Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Prince William's Secret Diagnosis; Lockdowns Back, Death Rate Inches Up
The Washington Post: Prince William Caught The Novel Coronavirus In The Spring, According To Media Reports
Prince William caught the novel coronavirus in the spring around the same time that his father, Prince Charles, also tested positive, according to various British media reports. The Duke of Cambridge, 38, was left “struggling to breathe,” according to the Sun newspaper, which first published the story. The British tabloid said that William, the second in line to the throne, kept the diagnosis secret because “he didn’t want to alarm the nation.” His diagnosis came a few days after the palace revealed in late March that Charles, the eldest son of Queen Elizabeth II, had the virus. (Adam, 11/1)
The New York Times: Europe’s Case Count Tops 10 Million as Lockdowns Multiply
Europe surpassed 10 million confirmed coronavirus cases and 268,000 Covid-19 deaths on Sunday, staggering tolls for a region that seemed to have a semblance of control over the pandemic after the lockdowns of spring and early summer. In July, when the devastating first wave subsided, Europe was averaging fewer than 15,000 new infections a day, but that figure reached about 253,000 in the past week, according to figures compiled by The New York Times, and many nations have returned to lockdowns as the virus has spiraled out of control. (11/1)
Bloomberg: U.K. Increased Covid’s Spread By Subsidizing Diners, Study Finds
The U.K.’s Eat-Out-to-Help-Out program, hailed as an economic cure for its ailing restaurant industry, may have substantially worsened the pandemic, research showed. The government spent 500 million pounds ($647 million) subsidizing the cost of restaurant meals and non-alcoholic drinks by as much as 50% in August, even after evidence had emerged that Covid-19 could easily spread in hospitality settings, a study from the University of Warwick found. (Gale, 11/1)
AP: Germany Launches 4-Week Partial Shutdown To Curb Virus
A four-week partial shutdown has started in Germany, with restaurants, bars, theaters, cinemas and other leisure facilities closing down until the end of the month in a drive to flatten a rapid rise in coronavirus infections. The restrictions that took effect Monday are milder than the ones Germany imposed in the first phase of the pandemic in March and April. This time around, schools, kindergartens, non-essential shops and hairdressers are to remain open. (11/2)
In other global developments —
AP: WHO Chief Tedros To Quarantine After Contact Gets COVID-19
The head of the World Health Organization says he will self-quarantine after being identified as a contact of a person who tested positive for COVID-19. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus wrote on Twitter late Sunday that he is “well and without symptoms” but will self-quarantine in “coming days, in line with WHO protocols, and work from home.” (11/2)
Reuters: Japan Opens Airport Coronavirus Test Lab For Departing Travellers
Japan’s largest airport opened a novel coronavirus testing facility on Monday as it takes steps to reopen international travel that has been largely grounded for months by the pandemic. The Narita International Airport PCR Center is aimed at outbound travellers who need proof that they are virus-free when they arrive at their destinations. (11/2)
AP: For Mexico's Doctors, An Especially Mournful Day Of The Dead
The diminutive figure of a skeleton in a face mask and medical cap has a hand on a bedridden patient. At its side is the sort of skull made of sugar common on Day of the Dead altars. And behind is the photo of a white-haired 64-year-old man in glasses smiling at the camera: the late Dr. Jose Luis Linares. He is one of more than 1,700 Mexican health workers officially known to have died of COVID-19 who are being honored with three days of national mourning on these Days of the Dead. (Romeo, 11/1)
