Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
States Renew Struggle Against COVID
Burlington Free Press: Vermonters Urged To Seek Help For COVID Fatigue
Pandemic fatigue is real. And it's something we can all relate to, said Vermont Gov. Phil Scott. "This is an incredibly uncertain time and it's OK to admit it's taking a toll on you — it would be strange if it wasn't," he said. "But please know, help is there if you need it." Scott's struck a tone of understanding and shared experience in remarks Friday at one of his twice-weekly news conferences, speaking at length about the mental health demands brought on by the coronavirus pandemic that's dominated 2020. (Danforth, 12/4)
Boston Globe: With No New COVID-19 Restrictions From The State, Public Health Experts And Some Boston-Area Mayors Urge More Action
Governor Charlie Baker is facing growing pressure from public health experts and local mayors for a stronger response to Massachusetts’ quickly rising wave of COVID-19 cases, with some municipal officials considering regional rollbacks of their own if the state doesn’t act. Dr. Ashish Jha, dean of the Brown University School of Public Health, aired his frustration with the governor on Twitter Saturday night, writing that he used to think Baker was doing a good job controlling the virus but over the past six weeks has become “aghast at lack of action.” In an interview, Jha said he wants to see the state close more activities such as casinos and indoor dining. (Leung, Logan and Hilliard, 12/6)
The Hill: Wyoming Health Official Decries COVID-19 Pandemic As Communist Plot
An official with the Wyoming Department of Health who is working on the state’s coronavirus response said last month that the pandemic and vaccine candidates were part of communist plots to hurt the U.S. Igor Shepherd, the manager of the department’s readiness and countermeasures, referred to the coronavirus as the “so-called pandemic” and said the illness and efforts to bring a vaccine to market are part of a scheme by Russia and China to spread communism around the globe. (Axelrod, 12/4)
In other news from New York, Pennsylvania and California —
The New York Times: After Defying Virus Rules, Bar Manager Drives Car Into Sheriff’s Deputy
The manager of a Staten Island bar who has repeatedly and flamboyantly defied New York’s coronavirus restrictions hit a sheriff’s deputy with his Jeep early Sunday as he unsuccessfully tried to escape arrest, the sheriff’s office said. The bar, Mac’s Public House, was ordered closed by the state on Wednesday, but deputies said they found several patrons being served there on Saturday night. When deputies confronted the manager, Daniel Presti, he fled to his Jeep and drove into one of the deputies, throwing him onto the hood, according to the sheriff’s office. (Zaveri, 12/6)
Philadelphia Inquirer: Philadelphia May Be On The Way To A Record For Fatal Drug Overdoses In 2020, Another COVID-19 Consequence
Fatal overdoses in Philadelphia rose through the first six months of 2020, and health officials now fear that the city is on track to surpass the death toll from 2017, the worst year for fatal overdoses on record. In addition, the city’s overdose crisis is undergoing an alarming demographic shift. In the first quarter of the year, white residents — as they have been for some time — were most likely to die of overdoses in Philadelphia. But between April and June, Black Philadelphians’ share of the city’s fatal overdoses nearly doubled, surpassing that of white Philadelphians. (Whelan, 12/6)
KHN: California Lawmakers To Newsom: Give All Immigrants Health Coverage
California Democratic lawmakers so far have failed to convince Gov. Gavin Newsom that the state can afford to spend an estimated $2.6 billion a year to expand its Medicaid program to all unauthorized immigrants. Now, they’re trying a new strategy. (Hart, 12/7)
