‘These Are Extraordinary Circumstances’: States Grapple With How Best To Handle Voting During A Pandemic
March 16, 2020
Morning Briefing
The presidential primary season is in full swing, but the coronavirus outbreak might put a damper on voting. While Ohio postpones its Tuesday primary, other states move forward. How those voting proceeds could be a test for the fall. Meanwhile, some lawmakers call for expanded mail-in voting.
Nonprofit Health Centers On Frontlines Of Crisis Face Federal Funding Cut Off In May
March 16, 2020
Morning Briefing
Community health centers face dwindling equipment and resources as they try to care for uninsured Americans amidst the COVID-19 emergency. And there’s an added stress for these facilities because their federal funding will run out in May. Meanwhile, how insurance will cover coronavirus testing and treatment remains an open question.
U.S. Coronavirus Count Has Ticked Up To 5, But Experts Say You Really Shouldn’t Be Panicking
January 27, 2020
Morning Briefing
The total number of confirmed cases in the United States now sits at five. But experts say it’s unlikely Americans are in any real danger right now. “Don’t panic unless you’re paid to panic,” said Brandon Brown, an epidemiologist. “Public health workers should be on the lookout. The government should be ready to provide resources. … But for everyone else: Breathe.”
Health Law Could Act As Safety Net For Millions, But Marketing Has Been So Severely Cut They Might Not Know It
April 7, 2020
Morning Briefing
Advocates are calling for the Trump administration to ramp up spending on outreach to make sure Americans who have been laid off during the crisis know there’s an option out there for them. The administration instead seems to be focused on a plan to tap hospital stimulus funds to pay people’s bills if they get coronavirus and need treatment
How COVID-19 Affects U.S. Kids: CDC Data Confirms That Children Are Less Likely To Fall Seriously Ill
April 7, 2020
Morning Briefing
Less than 2 percent of the confirmed U.S. coronavirus infections are pediatric cases, according to a new CDC report. Three kids under 18 so far have died though, and there is some evidence that babies may be at more risk, though data is incomplete. News reports focus on the health impact to pregnant women, as well.
‘Tuskegee Is In The Back Of My Mind’: Black Americans Wary Of Volunteering For COVID Studies
May 11, 2020
Morning Briefing
Deep distrust in a medical system and government that has time and again exploited black Americans is hampering scientists’ efforts now to get a better idea of why such severe racial disparities are being seen in the coronavirus outbreak. Meanwhile, ProPublica looks at Chicago’s early deaths–the vast majority of whom were black. And as social distancing arrests pick up, data show that minorities are being disproportionately targeted.
Phone Apps Eyed As Potential Contact Tracing Helper But Reliance On Bluetooth Magnifies Security Risks
April 30, 2020
Morning Briefing
The plans of governments and tech companies to use mobile devices to aid coronavirus tracking efforts depend on users always keeping Bluetooth on. But security and privacy researchers warn that Bluetooth can be vulnerable to hacking and is less accurate than other location services like GPS. Also in health IT news is the latest bumpiness on the road of electronic health records and the continued growth of telemedicine during the pandemic.
Can Coronavirus Spread While Patients Don’t Have Symptoms? Report Saying ‘Yes’ Was Flawed, But That Doesn’t Mean It’s Untrue
February 5, 2020
Morning Briefing
While research showing that the coronavirus was spreading while patients were asymptomatic was based on faulty information, experts say it doesn’t mean that the virus isn’t spreading before symptoms appear. “We had been getting reports from highly reliable people in China — scientists, investigators and public health people who we’ve known over the years — and they’ve been telling us, ‘There’s asymptomatic disease, for sure, and we are seeing asymptomatic transmission,’” said Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
Jobless Total Takes Another Brutal Hit With New 3.2 Million Americans Filing For Unemployment Last Week
May 7, 2020
Morning Briefing
For the seventh-straight week, more than 3 million jobless claims were filed, bringing the total number of Americans out of work during the coronavirus outbreak to over 33 million. Yet some economists see evidence that the U.S. labor losses are nearing the bottom of the curve. And many laid-off workers are optimistic that they can return to their pre-pandemic jobs, according to a new survey.
Hospitals Get Guidance On Restarting Elective Procedures: Think A Gradual Sunrise Over Flipping A Light Switch
April 20, 2020
Morning Briefing
CMS Administrator Seema Verma released a plan that will help hospitals start to reopen, just like the rest of the country. Among other things, before a hospital can reopen for non-emergent, non-coronavirus care, their state or region will have to meet certain criteria in terms of residents’ symptoms and case loads. The American Hospital Association has also released readiness guidelines.
‘COVID Is The Equivalent Of Katrina Hitting 50 States’: Hurricane Season Looms In Distance For FEMA
April 2, 2020
Morning Briefing
FEMA, which is handling the coronavirus outbreak, is already taking steps to brace for a potentially devastating hurricane season by possibly rehiring retirees and setting up a second coordination center devoted to non-pandemic related catastrophes. Meanwhile, the agency has debunked the idea that President Donald Trump can issue a nationwide quarantine, but the myth persists.
Scientists Try To Counter Phenomenon In Which Immune System Attacks Patient’s Own Organs
April 2, 2020
Morning Briefing
The “cytokine storms” are being seen especially in young patients with the coronavirus. A drug that’s sometimes used to soothe an immune system in distress is being considered as a possible treatment. In other news: the science behind the 14-day quarantine, the gender disparities seen with the virus, a look at adverse neurological effects being seen in some patients, and more.
Joking Or Not, Trump’s ‘Slow The Testing Down’ Statement Stands Out From Tulsa Rally
June 22, 2020
Morning Briefing
Echoing previous statements on U.S. testing efforts, President Donald Trump told an audience in Tulsa, Oklahoma Saturday night, “When you do testing to that extent, you’re going to find more people, you’re going to find more cases. So I said to my people, ‘Slow the testing down, please.’” As critics of the administration’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic jumped on the president’s words, White House advisers insisted Trump was joking during a light moment of the campaign rally.
Germany’s ‘Meticulous’ Tracing Of Early Infection Cluster In Bavaria Likely Inhibited Spread, Researchers Say
April 10, 2020
Morning Briefing
In January, after its first patient tested positive, the government set up a crisis team and tracked down those who had contact with the patient. They even identified a salt shaker she touched that others handled. Germany’s coronavirus death rate is among the lowest. Global news reports are from Iceland, England, China and other nations.
Congress Moved Uncharacteristically Swiftly On $2.2T Package. Don’t Expect Same Bipartisan Smooth-Sailing Ahead.
April 10, 2020
Morning Briefing
A showdown on Thursday between Republicans and Democrats on Capitol Hill previewed a tough fight to come over future coronavirus stimulus legislation. Senate Democrats blocked Republicans’ attempts to pass a $250 billion bill that exclusively helped small businesses, wanting additional aid for health providers and hospitals too. Republican senators balked at adding more money.
Federal Prisons Will Keep Majority Of Inmates In Cells For Next 14 Days To Slow Spread
April 1, 2020
Morning Briefing
Prisoners will only be allowed out in small groups in order to shower, eat and make phone calls. The federal Bureau of Prisons plans additional steps to try to stop COVID-19 spread, like limiting transfers between facilities. News on how prisons are handling with coronavirus also comes out of Louisiana, New York and California.
Republicans Were Counting On An ‘America Vs. Socialism’ Dichotomy For 2020. Then Came The Pandemic.
April 6, 2020
Morning Briefing
The coronavirus is unending political plans on both sides, but has hit Republicans particularly hard as more and more Americans turn to the government for help. Meanwhile, Democrats refocus their message to point to how quickly the economic success voters attribute to President Donald Trump has been wiped out. And Wisconsin mayors call on state officials to postpone Tuesday’s primary.
Pandemic Hit To U.S. Jobs Rises To 30 Million, With 3.8 Million New People Filing For Unemployment Last Week
April 30, 2020
Morning Briefing
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.
