Latest Morning Briefing Stories
Wildfires Provide Another Reason to Mask Up
As the long U.S. fire season gets underway, it’s even more important for Western residents to have a good face mask. Unfortunately, most of the masks we’re wearing for COVID-19 aren’t great for smoke.
Veteran’s Appendectomy Launches Excruciating Months-Long Battle Over Bill
An uninsured Colorado man owed $80,232 after two surgeries — the second to correct a complication from the first. After months of negotiating with the hospital, he still owes far more than most insurers would pay for the surgery he had.
Los incendios forestales son otra razón para usar máscaras
El humo de más de 300 incendios forestales en California está asfixiando a mucha gente en el centro y norte del estado y expandiendo sustancias tóxicas en el aire.
Is Cuomo Directive to Blame for Nursing Home COVID Deaths, as US Official Claims?
New York’s governor directed nursing homes to take COVID patients. But is it fair to say he “forced” them to do so, or that his directive led to the deaths of thousands of elderly residents? Most public health experts say no.
Cómo Florida drenó su sistema de salud pública y le abrió la puerta a COVID
A medida que la nación empezó a drenar su sistema de salud pública, personal y fondos cayeron más rápidamente en este estado, dejándolo desprotegido para la peor crisis de salud en un siglo.
Florida’s Cautionary Tale: How Gutting and Muzzling Public Health Fueled COVID Fire
As the nation hollowed out its public health infrastructure for decades, staffing and funding fell faster and further in Florida. Then the coronavirus ran roughshod, infecting more than half a million people and killing thousands.
One College’s Pop-Up COVID Test: Stop and ‘Smell the Roses’ (Or the Coffee)
Forget those thermometers. Researchers, finding a surer link between the loss of the sense of smell and a coronavirus infection, suggest the symptom may be an easy and less expensive method for screening.
California’s Data Failures Stymie Efforts to Curb the Virus
Counties say the ripple effects of the state’s COVID-19 data failures are impeding their ability to slow the spread of the coronavirus, even as they must make life-or-death decisions about business and school reopenings.
Deadly Mix: How Bars Are Fueling COVID-19 Outbreaks
In some states, bars and taverns have brought legal challenges to the coronavirus restrictions that have slowed sales and business.
Swab, Spit, Stay Home? College Coronavirus Testing Plans Are All Over the Map
2020 will be a year like no other on college campuses, as every institution makes its own rules. Some have no plans to routinely test students for the coronavirus; others aim to test every student and staff member twice a week.
DeSantis Says COVID Is a Lower Risk for School-Aged Kids Than Flu
Although it is still early, available numbers provide backup.
Alerta por fraude: cosas que un rastreador de contactos de COVID nunca preguntaría
Los rastreadores de contactos legítimos no solicitan pagos ni buscan otra información financiera, advierten defensores de los consumidores y funcionarios.
Scam Alert: Things a COVID Contact Tracer Wouldn’t Say
Criminals are finding ways to reap gains under the guise of this public health intervention.
COVID Plans Put to Test as Firefighters Crowd Camps for Peak Wildfire Season
Thousands of firefighters from across the U.S. have converged on the West as the wildfire season enters its peak. The inherently dangerous job now carries the additional risk of COVID-19 transmission, and fire managers are adapting their plans for crowded fire camps in the hope of preventing outbreaks that could sideline crews and weaken the nation’s firefighting infrastructure.
Democratic Convention, Night 2: Defending the ACA and Attacking Trump on Pandemic
Democrats continued the virtual extravaganza. Health care was a hot topic.
A case study of COVID-19 testing in Sacramento, California, shows that bottlenecks in the testing supply chain this summer limited people’s access to tests and dramatically delayed results. Similar scenarios played out in communities across the country.
As Georgia Reopened, Officials Knew of Severe Shortage of PPE for Health Workers
State officials said they urgently needed millions more masks and gowns, internal emails show. At least 80 Georgia health workers have died from COVID-19, including after the state reopened its economy.
GOP Senate Ad Misrepresents Montana Governor’s Stance
The race between Steve Bullock and Steve Daines reflects a trend in campaigns nationwide. Republicans often paint Democrats as left of the general public and health care has often been one of the issues the GOP highlights in that effort. In this case, the National Republican Senatorial Committee is leaping to conclusions with its claims.
La política frena el flujo de fondos a las agencias para detener la pandemia
Desde que comenzó la pandemia, el Congreso ha reservado miles de millones para aliviar la crisis. Pero parte de ese dinero no se ha distribuido, o gastado, apropiadamente.
Politics Slows Flow of US Pandemic Relief Funds to Public Health Agencies
Congress has allocated trillions of dollars to ease the coronavirus crisis. A joint KHN and AP investigation finds that many communities with big outbreaks have spent little of that federal money on local public health departments for work such as testing and contact tracing.
