Archives: Morning Breakouts

While WHO placed the coronavirus fatality rate at 3.4%, many experts think it's much lower, closer to 1%. The problem is that it's hard to get an accurate tally, especially with a virus like COVID-19 where many patients present with just a mild cough. In other news: a look at how the most severe cases in China were treated; the perils of touching your face; comparisons to the 1918 flu pandemic; and more.

When people have yet to meet their deductibles, the cost of getting tested during an epidemic could be discouraging. In other economic news linked to the coronavirus: how to keep calm when markets tumble; lost benefits for sick workers; the ripple effect of the outbreak; and more.

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Rep. Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.) said they are taking the precautions after crossing paths with the patient at the Conservative Political Action Conference. Some were worried that President Donald Trump, who attended the event, may have been exposed to the virus.

“It’s just not sustainable to think that every time a health care worker is exposed they have to be quarantined for 14 days. We’d run out of health care workers,” said Dr. Jennifer Nuzzo, a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security. But many are worried that the very people who will be working round-the-clock to help coronavirus patients are among the most vulnerable population for becoming infected. Experts are also worried about airport screeners.

President Donald Trump in the past has been an outspoken vaccine skeptic who has bragged about not getting a flu shot. Now, he's looking at it as a solution to the overwhelming crisis on his hands. Meanwhile, even if scientists develop a vaccine, they have to continuously out-think an ever evolving virus.

President Donald Trump and his top health officials are facing increasing scrutiny over mixed messages and missteps in the early days of the outbreak that were often the result of Trump wanting to paint a rosier picture than experts were reporting.

Media outlets take a look at the global response to the coronavirus outbreak.

As witnessed in a Washington state facility that's seen the majority of U.S. deaths, nursing homes are particularly vulnerable already to viruses. In particular, the coronavirus has an outsized effect on older patients. Experts, health staff, and loved ones are all worried about what that can mean for nursing homes across the country. Meanwhile, Washington state officials are considering taking over the facility at the center of the Seattle-area outbreak.

A look at how states are working to contain the outbreak as their cases numbers climb.