Category: Public Health
WHO declares Covid mutation found in India a ‘variant of concern’ for global health
“I think what we’re seeing is more transmissible,” said WHO chief scientist Soumya Swaminathan. by Jake Johnson, staff writer Monday, May 10, 2021 The World Health Organization on Monday classified a coronavirus mutation first detected in…
Covid vaccine rollout leaves most older adults confused where to get shots
by Phil Galewitz, Kaiser Health News Friday, January 22, 2021 Over a month into a massive vaccination program, most older Americans report they don’t know where or when they can get inoculated for covid-19, according to…
Vaccinating Black Americans is essential. Key states aren’t doing the work to combat hesitancy
States and the federal government also don’t reliably collect data so we won’t have a good idea of whether the vaccine is reaching these critical populations. by Caroline Chen, Ryan Gabrielson and Topher Sanders Though African…
States with few coronavirus restrictions are spreading the virus beyond their borders
Lax states are attracting shoppers and students from stricter neighbors — and sending back COVID-19 cases. The imbalance underscores the lack of a national policy. by David Armstrong Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2020 For months after Washington…
As US hospitalizations hit new record, Fauci warns pandemic not expected to ease for holidays
As travelers ignored warnings, Thanksgiving marked the 24th consecutive day of more than 100,000 new daily Covid-19 cases in the United States. by Jessica Corbett, staff writer Friday, November 27 After millions of people crowded into…
Rapid testing is less accurate than the Government wants to admit
Rapid antigen testing is a mess. The federal government pushed it out without a plan, and then spent weeks denying problems with false positives. by Lisa Song Monday, November 16 The promise of antigen tests emerged…
ACLU sues Trump Admin. to obtain key records on federal handling of Coronavirus pandemic in prisons
The suit seeks “the immediate release of improperly withheld agency records related to federal government’s failed response to the spread of Covid-19 in prisons in jails.” by Brett Wilkins, staff writer Wednesday, October 21 The American…
Older COVID patients battle ‘brain fog,’ weakness and emotional turmoil
by Judith Graham October 20, 2020 “Lord, give me back my memory.” For months, as Marilyn Walters has struggled to recover from COVID-19, she has repeated this prayer day and night. Like other older adults who’ve…
As pandemic surges in US, Trump says ‘People are tired of hearing Fauci and all these idiots’
“People are tired of a science-denying president that has allowed over 218,000 people to die from Covid,” responded Rep. Mark Pocan. by Jake Johnson, staff writer Monday, October 19 Hours after bragging about his persistent refusal…
Exposure to man-made chemicals influences genes controlling aging, immune system and metabolism
Most genes in the human body can be disrupted by man-made chemicals. Göran Andersson/Getty Images by Alexander Suvorov, University of Massachusetts Amherst Sunday, October 18 Today humans are exposed to thousands of man-made chemicals. Yet the…
Most home health aides ‘Can’t afford not to work’ — Even when lacking PPE
Home health aides flattened the curve by keeping the most vulnerable patients — seniors, the disabled, the infirm — out of hospitals. But they’ve done it mostly at poverty wages and without overtime pay, hazard pay,…
Inside the fall of the CDC
How the world’s greatest public health organization was brought to its knees by a virus, the president and the capitulation of its own leaders, causing damage that could last much longer than the coronavirus. by James…
‘Totally Under Control’: New, secretly-filmed documentary details Trump’s colossal Covid-19 failures
“We, the scientists, knew what to do for the pandemic response,” says former federal vaccine expert Dr. Rick Bright in the film. “It is time to lay our careers on the line and push back.” by…
279,700 extra deaths in US so far this year
A girl views the body of her father, who died of COVID-19, while mourners who can’t visit in person are onscreen. Joe Raedle/Getty Images News via Getty Images by Ronald D. Fricker Jr., Virginia Tech The…
Trump White House embraces ‘fringe’ declaration pushing herd immunity
“It’s being presented as if it’s a major alternative view that’s held by large numbers of experts in the scientific community. That is not true.” by Julia Conley, staff writer Wednesday, October 14 Public health experts…
COVID takes challenge of tracking infectious college students to new level
by Lauren Weber October 12, 2020 As the return of college students to campuses has fueled as many as 3,000 COVID-19 cases a day, keeping track of them is a logistical nightmare for local health departments…
White House failure to contact trace stirs contempt
‘People Have a Right to Be Upset’ “This borders on reckless in terms of exposing people, not just in New Jersey, but it looks like for folks around the country, who are now scattered by the…
Timeline of Trump’s illness confounds experts, but critics say what’s clear is President ‘knowingly exposed people’ to Covid-19
“A thing that happens when you lie compulsively for years…is that NO ONE F***ING BELIEVES YOU.” by Julia Conley, staff writer Sunday, October 4 Journalists and public health experts on Saturday raised questions over the mixed…
HHS Secretary Azar says public health protocols don’t apply to President’s inner circle, as Covid-19 infections increase on Capitol Hill
“Someone explain to me how the Trump family’s refusal to wear a mask can be justified by Azar on the grounds that the family is in a ‘protective bubble’ when both Trump and Melania are infected?”…
The Mask Hypocrisy: How COVID memos contradict the White House’s public face
The mixed messages and ensuing confusion leave governors, and often state and local health officials, holding the bag of political consequences. Lauren Weber and Katheryn Houghton October 1, 2020 While the president and vice president forgo…
Post-COVID clinics get jump-start from patients with lingering illness
by Julie Appleby, Kaiser Health News September 30, 2020 Clarence Troutman survived a two-month hospital stay with COVID-19, then went home in early June. But he’s far from over the disease, still suffering from limited endurance,…
Demands for answers as CDC abruptly deletes guidance on airborne spread of coronavirus
“Very likely a scandal.” We need an explanation. Is there more political interference at play?” by Jake Johnson, staff writer Monday, September 21 Experts and lawmakers are demanding answers and warning of further political meddling at…
US death toll hits grim 200,000 milestone, Trump gives himself “A+” on Covid-19 response
“Trump and his cowardly enablers, they all have blood on their hands,” said an activist who lost his father to Covid-19. by Jake Johnson, staff writer Monday, September 21, 2020 As the U.S. Covid-19 death toll…
What a smoky bar can teach us about the ‘6-foot rule’ during the COVID-19 pandemic
How smoke moves inside a bar or outside in fresh air can help in visualizing how the coronavirus spreads. Shironosova/Getty Images Plus by Byron Erath, Clarkson University; Andrea Ferro, Clarkson University; Goodarz Ahmadi, Clarkson University, and Suresh…
