Category: COVID-19

KHN’s ‘What the Health?’: Still Waiting for That Trump Health Plan

President Donald Trump keeps promising a comprehensive plan to replace the Affordable Care Act. And he keeps not delivering. Meanwhile, members of Congress and White House officials seem unable to agree on a new COVID-19 relief bill. And Missouri becomes the sixth state where voters approved a Medicaid expansion ballot measure. Tami Luhby of CNN, Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico and Kimberly Leonard of Business Insider join KHN’s Julie Rovner to discuss this and more. Plus, for extra credit, the panelists recommend their favorite health stories of the week they think you should read, too.

Health Care Workers of Color Nearly Twice as Likely as Whites to Get COVID-19

Harvard research shows minorities are most likely to report inadequate PPE and to work with COVID-positive patients.

America’s Obesity Epidemic Threatens Effectiveness of Any COVID Vaccine

Vaccines engineered to protect the public from influenza, hepatitis B, tetanus and rabies are less effective for obese people, leaving them more vulnerable to serious illness. As scientists race to develop a COVID-19 vaccine, experts say obesity could prove an impediment — a sobering prospect for a nation in which nearly half of all adults are obese.

With Caveats, Hopeful News for Preschools Planning Young Kids’ Return

Hundreds of thousands of essential workers have kept their kids in day care during the pandemic out of necessity and, so far, these centers haven’t been big disease spreaders. But the evidence remains incomplete.

Could Labs That Test Livestock Ease COVID Testing Backlog for People? Well … Maybe.

Experts say aid from certain veterinary labs could relieve some of the pressure on commercial and hospital-based labs to lessen the current delays in COVID-19 testing and results, but it is unlikely to be a game changer.

Pandemic’s Bumps and Backlash Shape Montana Race Poised to Steer US Senate

Gov. Steve Bullock’s response to the pandemic has helped raise his profile as he challenges incumbent Republican Sen. Steve Daines. But it also complicates the campaign as the state sees a resurgence of COVID-19 cases and voters question some of the governor’s actions.

Maryland County Pledges Investigation of Health Worker’s Coronavirus Death

The disease intervention specialist at the Prince George’s County Health Department was among at least 20 department employees infected by the coronavirus, union officials say. The outbreak underscores the stark dangers facing the nation’s front-line public health army.

When Green Means Stop: How Safety Messages Got So Muddled

Philadelphia is in the “restricted green” reopening phase. What does that mean? And why does the U.S. have so many different pandemic safety rules? 

California GOP Consultant Rues ‘Big Mistake’ That Led to Family’s COVID Infections

Richard Costigan, a well-respected fixture in state Capitol circles, has detailed his family’s ongoing experiences with COVID-19 on social media after catching the virus — he surmises — at a backyard gathering. The former Schwarzenegger aide wants people to know this virus doesn’t care who you are.

What Seniors Can Expect as Their New Normal in a Post-Vaccine World

Experts say folks 60 and up must continue to limit exposure in the years to come — even after there is a vaccine for COVID-19.