Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Super-Spreader Holiday? Thanksgiving COVID Warnings Abound
The Hill: White House Coronavirus Task Force Calls For A 'Significant Behavior Change' From Americans
The White House coronavirus task force this week issued a dire warning to states of “aggressive, rapid, and expanding” spread of cases that requires a “significant behavior change” from all Americans ahead of the holidays. There is community spread of COVID-19 in more than 2,000 counties, reads the report issued to states and obtained by The Hill, which calls for forceful efforts to “flatten the curve to sustain the health system for both COVID and non-COVID emergencies.” (Hellmann, 11/24)
Reuters: 'COVID Chat': Officials Urge Americans To Stay Home Over Holiday
U.S. health officials and politicians pleaded with Americans on Tuesday to stay at home over the Thanksgiving holiday and abide by constraints placed on social and economic life as record coronavirus caseloads pushed hospitals to their limits. The chorus of public appeals intensified heading into a holiday weekend expected to further fuel an alarming surge of infections nationwide, while the daily U.S. death toll climbed above 2,000 - at least four deaths every three minutes. It marked the highest 24-hour loss of life from the pandemic since early May. (Heavey and Caspani, 11/24)
CNBC: Covid Cases Are Exploding Across U.S. And Thanksgiving Could Be An 'Accelerator Event'
By all indications, Americans are traveling to see family for the holiday, despite pleas from public health officials not to do so. About 1 million Americans boarded planes this past weekend, the biggest crowds seen by the industry since the spring. (Feuer, 11/25)
CNN: Thanksgiving 2020: 61% Of Americans Changed Plans Due To Covid-19 Spikes
Sixty one percent of Americans have changed their Thanksgiving plans due to recent spikes in Covid-19 cases, according to new poll results released Tuesday by Axios-Ipsos. The most common changes reported were seeing only immediate household members and having a smaller dinner than originally planned, according to the poll, which was based on a nationally representative sample of 1,002 US adults and conducted between November 20 and 23. (Thomas, 11/24)
Also —
The New York Times: Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Takes On A Pandemic
Not snow, not rain, not gusting winds or the Great Depression have caused the cancellation of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in its 96-year history. On Thursday it seems poised to power through a pandemic. The other parades of New York City have fallen one by one, as city and state officials determined it would be unsafe to proceed with the St. Patrick’s Day Parade, the Pride March and the Puerto Rican Day Parade because they draw such huge crowds. The West Indian American Day Parade on Labor Day was forced to go virtual for similar reasons. (Jacobs, 11/24)
NPR: Epidemiologist Says Restricting Small Gatherings Isn't Enough To Stop The Surge
For weeks now, the message from public health officials has been clear: The safest way to celebrate Thanksgiving this year is with members of your immediate household only. The level of coronavirus cases in the U.S. right now means the chances of encountering an infected person while traveling or while sitting at a crowded table are very real. (Chang, 11/24)
CNN: What Matters: Covid Might Mean Fewer Family Political Fights Over Thanksgiving
What a difference a year makes. Just before last Thanksgiving, we were focused entirely on the forthcoming impeachment of President Donald Trump over his efforts to pressure Ukraine into helping him damage Joe Biden. I wrote a sort of guide on how to get smart on the Democrats' investigation and politics before sitting down over turkey. This year, Biden is President-elect, and with the pandemic raging, the federal government is counseling Americans not to go to Thanksgiving dinner at all. (Wolf, 11/25)
North Carolina Health News: Migrant Workers Clean Turkey Amidst COVID
Jessica spends her days wrist-deep in turkey. She cuts their neck bones, removes the shanks, the crop, the organs no one wants to be confronted with when they handle, prep or eat the bird. She makes sure each fowl is sanitized before packaging, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with workers just like her, close to the Spanish-language signs that adorn the walls reminding them to “maintain at least six feet of distance from other people.” (Critchfield, 11/25)
