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As we achieve increasingly details about the coronavirus and COVID-19, we appear to have much less and fewer understanding of how the illness works and the way prevalent it’s in areas across the nation and world.
Not solely does the data maintain altering as scientists sift by way of the information, however the incapability of some consultants to make that data comprehensible to the general public additional confuses issues. Most lately, the World Health Organization needed to stroll again feedback from considered one of its prime leaders concerning the asymptomatic transmission of the virus.
Meanwhile, Congress appears to have placed on the again burner one other spherical of laws to assist these most affected by the virus and accompanying financial shutdowns. And the devastation the virus has unleashed on the nation’s nursing houses and long-term care services continues to get much less consideration than it ought to, provided that nursing houses alone account for nearly a 3rd of all COVID-19 deaths within the U.S.
This week’s panelists are Julie Rovner of Kaiser Health News, Margot Sanger-Katz of The New York Times, Paige Winfield Cunningham of The Washington Post and Mary Ellen McIntire of CQ Roll Call.
Among the takeaways from this week’s podcast:
The latest turnaround by the World Health Organization on whether or not the coronavirus might be transmitted by asymptomatic carriers factors to the numerous difficulties public well being officers have in speaking to the general public concerning the illness. Although data concerning the virus is creating quickly, there are nonetheless too many mysteries about the way it operates. Even scientists effectively schooled in illness transmission are confused about find out how to deal with the coronavirus. The New York Times’ survey of epidemiologists discovered a shocking range of views on what actions they take into account secure. As folks weigh their dangers with the reopening of many governments and companies across the nation, some actions, comparable to education for kids, could also be thought of of such significance that they choose to go ahead regardless of the danger. Congress seems to be in no hurry to maneuver on one other funding invoice to offer reduction to well being care organizations or individuals who have been pressured out of labor. The House isn’t on the town till later this month, so it could seem unlikely that lawmakers may move something earlier than their July Fourth recess. The Trump administration nonetheless hasn’t pushed out all of the funding that was already accredited, but it surely introduced this week it’s lastly making a few of these funds out there to well being care suppliers who typically work with low-income sufferers and are paid by way of Medicaid. Part of the issue lies in the way in which the reduction payments have been written: The federal authorities needed to disburse the cash and couldn’t let the states do it. Generally, states make the reimbursements for Medicaid, in order that they have been those with the wanted lists of suppliers and their monetary data. The COVID-19 pandemic has taken an enormous toll on nursing houses, resulting in massive numbers of residents and employees turning into develop into ailing or dying. Such catastrophes might assist focus consideration on long-term issues that plague these services.
Also this week, Rovner interviews Michael Mackert, director of the Center for Health Communication on the University of Texas-Austin’s Dell Medical School. Mackert, who teaches in each the medical faculty and the college’s Stan Richards School of Advertising and Public Relations, talks about why well being consultants have had such a troublesome time explaining what the general public must know concerning the virus.
Plus, for additional credit score, the panelists advocate their favourite well being coverage tales of the week they suppose it is best to learn too:
Julie Rovner: The New York Times’ “Hospitals Got Bailouts and Furloughed Thousands While Paying C.E.O.s Millions” by Jessica Silver-Greenberg, Jesse Drucker and David Enrich
Margot Sanger-Katz: The Washington Post’s “Coronavirus Infections Haven’t Spiked Since Europe Loosened Lockdowns. There Are Many Theories About Why” by Chico Harlan, Loveday Morris, Michael Birnbaum and Stephano Pitrelli
Paige Winfield Cunningham: The Baton Rouge Advocate’s “Louisiana Is Spending Millions on Contact Tracing. But Less Than Half of Infected Are Answering the Phone” by Sam Karlin
Mary Ellen McIntire: The Washington Post’s “The Pandemic Hit and This Car Became Home for a Family of Four. Now They’re Fighting to Get Out,” by Greg Jaffe
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