CNN: Moderna's Coronavirus Vaccine Is 94.5% Effective, According To Company Data
The Moderna vaccine is 94.5% effective against coronavirus, according to early data released Monday by the company, making it the second vaccine in the United States to have a stunningly high success rate. "These are obviously very exciting results," said Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's top infectious disease doctor. "It's just as good as it gets -- 94.5% is truly outstanding." Moderna heard its results on a call Sunday afternoon with members of the Data Safety and Monitoring Board, an independent panel analyzing Moderna's clinical trial data. (Cohen, 11/16)

NPR: Moderna's Coronavirus Vaccine Nearly 95% Effective, Analysis Finds
A second COVID-19 vaccine now also appears highly effective in preventing illness following exposure to the virus that causes the disease. The biotech company Moderna, Inc., said Monday that its experimental vaccine was 94.5% effective in preventing disease, according to an analysis of its clinical trial. The news comes a week after Pfizer and BioNTech said their vaccine was more than 90% effective. (Palca, 11/16)

The Washington Post: Moderna’s Coronavirus Vaccine Found To Be Nearly 95 Percent Effective In A Preliminary Analysis 
Moderna’s vaccine, co-developed with Fauci’s institute, is being tested in 30,000 people. Half received two doses of the vaccine, and half received a placebo. To test how well the vaccine works, physicians closely monitored cases of covid-19 to see whether they predominantly occurred in people who received the placebo group. Of the 95 cases of covid-19, the disease caused by the virus, 90 were in the group that received the placebo. There were 11 severe cases reported — all in people who received the placebo. With cases of covid-19 confined almost exclusively to trial participants receiving a placebo, that sends a strong signal that the vaccine is effective at thwarting the virus. (Johnson, 11/16)

The Wall Street Journal: Moderna’s Vaccine Is 94.5% Effective, Early Results Show
The vaccine also showed signs of being safe, though researchers and regulators must wait for more-complete safety data from the study, expected later in November. Moderna said it plans to ask federal health authorities by early December to clear the vaccine. Federal officials said Friday that doses could become available that month. That could make Moderna’s Covid-19 vaccine one of the first to go into distribution in the U.S., where reported coronavirus cases and hospitalizations are surging. (Loftus, 11/16)

The New York Times: Coronavirus Vaccine: Early Data Show Moderna's Version Is 94.5% Effective
Researchers said the results were better than they had dared to imagine. But the vaccine will not be widely available for months, probably not until spring. ... The Food and Drug Administration has said that coronavirus vaccines should be at least 50 percent effective to be approved. (Grady, 11/16)

Politico: 20 Million Americans Could Receive Covid-19 Vaccine In December 
Roughly 20 million people could be vaccinated against the coronavirus in December, the head of the Trump administration's vaccine and drug accelerator said Friday. Americans can expect that about 25 to 30 million people could be vaccinated each month afterward, said Moncef Slaoui, co-lead of Operation Warp Speed, during a Rose Garden event with President Donald Trump and other top health officials. (Owermohle, 11/13)

Also —

Politico: Coronavirus Vaccine Scientist: ‘We Could Have A Normal Winter Next Year’
One of the scientists behind the coronavirus vaccine that has been found to be 90 percent effective said that "if everything continues to go well ... we could have a normal winter next year." BioNTech co-founder Uğur Şahin told the BBC on Sunday that "this winter will be hard" and the vaccine "will not have a big impact on the infection numbers." But he said that "if everything continues to go well," the goal is to deliver more than 300 million doses of the vaccine before "April next year, which could allow us to already start to make an impact." (Dallison, 11/15)

AP: BioNTech Scientist: Vaccine Could Halve Virus Transmission
One of the scientists behind the experimental coronavirus vaccine developed by BioNTech and Pfizer said Sunday that he was confident that it could halve the transmission of the virus, resulting in a “dramatic” curb of the virus’ spread. Professor Ugur Sahin, chief executive of Germany’s BioNTech, said it was “absolutely essential” to have a high vaccination rate before next autumn to ensure a return to normal life next winter. (11/15)

In other vaccine news —

Reuters: J&J Starts Two-Dose Trial Of Its COVID-19 Vaccine Candidate 
Johnson & Johnson launched a new large-scale late-stage trial on Monday to test a two-dose regimen of its experimental COVID-19 vaccine and evaluate potential incremental benefits for the duration of protection with a second dose. The U.S. drugmaker plans to enroll up to 30,000 participants for the study and run it in parallel with a one-dose trial with as many as 60,000 volunteers that began in September. (Kelland, 11/15)

Bloomberg: Crucial Vaccine And Treatment Data Only Days Away
Pharmaceutical companies are starting to unveil medical advances in the battle against the coronavirus, in what one CEO described as  “an incredible feat of science over a disease.” Over the next few weeks, we're likely to learn a lot more about how well these vaccines and treatments work. In a one-two-pandemic-punch on Nov. 9, Pfizer Inc. and BioNTech SE reported that their vaccine was highly effective in preventing symptomatic cases of Covid-19, while Eli Lilly & Co.’s treatment for those at early stages was granted a green light from U.S. regulators. (Griffin, 11/14)

The Hill: Cuomo Threatens To Sue Trump Administration Over Vaccine Distribution Plan 
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) on Sunday threatened to sue the Trump administration if its vaccine distribution plan unduly limited Black and brown peoples' access to COVID-19 vaccinations. Cuomo had previously criticized the vaccine distribution plan laid out by the Trump administration for relying too much on hospitals, drug stores and clinics to deliver the vaccine. Cuomo has noted that communities of color often have limited access to public or private healthcare, the Syracuse Post-Standard reports. (Choi, 11/15)

Boston Globe: Efforts Intensify To Determine Those First In Line To Receive A COVID-19 Vaccine — And Build Trust In Skeptical Communities
With a potential COVID-19 vaccine suddenly closer on the horizon, planning is intensifying over which Massachusetts residents will be first in line to receive the shots and how to persuade communities that are deeply mistrustful of vaccines and the health care system to step forward. (Lazar, 11/15)

The Hill: Fauci: Don't Abandon Masks, Social Distancing After Getting Vaccine 
Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious diseases expert, on Sunday recommended continued protections such as wearing masks and practicing social distancing after a coronavirus vaccine becomes available. CNN’s Jake Tapper asked Fauci on "State of the Union" if "once the process is complete, does that mean [people] can take off their masks, they don't have to social distance, they can just go about their lives as before?" "I would recommend that that is not the case. I would recommend you have an added area of protection," Fauci replied. (Budryk, 11/15)

NPR: U.S. Hits 11 Million Coronavirus Cases, Adding 1 Million In A Week
More than 11 million confirmed coronavirus cases have been recorded in the United States, according to a COVID-19 tracker by Johns Hopkins University. The country reported 166,555 new cases on Sunday, with 1,266 new deaths. The staggering milestone was reached only six days after the U.S. hit 10 million cases. Positive test rates and hospitalization rates are on the rise across the country, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (Davis, 11/15)

Reuters: U.S. COVID-19 Cases Cross 11 Million As Pandemic Intensifies
Reuters data shows the pace of the pandemic in the United States has quickened, with one million more new cases from just 8 days ago when it hit 10 million, making it the fastest since the pandemic began. This compares with 10 days it took to get from 9 to 10 million and 16 days it took to reach 9 million from 8 million cases. The United States, hardest-hit by the coronavirus, crossed 10 million COVID-19 cases on November 8 and is reporting over 100,000 daily cases for the past 11 days straight. (Abraham and Gupta, 11/15)

The New York Times: With 11 Million Cases In The U.S., The Coronavirus Has Gotten Personal For Most People
As Covid-19 cases surge in almost every part of the country, researchers say the United States is fast approaching what could be a significant tipping point — a pandemic so widespread that every American knows someone who has been infected. But, as reflected in the polarized response to the virus, the public remains deeply divided about how and whether to fight it, and it is unclear whether seeing friends and relatives sick or dead will change that. Many who have seen people close to them seriously affected say they are taking increased precautions. Others, though, are focusing on how most people recover and are shrugging off the virus — and calls for concerted efforts to combat it. (Harmon, Tompkins, Burch and Kovaleski, 11/15)

Reuters: Michigan, Washington State Impose Severe COVID-19 Restrictions As U.S. Infections Soar 
Michigan and Washington state on Sunday imposed sweeping new restrictions on gatherings, including halting indoor restaurant service, to slow the spread of the coronavirus as total U.S. infections crossed the 11 million mark, just over a week after hitting 10 million. Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer ordered a ban on in-person high school and college classes as well as indoor dining service for three weeks starting on Wednesday as increasingly cold weather drives people indoors where the virus can spread more easily. She banned public events at concert halls, casinos, movie theaters, skating rinks and other venues, while in-home gatherings will be limited to 10 people from no more than two households. (Shepardson and Lawder, 11/15)

Detroit Free Press: Whitmer Announces Sweeping New COVID-19 Shutdowns
In-person classes at high schools and colleges statewide will be suspended for three weeks along with eat-in dining at restaurants and bars under sweeping new restrictions aimed at reining in the exponential growth of coronavirus cases in Michigan, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced Sunday. The new public health order is to take effect Wednesday, and includes the cancellation of organized sports and group exercise classes, though gyms may remain open for individual exercise with strict safety measures, and professional and college athletics may continue. (Jordan Shamus, 11/15)

AP: Michigan Halts Classes, Indoor Dining As Coronavirus Surges
The restrictions will begin Wednesday and last three weeks. They are not as sweeping as when the Democratic governor issued a stay-at-home order last spring but are extensive. They were announced as Michigan faces surging COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations statewide and rising deaths. “The situation has never been more dire. We are at the precipice and we need to take some action,” Whitmer said at an evening news conference. (Eggert, 11/16)

Seattle Times: Gov. Inslee Orders Sweeping Restrictions On Indoor Gatherings, Restaurants, Bars, Gyms As COVID-19 Cases Surge In Washington State
Social, economic and cultural life in Washington will slow to a crawl at 11:59 p.m. Monday night, as Gov. Jay Inslee orders broad restrictions and shutdowns for restaurants, theaters, gyms and all indoor gatherings in an effort to slow the state’s burgeoning coronavirus epidemic. Inslee on Sunday morning ordered restaurants and bars to shut down indoor service and to limit outdoor service to parties of five or fewer. Indoor gyms and fitness centers must also shut down. Same with movie theaters, bowling alleys and museums. Indoor gatherings with people outside your household will be prohibited unless participants have quarantined for at least a week and tested negative. ( Gutman, Patrick and Lindblom, 11/15)

In related news —

CNN: Trump Coronavirus Adviser Scott Atlas Urges Michigan To 'Rise Up' Against New Covid-19 Measures
White House coronavirus task force member Dr. Scott Atlas criticized Michigan's new Covid-19 restrictions in a tweet shortly after they were announced Sunday evening, urging people to "rise up" against the new public health measures. "The only way this stops is if people rise up," Atlas said. (LeBlanc and Diamond, 11/15)

The Hill: Whitmer Responds To Atlas: I Won't 'Be Bullied Into Not Following Reputable Scientists' 
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) fired back at Dr. Scott Atlas, one of President Trump's coronavirus task force advisers, on Sunday after Atlas criticized a set of restrictions on public life in Michigan meant to slow the spread of COVID-19. Atlas earlier Sunday evening tweeted that "[t]he only way this stops is if people rise up," referring to Whitmer's decision to end indoor dining in Michigan restaurants as well as in-person learning in high schools and universities. (Bowden, 11/15)

AP: Oregon, New Mexico Order Lockdowns As Other States Resist
The governors of Oregon and New Mexico ordered near-lockdowns Friday in the most aggressive response yet to the latest wave of coronavirus infections shattering records across the U.S., even as many of their counterparts in other states show little appetite for reimposing the hard-line restrictions of last spring. “We are in a life-or-death situation, and if we don’t act right now, we cannot preserve the lives, we can’t keep saving lives, and we will absolutely crush our current health care system and infrastructure,” Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham of New Mexico said in imposing a two-week stay-at-home order. (Smith, Johnson and Pane, 11/13)

The Hill: North Dakota Issues Statewide Mask Mandate To Stem Spread Of COVID-19 
North Dakota’s governor on Friday issued a statewide mask mandate as coronavirus cases continue to surge in the state. Gov. Doug Burgum’s (R) office released a series of mitigation measures that will go into effect on Monday. Face coverings will now be required in indoor business and indoor public settings, as well as outdoor public settings where physical distancing isn’t possible. (Gstalter, 11/14)

The Washington Post: With Cases Up, Washington Region Steps Up Coronavirus Restrictions And Enforcement
To help reverse the trend, tighter coronavirus restrictions in Virginia, set to take effect at 12:00 a.m. Monday, come with broader tools for enforcement, including potential penalties of up to $2,500 covering a wide range of businesses deemed essential, from grocery stores to dry cleaners, according to Alena Yarmosky, a spokeswoman for Gov. Ralph Northam (D). (Laris, 11/15)

The Hill: Oregon Governor Warns Violators Of Coronavirus 'Freeze' Could Face Jail, Hefty Fines 
Those who violate Oregon Gov. Kate Brown’s (D) statewide two-week “freeze” issued over the weekend to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 could face jail time or a hefty fine. According to The Oregonian, violations of the new order, which prohibits indoor and outdoor gatherings of more than six people from two separate households, amount to misdemeanors. (Folley, 11/15)

The Hill: Navajo Nation To Reinstate Reservation Lockdown For Three Weeks Amid Coronavirus Surge 
The Navajo Nation announced on Friday that it will implement a three-week lockdown for the reservation amid a surge in coronavirus cases. Navajo Nation reported 97 new cases of COVID-19 on Friday, bringing its cumulative total up to 13,897. The reservation reported 598 total deaths. President Jonathan Nez said in a statement that 34 communities in the nation have “uncontrolled spread” of the virus, and warned that its healthcare system cannot sustain a long-term increase in infections. (Williams, 11/14)

In related news —

The Hill: Northeast Governors To Meet To Coordinate On Coronavirus Surge 
Governors of several Northeast states are planning to meet over the weekend to discuss possible coordination on combating the coronavirus as the region and the country see sharp spikes in COVID-19 cases. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) said during a press call Friday that the planned meeting would include him and the executives of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Vermont and Connecticut. (Axelrod, 11/13)

The Hill: States Split On COVID-19 Responses As Cases Surge 
Governors across the country are grappling with an alarming surge of coronavirus cases and hospitalizations, so far putting forward a fractured response. Despite the escalating public health crisis, many governors have taken only modest actions; most states still allow major sources of spread such as bars and indoor restaurants to remain open. (Sullivan, 11/14)

Axios: The States Where Face Coverings Are Mandatory 
The governors of Utah and North Dakota are the latest to issue statewide mask mandates for public spaces, amid a steep spike in COVID-19 cases across the country. The big picture: States are reintroducing mitigation efforts like closing businesses and advising people to stay home as the U.S. averages the most daily cases of any point in the pandemic. (Fernandez and Arias, 11/15)

Politico: Health Officials Sound Alarm Over Impact Of Trump’s Transition Blockade 
Public health officials, members of Joe Biden’s transition team, and elected Democrats and Republicans urged President Donald Trump on Sunday to begin the transfer of power to President-elect Joe Biden, warning that continuing to waylay the process amid a spiking pandemic could endanger American lives. “Of course it would be better” if public health officials could begin working with Biden’s transition team right now, Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said on CNN’s “State of the Union.” “That is obvious.” (Mueller, 11/15)

The Hill: Biden Calls For 'Urgent Action' From Trump Amid COVID-19 Surge 
President-elect Joe Biden on Friday called for the Trump administration to take immediate action to help stem the spread of the coronavirus, as daily case numbers and hospitalizations hit new highs. Biden wrote on Twitter that he was "alarmed" by the surging number of COVID-19 infections, hospitalizations and deaths reported across the country. "This crisis demands a robust and immediate federal response which has been woefully lacking," he wrote. (Byrnes, 11/13)

CNN: Governors Are Left To Manage The Spread Of Covid-19 Cases As Rates Are Projected To Get Worse
State and local leaders have been left to manage the spread of Covid-19 as infections increase at unprecedented speed -- and as things get worse, their participation will likely be more important, experts say. For much of the pandemic, health experts have lamented the lack of a strong national response from the United States while state leadership has implemented measures and restrictions. And now, on the heels of the country adding 1 million cases in less than a week (the fastest it ever has), two former Food and Drug Administration commissioners said Sunday slowing the spread is "now up to governors." (Holcombe, 11/16)

USA Today: Trump Facing Criticism On COVID Fight As He Delays Biden Transition
President Donald Trump faced mounting criticism Sunday for continuing to focus his message on the election and unsubstantiated claims of voter fraud while sidestepping a resurgent coronavirus pandemic raging across the country. Trump struck a defiant tone in a series of weekend tweets, claiming voting was "rigged" for President-elect Joe Biden. His critics said Sunday that by refusing to acknowledge the results of the Nov. 3 election, Trump was delaying the transition and complicating Biden's ability to hit the ground running in the battle against COVID-19. (Fritze, 11/15)

The Hill: 13 Million More Americans Could Get COVID-19 Before Inauguration Day: Report 
President-elect Joe Biden has started assembling a task force and taking steps to prepare to combat the COVID-19 pandemic when he enters office, but a new analysis finds that millions of Americans could be infected with the disease in the next two months before Inauguration Day. Reuters reported this week, based on data and growth trends from early November, that the U.S. could face between 8 million and 13 million more coronavirus cases as well as 70,000 more deaths before Inauguration Day on Jan. 20. (Polus, 11/14)

The New York Times: CDC Issues Increasingly Assertive Advice As Coronavirus Pandemic Surges 
As the pandemic engulfs the nation, recent recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have been as notable for what they do not say as for what they do. In a turnabout, the agency now is hewing more closely to scientific evidence, often contradicting the positions of the Trump administration. In scientific briefs published on Tuesday, the C.D.C. described the benefits of masks to wearers, not just to those around them. Agency researchers also urged people to celebrate Thanksgiving only with others in their households or, failing that, to wear a mask with two or more layers. (Mandavilli, 11/13)

USA Today: 'CDC Is Putting American Lives At Risk': Members Of Congress Call For CDC To Reinstate Cruise 'No-Sail' Order
Members of Congress are calling for the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to reinstate its "no-sail" order, which expired at the end of October and was replaced by a "Conditional Sailing Order" that allows a phased-in return to cruising. "The CDC is putting American lives at risk, not to mention the potential for enhancing the spread worldwide," Sen. Richard Blumenthal, a Democrat from Connecticut, told USA TODAY Friday. (Hines, 11/13)

FastCompany: Experts Say CDC's Thanksgiving Guidelines Are Too Lenient
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has published its guidelines for a safe Thanksgiving, noting: “The safest way to celebrate Thanksgiving this year is to celebrate with people in your household.” But then it goes on to allow for less-appropriate behavior: “If you do plan to spend Thanksgiving with people outside your household, take steps to make your celebration safer.” Most of the rest of the document lists ways families can mitigate risks for in-person gatherings—limiting guests, cleaning surfaces frequently, bringing your own food and utensils to dinner, and using single-use salad dressing packets. But experts worry that these official guidelines are too lax in that they do not issue a sterner warning to cancel in-person Thanksgiving altogether. (Visram, 11/16)

In other administration news —

NPR: U.S. Surgeon General Blames 'Pandemic Fatigue' For Recent COVID-19 Surge
The COVID-19 crisis in the U.S. is getting worse by nearly every metric. On Friday alone, there were more than 184,000 new confirmed cases and 1,400 deaths, the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center reported. Hospitals are reaching capacity. To date in the U.S., there have been more than 10 million confirmed cases of the virus and more than 240,000 have died — more than any other nation. U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams says "pandemic fatigue" is largely to blame. People are tired and aren't taking mitigation measures as seriously as before, he says. (Silva and Martin, 11/14)

Modern Healthcare: COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Declaration Set To Expire On Inauguration Day
An HHS COVID-19 public health emergency declaration tied to regulatory flexibilities and funding for healthcare providers is set to expire on Inauguration Day. A drawn-out vote count and the lack of a concession from President Donald Trump has slowed the transition process for President-elect Joe Biden's team. Stakeholders and public health experts say the emergency declaration will likely still be necessary as case numbers are trending upward and potential vaccine distribution is on the horizon. (Cohrs, 11/13)

Politico: National Lockdown ‘A Measure Of Last Resort,’ Biden Coronavirus Taskforce Head Says 
A national lockdown as Covid-19 cases tick up is "a measure of last resort," the co-chair of Joe Biden's coronavirus taskforce, Vivek Murthy, said Sunday. "We have got to approach this with the position of a scalpel rather than the blunt force of an ax," the former surgeon general told Chris Wallace on "Fox News Sunday," arguing for a more nuanced approach. (Mueller, 11/15)

New York Post: Biden COVID-19 Advisor: We Don't Support Another Lockdown
A member of Joe Biden’s COVID-19 advisory team on Sunday rejected claims that the president-elect would force the country into another round of strict lockdowns as daily coronavirus cases reach new highs. “We are not in support of a nationwide lockdown and believe there is not a scenario unless — there simply isn’t a scenario because we can get this under control,” Dr. Atul Gawande told ABC’s “This Week.” (Bowden, 11/15)

Also —

The Hill: Fauci: 'We're Not Going To Get A National Lockdown' 
As the U.S. continues to set records for daily coronavirus infectious and hospitalizations, Anthony Fauci said on Sunday that Americans should not expect a national lockdown and should instead anticipate "surgical-type" local restrictions. During an interview with Jake Tapper on CNN's "State of the Union," Fauci once again called for the nation to "double down" on public health measures such as wearing masks, washing hands and practicing social distancing while waiting for a vaccine to become widely available — likely late next year. (Rahman, 11/15)

NPR: Vivek Murthy: COVID Restrictions Should Be More Of A 'Dial' Less Of A 'Switch' 
The Trump administration has not cooperated with President-elect Joe Biden's transition team, and top Biden officials say the incoming president is limited in what he can do before his team takes the reins. Still, Biden's coronavirus advisory board co-chair Vivek Murthy says they're doing everything they can to ensure plans are ready to go on Inauguration Day — including stronger mask requirements. Biden has already called for implementing mask mandates nationwide. Where mandates don't exist, Biden will make direct pleas to governors and mayors to put them in place, Murthy said in an interview with NPR's Weekend Edition. (Schwartz, 11/15)

AP: Biden Seeks Window On Vaccine Plans As Trump Stalls Handoff
President-elect Joe Biden’s scientific advisers plan to meet with vaccine makers in coming days even as a stalled presidential transition keeps them out of the loop on government plans to inoculate all Americans against COVID-19. President Donald Trump’s refusal to accept that he lost the election means that the Biden team lacks a clear picture of the groundwork within the government for a mass vaccination campaign that will last the better part of next year, says Biden’s chief of staff, Ron Klain. (Alonso-Zaldivar and Weissert, 11/16)

CNBC: Biden Team To Meet With Coronavirus Vaccine Makers This Week
[Ron] Klain, the former Ebola czar under President Barack Obama, told MSNBC’s “Meet the Press” that Biden’s top health officials can’t coordinate with federal government employees until the General Services Administration approves the transition process. Despite the lack of access, Klain said Biden’s team will meet with the drug makers, naming Pfizer as one of those companies. (Higgins-Dunn, 11/15)

NBC News: Incoming Biden Chief Of Staff Warns Transition Delay Puts Vaccine Distribution At Risk
President-elect Joe Biden's incoming chief of staff, Ron Klain, urged the Trump administration Sunday to reverse course and begin working on a presidential transition so "nothing drops in this change of power" that would jeopardize the new administration's ability to distribute a coronavirus vaccine. (Kamisar, 11/15)

Also —

The Wall Street Journal: Washington Lobbyists Know Biden Well—As Their Former Boss 
President-elect Joe Biden’s ambitious Democratic agenda—including raising corporate taxes—faces formidable opposition from a power center he knows well: former aides who are now lobbyists or advisers to companies and industries at odds with his goals. Scores of Mr. Biden’s former aides now on K Street represent hundreds of companies, trade groups and foreign companies. ... The drug lobby is one of the most powerful in Washington and has long fought a plan embraced by Mr. Biden to lower the cost of prescription drugs by letting Medicare negotiate discounts. The president-elect also campaigned on imposing tax penalties on drugmakers that raise the price of certain drugs over the general inflation rate. (Bykowicz and Mullins, 11/16)

CNN: Health Care: Here Are 7 Trump Measures That Biden Will Likely Overturn
When it comes to health policy, President Donald Trump made it his mission to undo many measures his predecessor put in place. President-elect Joe Biden is expected to do the same. In their four years in office, the Trump administration made sweeping changes that affected the Affordable Care Act, Medicaid, abortion and transgender rights, in many cases reversing the efforts of the Obama administration. (Luhby, Kelly and Cole, 11/16)

AP: Poll Workers Contract Virus, But Election Day Link Unclear
Despite painstaking efforts to keep election sites safe, some poll workers who came in contact with voters on Election Day have tested positive for the coronavirus, including more than two dozen in Missouri and others in New York, Iowa, Indiana and Virginia. The infections cannot be tied definitively to polling places. Because COVID-19 is spreading rapidly in the U.S., there is no way to determine yet whether in-person voting on Election Day contributed to the surge, public health experts said. (Izaguirre, 11/16)

The Hill: Election Day Link Uncertain After Poll Workers Across US Test Positive For COVID-19 
The largest outbreak so far has been detected among election workers in the Kansas City suburbs of Jackson County, Mo., according to The Associated Press. Twenty-eight people who worked as poll workers there have tested positive in recent weeks, although Election Board head Tammy Brown said staffers urged anyone who felt sick to stay home. “We, as election officials, all knew we were at risk,” Brown said, according to the AP. “I don’t think this was shocking to any of us.” (Budryk, 11/15)

In related news about COVID and the election —

Philadelphia Inquirer: ‘A Feeling Of Dread’: How Burnout From COVID-19 And The Election Is Affecting Philadelphians
Burnout — a state of emotional, physical and mental exhaustion caused by prolonged stress — is increasing across the country as Americans continue to endure the fallout of a particularly polarizing presidential election, civil unrest and a pandemic that just keeps getting worse. Burnout is a form of feeling exhausted from the work one has to do, said Theresa Nguyen, the chief program officer and vice president of research and innovation at Mental Health America. While most often associated with a person’s job, burnout, which can lead to symptoms such as insomnia and depression, can affect other areas of life as well. (Ao, 11/16)

FierceHealthcare: CMS: More Than 800K Signed Up For ACA Plans On HealthCare.Gov On First Week Of Open Enrollment 
The first week of 2021 open enrollment on the Affordable Care Act’s exchanges saw 818,365 people sign up on HealthCare.gov. The robust start to open enrollment, which began on Nov. 1, comes even during a presidential election. (King, 11/12)

In related news —

The Washington Post: Open Enrollment Season During Coronavirus Pandemic Means More Mental Health Benefits, Hospital Coverage
In addition to providing more time off or flexibility for child care — perks that have received much attention as the pandemic has dragged on — employers are also offering workers far more access to telehealth platforms and mental health benefits. “The big realization a lot of these companies have had during the pandemic is that there’s so much that happens in your personal life that affects your work,” said Brian Kropp, a vice president for the advisory firm Gartner. (McGregor, 11/14)

KHN: Red States’ Case Against ACA Hinges On Whether They Were Actually Harmed By The Law
Attorneys for GOP-controlled states seeking to kill the Affordable Care Act told the Supreme Court last week that at least some of the 12 million people who newly enrolled in Medicaid signed up only because of the law’s requirement that people have insurance coverage — although a tax penalty no longer exists. The statement drew a rebuke from Justice Sonia Sotomayor, who said it belies reason. Several health experts also questioned the argument that poor people apply for Medicaid not because they need help getting health care but to meet the ACA’s individual mandate for coverage. (Galewitz, 11/16)

KHN: ‘An Arm And A Leg’: For Your Next Health Insurance Fight, An Exercise In Financial Self-Defense
A listener asked: ‘How do I remain cool when calling insurance companies?” So we called veteran self-defense teacher Lauren Taylor for advice. She leads Defend Yourself, an organization that works to empower people against violence and abuse. As Taylor teaches it, self-defense involves a lot more than hitting and kicking. It’s about standing up for yourself in all kinds of difficult situations. Striking that posture includes using your words, and we asked Taylor to talk us through her top strategies. This year, she used them in her own health insurance fight. (Weissmann, 11/16)

NPR: House Gets New Coronavirus Testing As Members Prepare For Next Congress 
The House of Representatives will return Monday to a post-election session with a few major but controversial items to address, including leadership elections, how to deal with more coronavirus relief and a must-pass spending bill. To help, they'll have a new, widespread testing program to track the coronavirus among members, staffers and workers. The plan is a first for any chamber of Congress eight months into the pandemic, and it comes as cases are spiking across the country and in Washington, D.C. (Grisales, 11/16)

The Hill: Progressive House Democrats To Host Health Care Strategy Session 
Three members of the House's growing progressive wing will attend a strategy session Wednesday for left-leaning health care activists aimed at defining priorities under President-elect Joe Biden's administration. Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) and Katie Porter (D-Calif.) will join the Center for Health and Democracy's Wendell Potter to "chart the path forward on transforming our broken health care system," according to a tweet from Potter. (Bowden, 11/15)

Also —

Politico: Health Care Vs. 'Radical Leftists': Parties Re-Running 2020 Playbooks In Georgia Runoffs 
Republicans want to save Georgians from socialism. Democrats want to save their health care and flip the Senate. The dueling messages last week defined the kickoff of the two runoff elections in Georgia that will decide control of the Senate in January. Win both races, and Democrats have a 50-50 Senate with Vice President-elect Kamala Harris breaking ties. Lose both, and Democrats are relegated once again to the minority, with a Republican Senate standing in the way of President-elect Joe Biden’s ambitious agenda. (Arkin, 11/15)

The Washington Post: With Pandemic Raging, Republicans Say Election Results Validate Their Approach 
The victories in state and local races have allowed GOP leaders to claim a mandate for their let-it-be approach to pandemic management, with pleas for “personal responsibility” substituting government intervention. As hospitals fill and deaths climb, it’s a philosophy that public health experts warn could have disastrous consequences this winter. (Witte, 11/15)

ProPublica: Rapid Testing Is Less Accurate Than The Government Wants To Admit 
The promise of antigen tests emerged like a miracle this summer. With repeated use, the theory went, these rapid and cheap coronavirus tests would identify highly infectious people while giving healthy Americans a green light to return to offices, schools and restaurants. The idea of on-the-spot tests with near-instant results was an appealing alternative to the slow, lab-based testing that couldn’t meet public demand. (Song, 11/16)

Science Alert: Rapid COVID-19 Antibody Test Is Not As Accurate As We Were Told, Scientists Warn
A rapid finger-prick test designed to show whether a person has previously been infected with SARS-CoV-2 is significantly less accurate than earlier research suggested, scientists report in a new study. The AbC-19 Rapid Test, developed for use by healthcare professionals in the UK and EU, looks for antibodies against the virus in a small drop of blood from a finger-prick, and can show results in just 20 minutes, without needing specialised lab equipment. (Dockrill, 11/16)

In related news on testing, tracing and screening —

CIDRAP: CDC: Symptom-Based COVID-19 Airport Screening Ineffective
Data published today in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) shows that resource-intensive, symptom-based airline passenger entry screening identified few laboratory-diagnosed COVID-19 cases—only 1 case for every 85,000 travelers screened. The researchers also highlight the inadequacy of electronic airline data for contact tracing, finding that only 22% of records contain both the traveler's phone number and physical address. (11/13)

The Wall Street Journal: Meat Giant Tyson Girds For Virus Surge, Tracking Covid-19 With Algorithms 
Tyson Foods Inc. is using infection-tracking algorithms and ongoing employee testing to shield workers at the biggest U.S. meatpacker from a fresh surge in coronavirus cases and keep grocery stores stocked, its chief executive said. The Arkansas-based company, like other meatpackers, is spending heavily on protective gear and planning longer-term defenses against Covid-19. Tyson Chief Executive Dean Banks said the company is adding more space for workers at existing plants and designing new ones to include workstation dividers and other safeguards. (Bunge, 11/15)

Wired: That Pre-Thanksgiving Covid Test Won't Really Keep You Safe 
It’s true that getting a positive result tells you some crucial information: It’s time to cancel all your plans and isolate until you’re past the point of infectiousness. A negative test, though, doesn’t guarantee that anyone is Covid-free, and it’s never license to let down your guard. You might, for instance, contract the virus in the interim between being tested and receiving your results, or between getting your results and seeing your friends and family. (The testing site itself could even be where that happens.) Even if you assume these tests are 100 percent accurate, they’ll only tell you what your status is at the specific time the test is done. (Aschwanden, 11/15)

The Washington Post: Covid Risk And Tracking Tools: How To Use Them Safely 
For many Americans these days, the mere idea of leaving the house prompts a question: “What’s the risk?” And often, they find that even after scrutinizing data on novel coronavirus cases and poring over public health recommendations, there still isn’t a clear answer. (Chiu, 11/13)

CNN: Antibiotic Use In Babies Linked To Allergies, Asthma And Other Conditions, Study Finds
Children younger than two who are given antibiotics are more likely to have a number of ongoing illnesses or conditions later in life, a new study finds. Babies and toddlers who received one dose of antibiotics were more likely to have asthma, eczema, hay fever, food allergies, celiac disease, problems with weight and obesity and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder later in childhood, according to the study published Monday in Mayo Clinic Proceedings. (LaMotte, 11/16)

In other pharmaceutical and biotech news —

Stat: Federal Authorities Issue Strong Warning To Pharma Over Speaker Programs
A federal watchdog agency has issued an unusual warning to the pharmaceutical industry to avoid using kickbacks — specifically, under the guise of so-called speaker programs — to entice doctors to write more prescriptions. (Silverman, 11/16)

Stat: Concerns Linger Over Cytokinetics, Amgen Heart Failure Drug
Cytokinetics and Amgen on Friday presented a deeper analysis from a large clinical trial of their chronic heart failure drug, showing a greater benefit for subgroups of patients with more advanced heart failure. The new findings are somewhat better than the initial study results presented in October. (Feuerstein, 11/13)

Stat: Failed Study Spawns Debate About Fish-Oil-Derived Drugs 
The results of a new study are re-igniting a debate among cardiologists as to whether a prescription fish oil product, Vascepa, reduces patients’ risk of heart attacks and strokes. The study doesn’t test Vascepa, made by Amarin Corp., but another drug called Epanova, which is made by AstraZeneca. (Herper, 11/16)

Bangor Daily News: UMaine Grads Develop Cream From Lobster Fluid To Treat Dry Skin
Two University of Maine graduates have started a cosmetics skincare company that aims to help people treat their dry skin with lobster fluid. The company, Marin Skincare, uses a protein from lobster hemolymph — a circulatory fluid that functions like blood — as the active ingredient in its hydration cream, which it says can soothe skin irritated by eczema, dermatitis, psoriasis and other ailments. (Trotter, 11/16)

Stat: A Google Brain Scientist Turns To AI To Make Medicine More Personal
The artificial intelligence Maithra Raghu studies at Google Brain doesn’t have a bedside manner. But she’s betting it can still help restore a deeply human, disappearing aspect of modern medicine: personal connection. (Chen, 11/16)

The New York Times: Doctors Are Calling It Quits Under Stress Of The Coronavirus 
Two years ago, Dr. Kelly McGregory opened her own pediatric practice just outside Minneapolis, where she could spend as much time as she wanted with patients and parents could get all of their questions answered. But just as her practice was beginning to thrive, the coronavirus hit the United States and began spreading across the country. (Abelson, 11/15)

AP: North Dakota Nurses Worry About Working With Sick Colleagues
Like many medical workers around the world, Fargo emergency room nurse Adam Johnston can’t escape the grim reality of the coronavirus pandemic. It follows him everywhere: at work, where people die every shift; at the grocery store, where people rail against his city’s mask requirement; and at home, where he struggles to sleep. He’s gotten through the long months, including North Dakota’s current virus wave that is among the worst in the U.S., by finding solace with fellow nurses during brief breaks where they can swap tips on beating insomnia or just vent frustrations. But he and many other nurses fear things are about to get even harder now that Gov. Doug Burgum has allowed the state’s beleaguered hospitals to use infected but asymptomatic workers to treat COVID-19 patients. (MacPherson and Groves, 11/15)

Modern Healthcare: VA To Protect Clinicians Practicing Across State Lines
The Veterans Affairs Department has issued an interim final rule to make it easier for VA clinicians to practice across state lines, even when it conflicts with state requirements. The rule is designed to "preempt" state requirements that could be used to sanction VA clinicians for doing so, according to the rule published in the Federal Register Thursday. (Kim Cohen, 11/13)

KHN: Long-Term Care Workers, Grieving And Under Siege, Brace For COVID’s Next Round 
In the middle of the night, Stefania Silvestri lies in bed remembering her elderly patients’ cries. “Help me.” “Please don’t leave me.” “I need my family.” Months of caring for older adults in a Rhode Island nursing home ravaged by COVID-19 have taken a steep toll on Silvestri, 37, a registered nurse. (Graham, 11/16)

FierceHealthcare: Rural Hospitals Struggle To Find Places To Transfer Patients Amid COVID-19 Surges 
Norton County Hospital is facing a major problem in recent days: Figuring out where to send patients that need a higher level of care. As larger hospitals become overwhelmed with serious cases of COVID-19, the options are dwindling. For Norton, the closest hospital that it has been able to transport patients is six hours away. (King, 11/13)

USA Today: Rural Hospitals Crowded With COVID Patients As Cases And Deaths Surge
In North Texas, Moore County Hospital District CEO Jeff Turner is managing more than his small rural hospital can handle. The Dumas hospital has space and staff for 11 coronavirus patients, but only three who are really sick and need intensive care. When they need lifesaving therapies Turner's hospital can't provide, his staff tries to find open beds at larger hospitals in Amarillo, about 50 miles to the south. (Alltucker, 11/15)

In other health care industry news —

Indianapolis Star: COVID In Indiana: Hospitals Face Staffing Crunch Amid Soaring Cases
In the spring, hospitals around the country braced for a surge of coronavirus patients, warning that personal protective equipment, ventilators and intensive care units could be in short supply. Now, as hospitalizations for COVID-19 are higher than ever before, hospitals are facing a scarcity of an even more precious resource: staff. (Rudavsky, 11/15)

Albuquerque Journal: NM COVID Patient On The Mend After Double-Lung Transplant
For much of the coronavirus pandemic, a machine has helped New Mexico COVID-19 patient Arthur Sanchez with every breath he has taken. But the 52-year-old father of two, who has been mostly hospitalized since April, [was] expected to return to his Las Cruces home [over the] weekend after a double-lung transplant. (Boetel, 11/12)

Also —

Modern Healthcare: Outreach, Prevention Efforts Key To Mitigating Latest COVID-19 Spike
Presbyterian Healthcare Services has been reaching out to high-risk individuals and families to try to get ahead of complications stemming from COVID-19. The Albuquerque-based integrated health system has analyzed electronic health record and health plan data to identify older populations, people with chronic diseases as well as families that don’t have access to quality food, among other social barriers. It has contacted more than 30,000 health plan members since March to make sure they were taking their medicine, keeping appointments, eating well and to ask if they had any questions about accessing care. (Kacik, 11/14)

Modern Healthcare: Ochsner Health Pledges $100 Million To Eliminate Health Disparities
Louisiana-based Ochsner Health is pledging $100 million over the next five years to help eliminate healthcare disparities, as the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic threatens to further hinder the health of the state's most vulnerable residents. The commitment is part of a 10-year plan the health network has developed with state and local officials, as well as academic and community leaders to improve the state's health status. (Johnson, 11/13)

Modern Healthcare: FTC Sues To Stop Methodist Le Bonheur Buying 2 Tenet Hospitals
Methodist Le Bonheur's $350 million acquisition of two Tenet Healthcare Corp.'s Memphis-area hospitals would increase costs and diminish competition, the Federal Trade Commission claimed in a lawsuit that aims to block the transaction. Memphis-based Methodist would control nearly 60% of the "already highly concentrated" Memphis acute-care market as one of three health systems—down from four—with hospitals in the area, according to the FTC. Methodist would be able to negotiate higher reimbursement rates with insurers, which would pass on those costs to employers and their employees in the form of higher premiums, copays, deductibles and other out-of-pocket expenses, regulators concluded. (Kacik, 11/13)

Modern Healthcare: Better Healthcare Marketing Data Can Lead To Better Patient Care
HIPAA, the 24-year-old law that regulates the release of patient medical information, doesn’t restrict data use for what many might consider marketing by healthcare organizations. If a hospital kicks off an email campaign about a new medical group affiliation, new equipment at the facility or—more recently—information about offering COVID-19 testing or pandemic-related changes to operations, that doesn’t count as “marketing” as defined by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. (Kim Cohen, 11/14)

AP: N.C. State Requiring COVID-19 Test Before Return To Campus
Students, faculty and staff at North Carolina State University will be required to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test before returning to campus in the spring. The school announced the new policy Friday, WNCN-TV reported. The decision comes after more than 1,000 cases forced the school to move mostly to remote classes during the fall semester. (11/15)

San Diego Union-Tribune: San Diego Universities Will Increase Testing For COVID-19 After Thanksgiving 
A new surge of coronavirus infections is sweeping the nation, just as San Diego colleges prepare to send students off for the Thanksgiving holiday. UC San Diego urged students to get tested before leaving to avoid unwittingly spreading the virus. After the holiday, UCSD and San Diego State University will begin testing many of its students weekly, rather than bi-weekly, for COVID-19 to help slow transmission. The schools were working out the details on Friday. (Robbins, 11/15)

Texas Tribune: Few Texas Universities Require COVID-19 Precautions Before Students Head Home 
Most major universities in Texas are shifting the rest of the fall semester online after Thanksgiving so students avoid traveling back and forth, limiting exposure of the virus. But few of those universities — some of which have been identified as coronavirus hot spots — have explicitly encouraged students to quarantine for 14 days before Thanksgiving or required exit testing, despite staggering rises in case counts across the state and country. (McGee, 11/16)

NPR: College Students Home For The Holidays: How To Keep Families Safe From COVID-19 
Sandy Kretschmer imagines her son Henry returning home from college, dropping his bags and then giving her a big hug. But she knows the reality of this homecoming may be a lot different. "I'll probably have a mask on, and he'll have a mask on when I hug him," she says. Henry plans to take a COVID-19 test a few days before he leaves Iowa State University where he's a junior, and he'll self-quarantine until he heads home to Chicago. (Nadworny and Noguchi, 11/14)

The New York Times: How Can My College Student Come Home Safely For Thanksgiving? 
College students and their parents face a daunting challenge this Thanksgiving: How can students go home for the holiday without bringing the coronavirus with them? The logistics of Thanksgiving break in the midst of a pandemic are tough. College campuses have emerged as hotbeds of infection in some parts of the country, accounting for more than 252,000 infections and at least 80 deaths. While students are at relatively low risk for complications related to Covid-19, the worry is that an asymptomatic student could unknowingly bring the virus home to vulnerable family members. (Parker-Pope and Halpert, 11/13)

The Hill: 38 Percent Of Americans Planning On Having Thanksgiving Dinner With 10 Or More People
About 40 percent of U.S. residents say they plan to gather in groups of 10 or more people this holiday season, according to a recent survey from Ohio State University (OSU) Wexner Medical Center. Nearly 33 percent of respondents said they would not require friends or family to wear masks at Thanksgiving gatherings, and 25 percent said they would not practice social distancing, according to the poll. (Deese, 11/14)

In other higher-education news —

The Washington Post: International Student Enrollment Falls Sharply During Coronavirus Pandemic, Survey Shows 
Tens of thousands of international students have paused their plans to enroll in U.S. colleges and universities this fall amid the novel coronavirus pandemic, threatening a key source of revenue for higher education, a new survey shows. The Institute of International Education reported Monday that international enrollment fell 16 percent this fall at more than 700 schools it surveyed. The flow of new international students into U.S. institutions plummeted 43 percent from the previous year. (Anderson, 11/16)

USA Today: Costco Face Mask Policy Update Requires All Shoppers To Wear A Mask Or Shield Amid Coronavirus Surges
Costco will no longer make an exemption for people who say they can’t wear a face covering because of a medical condition. The wholesale club’s updated face mask policy goes into effect Monday and requires all members, guests and employees to wear a face mask or a face shield in order to shop in its nearly 560 clubs nationwide. (Tyko, 11/16)

The New York Times: ‘Rumble In The Bronx’ Fight Club Drew 200. The Sheriff Shut It Down.
More than 200 people stood shoulder to shoulder shouting as two men sparred at the center of a Bronx warehouse. Some people hung over the barricades, social media showed, craning their necks for a better view. When one man knocked out the other, the crowd erupted in a thunderous roar. The amateur fight would have been illegal before the pandemic, but with coronavirus cases spiking in the city, it risked being a dangerous underground event. (Ransom, 11/15)

Reuters: Lockdown 2.0: Food Companies Overhauled Production To Put More Toilet Paper, Pasta Sauce In Stores 
When rumors first began to circulate that the UK would go back into lockdown, Leanne Barnes despaired as bread and toilet roll flew off the shelves again at her local supermarket. But to her surprise, shelves were back to being fully stocked within a few days. Barnes stocked her pantry last time around with a few additional comfort foods - macaroni cheese, ravioli, soup and spaghetti. But as of last week, she said she felt no urge to stockpile goods. (Naidu, Waldersee and Cavale, 11/13)

AP: Here Comes Santa Claus - With Face Masks And Plexiglass
Santa Claus is coming to the mall — just don’t try to sit on his lap. Despite the pandemic — and the fact that Santa’s age and weight put him at high risk for severe illness from the coronavirus — mall owners are going ahead with plans to bring him back this year. But they are doing all they can to keep the jolly old man safe, including banning kids from sitting on his knee, no matter if they’ve been naughty or nice. (Pisani, 11/16)

The New York Times: Sex-Abuse Claims Against Boy Scouts Now Surpass 82,000 
More than 82,000 people have come forward with sex-abuse claims against the Boy Scouts of America, describing a decades-long accumulation of assaults at the hands of scout leaders across the nation who had been trusted as role models. The claims, which lawyers said far eclipsed the number of abuse accusations filed in Catholic Church cases, continued to mount ahead of a Monday deadline established in bankruptcy court in Delaware, where the Boy Scouts had sought refuge this year in a bid to survive the demands for damages. (Baker, 11/15)

Also —

AP: Syracuse Coach Jim Boeheim Tests Positive For Virus
Syracuse basketball coach Jim Boeheim has tested positive for the novel coronavirus, and the Orange have paused all team activities. The 75-year-old Boeheim said in a statement posted on both Twitter and the university website Sunday that he was informed after the team’s most recent testing and is in isolation at home. (11/16)

The Hill: Elon Musk Says He 'Most Likely' Has COVID-19, Questions Tests 
Tech mogul Elon Musk on Saturday said he “most likely” has a moderate case of COVID-19 while continuing to question the accuracy of coronavirus tests. In response to a Twitter user asking if he had the coronavirus the Tesla CEO tweeted, “Am getting wildly different results from different labs, but most likely I have a moderate case of covid. My symptoms are that of a minor cold, which is no surprise, since a coronavirus is a type of cold.” (Choi, 11/15)

CNN: Nevada Governor Tests Positive For Covid-19 
Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak tested positive for Covid-19 Friday, according to a news release from his office. Sisolak, a Democrat, received a positive result from a rapid test and is awaiting results from a diagnostic PCR test, his office said. He admitted to feeling tired earlier this week, the release said, but he "attributed this to his demanding schedule." He did not experience any other symptoms. (Becker, Vera and Passantino, 11/13)

COVID continues to overwhelm many cities and states —

Courier-Journal: 'Truly Alarming': Kentucky's Weekly COVID-19 Cases Hit Record High
Kentucky again recorded a record-high weekly total of new coronavirus cases, with 1,449 additional cases and three more deaths reported Sunday. The state has set weekly records over the past month, with the rate for positive tests also increasing, sitting at 8.88% Sunday. Kentucky passed its daily record three times last week, reporting 3,303 new cases Saturday. (Austin, 11/15)

New Orleans Times-Picayune: Weekend Case, Hospitalization Numbers Show Continued Rapid Spread Of Coronavirus In Louisiana
Louisiana’s coronavirus cases continued to surge over the weekend, further solidifying the evidence that the state is starting a third major outbreak as infections are hitting record levels nationwide. The number of newly reported cases on Sunday continued a sharp climb, bringing the weekly total to nearly twice where it was just seven days ago. And that’s been accompanied by a steady increase in hospitalizations: The 753 people hospitalized with the coronavirus on Saturday is 21% higher than the number a week before. (Adelson, 11/15)

NPR: COVID-19 Hospitalizations Surge In Dakotas: 'It's Like We Opened Up A Spigot'
Hospitals are nearing capacity in North and South Dakota, two states where coronavirus has hit disproportionately hard for their small population size and where cases continue to rise daily. The Dakotas have the most new daily cases per capita of any other state this week — a record they've held or been close to for many weeks. They're also among the worst in the country for two other grim metrics: per capita deaths and per capita hospitalizations. (Silva, 11/14)

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin Needs Blood Donations, COVID-19 Plasma; Shortages Critical
Plasma from recovered coronavirus patients has been shown to be effective in treating the most serious coronavirus patients, but the demand is far greater than the supply. Dr. Thomas Abshire, chief medical officer with Versiti Blood Center of Wisconsin, said the need for convalescent plasma in Wisconsin is about double the number of donors giving plasma. (Torres, 11/14)

Clarion-Ledger: Coronavirus In Mississippi Exposes 'Underbelly Of Poverty And Inequality'
The first plague hit long before the second one struck this year.“The COVID-19 pandemic is pulling the lid off conditions that we have not addressed for generations,” said Bill Bynum, CEO of Hope Credit Union, which serves low-income communities in Mississippi. “These rural and high-poverty areas are being hit harder, because they’re so much more fragile.” (Mitchell, 11/16)

KHN: Homeless Shelters Grapple With COVID Safety As Cold Creeps In
Ben Barnes has slept in abandoned buildings, hallways and alleys. For the past year or so, he’s been staying at the city’s largest homeless shelter, Pacific Garden Mission, in the shadows of the famous skyline. “I’ve always considered myself homeless because I don’t have a home,” he said on a recent crisp, fall day in the shelter’s sun-splashed courtyard. But he’s fortunate, said Barnes, 44. He’s never had to sleep outside when it was below zero or snowy. He always found a friend’s place, building or shelter to crash in. He knows others aren’t so lucky. (Bruce, 11/16)

Also —

The Washington Post: Local Governments Scramble To Distribute Cares Act Relief, Which Expires In December 
Eight months after Congress approved $150 billion in relief funding for state and local governments, Adama Harouna wonders why so little has come to her community. As head of the tenants association at a Maryland apartment complex, Harouna, 44, helps organize a Sunday food drive where she sees some of the hardest-hit. There’s the laid-off pharmacist from Cameroon who no longer has money to send home; the single mother whose three children contracted the coronavirus; the middle-aged man wondering if he should vacate his apartment before the sheriff comes knocking. (Tan and Chason, 11/15)

Houston Chronicle: Houston Researchers Roll Out COVID-Killing Machines
The George R. Brown Convention Center was built to hold Houston’s biggest crowds, but during the pandemic its halls have grown quieter. In reviving the center, Houston First squared off with a problem facing all local venues — showing the public they’re safe. To address the problem, the local government corporation created to operate the city’s convention and performing arts facilities launched a public education campaign in August and spent about $30,000 on three mobile air filtration units for the convention center’s general assembly space, which is often used by businesses for presentations. The units, installed in September, add a layer of security for guests, said Michael Heckman, the group’s acting president and chief executive. (Drane, 11/16)

The Hill: Boris Johnson Isolating After Potential Coronavirus Exposure 
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Sunday that he had been instructed to self-isolate after coming in contact with someone who had contracted COVID-19. In a tweet, Johnson, who tested positive for the coronavirus and was hospitalized with serious symptoms earlier this year, said that he was feeling fine but would follow protocols and self-isolate in his offices at No. 10 Downing St. (Bowden, 11/15)

The Washington Post: Thousands Pack Music Festival In Taiwan, Where No Local Cases Have Been Reported In Over 200 Days
Over the weekend, while Americans were contemplating the very real possibility that they wouldn’t get to see their families at Thanksgiving or Christmas, thousands of electronic music fans in Taiwan were dancing frenetically to thumping music as fireworks lit up overhead. The island of more than 23 million people has gone more than 200 days without reporting a single locally transmitted coronavirus infection, making it possible for the massive crowd at Ultra Taiwan to pack the makeshift arena like it was 2019. (Farzan, 11/16)

The New York Times: China’s New Testing Policy For Travelers Is Problematic, Experts Say
As cases of the coronavirus continue to climb worldwide, many countries are doubling down on testing policies that can grant or bar entry to travelers attempting to move across international borders. But an unusual new testing policy, announced by China at the end of October, has health experts baffled. It requires inbound travelers to present negative results from an antibody test — which can neither reliably rule out infections nor prove that a person is not transmitting the virus to others. (Wu, 11/13)

AP: German Government Ad Hails Couch Potatoes As Virus Heroes
The German government has released a tongue-in-cheek ad hailing an unlikely hero in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic: the humble couch potato. The 90-second video posted online Saturday begins with an elderly man recalling his ‘service’ to the nation back when he was just a young student “in the winter of 2020, when the whole country’s eyes were on us.” (11/14)

AP: Bach Says Tokyo Olympic "Participants" May Need Vaccinations
Olympic participants and fans arriving for next year’s postponed Tokyo Olympics are likely to face requirements to be vaccinated to protect the Japanese public, IOC President Thomas Bach said Monday after meeting with new Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga. It was Bach’s first meeting with Suga and his first trip to Japan since the Olympics were postponed almost eight months ago. (Wade, 11/16)

Los Angeles Times: America's Broken PPE Pipeline Is Still Broken
The COVID-19 pandemic has entered a frightening new phase, picking up speed in every state and breaking new records almost daily. California and Texas have passed 1 million COVID-19 cases, and infections show no signs of slowing. This new wave of coronavirus infections has hospital resources stretched close to the breaking point in several states, as seriously ill COVID-19 patients crowd critical care units. And as bad as it is, the worst is yet to come, experts predict, as people ignore public-health warnings and gather to celebrate the holidays. (11/16)

The Hill: COVID-19 Isn't Going Away — Here's How Schools Need To Reopen 
COVID-19 will be with us for the foreseeable future, possibly for several years. It’s time we started building plans within our public education system to deliver in-person instruction safely during the pandemic. (Maya Martin Cadogan and Nathaniel Beers, 11/15)

Bloomberg: 2020's Covid Protests Are A Sign Of The Social Unrest To Come
“So when our Sickness, and our Poverty Had greater wants than we could well supply; Strict Orders did but more enrage our grief, And hinder in accomplishing relief.”That’s how the British poet George Wither explained a spreading rebellion against social-distancing rules. Seeing quarantines and lockdowns as unfair and tyrannical punishments, people were taking to the streets. The year was 1625, the place was London, the disease was plague. (Andreas Kluth, 11/14)

The Hill: Biden's Initiative On COVID-19 Should Include Cooperation With China 
President-elect Joe Biden is wisely putting together a task force on COVID-19. One dimension of that could be to see what we can learn from China’s recent virus control successes and its scientific and research developments. (Robert Hormats, 11/15)

Fox News: Big Plans For BidenCare Doomed If Republicans Keep Senate Majority
President-elect Joe Biden’s ambitious plan for a dramatic and costly overhaul of America’s health care sector that would start us down the road to socialized medicine and worse health care has no chance of approval if Republicans capture majority control of the U.S. Senate.And even if Democrats manage to control the Senate by the slimmest of margins, odds are high that Biden couldn’t go as far as he wants in restructuring health care. Last week’s elections will leave the 100-member Senate with 50 Republicans and 48 Democrats in January — with two more seats to be filled by runoff elections Jan. 5 in Georgia. (Sally Pipes, 11/15)

The Salt Lake Tribune: Pandemic Increases Threat Of Other Medical Problems  
When the first wave of coronavirus hit the United States, many providers implemented social distancing and prioritizing patient needs in their offices. This included an increase in the number of doctors who are relying on telehealth for treating patients. However, this increase may prevent them from seeing the signs of opioid addiction in their patients. (Ember Conley, 11/12)

Stat: A Nudge Helps Doctors Discuss End-Of-Life Issues With Dying Cancer Patients
Imagine this scenario, one that’s not uncommon for people diagnosed with incurable cancer: You and your cancer doctor decide that you should try chemotherapy to prolong your life. Six months later, that chemotherapy and several other treatments not only haven’t slowed the cancer but have caused burdensome side effects — some so bad you needed to be hospitalized. Finally, at this point, the doctor asks, “What matters most if you were at the end of your life?” (Ravi Parikh, Christopher Manz and Mitesh Patel, 11/16)

Stat: We Can't Eliminate Hepatitis C Without Removing Treatment Barriers 
As Americans fight the Covid-19 pandemic, the epidemic caused by the hepatitis C virus also continues to rage, especially among marginalized communities. And while some barriers to accessing health care have been eliminated during Covid-19, barriers persist for treating hepatitis C. (Nick Voyles, 11/14)

The Wall Street Journal: It’s Now Up To Governors To Slow The Spread
The latest U.S. Covid surge isn’t confined to certain regions like the ones in the spring and summer. It’s hitting the whole nation hard. Hospitalizations reached 70,000 this week, with more than 13,000 patients in intensive-care units. Health systems in communities like Minot, N.D., and El Paso, Texas, are overburdened, and others may be in the same position soon if governors don’t work quickly and across state lines to slow the spread. (Scott Gottlieb and Mark McClellan, 11/15)

The Washington Post: As A Third Covid-19 Wave Rises, Trump Dawdles And Republicans Hide
On Sunday’s episode of NBC’s “Meet the Press,” host Chuck Todd gave his audience a peek behind the booking curtain. Discussing President Trump’s nonsensical claims of a stolen election, Todd told viewers, “We invited every single Republican senator to appear on ‘Meet the Press’ this morning. They all declined.” Even as most Republicans indulge the president’s fantasies of victory, they’re too cowardly — or too embarrassed — to actually defend Trump’s conspiracy theories. But there’s another reason Republicans are avoiding the press: to duck answering for the president’s — and their party’s — dawdling while the coronavirus again overwhelms the country. The third wave of covid-19 is here, and the numbers are truly grim. (James Downie, 11/15)

Stat: Build A Plan For Covid-19 Home Testing On Reason, Not Politics 
John Maynard Keynes once famously observed that there’s nothing as disastrous as a rational investment policy in an irrational world. But when it comes to public health, rational policies make sense even in an irrational or chaotic time like the midst of a severe pandemic. (Elliott J. Millenson and William A. Haseltine, 11/16)

CNN: Donald Trump's Failure To Work With Joe Biden Is Becoming More Urgent As Covid Spreads 
President Donald Trump is facing a barrage of calls to permit potentially life-saving transition talks between his health officials and incoming President-elect Joe Biden's aides on a fast-worsening pandemic he is continuing to ignore in his obsessive effort to discredit an election that he clearly lost. The increasingly urgent pleas are coming from inside his administration, the President-elect's team and independent public health experts as Covid-19 cases rage out of control countrywide, claiming more than 1,000 US lives a day. More than 246,000 Americans have now died from the disease. (Stephen Collinson, 11/16)

The Washington Post: ‘Personal Responsibility’ Isn’t Working. We Need Mask Mandates. 
No methoid of blocking the spread of the coronavirus is perfect, but many of them are good. The use of cloth face masks is not a guarantee against broadcasting or receiving the virus, but when combined with other measures such as hand-washing and distancing, it can sharply reduce the spread. That’s why it is entirely wrongheaded for some Republican governors to resist the face mask mandates that President-elect Joe Biden has urged. Thirty-four states and the District have mandated face coverings in public; as the pandemic dangerously escalates, the others should join them. (11/13)

CNN: Anti-Maskers: A Group Of People Whining So Much Over Something So Little
I don't judge someone by whom they vote for, what team they cheer for or how they like their steak cooked. But few things make me lose respect for a person faster than learning they're an anti-masker. I have not arrived at this opinion lightly; as I write this, my home state of Utah just shattered a record by reporting 3,919 new cases of Covid-19. (Daryl Austin, 11/13)

CNN: The Best Way To Make Masks Work Against Covid-19 
What over eight months of navigating the novel coronavirus pandemic has taught us is that a mask is one of the most valuable tools currently available to mitigate the spread of the virus. A recent report produced by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington found that if 95% of Americans wore masks, we could save nearly 70,000 lives that would otherwise be lost to Covid-19 by March 1. (Susan Blumenthal and Emily Stark, 11/16)

The Washington Post: It’s Been A Year Since Covid-19 Emerged. The World Still Isn’t Ready For It. 
About this time a year ago, the earliest known Chinese patients were exposed to a new mutation of the SARS coronavirus. By December, enough of them had been hospitalized in the city of Wuhan to attract the attention of local health authorities. By the following month, the new virus was so widespread that the entire city of 11 million on the banks of the great Yangtze River was locked down in quarantine. In the space of a single year, the novel virus has spread through most of the world, producing more than 53 million identified cases of the multi-symptom disease known as covid-19. At least 1.3 million deaths, including at least 242,000 in the United States alone, have been attributed to the pandemic, which has battered the global economy, disrupted daily life and arguably brought an end to an American presidency. (11/13)

Austin Statesman: COVID-19 Will Keep Surging Unless We Act
This is where we are: The first state to top 1 million coronavirus cases since the pandemic began. A COVID death toll of more than 19,000 Texans, enough people to fill the AT&T Center where the San Antonio Spurs play. Turning things around is imperative. Experts have warned for months that this winter could bring the worst of the coronavirus pandemic, and still Texas is headed in the wrong direction. COVID fatigue runs thick, and our state leaders have failed for months to provide the clear, science-driven leadership this crisis demands. But there are critical actions we can all take to help curb the spread. Wear a mask. Practice social distancing. Avoid group gatherings. We recognize Texans are tiring of these measures and the strain of a sequestered existence. But your health, even your life or the life of a family member or someone you know, could depend on such efforts over the next few months, until a vaccine becomes widely available. (11/15)

The Wall Street Journal: Gavin Newsom’s Covid Laundry
Nobody should begrudge the Governor for celebrating a birthday with friends. The problem is that he and many politicians require the hoi polloi to follow strict virus rules that they don’t abide by themselves. Then they threaten lockdowns as punishment if the little people don’t comply. Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser traveled to Delaware to celebrate Joe Biden’s election victory even as she told her residents not to travel to other states. Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot is saying that people must “cancel traditional Thanksgiving plans,” and invite no guests, even as she joined a street party celebrating Mr. Biden’s apparent victory and spoke with a bullhorn. No wonder so many Americans ignore politicians and other elites who lecture them about wearing masks and following Covid-19 rules as a moral duty. (11/15)