Latest KFF Health News Stories
The cards would prove people have antibodies to the disease, and while the measure might increase socio-economic and racial disparities, health experts argue they could be a short-term solution for reopening the economy and giving people a respite from social distancing. Public health news is on the health risks of living near heavily polluted air, hard-hit rural bus lines, the importance of ethnic and racial data and keeping wellness checks for children, as well.
Trying to balance the financial and health risks of coronavirus with the need to provide essential services is becoming the latest battleground for labor unions and business groups. While it might be easy in some states for health care workers to file claims, it’s not always the same case for other workers finding it hard to prove they got sick on the job. Other reports on health care workers include a behind-the-scene look at a New York City infection unit and RVs becoming temporary homes for physicians on the front lines.
New Testing Suggests There’s A Wide-Spread Outbreak Throughout Federal Prison System
New figures provided by the Bureau of Prisons show that out of 2,700 tests conducted systemwide, nearly 2,000 came back positive.
Reports of food insecurity are increasing across the nation as more people are laid off, but now it’s also showing up in areas that were once economically secure. About 1,500 cars were turned away one day last week in Egg Harbor, N.J. when the food bank ran out of supplies. Other food scarcity news is reported on SNAP recipients and the volunteer groups delivering services, as well.
Business shutdowns created by the coronavirus outbreak continue to ravage the labor market, with another 3.84 million Americans filing for jobless benefits last week. Those numbers still likely under count the number of people out of work, as many state unemployment systems experience ongoing issues with applications. News outlets report on other financial indicators that point toward a U.S. recession.
Novel Coronavirus Is Mutating More Slowly Than Some Of Its Peers, So What Does That Really Mean?
The New York Times offers an in-depth look at the way this virus has mutated throughout the pandemic, and looks ahead to what that can mean for vaccines and other research. In other science news: airborne studies, gender disparities, rare symptoms found in children and more.
Trump’s ‘Operation Warp Speed’ Aims To Accelerate Vaccine Development Against Advisers’ Warnings
Top health experts have repeatedly warned that speeding up the long vaccine development process can lead to more trouble in the long-run. It is not clear how much more money the Trump administration is willing to put behind the new operation.
Dozens Of Bodies Found In Unrefrigerated Rental Trucks Outside Overwhelmed NYC Funeral Home
Following a 911 tip, investigators found that a New York City funeral home had rented four trucks to hold about 50 corpses. Funeral directors across the city have pleaded for help as they run out of space.
‘Devastating Outcome’: Database Shows Nursing Homes With Deadly Outbreaks Doubled In Past Week
More states are releasing the names of nursing homes where testing was inadequate and workers lacked preventive equipment, according to The Washington Post. More than 1 in 6 facilities report coronavirus cases. Nursing home news is also reported from Maryland, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Georgia, New Jersey and California.
Sweden, which has avoided the extreme shut-down measures of most other nations, has become a fascination for many conservatives who see it as proving their arguments correct that U.S. lockdowns are not needed. But there are factors in play that allowed Sweden to try this approach, where it would be unlikely to have similar results in the U.S.
Legal ‘Minefield’ Awaits Employers As States Push Businesses To Reopen
The next big political fight is over protections for employers who, if they reopen during the pandemic, could face lawsuits from employees who get sick.
Neighbors Of States Lifting Restrictions Worry That They’ll Have To Deal With The Consequences
“That’s like having a peeing section in the swimming pool,” Jeffrey Duchin, a public health official in Seattle and King County of a state-by-state approach to lifting shutdown orders.
Trump’s Order To Keep Meat Plants Open Gives Powerful Industry A Win, But Workers Cry Foul
The order gives meat plants liability cover if their workers get sick in the plants during the pandemic. But essential employees in the food industry are pushing back. “‘It’s almost like [the plant’s owners] don’t care about us,” said one worker. “Just keep production going, keep the money coming in, whatever they can do to just keep going, that’s how I feel.
Saliva Tests Offer Safer Experience For Workers, Less Painful One For Patients
Experts are excited for the roll out of saliva tests for COVID-19 that are quicker, less painful and safer. Studies also show that the saliva test often yielded a stronger signal than the swab, suggesting that it is more sensitive and could yield fewer false-negative results. Other testing news comes out of the states as well.
Azar Has Been Embroiled In Controversy Over Personal Feuds. Now The Spotlight Is Even Harsher.
HHS Secretary Alex Azar was already on thin ice before the pandemic started because of the messy and public feud between him and CMS administrator Seema Verma. Now he’s under intense scrutiny, and despite the fact that President Donald Trump vouched for the quality of his work, many believe he could have a target on his back.
Though Trump Has Pivoted His Messaging To Rebuilding Economy There’s Still No Clear Path Forward
President Donald Trump wants the economy up and booming by the third quarter, but public health experts say that the war against the invisible enemy is going to be filled with set-backs that will undermine Trump’s goals. In other news on the administration’s response: some warn that Trump could face backlash for his optimistic tone, Jared Kushner calls Trump’s efforts a “success story,” Trump’s disinfectant comments throw a wrench in Facebook’s pledge to curb misinformation and the White House pushes U.S. intelligence agencies to look for links between the virus and Chinese labs.
Trump’s Stay-At-Home Guidelines Will Quietly Expire Today, And He Doesn’t Plan To Extend Them
President Donald Trump is letting states take the reins on determining stay-at-home orders instead of extending federal guidance, a move that worries some public health officials. Meanwhile, Trump underscored his messaging that the country should reopen by announcing that he intends to travel to Arizona after weeks of staying put in the White House.
Gilead Drug Study Offers Promising Results Though Fauci Acknowledges It’s Not A ‘Knockout’ Punch
Dr. Anthony Fauci struck an optimistic tone about the results of the NIH study of Gilead’s remdesivir, touting the findings that it cut down hospitalization times for coronavirus patients. But the effect on mortality rates wasn’t statistically significant. Still, hopes rose on the news that there might be some treatment to help fight the virus.
U.S. Death Total Climbs Past 60,000 With An Average Increase Of 2,000 A Day
Most experts believe that due to undercounting the real death toll is higher than the 60,000 deaths officially reported.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
