Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
TSA's Screenings Reach All-Time High Since Pandemic's Beginning
The Washington Post: TSA On Sunday Screened Most Passengers Since The Coronavirus Pandemic Began
More than 1.3 million people moved through U.S. airport security checkpoints Sunday — the most since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, the Transportation Security Administration announced Monday. The number was far below what it was on the same day in 2019, when more than 2.4 million people were screened. Still, the increase came despite recommendations by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and local health officials that people not travel during the holiday season. (Aratani, 1/4)
CNBC: Dallas Flights Delayed For A Second Time In A Week After Air Traffic Controller Tests Positive For Covid
The Federal Aviation Administration briefly halted departures at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport on Monday to clean a facility after an air traffic controller tested positive for Covid-19. The FAA routinely shuts certain facilities to clean if staff test positive. DFW, the busiest hub for American Airlines, was experiencing flight delays of up to an hour the FAA said. (1/4)
Tampa Bay Times: Tampa Airport Seeing ‘Widespread Delays’ As Jacksonville FAA Office Closes
Tampa International Airport and other Florida airports were experiencing numerous flight delays Monday evening due to the sudden closure of a U.S. Federal Aviation Administration office in Jacksonville. Tampa’s airport tweeted Monday that the airport was experiencing “widespread delays” among flights into and out of the city, and that passengers should check with their airlines for updates. (Cridlin, 1/4)
In other public health news —
Bloomberg: U.S. Risks Years Of Higher Mortality On Covid’s Economic Fallout
The U.S. could see an elevated death rate for more than a decade as the economic fallout from the coronavirus persists, underscoring the long-term health impact of the deep recession. The nation’s mortality rate is forecast to increase 3% while life expectancy will drop 0.5% over the next 15 years, representing 890,000 more American deaths, according to a working paper from researchers at Duke, Harvard and Johns Hopkins universities. Over a 20-year period, that amounts to 1.37 million additional deaths. (Fanzeres, 1/4)
The Washington Post: March Madness 2021 Will Be Held Entirely In Indianapolis Area
The NCAA announced Monday that its entire 2021 men’s basketball tournament will be held in the Indianapolis area amid the coronavirus pandemic, an expected development after the organization had announced in November that the event would be held in one location to cut down on travel and allow teams to play in a bubblelike environment. (Bonesteel, 1/4)
AP: NBA Tells Teams That Rules On Mask-Wearing Will Get Tougher
The NBA is adopting a tougher policy regarding masks, telling teams Monday that players on the active roster will have to wear the face coverings in the bench area until they enter games. That memo, obtained by The Associated Press, was released on the same day the Brooklyn Nets ruled All-Star forward Kevin Durant out for Tuesday’s game against Utah in accordance with the league’s health and safety protocols for dealing with coronavirus. (Reynolds, 1/5)
The New York Times: Surging Virus Prompts Call To Halt In-Person TV And Film Production
Seven people working on “The Kelly Clarkson Show,” which was being shot at an NBC Universal stage in Studio City, Calif., tested positive for the coronavirus this fall. So did nine people working on the Netflix series “Colin in Black & White” in Gardena. And the Los Angeles County Public Health Department reported that a dozen people working on the sitcom “Young Sheldon” in Burbank got the virus, too. The entertainment industry is so vital to Los Angeles that film and television production were both allowed to continue even after outdoor dining was banned. But now, with the coronavirus surging across California and overwhelming hospitals, unions and industry groups are calling for in-person production to be suspended. (Stevens, 1/4)
The Hill: Alex Trebek Urges Compassion For COVID-19 Victims In One Of His Final 'Jeopardy!' Tapings
Late “Jeopardy!” host Alex Trebek urged viewers to practice compassion for COVID-19 victims in one of his final tapings of the show, which aired on Monday. Trebek, who died on Nov. 8 after a battle with pancreatic cancer, had pre-taped several weeks of shows that have aired since his death. Monday’s show started his last week of recorded programs. (Coleman, 1/4)
