Latest KFF Health News Stories
Trump Sets Hyper-Ambitious Goal Of Having Vaccine By End Of Year Despite Experts’ Caution
President Donald Trump acknowledged that “Operation Warp Speed” is risky and expensive, but he still made grand promises to have the capacity to distribute 300 million doses in January. That year-end goal is a “very bold plan … a stretch goal if there ever was one,” warned NIH Director Francis Collins. While some experts say the unprecedented global race for a vaccine might shorten the expected timeline, there’s been a broad consensus that there aren’t too many corners left to cut without it being unsafe.
The Latest Testing Shortage: People
States have finally been able to ramp up their capacity, but in a strange twist, few people are showing up to get tested. Experts say several factors may be at play, including a lingering sense of scarcity, a lack of access in rural and underserved communities, concerns about cost and skepticism about testing operations. Meanwhile, as the FDA clears another at-home-testing kit for use and President Donald Trump reiterates support for an Abbott quick test that could miss up to 50% of cases. In other news: a Bill and Melinda Gates testing program is shut down by the FDA, while experts say don’t count on “immunity passports” as a silver bullet for reopening.
An Island In Washington State Hopes To Offer Contact Tracing Model To Understaffed Rural Areas
Vashon Island is geographically part of King County — which includes Seattle, the early epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak in the United States. Experts there want to provide a way for understaffed, but oftentimes nimble, rural areas to be able to test, track and isolate cases. Meanwhile, other states try to build up the armies needed for successful contact tracing.
EU-Led Coalition Proposes Review Into WHO’s Response But U.S. May Want More Targeted Inquiry
The global inquiry shows the large number of countries trying to find a middle course between the two geopolitical rivals. Both WHO and China have been targets of President Donald Trump’s ire in recent weeks. Opposition from either the U.S. or China would be enough to kill the resolution.
Pandemic Reveals Chronic Structural Weaknesses Throughout Federal Government
During this outbreak, the nation is reaping the effects of decades of denigration of government and also from a steady squeeze on the resources needed to shore up the domestic parts of the executive branch. Meanwhile, top health officials revealed tensions brewing within the Trump administration over different agencies’ responses, as HHS Secretary Alex Azar defends the president’s handling of the pandemic.
Trump Minimizing Own Role In Sharp Divergence From Predecessors Who Led During Crises
Governors and other administration leaders have been tasked to make the tough decisions during the pandemic as President Donald Trump defers responsibility. Presidential historians say it’s a startlingly different approach from the country’s previous leaders who held office during tumultuous times. In other news: the White House is still in upheaval from its own outbreak scare, Trump will tour a ventilator plant and the White House staff is kept in flux.
Trump Envisions America Going Back To Normal With Packed Stadiums, Crowds
Public health experts continue to warn that even when the country reopens, there will be a new normal in how everyone interacts with each other. But President Donald Trump — calling into a charity golf exhibition — said he wants people “practically standing on top of each other and enjoying themselves, not where they’re worried.”
A Look At Why New York Has Nearly 10 Times More Deaths Than California
ProPublica takes a deep dive into the early responses of city and state leaders on both coasts to see what went wrong or where California got lucky. Meanwhile, CDC Director Robert Redfield says that the country is on pace to pass 100,000 deaths by June 1.
Opinion writers weigh in on these pandemic topics ando thers.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Longer Looks: Dignity For The Dead; Human Migration; A Prescription For Reopening; And More
Each week, KHN finds interesting reads from around the Web.
For World’s Poorest Countries, Economic Devastation Could Be More Damaging Than Virus Itself
Some research suggests that poverty and hunger could end up killing even more people worldwide than the 40 million victims researchers projected would die from the virus if no control measures were taken. In other news on the economic toll of the virus: gender disparities in job losses, unemployment claims, relief funds for schools, small business loans and more.
Nursing school administrators worried that nursing students might change their minds about entering the field are keeping an eye out for “melt” — a term used to describe students who change their mind about coming to school. Other health industry news reports on complaints about lack of disclosures and more dedicated health care professionals who are dying.
Opinion writers express views about these public health topics and others.
‘Sitting Ducks’: Advocates Raise Red Flags About Unsafe Conditions Inside ICE Detention Centers
The ACLU recently estimated that almost all of those held in ICE facilities could be infected by the 90th day of a COVID-19 outbreak. An ICE spokesman said the agency is monitoring all detainees. Meanwhile, detainees voice health concerns after a COVID death in San Diego, as well.
Pandemic Wreaked Havoc On Hospitals’ Tried-And-True Playbook For Turning A Profit
Before the pandemic, hospitals relied on this strategy to make money: provide surgeries, scans and other well-reimbursed services to privately insured patients, whose plans pay higher prices than public programs like Medicare and Medicaid. Then the pandemic turned the world upside down. In other news on hospitals and costs: rural care deserts, liability protections and payment models.
Media outlets report on news from Michigan, Texas, District of Columbia, New York, California, Kansas, Maine, and Massachusetts.
Metrics-Focused Trump Laments Fact That Testing More People Means A Higher Case Count For U.S.
“We have more cases than anybody in the world,” President Donald Trump said. “But why? Because we do more testing. When you test, you have a case. When you test, you find something is wrong with people. If we didn’t do any testing, we would have very few cases.” Meanwhile, whereas scientists had been prominent players in the early days of the administration’s response efforts, they’re now being sidelined more and more.
Sweden Reports Extraordinary Jump In Deaths; Hospital Beds Hard To Find In Brazil
Global pandemic developments are reported out of Sweden, Brazil, Iraq, Somalia, Greece, Canada, Spain, Germany, Russia, Taiwan, Thailand, the Philippines, Egypt, India, Bangladesh, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia.
Domestic Abuse Problems Deepen: As Number Of Cases Rise, Fewer Options Exist To Find Safety
Operators of shelters say they’re getting more calls in some states as stay-at-home orders continue, but worries about offering refuge to infected women is prompting advocates to look for alternate solutions. More public health news stories report on antibiotic resistance, racial disparities and pregnancies, doulas, mannequins in restaurants, parents of special needs children, airport safety measures, big drop in cancer diagnoses, new etiquette to writing emails and a look at how mail carriers cope, as well.
