- KFF Health News Original Stories 4
- Nurses and Doctors Sick With COVID Feel Pressured to Get Back to Work
- Primary Care Doctors Look at Payment Overhaul After Pandemic Disruption
- Bereaved Families Are ‘the Secondary Victims of COVID-19’
- In Health-Conscious Marin County, Virus Runs Rampant Among ‘Essential’ Latino Workers
- Political Cartoon: 'Back to School?'
- Administration News 3
- White House Acknowledges Jobless Aid Will Be $100 Less A Week Than Pledged
- Trump Announces Deal To Buy 100M Doses Of Moderna's Vaccine
- Where 'The Buck' Will Stop On FDA's Vaccine Review
- Health Care Personnel 1
- New Law 'Significantly' Cuts Into Paid Sick Leave For Health Care Workers, Report Says
- Science And Innovations 2
- 6 Feet May Not Be Enough Distance To Stop The Coronavirus
- Is A Frozen Shipment The Source Of New Zealand's New Outbreak?
- Public Health 5
- Study: Youths Are 5 Times More Likely To Catch COVID If They Vape, Smoke
- Homeschooling Applications Surge In Several States
- High-Risk Students To Colleges: Why Aren't All Classes Available Online?
- Parents With Autistic Son Kicked Off Southwest Flight After He Won't Wear Mask
- Racist Hate Speech: Facebook Bans Anti-Semitic, Blackface Images
- From The States 3
- Texas Governor Stresses Protective Measures As Cases Soar
- Funding Shortfall, Football Games Head Florida Governor's Priorities
- Calif. Veterans' Homes Had Surprising Success In Keeping Virus At Bay
- Global Watch 1
- How The World Is Faring: Australia's Deadliest Day; Face Masks Compulsory In Brussels
From KFF Health News - Latest Stories:
KFF Health News Original Stories
Nurses and Doctors Sick With COVID Feel Pressured to Get Back to Work
Hospital employees say they must choose between their paychecks and their health or that of their families. Returning to work with symptoms also risks infection among the patients they are meant to heal. (Emmarie Huetteman, 8/12)
Primary Care Doctors Look at Payment Overhaul After Pandemic Disruption
Many physicians were forced to close their offices — or at least see only emergency cases — when the pandemic struck. Because they are generally paid piecemeal for every service, they suffered big losses, leading to layoffs and pay cuts. Some doctors say they now are looking to overhaul the way they get paid. (Steven Findlay, 8/12)
Bereaved Families Are ‘the Secondary Victims of COVID-19’
New research suggests the pandemic’s deaths are taking an enormous toll on surviving family members and worrisome ripple effects may linger for years. (Judith Graham, 8/12)
In Health-Conscious Marin County, Virus Runs Rampant Among ‘Essential’ Latino Workers
The pandemic is racing through packed apartment blocks as Mexican and Central American workers bring the virus home to their families. (Rachel Scheier, 8/12)
Political Cartoon: 'Back to School?'
KFF Health News provides a fresh take on health policy developments with "Political Cartoon: 'Back to School?'" by Clay Bennett.
Here's today's health policy haiku:
BUY AMERICAN
Incumbent got frank;
Reelection prospects sank.
Guess who just made bank?
- Gug Shandry
If you have a health policy haiku to share, please Contact Us and let us know if we can include your name. Haikus follow the format of 5-7-5 syllables. We give extra brownie points if you link back to an original story.
Opinions expressed in haikus and cartoons are solely the author's and do not reflect the opinions of KFF Health News or KFF.
Summaries Of The News:
Experts React With Caution To Russia's Claims To Have First Vaccine
"The point is not to be first with a vaccine," Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said. "The point is to have a vaccine that is safe and effective for the American people and the people of the world."
The Hill:
Fauci: 'I Seriously Doubt' Russia's Coronavirus Vaccine Is Safe And Effective
Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious disease expert, said Tuesday that he has serious doubts about Russia’s announcement that it has a vaccine ready to be used for the novel coronavirus. "Having a vaccine and proving that a vaccine is safe and effective are two different things," Fauci said during a panel discussion with National Geographic. (Wise, 8/11)
The Hill:
Azar On Russia Vaccine Claim: Point Is To Be 'Safe And Effective'
Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar on Tuesday said the U.S. was prioritizing safety and effectiveness in its coronavirus vaccine development after Russia claimed it had developed the world's first COVID-19 vaccine. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced Tuesday the country has become the first in the world to grant regulatory approval for a coronavirus vaccine. (Sullivan, 8/11)
NPR:
Russian Coronavirus Vaccine Announcement Greeted With Skepticism
Reactions from experts — even from inside Russia — have ranged from cautious to skeptical, with some suggesting that the high-level haste in pushing an as-yet unproven vaccine may have more to do with politics than science. On Monday, the Moscow-based Association of Clinical Trials Organizations (ACTO) asked the Health Ministry to delay the vaccine's registration until after Phase III trials were completed. The researchers said fewer than 100 people had been tested — and that the early registration of the vaccine could expose end consumers to unnecessary danger. (Neuman, 8/11)
Also —
The New York Times:
How Russia’s Rushed Covid-19 Vaccine Could Backfire
When Vladimir Putin announced Tuesday that Russia had approved a coronavirus vaccine — with no evidence from large-scale clinical trials — vaccine experts were worried. “I think it’s really scary. It’s really risky,” said Daniel Salmon, the director of the Institute for Vaccine Safety at Johns Hopkins University. (Zimmer, 8/11)
The New York Times:
Trump V. Putin: A Vaccine Manhood Contest
American scientists hope this is one time that President Trump really does believe it is all just a Russian hoax. As President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia triumphantly declared on Tuesday that his country had produced the world’s first coronavirus vaccine, public health experts in the United States worried that Mr. Trump would feel compelled to compete in a pharmaceutical manhood contest by hastily rolling out his own vaccine even before it is fully tested. (Baker, 8/11)
Reuters:
Russia Says Allegations COVID-19 Vaccine Is Unsafe Are Groundless
Russian Health Minister Mikhail Murashko said on Wednesday allegations that Russia’s COVID-19 vaccine was unsafe were groundless and driven by competition, the Interfax news agency reported. (8/12)
CNN:
Russia's Unproven Covid-19 Vaccine Will Be Available To Other Countries By November, Funder Says. But Safety Concerns Remain
Russia's coronavirus vaccine will be gradually rolled out to high-risk people before a mass vaccination of Russians begins in October, the head of the group funding the research said on Wednesday. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the approval of a coronavirus vaccine for use on Tuesday, claiming it as a "world first," amid continued concern and unanswered questions over its safety and effectiveness. (Regan, 8/12)
Health Care And Harris: Where Does She Stand?
Modern Healthcare explores the positions Sen. Kamala Harris took on health care during her presidential bid. Meanwhile, women's groups ready to fight back against sexist attacks launched against her selection as Joe Biden's runnning mate.
Modern Healthcare:
Here Are Biden VP Pick Kamala Harris' Healthcare Policy Positions
Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden on Tuesday announced California Sen. Kamala Harris as his running mate. Here's where she stood on healthcare issues during her own presidential campaign. It took months for Harris to clarify her position on healthcare in the primary battle, even as she criticized Biden for not going far enough on healthcare reform. (Cohrs, 8/11)
AP:
Women Say They Will Fight Sexism, 'Ugly' Attacks On Harris
In the weeks before Joe Biden named Sen. Kamala Harris his running mate, women’s groups were readying a campaign of their own: shutting down sexist coverage and disinformation about a vice presidential nominee they say is headed for months of false smears and “brutal” attacks from internet haters. ... The groups say intense scrutiny of a vice presidential nominee is to be expected, but women are often unfairly criticized as overly emotional, weak or unqualified, or for their appearance or demeanor in a way that men are not. The attacks, which include false smears and threats of violence online, not only hurt campaigns but dissuade women from seeking office. (Burnett and Seitz, 8/12)
In other election news —
The Washington Post:
Trump Suggests No More Rallies Before Election Day Because Of Empty Seats
Trump appeared to declare the end of the rally era Tuesday. He said the events — the success of which he has always measured by the size of the crowd and the “ratings” — are a casualty of the coronavirus pandemic. Or more exactly, of the dispiriting optics that proper social distancing would mandate. “You can’t have empty seats,” Trump said in an interview with Fox Sports Radio. “You know, if I had five empty seats — for instance, they said, ‘Would I do a rally, sir?’ The reason I won’t do them [is] because, ‘You can have one seat and then seven around that seat, sir, have to be empty.’ ” (Gearan, 8/11)
The New York Times:
A New Clash Over Mail Voting: The Cost Of The Postage
The Senate’s highest-ranking Democrat assailed the Postal Service on Tuesday for what he said was an effort to jack up the cost to states of mail-in voting, a new line of criticism in the escalating dispute over ensuring Americans can vote safely this fall in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. Senator Chuck Schumer of New York, the minority leader, said the Postal Service under the postmaster general, Louis DeJoy, a major donor to the Trump campaigns, had “informed some states that they may need to pay a first-class rate to deliver ballots rather than the normal rate — nearly tripling the cost.” (Broadwater and Fuchs, 8/11)
AP:
He Set Out To Mobilize Latino Voters. Then The Virus Hit.
Across the U.S., the coronavirus outbreak is disrupting Latinos’ long and difficult climb up the political ladder. The disease has disproportionately sickened Latinos, destabilized communities and impeded voter registration ahead of the November presidential election. In North Carolina, only 5,000 Latinos have been added to the voter rolls since mid-March, less than half the number added during the same period four years ago. (Riccardi, 8/12)
White House Acknowledges Jobless Aid Will Be $100 Less A Week Than Pledged
Governors from both parties pushed back against President Donald Trump's executive order, saying stretched state budgets cannot absorb the share assigned to them. Meanwhile, hope for progress on a legislative package fades further and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell says it's time to start over.
The Washington Post:
White House Clarifies Limits Of Jobless Aid Plan As Talks With Congress Dim
President Trump’s senior aides acknowledged on Tuesday that they are providing less financial assistance for the unemployed than the president initially advertised amid mounting blowback from state officials of both parties. On Saturday, Trump approved an executive action that he claimed would provide an additional $400 per week in expanded unemployment benefits for Americans who have lost their jobs during the pandemic. By Tuesday, senior White House officials were saying publicly that the maneuver only guarantees an extra $300 per week for unemployed Americans — with states not required to add anything to their existing state benefit programs to qualify for the federal benefit. (Stein, Romm and Werner, 8/11)
The Hill:
Democrats Shy From Leading Court Fight Over Trump Orders
President Trump and Democratic leaders both predict there will be lawsuits over this weekend’s executive orders sidestepping Congress on issues like payroll taxes and unemployment benefits, but congressional Democrats are unlikely to lead that charge. Democratic lawmakers aren’t rushing to court and will likely let state officials or private parties spearhead the legal challenges that could take months or even a year to resolve. (Bolton, 8/11)
Modern Healthcare:
Trump's Payroll Tax Exec Order Deals Modest Blow To Safety Net
President Donald Trump's executive order that will defer employee payroll taxes until the end of the year will deliver only a modest blow to the already unstable Social Security program, financial experts said. Trump said deferring the 6.2% employee portion of the payroll tax would give workers who make less than $104,000 a year a temporary financial boost. The executive order only applies to the Social Security program and not the Medicare Hospital Insurance Trust fund that pays for beneficiaries' hospital stays, experts said. (Kacik, 8/11)
The Hill:
McConnell: Time To Restart Coronavirus Talks
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) is calling for the Trump administration and congressional Democrats to restart negotiations on a fifth coronavirus deal after talks collapsed late last week. McConnell, during an interview with Fox News, said it was "time for everybody to get back to the table," though the GOP leader gave no indication that he would reach out to Democratic leaders himself. (Carney, 8/11)
CNN:
With Congress Stalled, A Second Round Of Payments Won't Be Coming Anytime Soon
Don't expect a another stimulus check anytime soon. (Lobosco, 8/11)
In other news from Capitol Hill —
NBC News:
GOP House Candidate Criticized For Selling 'COVID-19 Made In China' Mask
Nicholas Freitas, a Republican member of the Virginia House of Delegates who is running for Congress, is facing backlash after his campaign sold masks on his web site with "COVID-19 made in China" on them. The red mask was one in a three pack that the campaign sold for $15 on Freitas’ website. (Samuel, 8/11)
The Hill:
Watchdog Calls For Probe Into Gohmert 'Disregarding Public Health Guidance' On COVID-19
A left-leaning anti-corruption watchdog called Tuesday for a probe into whether Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Texas), who recently tested positive for COVID-19, was in violation of House rules for not complying with public health guidelines during the pandemic. In a letter sent to Omar Ashmawy, the chief counsel and staff director at the Office of Congressional Ethics, Accountable.US President Kyle Herrig argued that Gohmert’s actions, including his decision not to wear a mask in the Capitol, “put his staff, colleagues, and other House staff at risk.” (Brufke, 8/11)
The Hill:
Massie Plans To Donate Plasma After Testing Positive For COVID-19 Antibodies
Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) said he is planning to donate plasma after recently testing positive for COVID-19 antibodies. The Kentucky Republican, speaking late last week on Glenn Beck's radio show, said he was tested for both the coronavirus and antibodies in late July and that the antibodies test came back positive, the Courier-Journal reported Tuesday. (Brufke, 8/11)
NBC News:
Rep. Raul Ruiz, Congressman And Doctor, Takes Coronavirus Testing To Farmworkers
In the nation’s patchwork response to the pandemic, Democratic congressman and physician Raul Ruiz is helping fill a gap by taking coronavirus testing directly to farmworkers in the Coachella Valley of California. Wearing a yellow or blue plastic hospital gown, face shield, gloves and a mask, Ruiz has joined other medical professionals with Volunteers in Medicine and gone to schools, churches and trailer parks to administer COVID-19 tests to the workers. They often are anxious and fearful, but also eager for more information about the virus, Ruiz told NBC News. (Gamboa, 8/11)
Trump Announces Deal To Buy 100M Doses Of Moderna's Vaccine
The agreement is similar to ones made by the administration with other vaccine developers that will give the U.S. government access to large quantities of the preventives if they prove successful in ongoing trials.
The Hill:
Trump Announces Deal With Moderna For 100 Million Doses Of Potential Vaccine
The Trump administration announced Tuesday that it has reached a deal with the biotechnology company Moderna for 100 million doses of its potential coronavirus vaccine. The agreement is for about $1.5 billion, meaning the government is paying about $15 per dose, and the vaccine will then be given to patients for free. The Trump administration has made several other similar deals as it provides funding for multiple potential vaccines, with the hope of having one ready to begin distributing by the end of the year. (Sullivan, 8/11)
In other Trump administration news —
Reuters:
Hospitals, Expats Blast Trump Plan To Block U.S. Citizens Over Coronavirus
A Southern California-area hospital system, immigrant advocacy groups and Americans living in Mexico criticized on Tuesday a U.S. government draft proposal that could block U.S. citizens and permanent residents from entering the country if they are suspected of being infected with the novel coronavirus. ... Chris Van Gorder, CEO of Scripps Health, which operates five hospitals in San Diego County, told Reuters the hospital system “would never endorse American citizens not being able to get the care they need.” (Cooke and Gottesdiener, 8/11)
Reuters:
Kodak Raised Spending On Lobbying Government In Months Before Loan Awarded
Eastman Kodak Co (KODK.N) increased spending on lobbying the U.S. government in the months before the Trump administration announced a $765 million loan to the photographic equipment maker, public disclosures filed with the Congress show. The company spent $870,000 as "expense relating to lobbying activities" from April through June, according to the lobbying disclosures. Kodak had previously not spent any money on lobbying since an expense of less than $5,000 in the first quarter of 2019. (Singh, 8/11)
Where 'The Buck' Will Stop On FDA's Vaccine Review
Peter Marks, a top Food and Drug Administration career official, is likely to decide in the next several months whether a coronavirus vaccine is safe and effective enough to be given to tens of millions of Americans.
The Washington Post:
Meet The Most Important Federal Official You Probably Don’t Know — The Man Who Holds The Fate Of The Coronavirus Vaccine In His Hands
Peter Marks, a self-effacing cancer doctor known for his maniacal work ethic and straight-arrow approach, is sitting on the hottest of hot seats. A top Food and Drug Administration career official, Marks is likely to decide in the next several months whether a coronavirus vaccine is safe and effective enough to be given to tens of millions of Americans. That may be among the most critical decisions in the history of the agency, one with sweeping health, economic and political consequences. (McGinley, 8/11)
In other FDA news —
CNN:
Lawmakers Urge The FDA To Temporarily Clear E-Cigarettes From Market
In a letter to the US Food and Drug Administration, lawmakers are urging the agency to temporarily clear the market of all e-cigarettes for the duration of the coronavirus crisis. (Howard, 8/11)
CBS News:
Gilead Seeks FDA Approval For COVID-19 Drug Remdesivir
Gilead Sciences on Monday applied for approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for its COVID-19 treatment, remdesivir. The biotech company also said the antiviral drug will go by the brand name of Veklury in the U.S. (Gandel, 8/11)
CMS Tests Alternative Payment Model For Rural Medicare Providers
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services will provide up to $2 million upfront to 15 rural communities to change how they deliver care to Medicare beneficiaries.
Modern Healthcare:
CMS Unveils New Alternative Payment Model For Rural Health
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation on Tuesday unveiled a new alternative payment model for rural providers. The Community Health Access and Rural Transformation—CHART—model will give rural communities money upfront to change how they pay for and deliver care to Medicare beneficiaries. It will also provide them with operational and regulatory relief, as well as technical and educational support. (Brady, 8/11)
In other health industry news —
Modern Healthcare:
Providers Back IRS Rule Boosting Direct Primary Care, Oppose It On Healthcare Ministries
Providers generally support the Internal Revenue Service's plan to make payments for direct primary-care arrangements tax-deductible but oppose the agency's effort to promote healthcare sharing ministries by treating them like health insurance. The IRS would consider payments for direct primary-care contracts and healthcare sharing ministry memberships "qualified medical expenses" under the proposed rule, making them tax-deductible in many instances. Employers could also pay their employee's direct primary-care or healthcare sharing ministry expenses through health reimbursement arrangements. (Brady, 8/11)
Modern Healthcare:
Humana Sues To Recover Unpaid ACA Subsidies
Humana is the latest health insurer to sue the federal government for unpaid Affordable Care Act subsidies intended to reduce healthcare costs for low-income individuals. In a lawsuit filed Monday in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims, Louisville, Ky.-based Humana demanded roughly $2 million in cost-sharing reduction subsidies it said it is owed for selling plans on the ACA exchanges in 2017. Humana largely exited the exchange business in 2018. (Livingston, 8/11)
New Law 'Significantly' Cuts Into Paid Sick Leave For Health Care Workers, Report Says
In other developments related to health care personnel: doctors who deal daily with racism; nurses and physicians pressured to work despite positive COVID-19 tests; practices rethink how they get paid; and more.
The Washington Post:
Health-Care Workers Lose Out On New Paid Sick Leave As Trump Administration Allows For Broad Exemptions
A government watchdog said in a report out Tuesday that the Labor Department “significantly broadened” an exemption allowing millions of health-care workers to be denied paid sick leave as part of the law Congress passed in March to help workers during the coronavirus pandemic. Congress passed the Families First Coronavirus Response Act in March to ensure workers at small- and medium-size companies were able to take paid leave if they or a family member became sick with the coronavirus. The law exempts health-care providers as well as companies with more than 500 employees. (Rosenberg, 8/11)
Also —
The New York Times:
For Doctors Of Color, Microaggressions Are All Too Familiar
When Dr. Onyeka Otugo was doing her training in emergency medicine, in Cleveland and Chicago, she was often mistaken for a janitor or food services worker even after introducing herself as a doctor. She realized early on that her white male counterparts were not experiencing similar mix-ups. “People ask me several times if the doctor is coming in, which can be frustrating,” said Dr. Otugo, who is now an emergency medicine attending physician and health policy fellow at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. “They ask you if you’re coming in to take the trash out — stuff they wouldn’t ask a physician who was a white male.” (Goldberg, 8/11)
Kaiser Health News:
Primary Care Doctors Look At Payment Overhaul After Pandemic Disruption
For Dr. Gabe Charbonneau, a primary care doctor in Stevensville, Montana, the coronavirus pandemic is an existential threat. Charbonneau, 43, his two partners and 10 staff members are struggling to keep their rural practice alive. Patient volume is slowly returning to pre-COVID levels. But the large Seattle-area company that owns his practice is reassessing its operations as it adjusts to the new reality in health care. (Findlay, 8/12)
Kaiser Health News:
Nurses And Doctors Sick With COVID Feel Pressured To Get Back To Work
The first call in early April was from the testing center, informing the nurse she was positive for COVID-19 and should quarantine for two weeks. The second call, less than 20 minutes later, was from her employer, as the hospital informed her she could return to her job within two days. “I slept 20 hours a day,” said the nurse, who works at a hospital in New Jersey’s Hackensack Meridian Health system and spoke on the condition of anonymity because she is fearful of retaliation by her employer. (Huetteman, 8/12)
NBC News:
Trump Campaign Adviser 'Won't Apologize' For Misgendering Trans Health Official
Trump campaign adviser Jenna Ellis intentionally misgendered Pennsylvania Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine, a transgender woman, on Twitter early Monday morning. “This guy is making decisions about your health," Ellis wrote in a tweet that included an image and article about Levine, who has been leading Pennsylvania's COVID-19 response since the beginning of the pandemic. (Fitzsimons, 8/11)
6 Feet May Not Be Enough Distance To Stop The Coronavirus
A new study suggests that live virus from aerosols can be found as much as 16 feet from patients.
The New York Times:
‘A Smoking Gun’: Infectious Coronavirus Retrieved From Hospital Air
A research team at the University of Florida succeeded in isolating live virus from aerosols collected at a distance of seven to 16 feet from patients hospitalized with Covid-19 — farther than the six feet recommended in social distancing guidelines. ... But some experts said it still was not clear that the amount of virus recovered was sufficient to cause infection. (Mandavilli, 8/11)
CBS News:
Coronavirus May Spread Much Farther Than 6 Feet In Indoor Spaces With Poor Ventilation
As students head back to school, parents and teachers are increasingly concerned about how the coronavirus could spread — especially in buildings with inadequate ventilation. John Lednicky studies viruses at the University of Florida. "There was a lot of controversy about SARS-CoV-2 being transmitted or not being transmitted through airborne routes," Lednicky told CBS News. Analyzing air samples in a hospital room, Lednicky's team found infectious virus can spread through the air — up to 16 feet away from an infected patient — through tiny droplets called aerosols. (Lapook, 8/11)
In other news —
AP:
Companies Test Antibody Drugs To Treat, Prevent COVID-19
With a coronavirus vaccine still months off, companies are rushing to test what may be the next best thing: drugs that deliver antibodies to fight the virus right away, without having to train the immune system to make them. Antibodies are proteins the body makes when an infection occurs; they attach to a virus and help it be eliminated. Vaccines work by tricking the body into thinking there’s an infection so it makes antibodies and remembers how to do that if the real bug turns up. (Marchione, 8/12)
Houston Chronicle:
‘How Many Are We Missing?’: Research Shows 80,000 Missed Cancer Diagnoses This Year
According to IQVIA Institute for Human Data Science, cancer screenings decreased by 90 percent in April compared to February’s numbers. The rate of colonoscopies dropped by 90 percent; Pap smears, 83 percent; prostate-specific (PSA) tests, 60 percent; and CT scans (which show lung tumors) were down 39 percent. (Garcia, 8/11)
Boston Globe:
Here’s Why Boston University Had The F-Bomb In A Trademark Application For A COVID-19 Initiative
What the . . . heck? A Boston University trademark application for a phrase to promote COVID-19 safety on campus was turning heads online Tuesday for its use of a glaring expletive. According the Patent and Trademark Office’s database, the Trustees of Boston University applied last week to secure the term “[F-bomb] It Won’t Cut It.] (Annear, 8/11)
Is A Frozen Shipment The Source Of New Zealand's New Outbreak?
Because of the country's tight restrictions, local transmissions were ruled out as the cause of four new cases. Puzzled public health officials are now surface testing imported freight.
Reuters:
New Zealand Considers Freight As Possible Source Of New Coronavirus Cluster
New Zealand officials are investigating the possibility that its first COVID-19 cases in more than three months were imported by freight, as the country’s biggest city plunged back into lockdown on Wednesday. ... Investigations were zeroing in on the potential the virus was imported by freight. [Director General of Health Ashley Bloomfield] said surface testing was underway at an Auckland cool store where a man from the infected family worked. “We know the virus can survive within refrigerated environments for quite some time,” Bloomfield said during a televised media conference. (Menon, 8/11)
In related news —
Vice:
Authorities In China Are Detecting Coronavirus On Frozen Seafood
It’s been over six months since COVID-19 cases were first reported but experts are still in the process of understanding the novel coronavirus. While it is believed to spread mainly from person to person through droplets and direct contact, the virus can also contaminate pets and objects. The amount of time the virus can live on surfaces varies depending on the environment, but at least two instances show that it can last long enough to survive shipments of frozen imported goods. (Miyano, 8/12)
Tech Times:
Chinese Frozen Seafood Product Found With SARS-CoV-2 Strains, Possibly Exported
Experts found SARS-CoV-2 strains-- the virus that leads to Coronavirus-- in frozen batches of seafood products in the eastern Chinese port city of Yantai, as reported via South China Morning Post. ... So far, the United States government has not yet released any statements regarding this possible issue. But, it was concluded by the country's health expert that food packaging contamination "is thought to be very low." (8/11)
Study: Youths Are 5 Times More Likely To Catch COVID If They Vape, Smoke
Other pediatric topics in the news include COVID symptoms in kids, pregnancy and stress.
The Hill:
Study: Youths Who Vape, Smoke Over 5 Times More Likely To Contract Coronavirus
Young people who smoke or use electronic cigarettes are more than five times more likely to contract coronavirus, according to a study published Tuesday by the Stanford University School of Medicine. The study found that of young adults who were tested for coronavirus, those who reported smoking or using e-cigarettes were five to seven times more likely to be infected than nonsmokers. (Moreno, 8/11)
CNN:
Covid-19 Symptoms In Children, Based On Pediatricians' Advice
Are parents really supposed to be reassured by all this talk about "mild" cases of Covid-19 in children? What about the unfortunate "few" youngsters who have died or come down with a strange and severe associated illness? No parent wants to take the odds that their child might be the exception to the rule. (LaMotte, Hetter, Rogers and Prior, 8/12)
In parenting news —
CNN:
Pregnancy During Covid-19 Pandemic: The Highs And Lows
In early February, my partner and I discovered that I was pregnant. Looking back, that feels like one of the last big milestones of the Before Times — a wonderfully blissful and uncomplicated period. I'd skimmed a few headlines about a scary-sounding disease called Covid-19 but didn't worry too much about it. The virus seemed so far away on the other side of the globe. My biggest concern was adjusting to the idea of carrying a child. (Hawkins-Gaar, 8/12)
The Washington Post:
The Stress Of The Unknown Is Taking A Massive Toll On Parents
From March through the end of the school year, life for Rita Choula “was just maniacal.” Working at home in a demanding job alongside her husband, a 7-year-old daughter and a 5-year-old son, she was fueled by what needed to be done. But when school ended? “I crashed pretty hard.” Choula, who lives in Beltsville, Md., is the director of caregiving at the AARP Public Policy Institute. She typically works 50 to 60 hours a week, and that didn’t stop when her kids had to be schooled at home. (Joyce, 8/11)
Homeschooling Applications Surge In Several States
Parents, frustrated with school districts' waffling, are taking matters into their own hands. The challenges are worse for students with disabilities. Also: What do students think of all this?
AP:
Interest In Homeschooling Has 'Exploded' Amid Pandemic
As parents nationwide prepare to help their children with more distance learning, a small but quickly growing number are deciding to take matters entirely into their own hands and begin homeschooling. Some are worried their districts are unable to offer a strong virtual learning program. For others who may have been considering homeschooling, concerns for their family’s health amid the coronavirus and the on-again, off-again planning for in-person instruction are leading them to part ways with school systems. (Hollingsworth, 8/12)
Dallas Morning News:
Six Things Texas Doctors Say You Need To Know Before Your Child Returns To Campus
Later this week, over a dozen school districts in the Dallas-Fort Worth area — with nearly 57,000 students — will start in-person classes, offering both face-to-face and virtual instruction to start the school year. Other districts will start in the next few days with virtual-only learning, with plans to return to campus in the coming weeks. The Dallas Morning News asked local health experts for their suggestions for parents and students on how best to navigate the return to classrooms. (Smith, 8/11)
WBHM:
How Students With Disabilities Would Go Back To School
As schools plan ways to reopen, parents of students with disabilities have an extra layer of concern. Some therapies can't be replicated at home, but going to school might not be the safest option. (Hodgin, 8/11)
AP:
What Do The Kids Say? K-12 Students Sound Off On School
Parents have weighed in on reopening schools. Teachers have weighed in. Public health experts, too, along with cities, states and President Donald Trump. But what about the kids themselves? As the grown-ups fret, kindergartners to high schoolers faced with a range of scenarios for virtual and in-person classes are expressing both fear and glee over leaving home to learn. (Italie, 8/11)
Developments in Georgia, California, Hawaii and overseas —
AP:
Over 900 In Georgia District Quarantine As High School Shut
A Georgia school district has quarantined more than 900 students and staff members because of possible exposure to the coronavirus since classes resumed last week and will temporarily shut down a hard-hit high school in which a widely shared photo showed dozens of maskless students posing together. The quarantine figures from the Cherokee County School District include at least 826 students, according to data the district posted online. Located about 30 miles (60 kilometers) north of Atlanta, the district serves more than 42,000 students and began its new school year on Aug. 3. (8/11)
The Washington Post:
Children And The Virus: As Schools Reopen, Much Remains Unknown About The Risk To Kids And The Peril They Pose To Others
The photos showed up on social media just hours into the first day of school: 80 beaming teens in front of Etowah High School near Atlanta, with not a mask on a single face and hardly six inches of distance between them — let alone the recommended six feet. Amanda Seghetti, a mom in the area, said her parent Facebook group lit up when the pictures of the seniors were posted. Some people thought the images were cute. Others freaked out. Seghetti was in the latter constituency. “It’s like they think they are immune and are in denial about everything,” Seghetti said. (Willis, Janes and Eunjung Cha, 8/10)
Los Angeles Times:
L.A. School Board Approves Agreement For Online Teaching
With families anxious about the quality of online learning, the Los Angeles Board of Education on Tuesday unanimously approved a plan that will restore structure to the academic schedule while also allowing for an online school day that is shorter than the traditional one. The plan leaves some parents and advocates in the nation’s second-largest school system wanting more teaching hours. There also are parents who want fewer mandatory screen-time hours for their young children — a reflection of the complexities of distance learning and the widespread parent angst over the start of the school year next week at home, online. (Blume, 8/11)
AP:
Hawaii Teachers Union Names Schools With Virus Cases
Hawaii’s teachers union said Tuesday that it has learned of nine campuses with recent coronavirus cases and that state officials need to publicize them as instruction is set to begin in less than a week. The union learned of the cases from teachers, Hawaii State Teachers Association President Corey Rosenlee said. (Sinco Kelleher, 8/12)
The Washington Post:
Italy’s Schools Are Set To Welcome Students Next Month, But First They Need Millions Of New Desks
The request for proposals is marked "extremely urgent," and it lays out the details of what the Italian government is looking to buy: single-seat children's desks to replace the traditional two-person desks to allow the country to start the new school year with social distancing.But the request is a titanic one. The government wants a rush order, everything built and shipped within the next month. And it wants an extraordinary quantity — 3 million new desks, as many as all the Italian school-furniture companies put together would normally build in five years. (Harlan and Pitrelli, 8/11)
High-Risk Students To Colleges: Why Aren't All Classes Available Online?
Also in higher-ed news: college towns worry about the COVID risk that returning students bring to campus; UNC-Chapel Hill launches in-person classes; and campus workers across the UNC system file suit saying conditions are unsafe.
USA Today:
COVID: As Colleges Reopen, High-Risk Students Fear Being Forgotten
College sophomore Cameron Lynch has lived the past five months in a single square mile, only venturing outside her home a couple times a week for early-morning or late-night walks. "It’s already a stressful time to be immunocompromised," said Lynch, who has Type 1 diabetes, celiac disease and a form of muscular dystrophy. "Now, a good portion of able-bodied people are going back to the way life was, leaving us behind." (Hauck, 8/12)
PBS NewsHour:
College Towns Weigh Benefits Of Students’ Return With Virus Risks
As the new academic year gets underway, college students, parents, administrators and faculty are deliberating over whether it will be safe to hold in-person classes and resume dorm life. And residents of the surrounding towns and cities worry about the risk that returning students could bring coronavirus back to campus with them. (Yang, 8/11)
In news from North Carolina —
The Washington Post:
UNC-Chapel Hill Launches Fall In Person Despite Coronavirus
Six masked students joined a masked professor here this week in a small seminar room at Carroll Hall for the debut of a course on interactive media. Rolling chairs were set several feet apart in a floor plan specially marked to deter anyone who might feel the rule-breaking impulse to scoot around and sit next to a classmate. Thirteen more students, unmasked, were linked in simultaneously through cameras from elsewhere in the United States and as far away as Singapore and China. Their faces hovered in an array of Zoom boxes projected onto video screens. (Anderson, 8/11)
Raleigh News & Observer:
Campus Workers Sue UNC System, Claiming Unsafe Working Conditions During Pandemic
North Carolina university employees are suing the UNC System, saying working conditions are unsafe as tens of thousands of students return to campuses during the coronavirus pandemic. ... Some university employees, including housekeepers and other campus workers, are provided one or two masks per week and many don’t have access to face shields or gowns, according to the union. And the universities’ safety measures have proved to be “inadequate” as multiple workers have tested positive for COVID-19, the union said. (Murphy, 8/11)
Parents With Autistic Son Kicked Off Southwest Flight After He Won't Wear Mask
In other public health developments: the World Health Organization wants you to postpone that trip to the dentist; contact tracers are doing way more than just contact tracing; the Big Ten officially says fall football won't happen; and more. Also: Singer Trini Lopez, 83, dies of COVID complications.
USA Today:
Southwest Flight Removes Family: Son, 3, With Autism Won't Wear Mask
A Texas woman says that she was removed from a Southwest Airlines flight Monday after her three-year-old son with autism would not wear a face mask, in violation of the airline's COVID-19 policy. Houston resident Alyssa Sadler says that her Southwest flight from Midland, Texas to Houston returned to the gate when her son refused to wear the protective mask. Her family, including her one-year-old daughter, was asked to exit the plane. (Alexander, 8/11)
Kaiser Health News:
Bereaved Families Are ‘The Secondary Victims Of COVID-19’
Every day, the nation is reminded of COVID-19’s ongoing impact as new death counts are published. What is not well documented is the toll on family members. New research suggests the damage is enormous. For every person who dies of COVID-19, nine close family members are affected, researchers estimate based on complex demographic calculations and data about the coronavirus. (Graham, 8/12)
WBUR:
Contact Tracers In Massachusetts Order Milk And Help With Rent. Here's Why
It's a familiar moment. The kids want their cereal and the coffee's brewing, but you're out of milk. No problem, you think — the corner store is just a couple of minutes away. But if you have COVID-19 or have been exposed to the coronavirus, you're supposed to stay put. Even that quick errand could make you the reason someone else gets infected. But making the choice to keep others safe can be hard to do without support. For many, single parents or low-wage workers, for instance, staying in isolation is impractical as they struggle with how to feed the kids or pay the rent. (Bebinger, 8/11)
WBUR:
'We Had To Get Out': Despite The Risks, Business Is Booming At National Parks
After a slow start to the summer tourism season, visitation is now booming at Yellowstone and many other national parks, as Americans look to escape their coronavirus confines and spend time in the relative safety of the great outdoors. In recent weeks, the number of cars entering Yellowstone has exceeded last year's count for the same period. The swell in tourists is a welcome relief in many gateway towns like Gardiner, where the bulk of the year's earnings are made during the summer months. (Rott, 8/11)
The Hill:
WHO Urges Postponing Dental Checkups During Pandemic
The World Health Organization (WHO) is recommending routine dental visits be postponed until COVID-19 is under control to help protect dentists and their patients. Oral health checkups, dental cleanings and other preventive care should be delayed until transmission rates drop in communities because dentists work in “close proximity to patients’ faces for prolonged periods,” WHO said in guidance released Tuesday. (Hellmann, 8/11)
Burlington Free Press:
UVM Medical Center Bills Patient $500 For A COVID-19 Test
Adam Jacobs was tested at the University of Vermont Medical Center for COVID-19 on March 12. Nearly five months later, he's still fighting the $500 bill he received for the test. His health insurance initially covered $65. Since then, Jacobs said he has gotten the billing adjusted to provide additional coverage, but a $261 balance remains. Jacobs said he's disputing the bill more out of principal than necessity. (D'Ambrosio, 8/12)
NBC News:
North Carolina Dog That Died After 'Acute' Illness Tests Positive For Coronavirus
A North Carolina dog that died after suffering an "acute illness" earlier this month has tested positive for coronavirus, officials said Monday. The death could mark a rare, potentially fatal case of COVID-19 in a pet, though it's still unclear if there were other underlying conditions that contributed to its death. (Stelloh, 8/11)
In sports news —
The Hill:
Big Ten Conference Officially Cancels Fall Football Season Due To Coronavirus
The Big Ten on Tuesday announced the postponement of the upcoming fall football season, becoming the first major athletic conference in the U.S. to take such a step because of the coronavirus pandemic. The conference said that the decision was based on multiple factors, including medical advice from a task force on infectious diseases. (Wise, 8/11)
Los Angeles Times:
Chargers Coach Anthony Lynn Reveals On 'Hard Knocks' He Tested Positive For Coronavirus
Chargers coach Anthony Lynn revealed on the first episode of “Hard Knocks” that he tested positive for the coronavirus. The moment came Tuesday night during the opening scene of the first episode of the annual HBO series, which this year is featuring the Chargers and Rams. (Miller, 8/11)
In obituaries —
NBC News:
'60s Singer Trini Lopez, 83, Dies While Battling Coronavirus
Singer Trini Lopez, who enjoyed a heyday in the 1960s with hits including “If I Had a Hammer” and “This Land Is Your Land,” died Tuesday from complications related to coronavirus, collaborators said. He was 83. Lopez had been in and out of a hospital setting for about six weeks before dying about 5 a.m. at Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs, California, said songwriting partner Joe Chavira. (Romero, 8/12)
Racist Hate Speech: Facebook Bans Anti-Semitic, Blackface Images
The social media company has been under pressure to quash racism following George Floyd's death. Public health news is also on fear of missing out, fading unhealthy habits, Alzheimer's disease, insect repellents, green cleaners and more.
Politico:
Facebook Bans Racist Depictions Of Jews And Black People
Facebook on Tuesday said it updated its hate speech policy to include a ban on images of blackface and anti-Semitic tropes. The company said it changed its standards to "more specifically account for certain kinds of implicit hate speech," including caricatures of Black people in the form of blackface and Jewish people running the world or controlling major institutions such as media networks, the economy or the government. (Saeed, 8/11)
USA Today:
COVID-19 FOMO: Fear Of Missing Out Persists Amid Pandemic, Experts Say
[W]ith travel plans nixed, large gatherings canceled and many stuck in quarantine, is 2020 a year of less FOMO? The fear of missing out is alive and well in lockdown, according to Wolkin and other mental health experts. "It's shape-shifted," she says. "It might not be looking at pictures of someone's vacation or their parasailing trip or swimming with dolphins. It now becomes 'They're making sourdough starters,' and 'They're going for a hike in these woods with their family, and I'm just on the couch and doing nothing and surviving and trying to find my breath.' " (Trepany, 8/11)
The New York Times:
11 Supposedly Fun Things We’ll Never Do The Same Way Again
Early in the pandemic, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious disease expert, said something that grabbed a lot of attention: Handshakes should become a thing of the past. It sounded far-fetched. But as the outbreak drags on, and we’ve become more conscious of germs and hygiene, “some of the changes we made are likely to be really durable,” said Malia Jones, who researches social environments and infectious disease exposure at the Applied Population Laboratory at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. (Pietsch, 8/11)
The New York Times:
Judge Agrees To Retire After Alzheimer’s Diagnosis
It is hard to pinpoint exactly when people who appeared in front of Judge ShawnDya L. Simpson noticed something wrong. There were times when the judge would come to court late, leave early, or not show up at all. Her demeanor became inconsistent, and she treated lawyers and others in her courtroom in a way that was “erratic and at times intemperate,” state officials said. It was unusual enough that the State Commission on Judicial Conduct opened an investigation into Judge Simpson, who has served in three boroughs in her 16-year career. (Feuer, 8/11)
NBC News:
First New Insect Repellent Approved In 11 Years Smells Like Grapefruit
A new type of insect repellent will be making its way to drugstore shelves — and it smells like grapefruit. Monday, the Environmental Protection Agency announced that it had approved a new ingredient, called nootkatone, that repels and kills mosquitoes and ticks. The naturally occurring ingredient — which is responsible for the characteristic scent of grapefruit — was discovered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and developed into an insecticide. It’s also found in Alaska yellow cedar trees and is widely used in the cosmetic industry to make perfumes and colognes. (Syal, 8/11)
The Washington Post:
‘Green’ Household Cleaners And Coronavirus: What You Need To Know
[W]hen it comes to killing the novel coronavirus, green products might not be enough. The Environmental Protection Agency released a searchable database (List N) of products proven to be effective against the coronavirus that contains few green cleaners. This doesn’t mean you have to toss your natural products, but you do have to be judicious about where and when you use them. Here’s what you need to know. (Rosenbloom, 8/11)
In other public health news —
The New York Times:
In The Wake Of Covid-19 Lockdowns, A Troubling Surge In Homicides
It started with an afternoon stop at a gas station. Two customers began exchanging angry stares near the pumps outside — and no one can explain exactly why. That led to an argument, and it escalated quickly as one of them pulled a gun and they struggled over it, according to the police. “There’s too many shootings. Please don’t do this,” the wife of one of the men pleaded, stepping between them. (Eligon, Dewan and Bogel-Burroughs, 8/11)
Dallas Morning News:
Violent Crime Is Up In Dallas But City Officials At Odds On Best Way To Reduce It
When the city recorded an uptick in violence last year, Dallas Police Chief U. Reneé Hall faced a mandate to reduce violent crime.But so far this year, that hasn’t happened. According to police statistics, aggravated assaults in Dallas are up about 21% this year. Dallas has reported 128 murders so far this year compared to 127 the same time last year. By comparison, robberies and rapes saw steep declines. (Jaramillo, 8/10)
WBUR:
Boston Police Shot An Injured Man 31 Times In 3 Seconds, Wrongful Death Lawsuit Says
Boston police and a state trooper are facing a wrongful death lawsuit over the shooting of a man with a history of mental illnesses. Police shot and killed 41-year-old Juston Root in February after a confrontation at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, a car chase through Brookline and a crash in Chestnut Hill. (Gorel, 8/11)
Texas Governor Stresses Protective Measures As Cases Soar
In a visit to hard hit areas along the Texas coast, Gov. Greg Abbott stresses that state officials realize the dangers of the virus and cannot fully reopen the economy yet.
AP:
Texas Passes 500K Cases; Infection Rate Soars To New High
Texas surpassed 500,000 confirmed coronavirus cases Tuesday as Republican Gov. Greg Abbott suggested family and neighborhood gatherings are behind a sharp rise in the rate of positive tests, which has climbed to record levels just as schools are beginning to reopen across the state. He also continued to say more testing in Texas is likely after dropping off in recent weeks, a trend seen across the U.S. even as deaths mount. Texas has reported more than 1,400 new deaths over the past week, including 220 on Tuesday. (Weber, 8/12)
The New York Times:
Texas Has Too Many Cases To Reopen, Governor Warns
Gov. Greg Abbott, meeting with leaders in Texas’s sprawling Gulf Coast region to discuss his Covid-19 strategy, strongly suggested Tuesday that hospitalizations and cases from the virus remained far too high to allow a swift relaxation of business closures and other restrictions. The Republican governor, who traveled to Beaumont and Victoria, cited signs of progress but indicated Texas still had a long way to go in overcoming a relentless surge that made it one of the nation’s leading hot spots in the pandemic. (8/11)
CNN:
Texans Are Seeing How Dangerous Coronavirus Can Be As Cases Soar Past 500,000
As Texas soars past 500,000 Covid-19 cases, state officials are redoubling their efforts to get residents to wear masks and practice social distancing, after suggesting that the surge has been driven by people letting their guard down. "The most important thing I could convey today that is even though the numbers of Covid-19 have improved, it has not left Jefferson County, it has not left Orange County, it has not left the state of Texas," Gov. Greg Abbott said. (Holcombe, 8/12)
Funding Shortfall, Football Games Head Florida Governor's Priorities
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis wants the state to receive federal assistance for COVID costs. DeSantis also stopped by Florida State's football practice to support the idea of playing this season.
Politico:
DeSantis: Florida Will Need Help Making Ends Meet
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday said the state will need help covering costs associated with the coronavirus outbreak, expressing confidence that the federal government will help pick up the tab for increased Medicaid outlays. And the state might have to borrow to deliver a $400 weekly benefit to unemployed workers that President Donald Trump mandated in an Aug. 8 executive order, he said. (Sarkissian and Fineout, 8/11)
Politico:
It's Game On In Florida As FSU And DeSantis Vow To Play Football
Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday joined President Donald Trump and other GOP members of Congress in an effort persuade athletic conferences to salvage the upcoming college football season despite the Covid-19 outbreak. The Republican governor, an avid sports fan and former Yale baseball captain, held a briefing at Florida State University’s practice facility to send the message that Florida is carrying on with Division I football. An abbreviated season would better than nothing, DeSantis said, leaving open the possibility of restructuring schedules for teams willing to compete with Florida schools. (Atterbury, 8/11)
The Washington Post:
Ron DeSantis Says He’d Welcome College Football Players To Florida
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) is lobbying for players whose seasons have been postponed because of the novel coronavirus pandemic to join schools in his state that are on course to play in the fall. DeSantis issued those remarks Tuesday during a college athletics roundtable at Florida State University in Tallahassee, before the Big Ten and Pac-12 conferences announced they would be scrapping fall sports with the hope of salvaging the 2020-21 football season by delaying it until the new year. (Bieler and Wang, 8/11)
In other news from Florida —
The Washington Post:
Disney World To Cut Hours After Reopening During The Covid-19 Pandemic
One month after reopening amid the mounting coronavirus pandemic, which surpassed 5 million U.S. cases over the weekend, Walt Disney World is modifying its hours of operation in a new schedule taking effect on Sept. 8, the day after Labor Day. Disney’s already limited hours will reduce by one to two hours per day, depending on the park. The change comes days after Disney reported unexpectedly low park attendance and “adversely impacted” earnings due to restrictions aimed at preventing the virus’s spread. (McMahon, 8/10)
The New York Times:
The Virus Is Killing Young Floridians. Race Is A Big Factor.
The last time Miriam Castro saw her son Herman, he was in the hospital. A mask covered his tear-stricken face as he sobbed over a FaceTime call. “He kept saying: ‘I love you, Ma, I love you, Ma. Take care of yourselves. This is no game,’” Mrs. Castro recalled. “He cried and cried.” Herman J. Castro, a 32-year-old manager of a McDonald’s in Central Florida, died two days later. (Robles, Gebeloff, Ivory and de Freytas-Tamura, 8/11)
Reuters:
U.S. Couple, Stranded By Coronavirus In Gaza, Returning To 'Scary' Florida
Adria and Ayman Arafat are finally heading home to Florida after being stranded for months in the Gaza Strip by coronavirus-related restrictions but fear they will now face a much greater health risk. Gaza has seen only 81 cases of COVID-19 and just one death so far, partly a result of blockades imposed on the Palestinian territory by neighbouring Egypt and Israel, while Florida’s infection rates are among the highest in the United States. (al-Mughrabi, 8/11)
Calif. Veterans' Homes Had Surprising Success In Keeping Virus At Bay
CalVet officials characterize their efforts to keep residents safe as trench warfare, but the success suggests that such diligence may provide safety for other nursing homes that have been hit hard by the pandemic. In other news, efforts by some states to give employers a liability waiver raises concerns.
Politico:
Could Massive Numbers Of Nursing Home Deaths Have Been Prevented?
While the vast numbers of nursing home deaths have been the greatest horror of the coronavirus crisis, the system operated by California’s Department of Veterans Affairs has been a rare bright spot. Across the country, at least 43,000 nursing home residents have died of the coronavirus. In California, at least 3,400 have passed away. But at the eight CalVet veterans’ homes, it’s been a different story: Among 2,100 residents, half of whom require round-the-clock care, including hospice patients and Korean and Vietnam war veterans with complicated health conditions, only two have died of the coronavirus. (Severns, 8/10)
Stateline:
Businesses Want A Shield Against COVID-19 Lawsuits. But What About Customer Safety?
The Wyoming measure is one of at least seven new state laws or executive orders in recent months protecting businesses from coronavirus lawsuits. A few other states are considering similar legislation, and a bill before Congress would temporarily grant protections to businesses nationwide. ... Most of the laws specifically state that they do not shield businesses that acted with “actual malice” nor apply to cases with “clear and convincing” evidence of deliberate wrongdoing. ... Opponents say the state and federal efforts would give a pass to businesses and health facilities that fail to take proper precautions. (Povich, 8/11)
The Hill:
Half Of Americans In New Poll Say They Know Someone Who Has Tested Positive For COVID-19
Fifty percent of Americans surveyed for new Axios-Ipsos polling said they know someone who has tested positive for the novel coronavirus. The percentage is nearly identical across regions, with 51 percent of respondents in the Midwest and the South knowing someone who has tested positive, as well as 49 percent in the Northeast and 47 percent in the West. Along party lines, 55 percent of Democrats polled said they know someone who has tested positive, compared to 49 percent of Republicans and 44 percent of independents. (Budryk, 8/11)
In news from Georgia, Indiana and Massachusetts —
Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Second ICE Detainee Dies From COVID-19 In Southwest Georgia
A second person who was being held in a sprawling federal immigration detention center in southwest Georgia has died from COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, according to Stewart County Coroner Sybil Ammons. Ammons declined to identify the 70-year-old man but said he died Monday evening at Piedmont Columbus Regional Hospital after being held at Stewart Detention Center, located just outside Lumpkin, the county seat. The detainee, who suffered from diabetes and hypertension, had been hospitalized since Aug. 4, Ammons said. (Redmon, 8/11)
Indianapolis Star:
Why Immigrants Are More At Risk For COVID-19, According To A New Study
Immigrants living in Marion County are essential to the county's recovery efforts during the coronavirus pandemic but are also at higher risk of infection, according to a research study released last week by New American Economy in partnership with Indianapolis' Immigrant Welcome Center. As of 2018, Marion County has been home to nearly 90,000 immigrants. About 28.7% became naturalized citizens, 12.1% were likely refugees, 37.7% were undocumented immigrants and 3.6% were eligible for the Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, the study shows. The immigration status categories referenced in the study aren't mutually exclusive. (Contreras, 8/11)
Boston Globe:
Baker Says 33 Communities At Moderate Or High Risk Of Coronavirus
A total of 33 Massachusetts cities and towns are at moderate or high risk for the coronavirus, including four north of Boston that are beset by heavy caseloads after months of closures and restrictions, Governor Charlie Baker said Tuesday. The list of communities — less than one in 10 in the state — includes some of the most populous cities, often communities of color and lower-income areas. (Finucane, Fox and Reiss, 8/11)
In news from California, Nevada, South Dakota and Montana —
Kaiser Health News:
In Health-Conscious Marin County, Virus Runs Rampant Among ‘Essential’ Latino Workers
On a warm evening in late June, people flocked to alfresco tables set up along this town’s main drag to sip sauvignon blanc and eat wood-oven pizza for Dining Under the Lights, an event to welcome Marin County residents back to one of their favorite pastimes. About a mile away, Crisalia Calderon was hunkered down in her apartment facing a sleepless night as she grappled with the early symptoms of COVID-19. (Scheier, 8/12)
Las Vegas Review-Journal:
Nevada Sees Lowest COVID Case Gain In A Month
Nevada recorded 548 new cases of COVID-19 — the lowest one-day total in more than a month — and 18 additional deaths over the preceding day, according to state data posted Tuesday. (Brunker, 8/11)
The Washington Post:
South Dakota Health Officials Watch For The Coronavirus As Motorcyclists Descend
A crowd of hundreds of motorcycle enthusiasts, in which the ratio of leather jackets to masks worn was astronomical, gathered Sunday in front of the stage at the Buffalo Chip campground in Sturgis, S.D. The band Smash Mouth was scheduled to perform, a rare concert at a time when many states are discouraging gatherings of 10 or more people, let alone hundreds of thousands. The 80th Annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, at which officials expected a crowd of some 250,000 people, was happening anyway, and Smash Mouth’s lead singer, Steve Harwell, offered his thoughts on bringing people together even as health officials urge them to stay apart. (Janes, 8/11)
AP:
Montana Allocates $50M To Bolster Child Care Amid Pandemic
Montana is allocating $50 million to increase the availability of child care in response to COVID-19, Gov. Steve Bullock said Tuesday. “As more Montanans return to work and families prepare for the upcoming school year, we must ensure there are options to provide high quality and flexible care during this emergency,” Bullock said in a statement. The funding was allocated from the state’s $1.25 billion in federal coronavirus relief money. (8/11)
In abortion news —
CBS News:
Arkansas To Implement First-Of-Their-Kind Abortion Restrictions Later This Month
A handful of first-of-their-kind abortion regulations can be implemented this month in Arkansas, a federal court ruled Friday afternoon. The decision could further restrict how patients access the procedure in a state that's been aggressive in legislating abortion. (Smith, 8/11)
How The World Is Faring: Australia's Deadliest Day; Face Masks Compulsory In Brussels
Global news reports are from Australia, Belgium, England, Israel, India and elsewhere.
Reuters:
Australia Suffers Deadliest Day Of Coronavirus Pandemic, Cases Rise
Australia recorded its deadliest day of the coronavirus pandemic on Wednesday and the biggest daily rise in infections in three days, denting hopes that a second wave gripping the state of Victoria may be stabilising. Victoria reported 21 deaths - two more than the previous deadliest days earlier this week - and 410 new cases in the past 24 hours, ending a run of three consecutive days with new infections below 400. (Jose and Packham, 8/11)
Reuters:
Brussels Makes Face Masks Compulsory In All Public Spaces As COVID-19 Cases Spike
Wearing a face mask became compulsory on Wednesday in all public places in Brussels as the number of COVID-19 infections rose to a government alert level that puts the city among the worst affected in Europe. The Belgian capital, which hosts the headquarters of the European Union and NATO, recorded on average 50 cases per 100,000 inhabitants daily over the last week. (8/12)
AP:
UK Scientists Openly Question Government's Pandemic Response
As Britain navigates its way through the coronavirus pandemic, the government insists that science is guiding its decisions. But a self-appointed group of independent experts says it sees little in Britain’s response that is evidence-based, especially after an upturn in new cases forced a delay in lifting more lockdown restrictions. Unlike in other European countries where debate has raged over how to control COVID-19, the scientific opposition to Britain’s approach is notably organized: the independent group sits almost in parallel to the government’s own scientists, assessing the same outbreak indicators but publicly identifying failings and inconsistencies. (Cheng, 8/12)
The Washington Post:
Israel Brings New Firepower To The Coronavirus Fight: The Army
Israel, desperate to rein in a resurgent coronavirus outbreak, has called in the army to take over testing and contact-tracing operations, part of a major restructuring of its pandemic campaign that includes naming a "corona czar" intended to be insulated from political pressures. The expanded role for the military will include the deployment of about 3,000 additional soldiers and civilian staff to aid in testing and contact-tracing programs, including the call-up of about 2,000 reservists, an Israel Defense Forces spokesman said. (Hendrix, 8/11)
Reuters:
Indian Villagers Tire Of Coronavirus Rules Just As Rural Cases Surge
In two dozen small towns and villages visited by Reuters reporters in recent weeks, people have largely given up on social distancing and masks after months of sticking to the rules, believing the virus is not such a serious threat. The change in behaviour in rural India - where two-thirds of its 1.3 billion people live, often with only the most basic health facilities - has come as infections in the countryside have surged.Health officials are exasperated. (Das and Varadhan, 8/12)
Reuters:
No Human Pyramids In Mumbai's 'Lord Krishna' Festival Due To Coronavirus
There were no human pyramids in Mumbai’s Janmashtami festival celebrating Lord Krishna on Wednesday, which normally attracts thousands onto the streets, due to a surge in coronavirus in India, with more than 60,000 cases reported in 24 hours. “This year, the celebration will be symbolic,” said Ram Kadam, a state lawmaker who organises one such celebration in Mumbai. (Jamkhandikar, 8/12)
In other global news —
AP:
Children In Beirut Suffer From Trauma After Deadly Blast
When the huge explosion ripped through Beirut last week, it shattered the glass doors near where 3-year-old Abed Itani was playing with his Lego blocks. He suffered a head injury and cuts on his tiny arms and feet, and he was taken to the emergency room, where he sat amid other bleeding people. In the days since then, Abed has not been the same. Like thousands of others in Lebanon, he is grappling with trauma. (Mawad, 8/12)
Reuters:
Mexico's New Warning Labels On Junk Food Meet Supersized Opposition From U.S., EU
The United States, European Union, Canada and Switzerland, home to some of the world’s biggest food companies, have pressed Mexico to delay upcoming health warnings on processed food and drinks, a World Trade Organization document showed. The Mexican standard, scheduled to take effect in October, will require front-of-pack nutrition labeling that clearly describes the health risks posed when those products are high in sugars, calories, salt, and saturated or trans fat. (Esposito, 8/11)
The New York Times:
Company’s Paid Leave for Periods Takes On a Workplace Taboo
How many days a month have you missed work or requested a day off for stomach pains and cramps because of menstruation? This is the question one of India’s largest food-delivery firms, Zomato, put to its 4,000 employees, 35 percent of whom are women, in announcing a new paid period leave policy for employees on Saturday. The policy, not common among large global companies, allows up to 10 days of period leave a year and applies to transgender employees. (Abdul, 8/11)
Drug Industry Spurns Trump's Order To 'Buy American'
Read about the biggest pharmaceutical developments and pricing stories from the past week in KHN's Prescription Drug Watch roundup.
FiercePharma:
After Drug Pricing Tensions, Industry Pushes Back At Trump's 'Buy American' Order
Not long after President Donald Trump signed four executive orders focused on drug pricing, he last week laid out plans for a “Buy American” requirement for federal agencies purchasing essential medicines. As with the prior drug pricing proposals, industry pushback to the latest order was swift and harsh. Under the new order, the federal government would develop a list of essential drugs, and then direct agencies such as the Department of Health and Human Services and Department of Veterans Affairs to purchase only from U.S. factories. (Sagonowsky, 8/10)
The BMJ:
Trump’s Call For Essential Drugs To Be Made In US Threatens Innovation, Says Trade Group
The trade group for the US pharmaceutical industry has warned that President Donald Trump’s latest executive order calling for essential drugs to be manufactured in the US will stifle innovation. The executive order, issued on 6 August, followed four other executive orders designed to reduce drug prices, which all seem to be part of Trump’s appeal to voters in the November election. All require further action by government agencies and may be challenged in the courts so are unlikely to take effect any time soon. (Hopkins Tanne, 8/11)
New York Post:
Trump Jokes Big Pharma Called Him 'Socialist' For Slashing Prices
President Trump on Thursday vowed to end America’s reliance on China for crucial medical supplies and joked that big pharma had tried to smear him as a “socialist” for slashing drug prices. “I have never seen so many bad commercials about me as in the last three days since I did this,” Trump told a crowd in Ohio where he is expected to sign an executive order returning production of crucial medicine to the US. (Bowden, 8/6)
NPR:
'All Bark And No Bite': Trump Holds Prescription Drug-Pricing Order In Search Of Deal
Two weeks after President Trump signed an executive order "Lowering Drug Prices By Putting America First," the White House still hasn't released the text of the order. The unorthodox move is apparently a leverage play, an attempt to squeeze drug companies into offering concessions, but so far there's little indication Trump is getting the deal he was after. Trump had American flags and women in white lab coats behind him, his big presidential sharpie marker in hand when he signed the order July 24. (Keith, 8/7)
Also —
Stat:
Out-Of-Pocket Spending On Specialty Drugs Dropped Dramatically After States Capped Costs
Amid efforts to blunt rising medicines costs, a new analysis finds three states succeeded in helping their residents save money by capping out-of-pocket costs on pricey specialty drugs and, at the same time, also managed to avoid increased spending by health plans. Overall, out-of-pocket spending by patients fell $351 per month in Delaware, Maryland, and Louisiana, each of which passed laws that set $150 caps on what consumers must pay for prescriptions for specialty medicines. These include medications to combat such hard-to-treat maladies as multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and hepatitis C, among others. (Silverman, 8/11)
Stat:
Pharma Is Showering Congress With Cash, Even Amid Coronavirus
The world’s biggest drug makers and their trade groups have cut checks to 356 lawmakers ahead of this year’s election — more than two-thirds of the sitting members of Congress, according to a new STAT analysis. It’s a barrage of contributions that accounts for roughly $11 million in campaign giving, distributed via roughly 4,500 checks from the political action committees affiliated with the companies. (Bartley and Facher, 8/10)
Bloomberg Law:
Caremark Must Disclose Walgreens Emails In Drug Price Suit
Generic drug buyers who alleged that Walgreen Co. misrepresented its usual and customary charges for their medications, resulting in inflated copays, will get to look at emails between the retailer and pharmacy benefit manager Caremark LLC, a federal court in Rhode Island said. (8/10)
State House News Service:
Report: Drug Coupons Having Impacts For Patients, Prices
Prescription drug coupon programs have expanded in Massachusetts over the past several years, according to a new analysis by a state agency that found such discounts can have implications for both spending and clinical outcomes. A July report from the Health Policy Commission concluded that drug coupons increase use of and spending on certain drugs where lower-cost generic alternatives would be appropriate for many patients. (Lannan, 8/5)
Delaware State News:
State Announces New Rules For Pharmacy Managers
The Delaware Department of Insurance announced Monday it has finalized new regulations for pharmacy benefit managers as required by legislation approved by the General Assembly. Pharmacy benefit managers administer prescription drug plans for health insurers, large employers, Medicare Part D plans and other groups, determining the list of medications that a plan will cover and how much drugs will cost. These companies, however, have not widely used their power to reduce the costs of medications and insurance, according to the Department of Insurance. (8/11)
Perspectives: Foreign Price Controls; US Drug Pricing; Medicaid Best Price Rule
Read recent commentaries about drug-cost issues.
Washington Times:
'President Trump, Avoid Foreign Price Controls For Medicine'
As America continues to dig its way out of the economic and public health impacts of the coronavirus pandemic, the Trump administration and state and local governments have waived or suspended hundreds of regulations. These combined efforts have given American families, businesses and public agencies the flexibility and breathing room needed to combat the disease and the economic downturn, and many of these deregulatory efforts should be here to stay. They include several positive steps in the health care space, including increased flexibility for telehealth and loosening of restrictions for health professionals practicing across state lines. (Adam Brandon and Tom Schatz, 8/10)
MM&M:
Pandemic Or No, Pharma Needs To Push Drug Pricing Dialogue
After a rare few months of positive press owing to their work on coronavirus treatments, pharma companies are nearing a fork in the road. On the left, there’s the windfall and prestige that will come with a first-to-market vaccine. On the right, there’s the furor that will ensue should these drugs be priced at a level perceived to be excessive. Clearly the industry would like to have it both ways — to reap the rewards in terms of reputation and remuneration without leaving too much on the table. There’s likely only one way for companies to toe this line: by laying out the multitude of factors that will go into pricing any such drug, and doing so with a degree of transparency they’ve usually avoided. (Alison Kanski, 8/5)
Forbes:
CMS Proposes Changes To Medicaid Best Price Rule: A Potential Boost To Value-Based Contracting
For well over a decade policymakers have declared the healthcare system is moving towards value-based pricing of services and technologies. However, the movement from volume- to a value-based system of pricing has occurred at a snail’s pace, especially in the pharmaceutical sector. Numerous barriers have prevented value-based pricing from being implemented. Now, one of those barriers, namely Medicaid’s “best price” rule, may change, to accommodate value-based pricing arrangements. (Joshua Cohen, 8/9)
Editorial pages focus on these pandemic topics and others.
The New York Times:
Don’t Make College Kids The Coronavirus Police
Hundreds of American colleges and universities have opted to begin the fall semester at least partly in person, allowing some or all of their students onto campus to live and study. These schools are going to great lengths to impress upon students that their behavior determines whether campuses can stay open or whether they will have to head back to their parents’ homes by October. In many cases, schools are requiring students to sign “social contracts” in which they promise not to party, have overnight dorm guests, walk across campus without masks or otherwise conduct themselves as college students normally do — and often attaching strict penalties if students violate the rules. In addition to agreeing to conduct themselves according to these rules, students are also being asked to police one another for violating them. (Karen Levy and Lauren Kilgour, 8/12)
Atlanta Journal Constitution:
Crowded School Hallway Photos Rightly Drew Attention To Flawed Policy
A photograph, they say, is worth a thousand words. And the images from inside North Paulding High School said it all: Students packed into a hallway, many of them without masks. That alone would be disturbing. But the story didn’t end there. School officials took the unusual step of suspending two students who posted the pictures, saying the photographs, captured on the students’ cellphones, violated the district’s rules. The punishments drew pointed reactions on social media and from rights advocates. To the district’s credit, it eventually remembered that everyone – yes, even students – have a right to free speech, and it lifted the punishments. By then, the damage had been done. (8/11)
The Washington Post:
Masks And School Dress Codes: If You Can Punish A Teenage Girl For Spaghetti Straps, You Can Enforce A Mask Mandate
Call it karma or science (it’s science), but over the weekend news broke that nine people, both students and staff, had tested positive for the coronavirus at North Paulding High School. This is the Georgia school made notorious last week by a photo of a hallway swarming with shoulder-to-shoulder unmasked students. It’s where the girl who posted that photo online was initially suspended for her whistleblowing, and where the superintendent claimed, “wearing a mask is a personal choice and there is no practical way to enforce a mandate to wear them.” It is also the place where irony died, because the school had proved it did have at least one tool — suspension — for dealing with students it believed were in the wrong. North Paulding has temporarily closed. But for when they return to the classroom, here are some additional notes for school systems and other ruling bodies on how to enforce mandates: (Monica Hesse, 8/11)
The Washington Post:
Stop Justifying School Reopening Based On False Statements
Can people please stop saying that children don’t get sick from the coronavirus and don’t spread it? These statements are being used to justify school reopening, and they’re just not true. We heard this again from the president on Monday, but he’s not the only guilty party. If the goal is to safely return our children to schools for all the reasons that are important, we’ll need to build on what we know — so let’s start with that: First, children do get infected. In fact, a new report by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Children’s Hospital Association found that 338,000 kids have been diagnosed with covid-19 in the United States. (Leana S. Wen, 8/11)
The New York Times:
Children Aren’t The Coronavirus Infection Risk In Schools. Adults Are.
As a pediatrician, I love treating children, but I am well aware that the urgent care clinic where I work is not germ-free. Inevitably, I catch the occasional bug from a kid with a runny nose and a cough. When the coronavirus pandemic began, I worried that I would treat children who were asymptomatic or mildly ill (“just a cold”), then get the virus myself and spread it to my parents or friends. Many teachers who are about to return to school have the same worries. ...As we consider reopening schools, and elementary schools in particular, we need to reframe this mental model. The real risk of transmission in elementary schools is not the kids; it’s the adults. (Naomi Bardach, 8/12)
The Washington Post:
College Football Is Caught In The Coronavirus Culture War. The Only Smart Choice Is Caution.
Don’t let the baying noisemakers and the desperate politickers for college football distract you from a central fact about the novel coronavirus epidemic. Caution works. So far, nothing else has. In the next couple of weeks, millions of undergraduates will start streaming back to campuses amid outbreaks. How about we see the consequences of that before we send players on to the field to make each other’s snot and spit fly? College presidents in the Power Five conferences should hit the pause button on the season. The only responsible choice, amid so many unknowns, is to take a collective knee and defer while campuses gauge the impact of reopening. (Sally Jenkins, 8/11)
Detroit Free Press:
Mitch Albom: Big Ten Cancellation Reminds Us Football Is Just A Game
It was like lining up for a kickoff, then waiting for months, then charging madly to the ball … and watching it flop off the tee. After a spring of wishful thinking, a summer of flimflamming, and 48 hours of confusing, closed-door debates, the Big Ten has finally canceled its fall sports season, which to most fans means: football. That’s right. No Saturday afternoon showdowns this fall. No breaking out the favorite U-M or MSU sweatshirt. No flying the flag out your car window. No season. And no surprise. (Mitch Albom, 8/12)
USA Today:
Coronavirus Tackles Colleges Looking For Football Money
College football is a mindbogglingly commercial enterprise. For everyone, that is, but the people who actually play it. That's why many players and now the Big 10 university presidents are throwing flags on a fall season. The financial incentives are to do just the opposite. Propelled by a deluge of ads, an average game now runs to a stupefying 3 hours 24 minutes — 16 minutes longer than NFL games and 23 minutes longer than what college games lasted in the mid-1990s. Ads, moreover, are omnipresent in stadiums and in the names of bowl games. And the people who profit from this largess can't get enough of them. (8/10)
Arizona Republic:
Arizona High Schools Should Follow The Pac-12 And Big Ten And Postpone Fall Sports
If major college football conferences, with all of their financial clout and medical expertise, could not figure out a way to safely play fall sports like football, how can high schools? Simple answer: They can’t. And they shouldn’t. (EJ Montini, 8/11)
Opinion writers weigh in on these pandemic topics and others.
The Washington Post:
Putin Can Have His Vaccine. I’ll Be Waiting For The Vetted One.
A while back, when many Americans read not one but two newspapers — morning and afternoon — a saying emerged in my first newsroom: The afternoon paper gets the story, the morning paper gets it right. Having worked for two (now dead) afternoon papers, I could argue for swapping the order, but the message endures: Hurrying to beat competitors and get the story first often meant essential revisions, if not corrections, later. It takes time to properly report a story. My memory of this essential truth was jarred by the news that Russia has announced the development of an effective covid-19 vaccine, which President Vladimir Putin has named Sputnik V. Bless his heart. (Kathleen Parker, 8/11)
The Wall Street Journal:
The Putin Vaccine Gambit
Remember when Vladimir Putin showed a video to visiting filmmaker Oliver Stone of a Russian helicopter firing on Islamic State fighters in Syria? When the segment aired on U.S. television, the video was quickly identified as having been lifted from YouTube and showing a U.S. helicopter combating militants in Afghanistan. Mr. Putin likely spends much of his time sorting out disinformation, flattery and manipulation from those around him. (Holman W. Jenkins, 8/11)
The Wall Street Journal:
Lockdowns And School Shutdowns May Make Youngsters Sicker
Parents and public officials have been asking if it’s safe to send children to school this fall. They should also ask if it’s safe not to. A large body of medical literature suggests that stress and its symptoms, including mental illness, tend to weaken the immune system, leading to inflammation and greater susceptibility to infectious diseases. Lockdowns combined with school closures have been hugely stressful for families. Today’s stressed children could be more vulnerable to disease later in life—or to Covid-19 now. (Allysia Finley, 8/11)
NBC News:
Lois Shepherd: COVID-19 State Mask Mandates Can't Be Avoided Using HIPAA Or Constitutional 'Exemptions'
At the end of July, a bowling alley in Wisconsin reportedly posted a picture letting prospective bowlers know they could go mask-less — without being asked why. Despite frequent fact checks, there have been several viral examples this summer of businesses informing customers via social media or storefront signs that while states may mandate masks, such intrusive questions are prohibited by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and the Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. (Lois Shepherd, 8/11)
Bloomberg:
France Battles Coronavirus With Confusing Paris Mask Rules
Now at the height of the summer tourism season, with people moving around more and Covid-19 cases rising to levels reminiscent of the early stages of the pandemic — albeit with a fraction of the hospitalizations and deaths — the bureaucratic impulse is back (in France). Prime Minister Jean Castex pledged new measures on Tuesday, from broader adoption of face-masks to more testing and information campaigns, saying the infection curve was going “the wrong way.” You could hardly call it a second wave, with confirmed daily deaths averaging at 7 compared with almost 1,000 during the peak, but politicians have understandably thinner skins these days. (Lionel Laurent, 8/12)
Stat:
We Need New Drugs To Prevent The Looming Superbug Crisis
Imagine if scientists had seen Covid-19 coming years in advance yet did little to prepare. Unthinkable, right? Yet that’s exactly what’s happening with another infectious disease crisis — the one caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria and fungi. So-called superbugs already kill more than 700,000 people each year. And the World Health Organization warns that by 2050 the annual death toll could reach 10 million if we don’t use the time to get prepared. (Kevin Outterson and John Rex, 8/12)
Boston Globe:
Payroll Tax Cuts Miss The Mark
With Congress unable to reach a deal on the next coronavirus relief package, Donald Trump decided to take matters into his own hands and signed an executive order to address unemployment aid, looming evictions, student loans, and payroll taxes. But on top of being legally questionable, the president’s action is unambitious and misses the mark on stimulating the economy and providing relief to the households suffering most from the current economic crisis. And when it comes to payroll taxes, which fund Social Security and Medicare, the executive order is just about as effective as fighting a building fire with a garden hose. For starters, Trump didn’t actually cut the federal payroll tax, the 6.2 percent levy that wage-earners pay on income up to about $138,000; he deferred it. What that means is that, for the time being, workers’ take-home pay might increase, but the taxes will have to be paid later unless the government eventually forgives them. (8/12)
Boston Globe:
Trump’s National Plan Is To Sabotage The Election, Not To Stop COVID-19
Ignoring COVID-19, the illness caused by the novel coronavirus, has been Trump’s scheme all along. It’s wrong to say he’s done nothing. If a house is in flames and no one moves to put it out, that is doing something — allowing it to burn to the ground. And that’s where we are regarding the pandemic. It’s not just Trump’s incompetence that has allowed America, with about 5 percent of the world’s population, to amass 25 percent of its coronavirus cases. It’s also been his vindictive willfulness to let this fire consume lives and livelihoods mostly unchecked. Trump isn’t only overlooking the virus because he believes focusing on it may hurt his reelection chances. From the beginning, he’s also accepted it as a malevolent gift, an election-year disruptor of the democracy he so despises. (Renée Graham, 8/11)
Bloomberg:
Diseased Chicken For Dinner? The USDA Is Considering It
Here's one unexpected consequence of the Defense Production Act: Your food is less safe.When President Trump invoked the act three months ago, as a means to bolster American food security, it marked the beginning of a campaign to deregulate the meat industry. (Amanda Little, 8/11)
Des Moines Register:
Rural Hospitals Need COVID-19 Legislation From Congress
Iowa’s health care system is working through one of the most significant challenges of our lifetimes. Even before the onset of the current pandemic, rural hospitals in particular were already under extreme pressure. As a recently retired rural hospital CEO in Iowa who’s worked in health care for 30 years, I know firsthand how challenging it can be to keep hospitals open in a normal setting. Now, looming federal deadlines and unprecedented cash flow difficulties are leaving many rural health care facilities on the brink of closure. Congress can’t allow that to happen. (Todd Linden, 8/12)
Sacramento Bee:
Why Did Sacramento County Sheriff Get Most Of COVID-19 Funds?
Did Sacramento County just turn the “defund the police” slogan on its head? County officials appear to have given the vast majority of the county’s federal coronavirus emergency funding to the office of Sheriff Scott Jones. It’s a bad look, especially at a time when the death of George Floyd has inspired a protest movement that questions the role law enforcement plays in our society and in our public budgets. But is there a logic in how Sacramento County CEO Nav Gill decided to use the federal aid? That’s a question that needs to be answered during today’s meeting of the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors. Sacramento County has received a total of $181 million in federal aid funds as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES), but it appears these emergency funds have mostly funded law enforcement. (8/11)
The Houston Chronicle:
We Need More Spanish-Speaking Doctors To Treat COVID-19
Mariana blinked at me, her messy braids coming undone on the crinkly hospital pillow. She was just waking up from having spent a month with a tube in her throat in the ICU due to COVID-19. Mariana wasn’t just dazed from the medically induced coma: she didn’t understand English and the doctor didn’t speak Spanish. There were no face-to-face interpreters as there usually would have been. They had been sent home. Without interpreters, Mariana had no idea where she was or why she was there, nor could her care team tailor her treatment appropriately.I t should go without saying that one needs to be able to communicate with doctors in order to get good health care. (Carolina Abuelo, 8/12)
Dallas Morning News:
COVID-19 Is Hitting Latinos Hardest, So It’s Crucial Ensure Test Results Are Available In Spanish
In February, when we became aware of the threat COVID-19 posed to the U.S., our lab Ipsum Diagnostics started work on developing our tests for the virus. We received Food and Drug Administration authorization on April 1. We also set up an online patient portal where patients would get their lab reports and information about what the results meant. We were soon getting calls from thousands of people who wanted their reports. That’s when I noticed a problem. Many of the callers didn’t speak English. And like all other laboratory companies, we weren’t set up to deliver results in other languages. While we had been focusing on delivering swift results, we’d forgotten to ensure that all of our patients could understand them. (Lauren Bricks, 8/12)
Bangor Daily News:
Want To Protect Those With Pre-Existing Conditions? Stop Undermining The ACA.
The Affordable Care Act, the landmark health law that Republicans in Congress tried to repeal for years and that Trump has long pledged to replace, requires insurance companies to cover pre-existing conditions. It also prohibits insurers from charging more to cover these conditions, which include diabetes, cancer, pregnancy, mental health. In other words, it’s such a big thing, and such a good idea, that it is already the law. However, it is a law that the Trump administration is currently trying to have invalidated by the U.S. Supreme Court. So, if the president really wants to make sure that pre-existing conditions are covered, he’d drop his administration’s support for a lawsuit that is seeking to have the entire law declared unconstitutional. (8/11)