Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Tree Lighting Off Limits In NYC As Another Wave Intensifies
The Wall Street Journal: Rockefeller Center Limits Christmas Tree Viewings To 5 Minutes
Holiday revelers, take note: You can still see the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree this year, but don’t plan on gazing for long. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and Tishman Speyer, the real-estate company that owns and manages Rockefeller Center, announced a series of coronavirus pandemic-related safety protocols Monday for visitors planning to take in the tree. Chief among them: a five-minute viewing limit. (Passy, 11/30)
Politico: Cuomo Unveils 5-Point ‘Winter Plan’ To Combat Covid-19 In New York
With more than 3,500 New Yorkers hospitalized for Covid-19, health systems across the state must begin preparing to increase their bed capacities, balancing patient loads and identifying staff — including retired nurses and doctors — to work at emergency field facilities if they are needed, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Monday. The governor announced the actions as part of a new five-pronged “winter plan” that seeks to combat Covid-19 through a new Department of Health initiative on hospital capacity, enhanced testing, K-8 in-person learning, a public education campaign on small gatherings and vaccine distribution. (Young and Gronewold, 11/30)
ABC News: New York Bar Declares Itself 'Autonomous Zone' To Skirt COVID-19 Restrictions
Bucking government-imposed COVID-19 restrictions, the owners of a bar in a virus hot spot of New York City said they've declared their watering hole an "autonomous zone" offering food and booze on the house, but asking visitors for tips and telling authorities they're not welcome. (Hutchinson, 11/30)
The Hill: New Jersey To Halt Indoor Sports, Cap Outside Gatherings
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (D) said on Monday the state plans to halt indoor youth and adult sports and cap outdoor gatherings to 25 people by the end of the week. Murphy said during a press conference that the state was canceling indoor youth and adult sports starting on Saturday at 6 a.m. through Jan. 2. Collegiate-level and professional sports teams are the only exceptions to the new rule, he said, adding that he hopes and intends for winter sports to start in January. (Coleman, 11/30)
In news from California and Washington —
The Hill: Newsom Considers New California Stay-At-Home Orders, Warns Hospitals Could Be Overwhelmed By Christmas
Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) said Monday that California is considering new stay-at-home orders to prevent hospital intensive care units from being overwhelmed by Christmas. The governor suggested during a briefing that if hospitalizations and intensive care unit statistics continue to jump, the state is “going to have to take much more dramatic, arguably drastic action.” (Coleman, 11/30)
The New York Times: Los Angeles Reverses Decision To Close Virus Testing Site For A Film Shoot
The mayor of Los Angeles, Eric Garcetti, said early Tuesday that the city would reopen a coronavirus testing site at Union Station, a major transit hub, after residents criticized a decision to temporarily close the site during a film shoot. The movie, “He’s All That,” which features the TikTok star Addison Rae and is a reboot of the 1999 romantic comedy “She’s All That,” had received approval to film inside and outside the station on Tuesday, the city and county’s film office said. About 170 cast and crew members were expected to take part in the movie scenes, the film office said. (Vigdor and Opam, 12/1)
AP: Washington Launches Statewide COVID-19 Notification App
Washington state on Monday launched a statewide coronavirus exposure app, joining more than a dozen states that have already enlisted the use of smartphone technology in the ongoing effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19. People with iPhones can now enable the ‘exposure notifications’ feature that is already in their phone’s settings, and Android devices can download the app, called WA Notify. Use of the app is voluntary and users can opt out at any time. The statewide expansion comes after a monthlong pilot project used by 3,500 participants — including students, faculty and staff — at the University of Washington. (La Corte, 12/1)
In news from Ohio, Michigan and Iowa —
The Hill: Articles Of Impeachment Filed Against GOP Ohio Governor Over Coronavirus Orders
A group of Ohio Republicans has officially filed articles of impeachment against Gov. Mike DeWine (R) in response to his coronavirus orders. GOP state Rep. John Becker of Clermont County led a group including fellow Republican state Reps. Nino Vitale, Candice Keller and Paul Zeltwanger in filing 12 articles of impeachment against DeWine, calling it an "effort to restore the rule of law." (Seipel, 11/30)
The Hill: Michigan Restaurants Urged To Defy Governor's COVID-19 Restrictions
The two owners of a Michigan restaurant chain reportedly wrote a letter asking other restaurateurs to continue operations regardless of whether or not state Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) and state health department officials implement stricter lockdowns on indoor dining. The Detroit Free Press reports that Joe and Rosalie Vicari, the owners of Andiamo restaurants in Detroit, penned a letter asking restaurants to fight any closures issued following the outcome of a lawsuit filed by the Michigan Restaurant and Lodging Association that seeks to halt the state’s attempts at shutting dining operations down to prevent COVID-19 transmission. (Kelley, 11/30)
The Washington Post: Michigan Couple Dies From Covid-19 In The Same Minute
For a couple who had spent five decades by each other’s sides, Leslie and Patricia McWaters couldn’t have been more different. Patricia, 78, was punctual, no-nonsense and to the point, her family said. She had to be, as a nurse for 35 years in a Jackson, Mich., hospital’s operating room. Retired truck driver Leslie, 75, or LD as he was known to friends (which was pretty much anyone he met), cracked jokes, appreciated one-liners and was always fun-loving, according to the family. ... Shortly before he died, LD told Sisk that he wished other people understood how excruciatingly painful the symptoms of the disease caused by the virus were. He was completely different from his grinning self of the day before, when he assured his daughter that he would overcome the virus. (Kornfield, 11/30)
Des Moines Register: COVID-19 In Iowa: More Long-Term Care Facilities Report Coronavirus Outbreaks
Coronavirus infections are swelling in Iowa's nursing homes, with another three facilities reporting outbreaks Monday. Statewide, 156 nursing homes in Iowa had outbreaks Monday morning, up from 153 on Sunday. The total has increased by about 10 in the past week and is up from 114 on Nov. 19, when Gov. Kim Reynolds announced that 20 more facilities had outbreaks. (11/30)
