First Edition: June 10, 2021
Today's early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
KHN:
Can A Subscription Model Fix Primary Care In The US?
In April, San Francisco-based primary care company One Medical revealed an eye-popping compensation package for its chief executive and chairman, Amir Dan Rubin. His $199 million payday, particularly noteworthy at a company that has yet to turn a profit, made Rubin the second-highest-paid CEO in the United States last year — but only on paper. About $197.5 million of his pay is in stock options. For Rubin to get all that cash, the stock of One Medical, traded as 1Life Healthcare, must rise sharply over the next seven years, to nearly triple its current price. (Wolfson, 6/10)
KHN:
Change To Gilead Assistance Program Threatens PrEP Access, HIV Advocates Say
Dr. John Carlo is concerned that patients at Prism Health North Texas who rely on the health care safety net will soon be struggling even more to stay on PrEP, a medication that prevents HIV transmission. Carlo, chief executive officer of the clinic, which runs three locations in Dallas, offers free PrEP to roughly 250 patients, he said, thanks to an assistance program run by Gilead Sciences. The drugmaker currently manufactures two PrEP medications. (Heredia Rodriguez, 6/10)
KHN:
New Montana Laws Enshrine Health Care Alternatives, For Better Or Worse
When Paul Rana’s primary care physician left the VA clinic in Kalispell to open her own practice, he followed her. But instead of picking up a new health insurance policy, Rana and his partner agreed to pay a monthly fee that came with the promise of better access. Their provider, Dr. Lexi Tabor-Manaker, opened Glacier Direct Primary Care clinic in 2018. The model known as DPC, which can also stand for direct patient care, furnishes basic health care to patients for a set fee, often billed monthly like a subscription. The arrangement offers patients unlimited access to their doctors and allows them to communicate by phone or email. But the costs are all out-of-pocket. (Halland, 6/10)
KHN:
Lawmakers Pressure Newsom To ‘Step Up’ On Racism As A Public Health Issue
After the killing last year of George Floyd, a Black man, by a white Minneapolis police officer, Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers declared racism a public health crisis. The governors of Michigan and Nevada quickly followed, as have legislative bodies in Minnesota, Virginia and Washington, D.C. Yet California Gov. Gavin Newsom, who governs one of the most racially and ethnically diverse populations in the U.S., has not. (Hart, 6/10)
The Wall Street Journal:
U.S. To Donate 500 Million Covid-19 Vaccine Doses To Lower-Income Countries
President Biden’s administration plans to donate 500 million coronavirus vaccine doses produced by Pfizer Inc. to the rest of the world, according to people familiar with the plans. The administration expects 200 million of the Pfizer doses will go to other countries this year and 300 million across the first half of next year, one of the people said. The person said White House Covid-19 coordinator Jeff Zients and his team negotiated the deal to buy the doses from Pfizer over the past four weeks. All of those doses will be donated through Covax, the global initiative to help vaccinate developing countries, and they will go to 92 lower-income countries and the African Union. (Siddiqui and Shah, 6/9)
The Hill:
U.S. In Talks To Buy Moderna's COVID-19 Vaccine To Send Abroad: Report
The United States is reportedly in talks with Moderna to buy doses of the pharmaceutical company’s COVID-19 vaccine to donate to low income countries, according to multiple reports. The discussions were first reported by CNBC on Wednesday, citing a person familiar. According to the news outlets, the discussions could lead to a similar deal that was revealed earlier on Wednesday with Pfizer. (Williams, 6/9)
Bloomberg:
Moderna Talking To U.S. About Shots For Low-Income Countries
Moderna Inc. is interested in partnering with the U.S. government on possibly providing additional doses of it Covid-19 vaccine to help address the pandemic in low- and middle-income countries, the company said. Spokesman Ray Jordan said in an email that the company wouldn’t provide additional details about any particular talks. Moderna is in the process of expanding its manufacturing capacity so it can produce up to 3 billion vaccine doses next year, compared with its goal of up to 1 billion this year. (Langreth, 6/9)
Reuters:
U.S. Signs $1.2 Bln Deal For 1.7 Mln Courses Of Merck's Experimental COVID-19 Drug
Merck & Co Inc (MRK.N) said on Wednesday the U.S. government has agreed to pay about $1.2 billion for 1.7 million courses of its experimental COVID-19 treatment, if it is proven to work in an ongoing large trial and authorized by U.S. regulators. The oral antiviral treatment, molnupiravir, aims to stop COVID-19 from progressing and can be given early in the course of the disease, similar to Tamiflu to treat influenza. (6/9)
The Hill:
Federal Appeals Court Blocks Sweeping Missouri Abortion Ban
A federal appeals court blocked a sweeping Missouri law that would place tight restrictions on abortion in the state. The 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in a ruling Wednesday upheld a lower court’s injunction of the law, which would ban the procedure after eight weeks of pregnancy. The statute also specifies that an abortion cannot be performed “solely because of a prenatal diagnosis” indicating a child might have Down syndrome. (Axelrod, 6/9)
The Wall Street Journal:
Missouri’s Down-Syndrome Abortion Law Blocked
A divided federal appeals court Wednesday blocked Missouri from enforcing a law limiting abortions for women who want to terminate a fetus for fear that it has Down syndrome. The three-judge panel also blocked other provisions of the law that banned most abortions after eight weeks gestational age. (Gershman, 6/9)
NPR:
States Biden Won Are Leading On Vaccines. Trump States Lag
Less than a month remains until the Fourth of July, which was President Biden's goal for 70% of American adults to have gotten at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. It looks like it's going to be a stretch to get there. As of Tuesday, nearly 64% of U.S. adults have had at least one shot, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The key issue is that demand has dropped off. After an initial crush, the number of doses being administered daily is on a steep decline from the early April peak. (Montanaro, 6/9)
Los Angeles Times:
San Francisco Is Nearing COVID-19 Herd Immunity; L.A. Isn't
San Francisco is nearing herd immunity, some experts believe, a milestone in California’s efforts to gain control of the COVID-19 pandemic. San Francisco has one of California’s highest rates of vaccination, with 72% of residents having received at least one dose. Only one other county in California — Marin, just north of San Francisco — has a higher rate of vaccination, with 75% of residents there at least partially vaccinated. Both San Francisco and Marin County’s rates are significantly higher than the statewide vaccination rate of 56%. (Lin II and Money, 6/9)
CNN:
Surgeon General Warns Unvaccinated People Are At Risk From A Potentially More Dangerous Covid-19 Variant
As a renewed sense of optimism sweeps the US this summer with lower reported Covid-19 cases, the US Surgeon General has issued a warning for those not vaccinated: don't let your guard down quite yet. "For those who are unvaccinated, they are increasingly at risk as more and more variants develop," Surgeon General Vivek Murthy told CNN's Chris Cuomo on Wednesday, specifically citing the B.1.617.2, or Delta variant, first identified in India. (Caldwell, 6/10)
Stat:
More Transmissible Variant Makes Vaccinations More Crucial, Experts Say
It’s getting even riskier to remain unvaccinated. The United States, as a whole, is still in good shape for the summer of reunions and revived activities. But for those who haven’t been immunized against Covid-19, there is a new concern: the emergence of yet another coronavirus variant, one with a nasty combination of features that makes it even more dangerous than the other strains that have caused global alarms. (Joseph, 6/10)
Houston Chronicle:
More Kids Are Being Hospitalized For COVID, Due To Fewer Masks, Stagnating Vaccination Rates
Though young people can now receive shots, the number of children and adolescents being hospitalized is increasing. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released data from the first half of 2021 that shows nearly one-third of adolescents who are hospitalized with COVID-19 require intensive care. Five percent of those patients need to be put on ventilators with supplemental oxygen, as well. The CDC reports that nearly 400 children and adolescents are currently in hospitals across the country with COVID or complications from the virus. More than 16,000 under the age of 18 have been hospitalized from COVID since the start of the pandemic, and more than 300 of them have died from it, said Dr. Jim Versalovic, interim pediatrician-in-chief at Texas Children’s Hospital. (Garcia, 6/9)
The Wall Street Journal:
Reduced U.S. Covid-19 Data Reporting Worries Some Health Experts
A growing number of states are slowing the pace of their reports on key pandemic data, including cases, deaths and hospitalizations, concerning some epidemiologists and researchers, who say such moves may be too soon given how crucial data is for spotting outbreaks. They worry lagging data will leave public-health leaders with blind spots as new variants of the coronavirus circulate and many parts of the world battle rising cases. (Ansari, 6/9)
The Hill:
Biden Administration Vaccinating Migrant Children Against COVID-19
The Biden administration is vaccinating some unaccompanied migrant children against the coronavirus, a top Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) official said Wednesday. JooYeun Chang, the acting assistant secretary for the HHS Administration for Children and Families, told a House panel that "hundreds" of children in Texas have been vaccinated, and the agency is working to make sure health providers have access to emergency facilities in order to vaccinate more. (Weixel, 6/9)
The Washington Post:
Biden Administration Tells Federal Agencies They Should Not Require Employees To Be Vaccinated To Work On-Site
The Biden administration has told federal agencies that they generally should not require their employees to be vaccinated against the coronavirus to work on-site in federal buildings or to disclose whether they are vaccinated. Employees who disclose they are unvaccinated or refuse to answer a voluntary question about vaccination status should be subject to safety requirements such as mask-wearing and social distancing, new guidance says. (Yoder, 6/9)
The New York Times:
Yes, Your Employer Can Require You To Be Vaccinated
As many Americans prepare to head back to the office, companies are hammering out policies on the extent to which they will require, or strongly encourage, employees to be vaccinated against the coronavirus. The bottom line is that companies are legally permitted to make employees get vaccinated, according to recent guidance from the federal agency that enforces workplace discrimination laws, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Here’s the latest about the rules in the United States on vaccinations in the workplace. (Gross, 6/9)
The Washington Post:
D.C., Maryland Hospitals To Require Covid Vaccinations For Employees
The vast majority of hospitals in the District and Maryland will soon start requiring employees to be vaccinated against the coronavirus, officials announced Wednesday, wading into politically fraught territory that in other parts of the country has led to protests and at least one lawsuit. Leaders of hospitals and hospital associations said the decision was made to protect patients and staff members, citing the efficacy of the vaccine and noting its minimal side effects. (Chason, 6/9)
AP:
California Regulators Withdraw Controversial Work Mask Rules
California’s workplace regulators reversed themselves for the second time in a week Wednesday, withdrawing a controversial pending mask regulation while they consider a rule that more closely aligns with Gov. Gavin Newsom’s promise that the state will fully reopen from the pandemic on Tuesday. The California Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board’s revised rule, adopted last week after it was initially rejected, would have allowed workers to forego masks only if every employee in a room is fully vaccinated against the coronavirus. That contrasts with the state’s broader plan to do away with virtually all masking and social distancing requirements for vaccinated people in concert with the latest recommendations from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (Thompson, 6/10)
Modern Healthcare:
Medicare, Blue Cross Push Incentives To Spur Vaccination Rates
Medicare on Wednesday promised providers new incentives for vaccinating homebound beneficiaries. The move comes as part of a broader effort to increase access to vaccines prior to President Joe Biden's July 4 goal of having 70% of the population at least partially vaccinated. While Medicare previously paid $40 per at-home vaccination, CMS will now pay $75 per dose. (Gellman, 6/9)
AP:
Washington's 'Joints For Jabs' Vaccine Program Falling Flat
It was designed as an innovative way to promote COVID-19 vaccinations, but Washington’s new “joints for jabs” program is off to a rough start. ... Retailers told the state Liquor and Cannabis Board during a meeting Wednesday that many don’t have the space to host a vaccine clinic. Some health care providers are queasy about setting up a clinic on the site of a marijuana business because they don’t want to jeopardize federal funding by being involved in the distribution of an illegal drug. And the program is set to expire July 12 — too soon for them to offer a second shot to customers who might show up for a first shot in mid- to late June. (Johnson, 6/10)
Modern Healthcare:
COVID-19 Vaccines Must Be Free To Patients, HHS' Becerra Warns
HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra on Wednesday warned providers they must administer COVID-19 vaccines free to patients. In a letter to providers and insurers, Becerra said providers cannot require patients to get additional medical services to receive a vaccine or charge them a fee if a vaccine dose is the only medical service they provide. Instead, they can bill Medicare, Medicaid, private insurance or other health coverage to cover the costs of administering a vaccine. They can also bill the Health Resources and Services Administration if patients are uninsured or underinsured. (Brady, 6/9)
CIDRAP:
Real-World Study Finds 2 Doses Of Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine 89% Effective
An Israeli population-based study found 89% vaccine effectiveness (VE) 7 or more days after the second dose, according to a study today in Open Forum Infectious Diseases. The researchers followed 6,286 people, of whom 30.2% weren't vaccinated, 23.0% received one dose, and 46.8% received two doses (mean ages, 36, 41, and 52 years, respectively). The follow-up period was from Jan 1 to Feb 11, during which the country's new daily infections peaked at more than 8,000 cases per day from Jan 14 to 20 and then subsided to 5,822 by the study's end. (6/9)
The New York Times:
AstraZeneca Shots Carry Slightly Higher Risk Of Bleeding Problem, New Study Says
People receiving the Covid vaccine made by Oxford-AstraZeneca had a slightly increased risk of a bleeding disorder, and possibly other rare blood problems, researchers reported on Wednesday. The findings, from a study of 2.53 million adults in Scotland who received their first doses of either the AstraZeneca vaccine or the one made by Pfizer-BioNTech, were published in the journal Nature Medicine. About 1.7 million of the shots were the AstraZeneca vaccine. (Grady, 6/9)
The New York Times:
Reports Of Severe Covid Or Death After Vaccination Are Rare, But Not Unexpected
Over the last few months, a steady drumbeat of headlines has highlighted the astounding real-world effectiveness of the Covid-19 vaccines, especially the mRNA vaccines made by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna. The vaccines, study after study has shown, are more than 90 percent effective at preventing the worst outcomes, including hospitalization and death. But alongside this good news have been rare reports of severe Covid in people who had been fully vaccinated. (Anthes, 6/9)
CNN:
FDA Adviser Resigns Over Approval Of New Alzheimer's Drug
A member of a US Food and Drug Administration advisory committee said Wednesday he had resigned over the agency's approval of a new Alzheimer's drug. The FDA approved aducanumab, to be sold under the brand name Aduhelm, this week over the objections of its advisory Peripheral and Central Nervous System Drugs Advisory Committee. Mayo Clinic neurologist Dr. David Knopman told CNN Wednesday he had resigned from the committee in protest. (Fox, 6/10)
Cincinnati Enquirer:
UC Health To Offer Just-Approved Alzheimer's Disease Drug Aducanumab
UC Health will be among three sites in Ohio to administer the first medication to target an underlying cause of Alzheimer's disease and the first that's been approved for use in nearly two decades. The Food and Drug Administration approved aducanumab, produced by Biogen, Inc., and to be marketed under the name Aduhelm on Monday, and UC Health, announced its role in treatment ion Wednesday. The drug is expected to be available to patients later this year, officials said. Aducanumab is administered through monthly intravenous infusions at specialty infusion centers such as UC Health. (DeMio, 6/9)
CNBC:
Amazon Care Has Multiple Customers, Says Exec Babak Parviz
Amazon has attracted multiple companies that are interested in using its telehealth service, known as Amazon Care, company executive Babak Parviz said Wednesday. “We’ve had quite a bit of interest from other companies in using this service,” Parviz, a vice president working on Amazon Care, said at The Wall Street Journal’s Tech Health virtual event. Parviz added that Amazon plans to announce which companies have signed on to use the service later this summer. (Palmer, 6/9)
Modern Healthcare:
Healthcare Costs Projected To Increase 6.5% In 2022
Healthcare costs are projected to increase 6.5% in 2022 as sicker patients seek care after putting it off during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new report. Annual cost growth hovered between 5.5% and 6% from 2017 to 2020, following a steady decline from 2007's 11.9% mark, according to PricewaterhouseCooper's Health Research Institute. Deferred or forgone care, growing mental health issues, preparations for the next pandemic and investments in digital tools are expected to increase costs in 2022, researchers said. (Kacik, 6/9)
Modern Healthcare:
AHA Asks UnitedHealthcare To Reverse ED Claims Policy
Numerous healthcare providers and policymakers are publicly speaking out against UnitedHealthcare's new policy of retroactively denying patients' emergency care claims that are considered non-emergent. In a letter to UnitedHealthcare on Wednesday, the American Hospital Association said it is "deeply concerned" about the policy's potential effect on patients' access to care and health outcomes. "Patients are not medical experts and should not be expected to self-diagnose during what they believe is a medical emergency," the letter said. "Threatening patients with a financial penalty for making the wrong decision could have a chilling effect on seeking emergency care." (Devereaux, 6/9)
The Washington Post:
Richard Ernst, Nobel Laureate Whose Research Made MRI Possible, Dies At 87
Richard R. Ernst, a chemist who won a Nobel Prize for devising precise techniques to analyze the chemical properties of atoms, helping create the foundation of magnetic resonance imaging, which has had far-reaching applications in science and medicine, died June 4 in Winterthur, Switzerland. He was 87.His death was announced by the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich (often called ETH Zurich), where he had been a student and professor. The cause was not disclosed. (Schudel, 6/9)
AP:
US Deaths From Heart Disease And Diabetes Climbed Amid COVID
The U.S. saw remarkable increases in the death rates for heart disease, diabetes and some other common killers in 2020, and experts believe a big reason may be that many people with dangerous symptoms made the lethal mistake of staying away from the hospital for fear of catching the coronavirus. The death rates — posted online this week by federal health authorities — add to the growing body of evidence that the number of lives lost directly or indirectly to the coronavirus in the U.S. is far greater than the officially reported COVID-19 death toll of nearly 600,000 in 2020-21. (Stobbe, 6/9)
CBS News:
Beech-Nut Recalls Infant Rice Cereal Due To Arsenic Concerns
Beech-Nut Nutrition is recalling some infant rice cereal sold nationwide because samples of the product showed excessive levels of arsenic. The baby food maker also says it will stop selling the product over worries it won't be able to comply with federal limits on levels of arsenic and other toxic substances that are called heavy metals. (Gibson, 6/9)
Fox News:
Placenta May Help Predict Pregnancy Complications As Early As First Trimester, Study Finds
Scientists say the placenta can provide key signals for whether a woman will develop pregnancy complications beginning as early as the first trimester. Using mouse models, the St. John’s College, University of Cambridge team isolated endocrine cells and profiled the placenta to create a "map of hormonal proteins" which was then compared to datasets from studies of the human placenta. (Hein, 6/9)
The New York Times:
What Is The Phexxi Birth Control Method, And Who Owns It?
If you’re a woman aged 18 to 34, you may have seen a Phexxi ad during a commercial break on Hulu. Or you could have come across the product — a non-hormonal contraceptive gel that women can use within an hour before having sex — while scrolling through Instagram, somewhere between a recipe for Paleo bagels and an ode to body positivity. Phexxi went on sale in September in the United States, after receiving approval from the Food and Drug Administration. Prescriptions for Phexxi are in the low thousands, according to its publicly traded parent company, Evofem — about 17,280. This is puny compared to the estimated 8.6 million women who have undergone female sterilization or the 6.6 million women on the Pill. (Safronova, 6/10)
Fox News:
TikTok Revealing Dentist Can Detect Pregnancy By Looking At Patient's Mouth Stuns Users
A dental student has gone viral on TikTok after revealing that a dentist might be able to tell whether a patient is pregnant just by looking at their mouth. TikTok user @thatdentalgal_ who boasts nearly 14,000 followers, has been sharing tips about what a dentist can detect, including eating disorders, sinus infections, and whether someone is a smoker. Sukhmani, who identifies as a fourth-year dental student on her TikTok profile, has garnered over 75,000 likes on her "Part 3" of the video series, which explains that there are a few indicators in a patient’s mouth that may reveal a pregnancy, including nausea and enamel erosion and "pregnancy gingivitis," which she said is seen in up to 30-50% of expectant women. (Hein, 6/9)
The New York Times:
Health Care Workers Deserve Fashion, Too
One of the more unexpected side effects of the pandemic was to forever alter our relationships with personal protective equipment; to make medical garments, at least in the mask sense, a new accessory of self-expression and a part of almost every wardrobe. And every designer’s arsenal. Now that relationship is entering a new phase. Josie Natori, a designer known for her loungewear and lingerie, is joining forces with Care+Wear, the “healthwear” company known for its fashion approach to PICC line covers and clothing with port access, to introduce a line of scrubs modeled on her best-selling pajamas. (Friedman, 6/9)
Stat:
A Low Dose Of Laughing Gas May Help Patients With Major Depression
Laughing gas may be most associated with its use in dentistry, but in recent years, scientists have been inching toward using the chemical for another purpose: depression that defies treatment. The results of a small trial, published Wednesday in Science Translational Medicine, suggest that a low dose of laughing gas could help improve depressive symptoms in patients with a severe form of depression that fails to respond to antidepressants. (Lloreda, 6/9)
The Wall Street Journal:
Heavier Passengers On Planes Mean New Safety Limits For Airlines
Passengers keep getting bigger. Now airlines must account more accurately for that. The Federal Aviation Administration is requiring updates to passenger and baggage weight estimates that airlines use to keep each flight within airplane safety limits. Each U.S. airline must submit a plan by June 12 explaining which average weights for passengers and baggage they’ll use, down to phones and clothing, and how they estimated those weights. The FAA must approve each airline’s plan. (McCartney, 6/9)
Las Vegas Review-Journal:
Sisolak Signs Nevada Public-Option Health Care Bill
Gov. Steve Sisolak signed several public health-related bills, including state Democrats’ signature legislation establishing Nevada as only the second state in the nation to offer a public health insurance option, during ceremony Wednesday in Las Vegas. “While we have weathered the storm together with our battle-born spirit, COVID has exposed the fact that our state must strengthen our public health infrastructure,” Sisolak said. “Today, we’re taking steps to do just that by signing three bills into law that help us to move forward as a stronger, healthier Nevada. (Appleton, 6/9)
AP:
Nevada Becomes 2nd State With ‘Public Option’ Insurance Law
Gov. Steve Sisolak on Wednesday signed into law a bill that paves the way for Nevada to become the second state in the nation to offer state-managed health insurance plans. Sisolak signed the measure that seeks to create state-managed health insurance plans by 2026 at a Las Vegas medical center. It passed through the Nevada Legislature on May 30. (Metz, 6/10 )
AP:
N. Carolina Senate Considers Banning Down Syndrome Abortions
North Carolina senators are set to consider a proposal Tuesday that would bar women from getting abortions on the basis of their fetus’s race, sex or a prenatal diagnosis of Down syndrome. If the Senate approves the proposal, it would head to Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper, who is unlikely to sign it as he has rejected previous efforts to restrict a woman’s constitutional right to an abortion. (Anderson, 6/10)
Des Moines Register:
Iowa Traffic Deaths Spiking, State Could Exceed 2020 Fatalities
Traffic fatalities are spiking across the state, safety officials announced Tuesday as they called on Iowa drivers to slow down, put down the phone and buckle up in an effort to save lives. To date, 119 people have died in traffic-related accidents across the state this year, which is a 25% increase from the same time a year ago, according to the Iowa Department of Transportation. May 2021 has been the deadliest month so far this year, and the deadliest May in the last nine years, with 41 deaths — almost double April's total of 25. (Mercado, 6/9)
AP:
Military Medical Service Mission Coming To Eastern Kentucky
A military medical service operation that will provide free health services is coming to eastern Kentucky in July. Military health care workers will operate clinics roughly between July 10 and July 21 as part of the Operation Gateway Kentucky Innovative Readiness Training Medical Mission, Gov. Andy Beshear said Tuesday. (6/10)
CNBC:
India Covid Crisis: More Than 6,000 Deaths Recorded In 24 Hours
India’s daily reported death toll from the coronavirus crisis reached a record high on Thursday, with more than 6,000 people succumbing to the disease. That surpassed a record number of daily fatalities reported by the United States this year. India’s health ministry data showed 6,148 Covid-related deaths were recorded over a 24-hour period, as daily reported cases remained below 100,000 for the third consecutive day. (Choudhury, 6/10)
The New York Times:
China Returns To Its Strict Covid Restrictions To Fight A New Outbreak
Neighborhoods under strict lockdown. Thousands quarantined. Millions tested in mere days. Overseas arrivals locked up for weeks and sometimes months. China has followed variations of that formula for dealing with the coronavirus for more than a year — and a new outbreak suggests that they could be part of Chinese life for some time to come. (Bradsher, 6/9)
AP:
Haiti Fights Large COVID-19 Spike As It Awaits Vaccines
Ever since the pandemic began, Haiti had perplexed experts with seemingly low infection and death rates from COVID-19 despite its rickety public health system, a total lack of vaccines and a widespread disdain for safety measures like masks and distancing. That is no longer the case. The few Haitian hospitals treating COVID cases have been so swamped in recent days that they report turning away patients, while plans to open another hospital to treat the infected have been delayed. (Sanon and Coto, 6/9)
Bloomberg:
South Africa’s Virus Cases Surge The Most Since January
The number of new confirmed Covid-19 cases in South Africa surged by 8,881 on June 9, the biggest jump in infections in about five months. The nation also reported a positivity rate of 16.5% on tests conducted, according to the National Institute of Communicable Diseases. Africa’s most-industrialized economy had reported 12,271 cases on Jan. 24, according to the World Health Organization. “The increased number of tests and cases, and increased positivity are all evidence of the predicted third surge in Covid-19 cases,” the Institute said in a statement on Wednesday. The commercial hub of Gauteng accounted for 58% of the new cases. (Sguazzin, 6/9)
NBC News:
New Covid Variant And Rising Cases Spark Fears Over U.K.'s Post-Lockdown Reopening
The rise of the Covid-19 delta variant in the U.K. has sparked fears of a new wave of the virus and could endanger plans for a full reopening of society this month, despite one of the world's most successful vaccination campaigns. Recorded cases are nearing levels reached in March this year, with 4,000 to 6,000 cases a day over the last 10 days. The delta variant, first identified in India, is more contagious, spreads more rapidly and is now the dominant strain of the virus in the U.K. (Elbaum, 6/9)
The Wall Street Journal:
Biden, Johnson Agree To Open U.S.-U.K. Travel As Soon As Possible
President Biden and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will seek to ease Covid-19 travel restrictions as part of a wide-ranging “Atlantic Charter” before this week’s Group of Seven meeting, according to Mr. Johnson’s office. The charter, a riff on the historic joint statement made by British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1941 as their vision for a democratic world post-World War II, will be unveiled Thursday. The meeting will be the first between the two nations' leaders since Mr. Biden’s election. (Colchester and Restuccia, 6/9)
Politico:
Canadian Border To Stay Closed To Nonessential Foreign Travelers Until At Least Early July
The U.S.-Canada border will stay closed to nonessential American travelers until at least early July, a senior Canadian official tells POLITICO. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government's first priority is on loosening border measures for fully vaccinated Canadians and permanent residents returning from abroad, said the insider who spoke on condition of anonymity. (Blatchford, 6/9)
Bloomberg:
U.S.-Canada Border: Trudeau To End Hotel Quarantines For Vaccinated Canadians
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government is ending mandatory hotel quarantines for vaccinated Canadian residents arriving by air. Health Minister Patty Hajdu announced that Canadian citizens, permanent residents and essential workers who are fully vaccinated will no longer have to spend three days isolating in a government-approved hotel. Instead, they’ll be permitted to quarantine at home while they wait for the results of a test on arrival. (Bolongaro, 6/9)