Latest KFF Health News Stories
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Editorial pages weigh in on these issues surrounding COVID-19.
Amazon announced a three-week pause of shipments of things like electronics and toys in order to get people groceries, baby products, pet supplies, health and household products and personal care items like shampoo.
The U.S. and governments around the world are taking extreme measures to stop the spread of the virus. But as a result the economy is tanking. “Everything else will come back,” President Donald Trump said. “Lives won’t come back.” But the economic health of a country is deeply tied to the physical health of its people, and the long-term stress could play out for years in the future. Meanwhile, media outlets take a look at some of the industries that have been hard-hit, including hotels, restaurants, gig jobs and small businesses.
Concerns Inside Prisons: ‘Staff Are Starting To Get Fearful’, Inmates Argue For Release
Prisons are taking steps to stem the flow of infection, according to a The New York Times report, as prisoners and guards fall sick.
Read recent commentaries about drug-cost issues.
Drug Coverage Is Shrinking, Leaving Vulnerable Patients In A Lurch. What’s Going On?
Read about the biggest pharmaceutical development and pricing stories from the past week in KHN’s Prescription Drug Watch roundup.
Opinion writers weigh in on the historic measures being taken at the state level and in other places around the world to control the spread of COVID-19.
Italy’s Morgues Inundated With Coronavirus Victims As Loved Ones Mourn In Isolation
In Italy, with the oldest population in Europe, the toll has been heavy, with more than 2,100 deaths — the most outside of China. On Monday alone, more than 300 people died. The nation is grieving, and yet cannot grieve together with everyone in isolation.
Dozens of officers on the ship were called into tight quarters to be briefed on the situation, even as health experts have emphasized the need for social distancing to stop the spread of the virus.
Doctors and other medical professionals are on the front lines of the crisis, and experience all the trauma that comes with that. In other news on how humanity is reacting to the outbreak: anxiety inspires charity in some, distilleries do their part to help with sanitizer shortage, fraudsters abound, and more.
Australia opens grocery stores early for elderly shoppers who are more threatened by COVID-19. Other news on shopping looks at what to buy, risks for grocery store workers and panic buying, as well.
Advocacy Groups Step Up Efforts To Free Health-Compromised Immigrants In Detention Centers
The lawyer for a Cuban asylum-seeker with breast cancer said exposure to COVID-19 could be deadly for his client. She was recently transferred to a detention center in Louisiana. News on how the pandemic is impacting immigrants comes out of Washington and Massachusetts, as well.
Media outlets report on efforts under way across the U.S. to contain the spread of the virus.
When the governors spoke with reporters, they urged the federal government to issue more uniform guidance. Other news is on New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio’s decision to close public schools and Saturday Night Live going dark.
Face masks, the kind that cover the nose and mouth, are synonymous with COVID-19. Manufacturers in China have ramped up efforts to make them, but suppliers say it won’t be enough for the near future and that that effectives ones are difficult to produce.
Hackers Capitalize On Coronavirus Chaos By Launching Particularly Aggressive Attack On HHS
The attack highlights the vulnerabilities federal and state agencies face as their attention is devoted to the coronavirus outbreak.
Experts say there’s likely far more unreported cases because of failures to properly test potential patients. On Monday, 18 people died from the virus bringing the nation’s total deaths to 85 so far. Meanwhile, media outlets offer a way to check which states have the most number of cases.
As Cases Climb In California, Bay Area’s Nearly 7M Residents Directed To Shelter In Place
Vital businesses like grocery stores, banks and pharmacies will remain open. Even as states across the country ramp up their efforts to slow the spread of the virus, the directive remains one of the most extreme. California was one of the early states hit with the outbreak, and has nearly 300 confirmed cases in the Bay Area alone. California Gov. Gavin Newsom is taking additional drastic steps, such as asking the elderly to stay at home, but has not ordered a state-wide lock down.
Opinion writers weigh in on these health care topics and others.
