Latest KFF Health News Stories
Victims Share Brutal Stories From Alaska, Home To The Highest Rate Of Sexual Assault In The Nation
ProPublica and the Anchorage Daily News collected more than 300 responses from people willing to discuss their stories and how they’re trying to recover.
Spain Reports No New Deaths From Virus; UK Braces For Death Toll To Reach 50,000
Global pandemic developments are reported out of Spain, the United Kingdom, Russia, Mexico, India and other nations.
Tragic Downside Of Social Distancing: These Seniors In Chicago Subsidized Housing Died Alone
ProPublica investigates what can go wrong when volunteers who normally checked up on people living in a Chicago Housing Authority complex didn’t go over fears of the virus. Other public health news reports on anti-depressant shortages, insomnia, Zappos therapy, natural remedies for mental health upkeep, the strategies of immigrants and older people trying to survive, struggling with opioid addiction, new blood-testing normal, and play dates, as well.
Release Of High-Profile Prisoners Ahead Of ‘Low-Risk, Vulnerable’ Ones Rankles Democratic Lawmakers
“As President Trump’s associates are cleared for transfer, tens of thousands of low-risk, vulnerable individuals are serving their time in highly infected prisons,” the lawmakers wrote. News on prisons comes from California and Montana, as well.
Lawmakers Poised To Announce Legislation That Would Regulate Privacy For Contact-Tracing Apps
Although contact tracing is largely viewed as a key tool in reopening the country, those efforts raise privacy concerns among Americans and lawmakers. Meanwhile, states try to beef up their staffs so that they can effectively deploy contact tracers.
To Keep Returning Employees Safe, Workplace Measures Will Need To Go Beyond Temperature Checks
People with the virus can be contagious without a fever, so temperature checks can only do so much. In other news on reopening: Hollywood eyes new safety measures as it considers restarting productions; amusement parks plan to open but doubt remains whether people will actually go; dental office get the message out that they’re taking patients again; and more.
FDA Has Somewhat Reined In At-Home-Testing Market, But Doubts About Accuracy Still Linger
The FDA authorized the emergency use of six coronavirus at-home collection kits, which could help the country reopen and allow employees to more safely return to work. But after a rocky start, can they really be trusted to give accurate results consistently enough to be effective? Meanwhile, a look at how President Donald Trump’s plan for drive-in testing sites has largely failed.
While Many Mysteries About Novel Coronavirus Remain, Scientists Have Learned Plenty
The New York Times looks at things we know, like that the trauma from the illness will likely be long lasting in severe cases; and things we don’t, like what is the actual death rate. In other scientific news: WHO officials push back on the idea that the virus is weakening; experts offer tips on reading medical articles; doctors report a wide range of neurological symptoms; and more.
Drugmaker Begins Testing Stage For First Medicine Derived From Antibodies From COVID Patient
Some scientists see the antibody treatment as a way to bridge the gap while a vaccine is being developed. In other pharmaceutical news: the debate over horseshoe crab blood used to test contamination in vaccines heats up, anti-malarial drug debate slides into 2020 campaigns and more.
Masks And Social Distancing Help Curb Virus, But Scientists Say Don’t Forget To Wash Your Hands
The report also found that eye gear can help as well, but that no single thing is the perfect solution. Meanwhile, a study reiterates the importance of health care professionals wearing N95s instead of just surgical masks. Other news on protective face coverings focuses on the challenges of kids wearing masks and state leaders’ efforts to secure protective gear.
The number is likely to be an undercount because only 80% of nursing homes submitted their reports. The numbers demonstrate a sobering toll among nursing home staffers, as well, with more than 34,400 getting sick and nearly 450 dying from the coronavirus.
GOP Strategists Fear Trump’s Continued Attacks On Mail-In-Voting Will Backfire On Party In November
President Donald Trump has been vocal about his opposition to mail-in-voting, often repeating false claims that it leads to fraud. But in the midst of a pandemic, some Republicans worry that not supporting voting by mail will hurt them in the long run.
Trump Cited False And Misleading Claims In Announcing U.S. Would Cut Ties With WHO
The Associated Press fact checks a letter in which President Donald Trump laid out his problems with how the World Health Organization responded during the early days of the pandemic. Meanwhile, behind the scenes, WHO was reportedly frustrated with China’s transparency in the beginning of the year despite praising the country in public remarks.
Pandemic, Economic Fallout Amplified Long-Standing And Deep Racial Inequalities In U.S.
Black Americans have been among the hardest hit populations by the virus. Not only are they hospitalized and dying in disproportionate numbers, they also are more likely than white Americans to have lost income because of the pandemic. In Minnesota, for example, black people make up only 7 percent of the population, but they account for 16 percent of the 23,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases.
Health Experts, Leaders Acknowledge Black Trauma Even As They Worry Protests Will Worsen Pandemic
Thousands are taking to the streets to protest police brutality, especially against black Americans. But health experts and state leaders are concerned there’s a high risk that with so many people in close proximity–even though they’re outside–the protests provide fertile ground for the coronavirus to spread further.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Editorial pages focus on these pandemic issues and others.
Opinion writers weigh in on these pandemic topics and others.
Missouri’s Last Abortion Clinic Can Remain Open After Licensing Decision Win
Missouri will not be the only state without an abortion facility after a state administrator ruled that Missouri’s health department was wrong not to renew the license of a St. Louis Planned Parenthood center. “In over 4,000 abortions provided since 2018, the Department has only identified two causes to deny its license,” Missouri Administrative Hearing Commissioner Sreenivasa Rao Dandamudi wrote.
Newer, Gentler Drugs Added To Arsenals Against Lung, Colon, Prostate Cancers
The new drugs are extremely expensive, though. Tagrisso, for example, costs lung cancer patients $150,000 a year. Other cancer news is on a new immunotherapy treatment and positive study results for CAR-T cell treatments.
