In Desperate Times, What’s A Fair Price For A Coronavirus Treatment? Answers Range From $12.50 To Sky’s-The-Limit
May 15, 2020
Morning Briefing
Gilead has a reputation for placing astronomical prices on breakthrough drugs. But with the whole world’s eyes on the drugmaker, what will it charge for remdesivir, the only drug that everyone wants right now? Stat talks to experts to get a sense of what to expect. In other pharmaceutical news: President Donald Trump wants essential drugs to be manufactured in U.S. instead of China; scientists eye a cocktail of medications to best treat COVID patients; and the search for an elusive cure has researchers thinking outside the box.
Coronavirus Funding Bill Expands Medicare Telemedicine Options That May Last Far Longer Than Outbreak
March 9, 2020
Morning Briefing
In an effort to fight the coronavirus, Medicare is expanding its telemedicine options for seniors. But the outbreak could pave the way for broader acceptance of technology within the program.
Apple And Google Preview Contact Tracing System In The Works, Ban Location Tracking In Apps That Use Tech
May 5, 2020
Morning Briefing
The two tech giants provided a first glimpse of what the technology they are jointly developing could look like. The system will only be used by government apps, in order to track the spread of the coronavirus. Despite a call by public health authorities to use GPS technology instead of Bluetooth, Apple and Google say they won’t allow location tracking due to battery limitations and privacy concerns. News outlets report on other coronavirus tracking news, as well.
Hospitals Filling Up, Businesses Shutting Down: Nearly 300,000 New U.S. Cases Reported In Just 6 Days
July 7, 2020
Morning Briefing
As the coronavirus outbreak spins “out of control,” according to some medical professionals, 10 states report daily records for confirmed cases. Only six days into July, nearly 300,000 Americans tested positive for the virus. In June, 820,000 cases were tallied.
Navajo Nation Faces Unbearable Grief After Virus ‘Spreads Like Wildfire’ Through The Tribe
May 12, 2020
Morning Briefing
If the Navajo Nation were a state it would have the highest rate of coronavirus cases per capita after New York. And yet it continues to struggle to get help from the federal government.
Premiums Could Spike Next Year As Health System Absorbs Economic Challenge Of Treating Coronavirus
March 30, 2020
Morning Briefing
Depending on how many people need care, insurers, employers and individuals could face anywhere from $34 billion to $251 billion in additional expenses. “No insurer, no state, planned and put money away for something of this significance,” said Peter Lee, the executive director of Covered California. Meanwhile, two major health insurers say they will waive out-of-pocket costs for coronavirus treatment.
For Those Treated For Coronavirus, The Next Worry Comes In Form Of High Hospital Bills
March 23, 2020
Morning Briefing
Congress mandated that all testing for the virus should be free, but insurers can still bill patients for cost of care. Meanwhile, some states are moving to give uninsured residents a chance to sign up for their exchanges, while others ban insurers from canceling policies amid the crisis.
Wearing A Mask? Good. Now Add A Face Shield, Too
July 31, 2020
Morning Briefing
Face shields can protect against droplets, according to Dr. Deborah Birx, the White House coronavirus response coordinator. Along those same lines, infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci, who is testifying before Congress this morning, suggested the U.S. may eventually recommend eye goggles.
Understanding COVID-19: Data Continues To Reveal Surprising Truths, Mysterious Clues And Comforting Facts About Virus
April 17, 2020
Morning Briefing
Scientists around the globe race to unlock the mysteries of the novel coronavirus. Sometimes it gives up its secrets and sometimes the answers just lead to more questions.
Fauci, Redfield Warn Nation Is At Critical Moment In Pandemic; Officials Say More, Not Less, Testing Underway
June 24, 2020
Morning Briefing
Four top federal health officials — Dr. Anthony Fauci, CDC Director Robert Redfield, FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn and assistant secretary for health at HHS Brett Giroir — were grilled by lawmakers Tuesday on the state of the federal response to the coronavirus crisis.
Frightening Delusions Grip Many ICU Patients, Increase Long-Term, Possibly Permanent Cognitive Issues
June 29, 2020
Morning Briefing
Reports suggest that about two-thirds to three-quarters of coronavirus patients in ICUs have experienced hallucinations. Public health news is on mental health, conflicting messages, WHO’s response, ABCs of the virus, risky public transit, airline travel, pulse oximeters and more.
Running A Campaign In Midst Of Coronavirus: Concerns About Rallies, Economic Tumult And Candidates’ Health
March 10, 2020
Morning Briefing
The coronavirus could shape the 2020 elections in more ways than one. For now, the candidates have been keeping up with their schedule–with extra doses of hand sanitizer–but that could change in the coming weeks and months.
Federal List Of Dangerous ‘Red Zone’ States Grows To 21; US Nears 150,000 Deaths
July 29, 2020
Morning Briefing
According to a Trump administration report, 21 states fall into the “red zone” where coronavirus outbreaks are so serious that federal officials recommend more restrictions; 28 states qualify for the “yellow zone.” Meanwhile, new cases may be plateauing in some of those places, yet six of the states report record deaths.
California To Give Aid To Immigrants Living In Country Illegally Who Have Been Hurt By Coronavirus
April 16, 2020
Morning Briefing
“We feel a deep sense of gratitude for people that are in fear of deportations that are still addressing essential needs of tens of millions of Californians,” said Gov. Gavin Newsom, who noted 10% of the state’s workforce are immigrants living in the country illegally who paid more than $2.5 billion in state and local taxes last year.
Stunning, Unprecedented Jobless Numbers Only Offer Slice Of Economic Devastation Coronavirus Is Wreaking
April 3, 2020
Morning Briefing
Although the record-breaking number of unemployment claims for last week–6.6. million–were a stark reality check, there’s many who remain uncounted. Some have lost jobs or income did not initially qualify for benefits, and others, encountering state unemployment offices that were overwhelmed by the deluge of claimants, were unsuccessful in filing.
WHO Launches Global Solidarity Project To Ramp Up Clinical Trials For Coronavirus Drugs
March 19, 2020
Morning Briefing
“Multiple small trials with different methodologies may not give us the clear strong evidence we need about which treatments help to save lives,” said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. Scientists around the world have been racing around the clock to come up with treatments, even as a promising drug fails to show results. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump considered an executive order to expand the use of drugs in coronavirus patients, but FDA scientists objected over safety concerns. And health officials push back on rumors the ibuprofen could worsen the symptoms.
‘They Acted Late’: While Virus Spread Throughout This Prison, Actions Taken Were Scattershot, Too Slow
June 12, 2020
Morning Briefing
Stat reports on how a slow public health response led to spread of the coronavirus in an east of Los Angeles prison, which has reported 767 cases and 13 deaths so far. News on prisons is reported from Pennsylvania, as well.
Rate Of Coronavirus Deaths Drops But Some Warn Any Optimism Is Premature
February 18, 2020
Morning Briefing
China on Monday reported 2,048 new cases of coronavirus infections and 105 new deaths over the previous 24 hours. The number of new deaths dropped from the previous day, when 142 deaths were reported. But some public health experts cautioned that it’s too early to think the crisis is receding. Meanwhile, the head of a hospital in Wuhan died of the disease.
Georgia’s Chaotic Primary Lays Bare Infrastructure, Logistical Challenges Awaiting Both Parties
June 11, 2020
Morning Briefing
States are trying to brace themselves for a chaotic election season that may come during another severe wave of the coronavirus. But even with months of warning, Georgia failed to hold its primary successfully, and officials worry about what that means for November.
If Coronavirus Outbreak Isn’t Curbed By Fall, What Happens With Presidential Election?
March 19, 2020
Morning Briefing
ProPublica talks to an election expert about the various ways that the outbreak could impact the elections. The bottom line: it would take an act of Congress to move the presidential election and that would be difficult to do. Meanwhile, states are trying to shift their primary strategies to avoid voters gathering in large groups.
