Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Trump Quickly Addresses G-20 Summit On COVID, Then Hits Golf Course
The Hill: Trump Addresses Virtual G-20 Summit, Heads Out Before Session On Pandemic
President Trump participated in the Group of 20 (G-20) virtual summit early Saturday where he touted the administration's coronavirus actions and push to quickly develop a COVID-19 vaccine before leaving ahead of the start of a side conference on the response to the pandemic. (Castronuovo, 11/21)
The Hill: G-20 Leaders Pledge Access To COVID-19 Vaccine Worldwide
Leaders of the Group of 20 (G-20) nations pledged Sunday that they would work to ensure that "all people" had access to an eventual vaccine for COVID-19 amid concerns that a vaccine could become inaccessible to the world's poorest people. In the communique Sunday, the world leaders who assembled for the virtual summit pledged to "spare no effort to ensure their affordable and equitable access for all people, consistent with members' commitments to incentivize innovation." (Bowden, 11/22)
In other global developments —
Politico: WHO COVID Envoy Warns Of Third Wave In Europe In 2021
Europe could face a third wave of the coronavirus pandemic in early 2021 if governments repeat the mistakes that led to a second wave this year, a World Health Organization special COVID-19 envoy said Sunday. “[Governments] missed building up the necessary infrastructure during the summer months, after they brought the first wave under the control,” the WHO’s David Nabarro said in an interview with Swiss newspaper Solothurner Zeitung. “Now we have the second wave. If they don’t build the necessary infrastructure, we’ll have a third wave early next year,” said Nabarro. (Barigazzi, 11/22)
The Washington Post: Italy's Coronavirus Cases Have Roared Back. But The Reaction Is More Muted This Time.
In Italy, the scale of death no longer registers as a consuming national tragedy. But the tragedy is there nonetheless — playing out more quietly, in specific nursing homes, hospitals and living rooms. Some 10,000 people have died of the coronavirus in Italy this month — a per capita rate more than double that of the United States. (Harlan and Pitrelli, 11/22)
AP: Serbian Patriarch Buried With Few Virus Measures In Place
Thousands of people on Sunday attended the funeral of Serbian Patriarch Irinej who died after contracting the coronavirus, many ignoring preventive measures against the pandemic. Many mourners and most priests holding the funeral service in the massive St. Sava Temple in the Serbian capital, Belgrade, didn’t wear masks or adhere to social distancing inside the church, kissing the glass shield covering Irinej’s remains and even using a single spoon during Holy Communion. (11/22)
Reuters: Pope Says His Brush With Death Helps Him Relate To Covid Victims
Pope Francis says in a new book that he can relate to people in intensive care units who fear dying from coronavirus because of his own experience when part of his lung was removed 63 years ago. Italian newspapers published excerpts of the new book “Let Us Dream: The Path to A Better Future,” on Monday ahead of publication next month. (Pullella, 11/23)
AP: Russia's Health System Under Strain As The Virus Surges Back
Russia’s health care system, vast yet underfunded, has been under significant strains in recent weeks, as the pandemic surges again and daily infections and virus death regularly break records. Across the country, 81% of hospital beds that have been set aside for coronavirus patients were full as of Wednesday. Three times last week, the Russian government reported a record number of daily deaths, and the number of daily new infections per 100,000 people has more than doubled since Oct. 1, from 6 to over 15. Overall, Russia has recorded over 2 million cases and over 35,000 deaths, but experts say all numbers worldwide understate the true toll of the pandemic. (Litvinova, 11/22)
Politico: In Race For Coronavirus Vaccine, Russia Turns To Disinformation
When two COVID-19 vaccines were announced within a week of each other, everyone cheered that the end to the global pandemic was now in sight. Everyone, that is, except Russia. Since the summer, Moscow has conducted a global disinformation campaign aimed at both undermining vaccines produced in the West and promoting its own rival product, particularly to countries across the developing world, according to interviews with four national and European Union disinformation experts and a review of Kremlin-backed media outlets by POLITICO. (Scott, 11/19)
AP: Palestinians May Limit Christmas Celebrations In Bethlehem
The Palestinian Health Ministry has recommended strict limits on Christmas celebrations in Bethlehem this year due to the coronavirus outbreak. Celebrations in the biblical town revered by Christians as Jesus’ birthplace are usually attended by thousands of people from around the world. But this year, the ministry has recommended the upcoming Christmas tree lighting ceremony in Manger Square be limited to 50 people, with the lights of the tree and area restaurants closed at 9 p.m. throughout the Christmas season. In its recommendations Saturday, it said religious services on Christmas Eve should also have limited attendance. (11/22)
