Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Trump's Virginia Rally Poses 'Severe Public Health Threat,' State Officials Warn
The Washington Post: Virginia Health Officials Warn Planned Trump Rally Poses Health Risk, Violates Coronavirus Crowd Limits
State and local health officials are raising alarms about President Trump's plans for a "gargantuan" rally at a Virginia airport Friday night, saying it could pose a "severe public health threat" if it violates the state's 250-person limit on public gatherings. In a letter to the company that operates the hangar at Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport where the rally is planned, the director of the local health district asked that the crowd be limited to 250. (Vozzella, 9/24)
AP: Health Officials Seek To Block Trump Rally In Virginia
A Virginia health official is warning of a “severe public health threat” if a planned campaign rally for President Donald Trump goes forward Friday evening. Dr. Natasha Dwamena, a Department of Public Health district director, said in a letter Thursday that the 4,000 people expected to attend Trump’s rally at the Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport would be breaking Gov. Ralph Northam’s executive order generally banning gatherings of more than 250 people. She said the rally should be canceled, rescheduled or scaled down to comply with the governor’s order. (Suderman, 9/24)
In other election news —
CNBC: Biden's Child Tax-Credit Plan Points To Progressive Agenda
Joe Biden’s anti-poverty plan to expand the child tax credit suggests that his potential presidency would likely mean a White House more focused on progressive economic policies than those seen during the Obama and Clinton years. Aimed at reducing childhood poverty rates, Biden’s proposed expansion would be dramatic and open the allowance to families who would otherwise fail to qualify. It would increase a family’s annual, per-child credit to $3,000 from $2,000 and would be awarded in installments each month instead of the current springtime lump sum. Children under age 6 would be credited $3,600. (Franck, 9/24)
