Nursing Homes With Bad Track Records Eye Financial Incentives To Take In COVID Patients
June 5, 2020
Morning Briefing
Advocates say that the generous government incentives designed to help patients who are recovering from COVID-19 will only serve to expose more elderly people to some of the factors that led to nearly 26,000 deaths in nursing homes during the pandemic. For example, eight of 20 nursing homes in Michigan selected by the state government to build wings for coronavirus-positive patients are currently rated as “below average” or “much below average.” Meanwhile, CMS says it will fine nursing homes weekly for not submitting outbreak data.
States Must Increase Daily Testing By Tens Of Thousands To Get High Enough Rates To Reopen, Analysis Finds
April 27, 2020
Morning Briefing
Stat and Harvard reviewed how many tests states are processing each day and found that some places, like New York, need to increase coronavirus testing levels by up to 100,000 more a day to keep up with the spread of the fast-moving virus. Meanwhile, Dr. Anthony Fauci says he’s confident the U.S. will be able to double its testing capacity over the next several weeks.
Handful Of Senators Self-Isolate After Rand Paul Tests Positive For COVID-19
March 23, 2020
Morning Briefing
Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) is the first senator to test positive for the coronavirus, though he was showing no symptoms. Some colleagues, following medical advice, also removed themselves from the Capitol, which means, as of now, they can’t vote on the stimulus legislation. On the House side, Rep. Ben McAdams (D-Utah) was hospitalized with the disease.
Trump Seeks New Convention Location After N.C. Governor Holds Ground On COVID Safety Measures
June 3, 2020
Morning Briefing
President Donald Trump and Democratic North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper have been in escalating discussions about whether the Republican convention can be held as planned amid the pandemic. Cooper on Tuesday said that with the state of the outbreak being so fluid, he couldn’t guarantee that there wouldn’t be safety measures in place that would affect attendance. Officials say it isn’t a done deal, but Republicans are looking into other cities. How the coronavirus crisis is impacting the primaries and voting is also reported.
Reinstatement Of Captain Crozier? Navy Investigates His Firing, Possible Return To USS Theodore Roosevelt
April 16, 2020
Morning Briefing
Adm. Michael Gilday, chief of naval operations, is reviewing whether he can reinstate Captain Brett Crozier, who is in isolation on Guam with the coronavirus. Crozier was removed from command on April 2 for writing a letter asking for help for his crew that went viral. Either way, President Donald Trump could overrule the admiral’s decision. Other military news is on ways organizations are supporting troops, as well.
What’s To Become Of The 2020 Elections?
March 30, 2020
Morning Briefing
The coronavirus outbreak has upended the election season, and it’s hard to know how the following months will play out when it comes to politics and voting. Meanwhile, the outbreak has both deepened the partisan divide and created a shared experience for Americans to unify over. Meanwhile, 2020 Democratic front-runner Joe Biden criticizes President Donald Trump’s response to the crisis.
In Round-The-Clock Effort, China Succeeds In Building Hospital In 10 Days. But Will It Be Enough Amid Outbreak?
February 4, 2020
Morning Briefing
China grabbed the world’s attention with the announcement that it would build a hospital to handle coronavirus patients in just 10 days. On Monday, the facility accepted its first patients. But as the cases of the virus surge past 20,000, some say more hospital beds are needed.
A ‘Tsunami That Has Overwhelmed Us’: Italian Doctor Paints Grim Picture Of A Country Under Siege
March 11, 2020
Morning Briefing
Italian Dr. Daniele Macchini posted on social media about what’s happening on the front lines of Italian’s coronavirus response. Meanwhile, one clue about why Italy may be so affected is that the country has the second-oldest population in the world, and the outbreak has killed a disproportionately high number of people in their 80s and 90s.
Old Rule Of Thumb Was That Pandemics Happen 3 Times Per Century. 20 Years In, We’ve Had At Least 7 Scares
March 6, 2020
Morning Briefing
The incidence of infectious disease events has more than doubled from the 1940s to 1960s, and researchers blame urbanization, globalization and increased human consumption of animal proteins. Meanwhile, scientists struggle to suss out just how many people actually have the coronavirus and how deadly the virus could prove to be.
Ousted Vaccine Official Testifies That ‘Lives Were Lost’ Because Of Trump Administration’s Early Missteps
May 15, 2020
Morning Briefing
Dr. Rick Bright painted a grim, chaotic picture of the White House’s COVID-19 response efforts for the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health, testifying that the U.S. still lacks a comprehensive plan for ensuring a supply of basic supplies like swabs needed to administer coronavirus tests. HHS Secretary Alex Azar dismissed Bright’s testimony. “This is like someone who was in choir trying to say he was a soloist back then,” Azar said. “His allegations do not hold water.”
Trump Concedes There Will Possibly Be More Deaths, Suffering, But Continues To Push For Reopening
May 6, 2020
Morning Briefing
President Donald Trump spoke with ABC World News Tonight about the real, negative human cost in prioritizing an economic revival over a more cautious approach. “Will some people be affected? Yes. Will some people be affected badly? Yes. But we have to get our country open and we have to get it open soon,” Trump said. Meanwhile, intelligence officials continue to push back against the idea that the coronavirus was released from a lab in China.
‘Trump Can’t Wish It Away:’ In Speech On Health Care, Biden Blasts Rival’s Handling Of Pandemic
June 26, 2020
Morning Briefing
“[Donald Trump’s] like a child who can’t believe this has happened to him — all his whining and self-pity,” presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden said during a campaign speech in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. “Well, this pandemic didn’t happen to him. It happened to all of us. And his job isn’t to whine about it. His job is to do something about it, to lead.” Biden also criticized the president’s “heartless” actions around the ACA and called for a public option. Meanwhile, Trump campaign message continues to sidestep the resurgence of coronavirus cases.
When The Science Is Fast But The Virus Is Faster
January 31, 2020
Morning Briefing
Researchers race to get ahead of the coronavirus, but the outbreak is testing all advances made by scientists to handle an unknown and rapidly spreading pathogen in real time. In other news on the outbreak, Facebook’s vow to tackle misinformation about the virus, the booming demand for face masks, and more.
Remdesivir Was Fated To Join Antiviral Drug Graveyard, But It’s Getting Another Shot At Success
May 4, 2020
Morning Briefing
The drug failed as a treatment for hepatitis and Ebola, but now it might be one of the most well-known drugs in the world. The New York Times takes a look at its startling rescue and transformation during the coronavirus outbreak and a Stat video explains how the medication works. In related news, the FDA allows emergency use of the drug and Gilead has donated more than 1.5 million vials of remdesivir to go to critically ill patients as soon as possible.
Aircraft Carrier’s Captain Calls For ‘Decisive Action’ From Navy Leadership For 5,000 Sailors Aboard
April 1, 2020
Morning Briefing
After the captain of the U.S. aircraft carrier Theodore Roosevelt–where at least 100 have tested positive for coronavirus–asked for the removal of 4,000 of the nuclear-powered ship’s sailors and isolating them, U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper said “I don’t think we’re at that point.” Military news is on infection spreading in veterans’ homes, as well.
Even As Many Go Hungry, Farmers Dump Crops. Trump Administration Aims For Win-Win Fix With $19B Plan.
April 24, 2020
Morning Briefing
With the usual food distribution chain disrupted due to the coronavirus outbreak, farmers are plowing unused produce back into the field. Yet food banks struggle to feed millions of newly unemployed Americans. While a federal plan will throw $19 billion dollars at the problem, it must still overcome the transportation challenges that created it in the first place. Other food supply issues reports on the meat industry, food plant safety and alleged price gouging on eggs.
FDA Approves Emergency Use Of Malaria Drug Trump Touted Despite Scant Evidence That It Works
March 30, 2020
Morning Briefing
Scientists have been quick to try to counter President Donald Trump’s praise of a potential treatment for the coronavirus. But some say that since hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine at least don’t seem to worsen COVID-19, it might be worth the try. “We have literally nothing else to offer these patients other than supportive care,” said Dr. David Juurlink, an internist from Canada.
