Category: states

The Mask Hypocrisy: How COVID Memos Contradict the White House’s Public Face

When in public, President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence join crowded rallies where many do not wear masks. Behind the scenes, the White House is recommending states adopt mask mandates and even fines — leaving it up to local officials to handle the consequences.

We Freely Wear Seat Belts. Why Can’t We Learn to Wear Masks?

Americans have gotten used to all sorts of mandates, from cleaning up after dogs to stopping at intersections. There’s no reason it should be this hard to enforce ones around the coronavirus.

Efforts to Keep COVID-19 out of Prisons Fuel Outbreaks in County Jails

Montana sheriffs say the state’s decision to halt prison transfers has led to overcrowding that makes it difficult to quarantine inmates and clean facilities.

‘You’re Going to Release Him When He Was Hurting Himself?’

Daniel Prude’s family knew he needed psychiatric care and tried to get it for him. Instead, his encounter with police hours after he was released from Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester, New York, proved fatal.

‘No Mercy’ Explores the Fallout After a Small Town Loses Its Hospital

Listen to “Where It Hurts” on Tuesdays, Sept. 29 through Nov. 10. When Mercy Hospital Fort Scott shut its doors, locals lost care. Health workers lost jobs. The hole left behind is bigger than a hospital. Season One is “No Mercy.”

Health on Wheels: Tricked-Out RVs Deliver Addiction Treatment to Rural Communities

Even when COVID-19 forced many addiction treatment clinics to scale back, Colorado continued to serve patients with addiction problems through an innovative program that married low-tech with high-tech. The state brought clinics on wheels to remote, underserved towns and used telehealth to connect patients with doctors.

In Los Angeles, Latinos Hit Hard By Pandemic’s Economic Storm

A new poll finds 71% of Latino households in Los Angeles County experienced serious financial problems because of the coronavirus.

California Expands Privacy Protection to Public Health Workers Amid Threats

Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom expanded a confidential address program to public health officials in the wake of ongoing threats made against them tied to pandemic safety precautions such as masks and stay-at-home orders.

A Fair to Remember: County Fairs Weigh Risk of Outbreak Against Financial Ruin

The threat of COVID-19 forced many county fairs to cancel this year. But some rural communities that depend on the annual economic and cultural boost decided to go ahead despite a pattern of outbreaks.

How Families Are Keeping Halloween From Turning Into a COVID Nightmare

Parents are turning to spooky scavenger hunts, pumpkin-carving and movie nights as alternatives to trick-or-treating. Health professionals have their own advice on how to safely celebrate Halloween during the pandemic.