Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
State Restrictions Tighten — Even In Some With Republican Governors
AP: States Tightening Anti-Virus Restrictions Amid Case Surge
Governors in Ohio, Maryland and Illinois imposed restrictions on business hours and crowd sizes Tuesday, and their counterparts in Wisconsin and Colorado proposed economic relief packages. Los Angeles County, with a population of 10 million, ordered similar business restrictions. (Foley and Kunzelman, 11/18)
The Washington Post: Republican Governors Reverse Themselves On Mask Mandates As Coronavirus Spreads Out Of Control
A growing number of Republican governors, including some who had written off mask mandates as unenforceable or unacceptable to freedom-loving Americans, are now requiring people to cover their faces in public — a response to escalating coronavirus outbreaks overwhelming hospitals across the country. After eight months of preaching personal responsibility in place of mandates, these governors have brought their states in line with much of the world by instituting the simple requirement backed by science but, in the United States, shot through with politics. (Stanley-Becker, 11/17)
CNN: These GOP Governors Long Resisted Masks And Coronavirus Rules. Now Their States Are In Crisis.
Since Covid-19 hit US shores, Republican governors in the Upper Midwest and Northern Plains have largely taken a hands-off approach. The results of that strategy have been poor. When adjusted for population, no states have had more new Covid-19 infections, hospitalizations and deaths over the past seven days than North and South Dakota. The nearby states of Iowa, Wyoming, Nebraska and Idaho are not far behind. (Levenson, 11/17)
In news from the states —
NPR: Ohio To Enter 3-Week Statewide Curfew To Stem Coronavirus
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine on Tuesday ordered a statewide curfew, mandating that residents be in their homes by 10 p.m., beginning Thursday. The curfew will be in place every day for at least three weeks, lasting overnight until 5 a.m. But there are exceptions, including for those who need to be at work or see to medical needs. The order will also not stop grocery shopping or drive-through and pickup food services. (Oxner, 11/17)
The Washington Post: Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan Tightens Coronavirus Restrictions
Maryland tightened pandemic-related restrictions Tuesday for the second time this month as coronavirus cases across the greater Washington region have set new highs each day for two weeks. Gov. Larry Hogan (R) issued an executive order that clamps down on the hours that restaurants and bars can operate and the number of people allowed in retail stores and at religious facilities. Local officials have strengthened policies several times in recent days, looking for ways to slow a virus spreading at record rates in the Washington area and across the country. (Wiggins, Tan and Zauzmer, 11/17)
Philadelphia Inquirer: Pa. Imposes A Broader Mask Mandate As Officials Try To Stem A Surge In Virus Hospitalizations
Pennsylvania’s top health official issued a broader mask mandate Tuesday, a bid to force people to wear face coverings as coronavirus case numbers continue to soar. Imposing new rules to combat the surge without ordering shutdown-style restrictions, Health Secretary Rachel Levine ordered that people wear masks when with anyone outside their own households and directed that anyone entering from out of state must get tested for the coronavirus within 72 hours of arriving as of Friday. (McDaniel, McCarthy, Tornoe and Laughlin, 11/18)
The Hill: Oregon Governor Officially Orders New Coronavirus Restrictions
Oregon's governor issued an executive order Tuesday implementing a new wave of restrictions on public life as part of the state's efforts to fight coronavirus. A notice from Kate Brown's (D) office indicated that all restaurants in the state would be restricted to takeout and delivery service, while gyms, museums and some other businesses would be forced to close entirely. (Bowden, 11/17)
Philadelphia Inquirer: People Are Still Engaging In Risky Behavior, Despite Rising COVID-19 Cases. Psychologists Explain Why.
Coronavirus cases have spiked in Pennsylvania and New Jersey over the past month, surpassing the numbers of the pandemic’s first wave in April, and yet many people have continued to meet up with friends at indoor gatherings and make plans to see family at Thanksgiving. To curb the spread, Philadelphia officials announced restrictions Monday that closed indoor dining, gyms and museums, and limited the capacity of outdoor gatherings. Gov. Phil Murphy also introduced new restrictions on gatherings in New Jersey. (Ao, 11/18)
AP: Iowa Governor Sees 'Science On Both Sides' On Use Of Masks
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds urged residents Tuesday to follow her new partial mask mandate, while claiming “there’s science on both sides” about whether masks reduce the spread of coronavirus. After months of opposition, Reynolds signed an order Monday that requires people to wear masks in indoor public places under some circumstances. (Foley, 11/18)
CNN: Several Sheriffs In Upstate New York Say They Will Ignore Gov. Cuomo's Order To Limit Thanksgiving Guests
Less than a week after New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo instilled an executive order limiting the number of people at Thanksgiving gatherings, several upstate sheriffs say they plan to ignore it. Cuomo's order limits the number of people New York residents can have in their private homes to 10. (Johnson, 11/17)
Also —
Stat: Fauci Says He Should've Been 'More Vocal' About Covid-19 Testing Early On
Anthony Fauci, the country’s top infectious disease expert, said Tuesday he should have more aggressively pushed the federal government to flood communities where the coronavirus was starting to spread with testing early in the U.S. outbreak. (Joseph, 11/17)
The Hill: Fauci Calls For 'A Uniform Approach' To Coronavirus Pandemic
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Director Anthony Fauci said Tuesday that “a uniform approach” is necessary to tackle the coronavirus pandemic, rather than strategies that vary state by state. “We need some fundamental public health measures that everyone should be adhering to, not a disjointed, ‘One state says one thing, the other state says another thing,’” Fauci said Tuesday in a virtual conference with Andrew Ross Sorkin of The New York Times. (Budryk, 11/17)
