Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Trump Absent From Coronavirus Fight At Emergency's Worst Moment Yet
ABC News: A Silent Trump Shows Little Sign Of Leading On Pandemic, Governing As He Refuses To Concede
President Donald Trump, who has remained almost entirely out of sight for nearly a week, has demonstrated little evidence of -- or interest in -- governing in the wake of the election, as he persists in refusing to concede defeat. The president’s absence from the spotlight -- the longest stretch of silence of his presidency -- comes as the coronavirus pandemic rages across most of the country and the nation continues to break records for new cases and hospitalizations. (Phelps and Gittleson, 11/12)
AP: Trump, Stewing Over Election Loss, Silent As Virus Surges
President Donald Trump has publicly disengaged from the battle against the coronavirus at a moment when the disease is tearing across the United States at an alarming pace. Trump, fresh off his reelection loss to President-elect Joe Biden, remains angry that an announcement about progress in developing a vaccine for the disease came after Election Day. And aides say the president has shown little interest in the growing crisis even as new confirmed cases are skyrocketing and hospital intensive care units in parts of the country are nearing capacity. (Madhani and Miller, 11/13)
Also —
The Hill: Trump Campaign Adviser Corey Lewandowski Tests Positive For Coronavirus
Corey Lewandowski, a senior adviser to President Trump's reelection campaign, has tested positive for the coronavirus, a source familiar with the matter confirmed on Thursday. Lewandowski is the latest person in Trump's orbit to contract the virus since Election Day, though it was not immediately clear when he became infected. (Samuels, 11/12)
Newsweek: At Least 8 Republican Staffers And 12 White House Officials Have Tested Positive For COVID After Election Day
COVID-19 has spread through the GOP since Election Day, affecting approximately 12 White House staff members and eight employees of the Republican National Committee (RNC), according to reporting from the Washington Post. (Martin, 11/12)
Reuters: Alaska Congressman Who Ridiculed Coronavirus Now Says He Has COVID-19
The Alaska congressman who once ridiculed the seriousness of the novel coronavirus, calling it the “beer virus,” said on Thursday he is now infected with it. The announcement by Republican Representative Don Young, 87, comes as the state’s governor on Thursday warned that health-care and public-safety systems were at risk of being overwhelmed by the rapid spread of the virus across Alaska. (Rosen, 11/12)
The Washington Post: Chad Wolf Planning Latin America Trip Amid Staff Concerns About Coronavirus
Acting Department of Homeland Security secretary Chad Wolf is making plans to travel to several countries in Latin America next month, a proposal that has raised concerns about the necessity of such a trip in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic. ... There are no major conferences for Wolf to attend in the region that week, and at least one person familiar with the outlines of the plan referred to the trip as “a boondoggle.” “There are no specific events requiring the travel,” the person said. “The region is hard-hit by covid and embassies will be hard-pressed to deal with so many visitors in a covid-safe way.” (Miroff, 11/12)
