Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Report: Massachusetts Data On Emergency Child Care Centers Lacking
Boston Globe: State Won’t Divulge COVID-19 Cases In Child Care Centers
The Baker administration is refusing to provide data on coronavirus cases reported by the state-licensed emergency child care centers that remained open during the three-month period while the state was shut down. The Globe sought the data to obtain clearer information about the risk of coronavirus spread in group care settings for children. That issue is being debated among parents, teachers, and superintendents weighing whether schools should reopen next month. (Ebbert, 8/10)
AP: Montana Surpasses 5K Known COVID-19 Cases, Reports 75 Deaths
Montana has surpassed 5,000 known cases of COVID-19 and has reported 75 deaths, officials said Monday. The state reported 261 cases over the weekend, including 65 on Monday, bringing the total known cases to 5,017. The number of infections is thought to be far higher because many people have not been tested and studies suggest people can be infected with the virus without feeling sick. (8/10)
AP: Utah Coronavirus Case Count Slows To Lowest In 2 Months
Utah health officials reported nine more confirmed deaths from COVID-19 on Monday but the weekly average for new cases dropped to the lowest level in two months. The state has averaged 400 cases per day over the last week — the lowest weekly average since mid-June, state data shows. Cases spiked up to a high of 671 per week in mid-July, but have been steadily falling in recent weeks. (8/10)
AP: Illinois Reports 1,319 Confirmed New COVID-19 Cases, 1 Death
Gov. J.B. Pritzker and the Illinois Housing Development Authority on Monday announced an emergency housing assistance program for Illinoisans financially impacted by COVID-19. The announcement came as the Illinois Department of Public Health is reporting 1,319 new confirmed cases of coronavirus, with one death. That brings to 195,399 confirmed cases and 7,637 deaths in the state. The statewide positivity rate for the period of August 3 through August 9 is at 4.1%. (8/11)
AP: Dozens More Positive Coronavirus Cases In South Dakota
The number of coronavirus cases continues to climb in South Dakota for the third day in a row. The South Dakota Department of Health said Monday the state has 59 new positive cases for a total of 9,663. Thirty-seven additional people have recovered from COVID-19 as of Monday for a total of 8,371 total recovered cases in South Dakota. (8/10)
AP: Health Officials: 1 Additional Death, 176 Cases Of COVID-19
Rhode Island registered one more death from COVID-19 and 176 newly reported positive cases over the weekend, state health officials said Monday. The state Department of Health also said 93 people are currently hospitalized with the virus, the highest total in more than a month. Eight of the patients are in the intensive care unit and two are on ventilators, the agency said. (8/10)
