100,000 American Lives: Sheer Scope Of Loss Difficult For Humans To Grasp, Experts Say
May 27, 2020
Morning Briefing
America will hit 100,000 confirmed coronavirus deaths this week, but it’s hard to fully conceptualize the enormity of that tragedy. “Can you picture 30,000 people or 50,000 people? And when you get into the millions, what do you even do with that?” Lorenzo Servitje, an assistant professor of literature and medicine at Lehigh University, tells AP.
WHO To Reevaluate Global Emergency Designation As Coronavirus Spreads At Rate Of 1918 Spanish Flu Pandemic
January 30, 2020
Morning Briefing
The World Health Organization’s Emergency Committee will meet on Thursday as China continues to battle the spreading virus. Right now, the pace looks alarming, but experts continue to caution that it’s too early to be doing math on the cases. In the beginning of an outbreak research tends to be skewed by the sickest patients. Still, some others are concerned with the apparent ease of human-to-human transmission.
If The Number Of Coronavirus Cases Surge High Enough, U.S. Does Not Have Enough ICU Beds Or Ventilators To Care For Everyone
March 15, 2020
Morning Briefing
Experts have been sounding the alarm bells over the number of medical supplies and beds that the country has available to deal with a critical surge in patients. Even with a stockpile of gear, there might not be enough supplies, and doctors may have to start rationing care. Meanwhile, Veterans Affairs medical centers prepare to act as back-up to handle spill-over patients.
Chinese Doctor’s Death Becomes A Rallying Cry For Scared And Angry Nation Being Held Hostage By Coronavirus
February 10, 2020
Morning Briefing
Li Wenliang was among the first doctors to warn about a possible outbreak of a pneumonia-like illness. Chinese officials punished him for speaking out, but it wasn’t long before he was proven right. His death from the very virus he warned about has become a flashpoint for people in China who are frustrated with how their government is handling the crisis.
Some Prisoners Released Early As Crowded Jails Fear Prospect Of Widespread Outbreaks
March 23, 2020
Morning Briefing
Prisons in at least 16 states are sending home low-level offenders or inmates who are older or sickly home early due to coronavirus fears. Other steps taken by prison officials include banning visitors and restricting prisoners’ activities.
FDA Has Somewhat Reined In At-Home-Testing Market, But Doubts About Accuracy Still Linger
June 2, 2020
Morning Briefing
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.
‘Devastating Outcome’: Database Shows Nursing Homes With Deadly Outbreaks Doubled In Past Week
April 30, 2020
Morning Briefing
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.
Gilead Drug Study Offers Promising Results Though Fauci Acknowledges It’s Not A ‘Knockout’ Punch
April 30, 2020
Morning Briefing
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.
Once Shunted To Sidelines, HHS Stepping Back Onto Pandemic Field As Trump’s Attention Shifts
June 17, 2020
Morning Briefing
After a few high-profile missteps at the start of the outbreak, HHS Secretary Alex Azar and his agency took a back seat to the White House task force helmed by Drs. Deborah Birx and Anthony Fauci. But now as President Donald Trump locks eyes firmly on reopening, HHS is taking a larger role in handling the coronavirus outbreak. Meanwhile, Fauci continues to warn about the surge in cases.
Viral #Plandemic Video Promoting Unsubstantiated And Discredited Virus Claims Removed By Facebook, YouTube
May 8, 2020
Morning Briefing
The 26-minute video created by a discredited scientist doles out conspiracy theories and dangerous advice — telling viewers that wearing a mask and washing hands increases the risk of contracting the coronavirus. The film was first pushed online by anti-vaccination disinformation peddlers and then by minor celebrities. Within hours it had been watched millions of times.
Coronavirus In U.S.: Self-Quarantines, The First Case, More Evacuations, Race To Develop A Treatment, Emergency Funds And More
February 5, 2020
Morning Briefing
“I am going stir crazy,” said Claire Campbell, who has self-quarantined herself after returning from China. Stories on the coronavirus in the United States look at the Americans who have been affected by the outbreak, the government’s response, technology being used to identify patients, and more.
Americans Out Of Work Total Historic 39 Million, With Another 2.4 Million Filing Jobless Claims Last Week
May 21, 2020
Morning Briefing
Millions of Americans filed for unemployment benefits last week — making it the ninth week in a row the U.S. economy shed millions of jobs due to coronavirus shut downs. While businesses begin to reopen in many parts of the country, financial analysts worry that the massive number of layoffs and furloughs have taken a longer-term hold of the labor market.
Coronavirus Cases See Biggest Jump Since Statistics Began; A Look Inside A Locked-Down Country
February 5, 2020
Morning Briefing
There are now at least 24,324 cases with more than 3,000 patients in critical condition. Experts were alarmed by the sharp one-day increase. Meanwhile, media outlets get a glimpse of what quarantined China is like.
Trump Considering Capitalizing On Crisis By Completely Blocking All Illegal Border Crossings From Mexico
March 18, 2020
Morning Briefing
The administration said the nation cannot risk allowing the coronavirus to spread through detention facilities and among Border Patrol agents. Meanwhile, the U.S. and Canada are eyeing a mutual agreement to end all non-essential travel over the border.
‘There’s No Sign That It’s Getting Better’: China Reels As Rest Of World Watches Its Coronavirus Response
February 4, 2020
Morning Briefing
Chinese leader Xi Jinping said that the coronavirus is a major test of the country’s government and infrastructure. Chinese health officials are under immense pressure as the international community watches closely on how they handle the outbreak. Meanwhile, Hong Kong reports its first death from the virus, and nearby countries scramble to contain it.
Intelligence Agencies Concur With Scientific Consensus That Virus Was Not Man-Made
May 1, 2020
Morning Briefing
President Donald Trump has pushed the idea that the coronavirus was manufactured in a Chinese lab, though scientists studying it say that it comes from nature. Intelligence agencies were directed by the White House to investigate, but, in a rare move, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence signaled support for the scientific consensus that the virus was “not manmade or genetically modified.”
Black Americans Hesitant To Get Vaccine In Sign Of Ongoing Mistrust Of Medical Community
May 28, 2020
Morning Briefing
Only 25% of black Americans in a recent survey expressed willingness to get a potential vaccine for the coronavirus despite the fact that they are among the hardest-hit populations by COVID-19. But the medical community has a long history of exploiting black Americans, so there’s little trust in public health advice now. Meanwhile, the debate rages on about when a vaccine can be expected.
New York State Surpasses 100 Coronavirus Cases; D.C. Confirms First Patient; More States Declare Emergencies
March 9, 2020
Morning Briefing
A look at how states are working to contain the outbreak as their cases numbers climb.
Nursing Homes Should Be Among Last To Reopen CMS Says As It Urges ‘Extreme Caution’
May 19, 2020
Morning Briefing
The Trump administration’s guidelines urge state and local officials to refrain from allowing virtually all visitors into nursing homes or other senior care facilities until several conditions are met, including that all residents and staff test negative for the coronavirus for at least 28 days. Other news on nursing homes in Canada, Louisiana, California and Nevada is reported.
Airport Screenings Ramp Up At Five Major American Hubs As First U.S. Case Of Coronavirus Is Confirmed
January 22, 2020
Morning Briefing
“Leave no doubt: Entry screening is just one part of a multilayered system,” said Dr. Martin Cetron, the head of the CDC’s Division of Global Migration and Quarantine. CDC officials say they’re expecting to see more coronavirus cases in the U.S.
