Latest KFF Health News Stories
Higher Hospitalization Rates, More Deaths: Communities Of Color In Urban Hubs Are Hardest Hit
ABC News reviews state and local health data in its analysis on disparities In places like New York City, Chicago, Washington D.C., Atlanta and Phoenix. Other news on communities of color reports on the toll of essential workers, increased interest in a mental health guide and COVID’s path through the poorest state, as well.
The Most Essential Part Of Contact Tracing: Gaining A Skeptical Public’s Trust
Contact tracing is a crucial part of reopening, but privacy fears can keep it from being successful. Getting the public to buy in to the practice will be critical in making sure the efforts work, experts say.
Getting Things From Point A To Point B Used To Be An American Art Form, But Not Anymore
Leaders said the supply chain was strong. But when the pandemic struck, shortages laid bare all those lofty promises.
‘Grimmer Than We Thought’: Economists Warn That Some Jobs Lost During Crisis May Be Gone Forever
Nearly 39 million Americans have lost their jobs so far during the pandemic. Even when the economy starts to come back, it will likely look quite different from the one that closed, experts say. Meanwhile, those trying to get help from the government are stuck navigating a cumbersome and out-of-date unemployment system. And while food banks get a lot of attention, even those who work there say SNAP is more beneficial to people going hungry. Other news touches on worker safety, permanent shifts to remote work and the “coronavirus surcharge.”
McConnell Suggests Next Coronavirus Relief Package ‘Not Too Far Off’ As Senate Adjourns For Week
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) faces increasing pressure from both inside and outside his party to pass another round of relief legislation. But so far he’s been taking a wait-and-see approach, essentially ignoring the $3 trillion bill passed by the House. Meanwhile, the Senate was unable to finalize a deal to extend the amount of time companies have to spend loans obtained through the Paycheck Protection Program.
Yes, Being Outside Lowers Risk Of Transmission, But Crowding Together Ramps It Back Up
There’s a tendency to gather close to friends–and even strangers in popular places–but experts says that’s what will increase someone’s risk of transmission even if they’re outside. In other scientific news on the virus: how patients’ lungs are ravaged, updated CDC guidance on risks, a look at Sweden’s “herd immunity,” and more.
The Associated Press reports on troublesome efforts undertaken for a while in New York where recovering patients were sent to nursing homes, places that even Gov. Andrew Cuomo called “optimum feeding grounds for the virus.” Other nursing home developments include CMS’ new policy for recording deaths as well as reporting from Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Illinois and Massachusetts.
Media outlets look at important developments in the state of testing–both traditional swab testing and antibody tests–throughout the country.
NYC Officials Tap Workers Trained In Deescalating Violence To Help Social Distancing Enforcement
The city has come under intense scrutiny for the racial disparities in its social distancing policing. It’s now trying to work with groups known as “violence interrupters” and “credible messengers” to calmly persuade people to follow the rules.
Mississippi Church That Met Despite Guidelines Burns To Ground In Suspected Arson Attack
“Bet you stay home now you hypokrits,” was spray painted near the Mississippi church. Tensions have been high across the country as churches and religious leaders push back against social distancing guidelines.
Warm Memorial Day Weather Tempts Americans, But States Worry Traveling Tourists Will Bring Virus
The holiday weekend could bring its own set of challenges as cooped up Americans start eyeing beaches, rural tourism and other activities.
The government made the deal with AstraZeneca as part of its “Operation Warp Speed” vaccine push. The drugmaker will begin late-stage clinical trials this summer with roughly 30,000 people for the potential vaccine developed at a Oxford University lab. The deal is the latest in a funding race that’s quickly heating up as countries try to secure vaccines that haven’t even been developed yet.
Experts Worry About Dangerous Trend Of Trump Politicizing Scientific Results In Midst Of Pandemic
President Donald Trump has criticized scientists and research results in recent days, dismissing their findings by claiming they’re political enemies. “If the president is politicizing science, if he’s discounting health experts, then the public is going to be fearful and confused,” said Larry Gostin, a Georgetown University law professor. In other news on Trump and his administration: scientists ask for a federal review as to why a coronavirus grant was canceled; Trump’s claims of success against the virus could haunt him; Trump to lower flags in honor of virus victims; and more.
Trump Continued To Criticize Mail-In-Voting, But Many States See It As Inevitable
Surrounding his trip to Michigan, and election battleground, President Donald Trump was vocal about his opposition to mail-in-voting. But many states, even Republican-leaning ones, are mobilizing to make voting easier as experts predict a second virus wave in the fall. “Every once in a while you get the president of the United States popping up and screaming against vote-by-mail, but states and both political parties are organizing their people for it,” said Michael Waldman, the president of the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University. “It’s a bizarre cognitive dissonance.”
Trump Wears Mask–Just Not In Front Of Media–While Touring Ford Plant In Battleground Michigan
Whether President Donald Trump would follow Ford’s strict mask policy was the focus of attention as the president traveled to the battleground state to tour a factory that makes ventilators. Trump said he wore a mask in some parts of the factory but not in front of cameras because “I didn’t want to give the press the pleasure of seeing it.” Meanwhile, the president won’t support closing the country again if the predicted second wave comes.
U.S. Death Toll Steadily Climbing Toward 100,000 While Experts Worry About Undercounting
In the United States there have been nearly 1.58 million confirmed infections so far, though experts say that the real number is likely much higher.
Opinion writers weigh in on these pandemic topics and others.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Editorial pages focus on these pandemic issues and others.
Research Roundup: COVID-19; Suicide and Firearms; And Flu Shot Outreach Efforts
Each week, KHN compiles a selection of recently released health policy studies and briefs.
