Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Vaping Rate Rising; Rate Of Decline in Cigarette Smoking Stalls
AP: US Adult Smoking Rate Looks Unchanged, Vaping Rate Higher
The U.S. decline in cigarette smoking could be stalling while the adult vaping rate appears to be rising, according to a government report released Thursday. About 14% of U.S adults were cigarette smokers last year, the third year in a row the annual survey found that rate. But health officials said a change in the methodology make it hard to compare that to the same 14% reported for 2017 and 2018.The adult smoking rate last saw a substantial drop in 2017, when it fell from 16% the year before. (Stobbe, 11/19)
Reuters: Big Tobacco Gets A Pandemic Pick-Me-Up
In homes across the world, people ... are giving Big Tobacco a boost during the pandemic, despite public health advice that smoking increases the risk of severe illness from COVID-19. A combination of anxiety, boredom, stress, and the unexpected freedoms of social isolation are among reasons they give. In recent weeks, tobacco companies Philip Morris International Inc, Japan Tobacco Inc (JT), Imperial Brands Plc and Altria Group Inc all raised their sales or profit targets, saying the industry had done better than expected, mostly in the United States and Europe. Imperial said staying home in the pandemic gave people more chances to smoke and more cash to spend. (Geller and Cavale, 11/19)
In other public health news —
USA Today: Execution Of Only Woman On Federal Death Row Delayed After Her Attorneys Contract COVID-19
A federal judge has delayed the execution of the only woman on federal death row after two of her attorneys — Tennessee-based public defenders — contracted severe cases of COVID-19. Lisa Montgomery's execution has been delayed until at least Dec. 31 under an order filed Thursday by U.S. District Judge Randolph D. Moss in Washington, D.C. A new date has not yet been set. (Timms, 11/19)
The Washington Post: Rationing Is Back For Toilet Paper And Disinfecting Wipes
Consumers are panic-buying key items again as the coronavirus surges across the country — paper towels, disinfecting wipes, baking mixes and wine — but this time around, grocery chains and food manufacturers say they will be able to meet America’s urge to hoard and keep supply chains moving, even during the holiday season. While Kroger, Giant, Target and other grocery chains have reinstated limits on high-demand items such as paper goods and disinfecting wipes, causing anxiety among shoppers, retailers and supply chain experts say they do not expect a return to the panicked hoarding and empty shelves of the spring. (Reiley and Bhattarai, 11/19)
The Washington Post: The Pandemic Isn't Ending Anytime Soon. And Our Bodies Are Feeling The Stress.
The story of the pandemic is written on our bodies, from our eyes to our brains, on our teeth and our skin, all the way down to our feet. And that’s without actually even contracting the coronavirus. This abnormal way we’ve been living — in lockdown and online, masked and under stress, praying and caring for those who have this deadly disease while trying to avoid it ourselves — is showing itself in remarkable ways to physicians across the nation. (Dvorak, 11/19)
ABC News: 'Wrecked Our Lives': Families Of 3 Young Adults Who Died From COVID-19 Share Heartbreaking Stories
Michael Lang, an 18-year-old who grew up in a close-knit community in La Grange, Illinois, was ready for the next chapter in his life: college. The teen, who loved the outdoors and fishing, wasn't anxious about heading off to the University of Dayton during the pandemic. (Shapiro, 11/19)
Also —
Dayton Daily News: Air Force Needs Volunteers To Test New Maternity Uniform
The Air Force Uniform Office is asking for for pregnant service members at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base to try out the new Maternity Flight Duty Uniform in fit-and-wear tests in January. ... In September last year, the Air Force updated its policy to reduce barriers on pregnant aviators who perform flight duties and have uncomplicated pregnancies. This update allows the continuation of flight duties during pregnancy, said the office, part of the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, which is based at Wright-Patterson. (Gnau, 11/19)
The Washington Post: Light Box Therapy Lamps Could Help With Seasonal Depression
For some people, the beginning of winter signals more than a change in weather. The shorter, darker days trigger a noticeable shift in their mood and behavior, causing what’s known as seasonal affective disorder, or SAD. And this winter, the onset of SAD may be exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic. Cases are surging nationwide again, prompting another round of restrictions and lockdown measures in some places.“Folks are noticing [seasonal depression] a lot more because of trying to maintain their social distancing and quarantine and follow the rules related to stay-at-home,” said Dorothy Sit, an associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine. (Chiu and Raben, 11/18)
The Washington Post: Woman Sues After Learning ‘Anonymous’ Sperm Donor Was Her Own Fertility Doctor
When a relative gave her a genealogy kit as a Christmas present last year, Julie Druyor made three shattering discoveries. First, that she had a half brother. Second, that the man who raised her was not her biological father. Third, that her biological father was her mother’s fertility doctor. Druyor’s mother, Katherine Richards, is now suing the doctor, Michael Kiken, who she says effectively assaulted her 40 years ago. (Weiner, 11/19)
KHN: KHN On The Air This Week
KHN Midwest correspondent Lauren Weber discussed COVID-19 surges in Wisconsin with Wisconsin Public Radio’s “Central Time” on Nov. 13. ... California Healthline correspondent Angela Hart and editor Emily Bazar discussed how the Supreme Court case about the Affordable Care Act could affect California with the CalMatters and Capital Public Radio’s “California State of Mind” podcast. (11/20)
