Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Winter Olympics Poised To Begin, In Shadow Of Covid And Strict Rules
The Washington Post: Positive Coronavirus Tests Could End Olympic Dreams Before Athletes Leave For Beijing
U.S. Olympic bobsled team member Josh Williamson announced Wednesday on Instagram that he had tested positive for the coronavirus, preventing him from traveling to Beijing for the Winter Games on Thursday with the rest of Team USA. ... The Olympics do not begin until Feb. 4 and the four-man bobsled competition — in which Williamson, a brakeman, is expected to compete — does not start until Feb. 15, giving him time to test negative and join his teammates in Beijing. But his positive test shows how the pandemic could end Olympic hopes for some athletes before the Games even begin, perhaps unfairly. (Bonesteel, 1/27)
The Wall Street Journal: Welcome To Beijing’s Covid Olympics: ‘The Situation Is Going To Be Strict For A While’
China appears to have brought two recent large coronavirus outbreaks under control and has turned its focus to Beijing, where health authorities are ramping up testing and tightening containment protocols as the Chinese capital prepares for the Lunar New Year and the Winter Olympics. Chinese authorities this week lifted a roughly monthlong lockdown of the central Chinese city of Xi’an, where a Delta outbreak had spread last month. The port city of Tianjin, which neighbors Beijing, declared victory over an Omicron outbreak, lifting most of the restrictions on its citizens. (Hua, 1/27)
In other global news about the coronavirus —
The Washington Post: They Were Fined For Breaking U.K. Lockdown Rules. They Say Boris Johnson Should Be Punished, Too
After the death of a close friend, Kieron McArdle was struggling, and three friends came over to help him celebrate his 50th birthday in his backyard in Coleshill, a town in Warwickshire, England. Less than an hour later, the police were banging on the front door. McArdle was fined $134, which he said he was content to pay, as he understood he had violated the ban on social gatherings in place at the time, in March of last year. But he’s incredulous about the scandal of a string of parties — including a birthday celebration — at the British prime minister’s Downing Street office and residence over the past two years. (Adam, 1/27)
AP: Philippines Lifts Ban On Foreign Tourists As Outbreak Eases
The Philippines will lift a ban on the entry of foreign tourists and businesspeople next month after nearly two years, in a move to revive the battered tourism industry as the latest coronavirus outbreak started to ease, officials said Friday. (1/28)
Reuters: Paris Hospitals Chief Sparks Debate On Whether Unvaccinated Patients Should Pay For Treatment
The head of the Paris hospitals system has set off a fierce debate by questioning whether people who refuse to be vaccinated against COVID-19 should continue to have their treatment covered by public health insurance. Under France's universal healthcare system, all COVID-19 patients who end up in intensive care are fully covered for their treatment, which costs about 3,000 euros ($3,340) per day and typically lasts a week to 10 days. (De Clercq, 1/27)
