Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Trump Health Advisers — Past And Present — Urge National Mask Mandate
CNN: US Coronavirus: US Should Consider National Mask Mandate For The Winter, Former FDA Commissioner Writes In Op-Ed
As the US reports its second-highest day of new Covid-19 cases amid the continuing fall surge, a former commissioner of the US Food and Drug Administration says it may be time for a national mask mandate. In an op-ed for The Wall Street Journal, Dr. Scott Gottlieb wrote the mandate could be "limited and temporary." "A mandate can be expressly limited to the next two months," Gottlieb wrote, adding that it's easier to wear a mask in the winter than the summer. "The inconvenience would allow the country to preserve health-care capacity and keep more schools and businesses open." (Vera, Holcombe, Maxouris and Sanchez, 10/25)
CBS News: Gottlieb Warns Of "Dangerous Tipping Point" As Virus Spread Accelerates
With the number of coronavirus cases rising from coast to coast and hospitalizations increasing in more than three dozen states, Dr. Scott Gottlieb, the former head of the Food and Drug Administration, warned the nation is "at a dangerous tipping point" with infections expected to continue growing. In an interview with "Face the Nation" on Sunday, Gottlieb was pressed about the trajectory of the coronavirus pandemic as the nation braces for the winter months. (Quinn and Tillett, 10/25)
The Hill: Fauci Says US May Want To Mandate Masks Amid COVID-19 Surges
Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious disease expert, said on Friday that the U.S. may want to mandate face coverings amid the latest surge of coronavirus cases. In a CNN interview on Friday, Fauci was asked if he thought Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden’s plan to fight for mandates on mask-wearing across the country would be helpful. Fauci told CNN’s Erin Burnett that it would be a “great idea” to have everybody wearing masks uniformly. He also responded to criticism that mandates on masks would be difficult to enforce. (Williams, 10/24)
Stat: Study: Universal Mask Use Could Save 130,000 Lives By February
Back in April, President Trump picked out a single computer model of coronavirus spread as his oracle of choice. Unsurprisingly, that simulation initially had rosier estimates than other algorithms, projecting many fewer Covid-19 deaths — and its unconventional calculations and fluctuating estimates drew sharp criticism from epidemiologists. But the statisticians behind it have since changed their methods, and their new numbers, published Friday, bolster what scientists have long been saying: That doing away with social distancing measures could entail vast numbers of deaths, and that widespread mask-wearing in public could save tens of thousands of lives. (Boodman, 10/23)
And bad news for Santa Claus —
The Wall Street Journal: Health Agency Halts Coronavirus Ad Campaign, Leaving Santa Claus In The Cold
A federal health agency halted a public-service coronavirus advertising campaign funded by $250 million in taxpayer money after it offered a special vaccine deal to an unusual set of essential workers: Santa Claus performers. As part of the plan, a top Trump administration official wanted the Santa performers to promote the benefits of a Covid-19 vaccination and, in exchange, offered them early vaccine access ahead of the general public, according to audio recordings. Those who perform as Mrs. Claus and elves also would have been included. The Department of Health and Human Services said Friday the Santa plan would be scrapped. (Wernau, Grimaldo and Armour, 10/25)
