Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Sun Belt States See Uptick In Nursing Home Deaths; Texas Limits Visits At Care Facilities
The Washington Post: Covid-19 Surges Back Into Nursing Homes In Coronavirus Hot Spots
The novel coronavirus is surging back into U.S. nursing homes, where it killed tens of thousands at the start of the pandemic and now once again threatens some of the people most vulnerable to covid-19, the disease caused by the virus. The development is a discouraging result of widespread community transmission of the virus in many parts of the country and in hot spots where it is even less controlled. With staff — and in some cases patients and visitors — entering and leaving facilities, the community-acquired infection almost inevitably finds its way inside. (Bernstein, 8/13)
Dallas Morning News: How Visits To Texas Nursing Homes, Assisted-Living Facilities Will Work Under New Coronavirus Guidelines
Since the Health and Human Services Commission announced plans Aug. 6 to allow limited visitation at nursing homes and other long-term care facilities, guidelines for nursing homes have gone into effect. Other types of facilities will have both indoor and outdoor visitation. More specific rules will be posted for assisted-living and intermediate-care facilities, Kelli Weldon, a spokeswoman for the commission, said in an email. (Smith, Jones and Marfin, 8/13)
Boston Globe: Congressional Delegation Demands Baker Release Child-Care Data
The 11-member Massachusetts congressional delegation wrote to Governor Charlie Baker on Thursday urging him to release data on cases of coronavirus at child-care centers after the Globe reported that the administration has been denying public records requests. In a letter written by Representative Katherine Clark, the Massachusetts representatives expressed “concern regarding the lack of transparency as it pertains to COVID-19 data in child care settings.” (Ebbert, 8/13)
WBUR: How Vermont And New Hampshire Are Keeping Coronavirus At Bay
As Massachusetts fights to control upticks in the coronavirus, a few other New England states, like Vermont, are reporting steady COVID-19 positive case numbers. Some states, such as New Hampshire, are even reporting declines in their positive cases as they continue cautiously re-opening their economies. (Becker and Thompson, 8/14)
Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Atlanta Mayor Orders Report On COVID’s Impact On Minorities
Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms has asked for a report on disparities of COVID-19′s impact among racial and ethic minorities within the city. In an administrative order issued Thursday, Bottoms directed her Chief Operating Officer, Joshua Williams, and Chief Health Officer, Dr. Angelica Geter Fugerson, to convene an advisory council of community members to prepare the report and make recommendations to address the COVID risk factors in minority communities. (Deere, 8/13)
In updates from the West and Hawaii —
KTVQ: Wyoming Governor Extends Health Orders, Eases Gathering Limits
Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon announced Wednesday that updated public health orders will ease restrictions on the size of permitted outdoor gatherings beginning Aug. 16. Public Health Order No. 2 has been updated to allow outdoor gatherings of no more than 50% of venue capacity, with a maximum of 1,000 people as long as social distancing and increased sanitization measures are in place, according to a press release. (8/12)
The Oklahoman: Oklahoma County Jail May Get $42 Million To Combat Virus
Oklahoma County officials voted Thursday to give $42 million to the trust overseeing the overcrowded jail to fight COVID-19. The votes on how to spend CARES Act funding came after jail trustee Sue Ann Arnall told the Budget Board "we're at a crisis situation right now." "We're close to 2,000 inmates," she said. "We're stacking them up. It's extremely dangerous. We are so subject to lawsuits right now with this large number of people in the jail. (Clay, 8/14)
East Idaho News: Spike In COVID-19 Cases Prompts New Restrictions In Multiple Eastern Idaho Counties
New restrictions are in place in several eastern Idaho counties due to a recent spike in COVID-19 cases. Eastern Idaho Public Health announced during a special meeting Monday evening that Jefferson and Fremont counties would be moving from the minimal risk level to the moderate risk level for the first time, as part of the district’s COVID-19 Regional Response Plan. Health officials also decided Teton County, which has been in the moderate risk level since July 16, will remain there. Last week, it had been announced that Teton might move back down to the minimal level, however, a weekend spike changed that. (Johnson, 8/10)
USA Today: Hawaii Could Delay New Tourist Protocols Due To Surging COVID-19 Cases
Hoping to vacation in Hawaii in September? You might have to rethink those plans. Given the state's rapidly rising COVID-19 case counts, officials are "looking at'' delaying the start of a much-anticipated program that would allow out-of-state visitors to vacation there without quarantining for 14 days by presenting a negative COVID-19 test, Hawaii Gov. David Ige said during a news conference late Thursday. (Gilbertson, 8/13)
AP: Hawaii Marks Record 355 COVID-19 Cases, Including 86 At Jail
The state Department of Public Safety said Thursday overcrowded conditions prompted staff to to place new inmates at Hawaii’s biggest jail with the facility’s general population before the end of their 14 days of quarantine. The disclosure by Nolan Espinda, the department’s director, came as the state reported a record 355 newly confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Hawaii, including 86 cases at the jail. (McAvoy, 8/14)
