Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Residents Alarmed That South Dakota Motorcycle Rally Could Become Superspreader
CNN: The Sturgis Motorcycle Rally Was Opposed By 60% Of Residents. Here's Why The City Approved It.
Before deciding on whether to hold the 80th annual motorcycle rally in Sturgis, South Dakota, the local city council turned to its residents to get their take. "There was a significant amount of discussion that the council had with residents, businesses and state health officials as well as local health officials," Daniel Ainslie, the city manager, told CNN Sunday... A little more than 60% of people in the city voted against holding the event this week. But the city council approved it anyway. (Maxouris, 8/10)
CNN: Chicago Officials Put Up A Fence After The Mayor Scolded Residents Gathered At Montrose Beach
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot didn't hold back when she spotted large crowds gathered at Montrose Beach. "It's called a pandemic, people. This reckless behavior on Montrose Beach is what will cause us to shut down the parks and lakefront," the mayor posted on Twitter Saturday. "Don't make us take steps backwards." In the photo accompanying her post, dozens can be seen crowding in their bathing suits on the grass, ditching both face masks and social distancing guidelines. (Maxouris, 8/10)
Detroit Free Press: More Michigan Teens Testing Positive For COVID-19 After Proms, Parties
A rite of passage. A ritual, of sorts. Something to look forward to for so many young people. Prom. Graduation. Summer. But the coronavirus stripped the class of 2020 and other young people of a regular experience of those events, some of which have been anticipated for years. It was a massive blow, especially after being in their homes for months with family because of stay-at-home or safer-at-home orders imposed by Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer that were lifted at the beginning of June. (Hall and Kan, 8/9)
The New York Times: Lifestyles Of The Rich And Reckless: Posh Pandemic Parties
A little more than two months ago, in the aftermath of Memorial Day weekend, New Yorkers of a certain caste indulged rounds of condescension directed at a set of anonymous partygoers in the Ozarks. The catalyst was the viral image of a pool party where people were grouped a shot glass width apart, none of them wearing masks. Wasn’t this the problem, ultimately? The rubes and the deniers, with so little regard for science, who were unwilling to sacrifice, for the collective good, the pleasures of a Miller Lite consumed at a floating cocktail table. (Bellafante, 8/7)
The New York Times: Rave Under The Kosciuszko Bridge: Are Illicit Parties Endangering N.Y.C.?
On a humid Saturday night, under a segment of the Kosciuszko Bridge, which connects Brooklyn and Queens, hundreds of people at an illicit gathering danced and swayed to the thumps of hip-hop and electronic music. Some wore masks. Many did not. Many were attending their first party in months, since the pandemic had forced many venues to close. (Zaveri, 8/8)
Also —
NPR: Many Churchgoers Believe It's Safe To Resume In-Person Worship
Five months after the coronavirus forced houses of worship across the country to close their doors, a new survey finds that two-thirds of regular churchgoers feel it's now safe to resume in-person worship. The Pew Research Survey nonetheless found that an overwhelming majority of U.S. adults also believe that houses of worship should be subject to the same restrictions on public gatherings that apply to other organizations or businesses in their local area. Although Republicans are somewhat more likely than Democrats to favor special treatment for houses of worship, they still oppose such exemptions by a 2-to-1 margin. (Gjelten, 8/8)
The Wall Street Journal: How To Reduce Coronavirus Risk On The Beach
Worried about catching the new coronavirus at the beach this summer? Don’t be, scientists say—though it might be best to bring a cooler and skip the crowded beachfront bar. With summer vacations in full swing after months of lockdown, public-health authorities from California and Florida to Spain and the South of France are reporting a pickup in cases of Covid-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus. Photos of crowded beaches triggered envy for some, worry for others, starting soon after states such as Florida lifted Phase 1 beach restrictions in May.California and Florida each have reported around 50,000 new cases in the past seven days, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (Douglas, 8/9)
