost issues.
Editorial pages focus on these pandemic issues and other health topics.
L.A. Unveils $800M Plan To House Homeless
In other news on the homeless crisis: Houston releases pre-pandemic statistics; D.C. will stop using a certain motel as overflow housing.
Global news is from Russia, Uganda, Vietnam, Brazil, Saudi Arabia, Germany, Switzerland, Thailand, Spain, Chile, Sweden, Mexico, Ghana, England, and China, as well.
Combination Pill From Myovant Reduces Pain From Endometriosis, Trial Shows
Read about the biggest pharmaceutical development and pricing stories from the past week in KHN’s Prescription Drug Watch roundup.
Mask-Wearing In Public Now Mandatory In Washington State
Meanwhile, one county has run out of hospital beds because of the spike in coronavirus cases.
As Cases Spike In Texas, One Children’s Hospital Now Taking Adults
In other news from across the state: Leaders wrestle with reopening public schools; UT Southwestern Medical Center warns about alarming trends; and more.
Grim Record: California Hits New Daily High, Surpassing 6,000 New COVID Cases
The state broke its record for the highest number of new coronavirus cases in a day, with more than 6,000 reported Monday. Over 2,000 of those came from Los Angeles County. Other California pandemic-related news is on hospitalizations, nursing homes, renters, and prisons as well.
Media outlets report on news from Arizona, Texas, California, Florida, Massachusetts, Oklahoma, Minnesota, Missouri, Louisiana, Ohio, South Carolina, Rhode Island, Michigan, New York, Maine, Iowa, New Mexico, and other states, as well.
Walmart, Baptists Take Stand Against Mississippi State Flag’s Confederate Symbol
Walmart will no longer display the state’s flag, which contains the Confederate battle flag, and the Mississippi Baptist Convention’s board said it’s a “moral issue.” Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves (R) has suggested any decision about changing the flag should come from voters.
News outlets report on some of the key questions that scientists and doctors are trying to answer about how the virus transmits and impacts the human body. Other public health news stories related to the pandemic focus on youth suicide, alcohol use, dining out, sex in the time of COVID, mask usage and more.
