Latest KFF Health News Stories
President Donald Trump’s new goal is to paint himself as a wartime president even though the enemy is a virus. In doing so, he might up the chances of getting a second term, as history shows that voters tend to want to keep leadership in place during a war. Meanwhile, lawmakers push for mail-in voting as turnout proves low from Tuesday’s primaries.
Editorial pages focus on the role government is playing during the pandemic.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Trump Has Invoked Wartime Powers, But What Does That Entail?
The Defense Production Act was inspired by World War II-era laws that gave the White House the ability to tell private companies what to make for the good of the country. President Donald Trump said he was invoking the power in response to predictions that the nation’s medical system will run out of masks, ventilators and hospital beds. Meanwhile, a look at how the government handled a lack of supplies in the past could offer hints about what should be done now.
President Donald Trump signed the legislation–which among other things mandates free coronavirus testing–after the Senate sent it to his desk. There were worries that the upper chamber wouldn’t move quickly on the bill, but lawmakers are already gearing up for the next round of stimulus negotiations. However, with so much money involved some wonder how a fractured Congress will pass a bipartisan package even during a crisis.
‘A Real Gut Punch’: Many Workers Laid Off, Furloughed Or Shifted To Lower Hours Amid Economic Panic
Many of the businesses that are reducing staff say the hope is to re-hire those workers once the crisis is over. But that means little to people facing bills now. Meanwhile, states’ unemployment offices see a sharp spike in applications as a result. Media outlets look at labor forces getting hit hard from museums to manufacturers.
The CDC cancelled a teleconference call Tuesday with 2,000 superintendents looking for clarity on a range of issues including whether schools will be transformed into shelters, timing of standardized testing and feeding children from low-income families.
Misinformation is thriving as fearful Americans gravitate toward anything that will help prevent them from getting sick. Doctors say the best advice is simple: wash your hands, practice social distancing, and avoid touching your face. In other news: vulnerable populations, easing your anxiety, the lifespan of the virus, and more.
Of the 508 patients known to have been hospitalized in the U.S., 38 percent are between 20 and 54. “It’s not just going to be the elderly. There will be people age 20 and up. They do have to be careful, even if they think that they’re young and healthy,” Stephen Morse, a Columbia University professor of epidemiology, tells The New York Times. However, in terms of mortality rates, 80% of the deaths are adults aged 65 and older. Meanwhile, there’s a deadly mix brewing in Florida — a state with a large elderly population and a lot of young visitors who are now thought to be silent spreaders of the disease.
In the best of times, health care workers are exposed to a myriad of diseases and illnesses as par for the course. In this outbreak, with protective gear dwindling, many accept the reality that there’s a good chance they’ll get the coronavirus.
Although much of the attention has been focused on ventilators, experts fear there will be shortages across the medical system from testing supplies to doctors themselves. The country’s lack of preparedness exposes a larger vulnerability of the U.S.’s ability to react to any bio-war threat. Meanwhile, hospitals continue to brace for an expected surge of patients.
President Donald Trump continues to use the term “Chinese virus” for the novel coronavirus that emerged out of China, despite criticism that it is offensive and could worsen hate crimes at an already dangerous time.
Checks Would Go Out To Americans In Two Waves Under Trump’s $1T Stimulus Proposal
President Donald Trump is seeking $500 billion to go directly to taxpayers and then an additional $500 billion for small businesses. Still, the prospect of escalating government intervention fell far short of reassuring investors Wednesday. Meanwhile, the Fed and Europe’s Central Bank continues taking emergency measures to try to stabilize the markets.
Different Takes: Pros, Cons Of Stronger Government Responses During COVID-19
Opinion writers weigh in on government’s response during the pandemic.
China announced it would expel American journalists and demand they hand back their press cards, announcing the decisions “are entirely necessary and reciprocal countermeasures … in response to the unreasonable oppression the Chinese media organizations experience in the U.S.”
The news organizations have also reported in the past year on other issues deemed extremely sensitive by Chinese officials,
Telemedicine For Seniors Gets Boost In Effort To Keep Most Vulnerable At Home, Out Of Hospitals
Medicare’s administrator Seema Verma said the move will help prevent the spread of illness, but critics say telehealth is limited, especially in rural areas, and seniors who don’t know how to use devices might be imperiled if family members get close in order to teach them.
The administration said the nation cannot risk allowing the coronavirus to spread through detention facilities and among Border Patrol agents. Meanwhile, the U.S. and Canada are eyeing a mutual agreement to end all non-essential travel over the border.
In the midst of a crisis, when tensions are running high, tech and government officials are struggling to find a balance between deploying technology and keeping patients’ data safe. Meanwhile, will the internet be able to bear the extra strain of so many people working from home? And Facebook’s algorithm is flagging coronavirus posts even when they’re not spam.
Science Vs. Myths: New Study Outlines How Long Coronavirus Lives On Various Surfaces, In The Air
Published in the New England Journal of Medicine, the study says coronavirus can live for three days on some surfaces. It survives longest on plastic and steel. Other research news is on how long social distancing might be necessary, how long the pandemic can last and the importance of taking walks.
Despite The Narrative, Young People Can Get Severely Ill From Coronavirus
A new study looks at how age plays a role in the outbreak. While the study shows that the illness is less severe in kids, there are nuances that aren’t considered in the broader narrative around the illness. Meanwhile, the older generations struggle to cope with the outbreak.
