Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Prisoner Reportedly Hangs Himself With Mask; Chili's 'Enforcer' Attacked
The New York Times: Prison Inmate Hanged Himself With Coronavirus Mask, Officials Say
A prison inmate in Connecticut this week hanged himself in his cell with a cloth mask that had been issued to him as part of an effort to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, correction officials and the state’s chief medical examiner said. The inmate, Daniel Ocasio, died on Wednesday after he was found at 5:07 a.m. with a ligature around his neck while he was sitting on a bunk at the Corrigan-Radgowski Correctional Center in Uncasville, Conn., the state’s Department of Correction said. (Vigdor, 8/13)
The Advocate: 3 Arrested In Attack Of Chili's Hostess Who Was Enforcing Coronavirus Dining Rules
Three people have been arrested in connection to the assault of a teenage Chili's hostess who was trying to enforce the restaurant's seating restrictions imposed because of the coronavirus, according to Baton Rouge police. Tammy Dabney, 48, was booked on a count of aggravated second degree battery, while both 27-year-old Rodneka Dabney and 46-year-old Erica Dabney were booked on counts of disturbing the peace and simple battery. (Umholtz, 8/14)
CNN: What Happens When Airplane Passengers Refuse To Wear Masks
Stephanie Scherrer was settling in for her two-hour Southwest Airlines flight from Denver, Colorado to her home in Los Angeles, California. Her face covering was on, her hand sanitizer was ready, she'd wiped down the seats and her two kids were also masked up. It was July 15. Scherrer, a high school counselor, had thought long and hard about whether she felt safe flying during the Covid-19 pandemic, researching driving routes and poring over airline policies. But she was reassured by Southwest's compulsory mask rule, plus its pledge to keep the middle seats open. (Street, 8/13)
And the CDC issues more guidance on mask-wearing —
The Washington Post: Face Masks With Valves Or Vents Do Not Prevent Spread Of The Coronavirus, CDC Says
In guidance updated late last week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warned against wearing masks with exhalation valves or vents, a type of face covering made for hot and dusty construction work that has become a popular pandemic accessory because of its seemingly high-tech design. (Thebault and Fritz, 8/13)
