Mortality Rate Placed At 3.4%, But Some Experts Say That’s A ‘Crudely Calculated’ Snapshot That Will Change
March 4, 2020
Morning Briefing
It’s hard for WHO to get an official count on those infected–and thus the mortality rate associated with coronavirus–because the symptoms present as mild in so many patients. But experts are still working hard to figure out exactly how bad the outbreak will be in the end, with many guessing it will be less severe than the 1918 Spanish pandemic, but worse than the swine flu of recent years. Meanwhile, social media giants are attempting to wage a war against misinformation online and experts continue to warn against panic-buying medical supplies.
Trump Will Ask Congress To Pass Payroll Tax Relief In Effort To Stem Economy’s Downward Plunge
March 10, 2020
Morning Briefing
As stocks continued to tumble on Monday amid coronavirus fears, President Donald Trump, who has tied much of his reputation to the success of the economy, scrambled to alleviate the pain from the losses. Along with a proposed payroll tax cut, Trump said he was seeking help for hourly-wage workers to ensure they’re “not going to miss a paycheck” and “don’t get penalized for something that’s not their fault.” Meanwhile, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said Democrats could release an economic aid package this week.
For Most People, It’s Not Virus Itself That’s Dangerous, But Rather How It Overwhelms Health Systems, Communities
March 5, 2020
Morning Briefing
Most people who get the coronavirus will only develop mild symptoms. But because of the extra burden on local health systems and how the virus spreads to older, more vulnerable populations, the virus’ repercussions run deeper than just mild inconvenience. In other news: we’re learning more each day about the virus; kids seem to be less susceptible but they can still spread infection; the fast-moving nature of the virus makes it hard to understand and contain; the EPA releases a list of disinfectants people should be using; and more.
Based On Trump’s Past Responses To Pandemics, Experts Worry About A Harmful Overreaction From President
January 28, 2020
Morning Briefing
“With the Ebola epidemic, it was urging quarantines, travel bans, overreacting in all the ways that would be counterproductive. I would hate to see that now,” said Lawrence Gostin, a senior professor at Georgetown University, of President Donald Trump’s past responses to outbreaks. Public officials say the coronavirus isn’t spreading in the U.S. yet, and that threat for Americans remains low. Still, anxiety and panic over the illness is ramping up as the possible cases in the U.S. climbs past 100.
Google Will Offer Government Massive Trove Of ‘Mobility Data’ To Assist With Social Distancing Measures
April 3, 2020
Morning Briefing
Amid sweeping efforts to get Americans to stay at home to slow the spread of the coronavirus, Google will offer the government a report of how foot traffic has increased or declined to six types of destinations: homes, workplaces, retail and recreation establishments, parks, grocery stores and pharmacies, and transit stations. In other news on social distancing measures: Dr. Anthony Fauci wants every state to institute a stay-at-home order; public compliance soars; projections show where the next hotspots may emerge; places that defy state orders mapped; historical data reveals cities that social distance emerge stronger economically in the long run; and more.
China Invested Billions To Rate As A Giant In Health Sciences. Now That Infrastructure Is Put To The Test.
January 27, 2020
Morning Briefing
Nearly a month after discovering the first cases, Chinese health officials have made little progress in stopping its spread. Experts say China’s skills in certain basic public-health tasks, such as outbreak investigations, are uneven. So what does all that mean for China’s investments in becoming a world leader in health? Meanwhile, Chinese scientists are testing an HIV drug to treat coronavirus symptoms. And media outlets take a look at the science behind the outbreak and response.
Trump’s Proposed Budget Would Cut About A Trillion Dollars From Medicaid Programs, ACA Subsidies
February 11, 2020
Morning Briefing
While President Donald Trump’s budget doesn’t offer specifics on his “health care vision,” an $844 billion mystery pot — along with other Medicaid changes — signal deep cuts to health programs. Critics were quick to challenge Trump’s promises to protect people’s coverage despite any funding cuts. “You can’t cut $1 trillion from these programs and protect the most vulnerable,” said Aviva Aron-Dine of the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. The budget also includes a big funding drop for CDC, a proposal to strip the FDA of its authority over tobacco products, a provision to slash funding for the agency currently working to create a coronavirus vaccine, and more.
Join Our Facebook Live Conversation
June 13, 2017
Page
Up Next, Nov. 16: Helping COVID’s Secondary Victims: Grieving Families and Friends COVID-19 is taking a devastating toll — not just on patients but also their families and friends. For every person who dies of the virus, nine close family members are affected, researchers estimate. Many people are shaken by the circumstances under which […]
KFF Health News Staff
May 29, 2014
Page
Elisabeth Rosenthal, Editor-in-Chief, joined KFF Health News in September 2016 after 22 years as a correspondent with The New York Times, where she covered a variety of beats from health care to environment and did a stint in the Beijing bureau. While in China, she covered SARS, bird flu, and the emergence of HIV/AIDS in […]
Fear of Flu: Shifting the Goalposts
By Shannon Brownlee Jeanne Lenzer
November 17, 2009
KFF Health News Original
Are fears about kids and the swine flu overblown?
