PANDEMIC - COVID-19 Updates

"The CDC is warning of an ‘impending doom’ of COVID surges, deaths.  Is it warranted?" PBS NewsHour 3/29/2021

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SUMMARY:  President Joe Biden urged state and local officials Monday to keep or reinstate mask mandates amid some of the most urgent warnings yet about new COVID-19 surges.  Judy Woodruff talks to Dr. Leana Wen, an emergency physician and public health professor at George Washington University, about the latest developments in the fight against the virus, which has killed almost 550,000 Americans.

 

 

"WHO report says COVID originated in bats, but critics claim the study was biased" PBS NewsHour 3/29/2021

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SUMMARY:  The PBS NewsHour has obtained a study by a group of independent researchers convened by the WHO to find the origins of COVID-19 in China.  As Nick Schifrin reports, the virus that caused the worst pandemic in a century most likely started in bats, and jumped to humans through an intermediate animal host.  The researchers call it a starting point, but their critics still say it doesn’t go far enough.

 

 

"Relative invisibility makes for uphill battle to get COVID vaccines for Americans with IDD" PBS NewsHour 3/31/2021

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SUMMARY:  People with intellectual and developmental disabilities [IDD] like Down Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy and Autism often have underlying health conditions that make them more susceptible to COVID-19.  Plus, many receive care in group living facilities, putting them at further risk.  But despite the elevated risks for those with IDD, they face an uphill vaccination battle.  William Brangham reports.

Correction: This piece reported that only nine states and the District of Columbia report COVID-19 outcomes specifically for those with intellectual and developmental disabilities to the federal government.  In fact, these states and D.C. are the only jurisdictions to report this data publicly.  It’s unclear which states, if any, report this information directly to the federal government.

 

 

"Americans with disabilities, high-risk conditions struggle with vaccine eligibility" PBS NewsHour 4/1/2021

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SUMMARY:  Even as the U.S. sets records for daily COVID-19 vaccinations, disparities in availability persist.  We cover the stories of some medically vulnerable people, most of whom are still waiting for their shot.  And for more on the reasons behind the wait, William Brangham speaks to Jen Kates, the Senior Vice President and Director of Global Health and HIV Policy at the Kaiser Family Foundation.

 

 

"Honoring 5 phenomenal people who lost their lives to COVID-19" PBS NewsHour 4/2/2021

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SUMMARY:  As more than 550,000 Americans have died from COVID-19, we take a moment to remember five of the remarkable lives lost.

Correction: An earlier version of this story used audio of another elder in the Indian Peaks Band of the Paiute Indian Tribe of Utah speaking the traditional language while referencing Earnestine Jake Lehi.  That audio has now been replaced with audio of Earnestine speaking.  The NewsHour regrets the error.

COVID-19 - Last Weeks Updates

"U.S. death toll from COVID-19 reaches 500,000" PBS NewsHour 2/22/2021

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SUMMARY:  The U.S. on Monday marked a new, watershed moment in the COVID-19 pandemic with 500,000 confirmed deaths.  It comes even as daily increases in infections and deaths have slowed sharply in recent weeks.  William Brangham reports, and Judy Woodruff speaks with Dr. Angela Rasmussen, a virologist at the Georgetown University Center for Global Health Science and Security, to learn more.

 

 

"Why the vaccine rollout in the U.S. has been slower than expected" PBS NewsHour 2/23/2021

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SUMMARY:  So far, 65 million Americans have received at least one shot of either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines.  As a country, the U.S. has recently picked up the pace of vaccinations, but there are concerns over supply and demand, which was the subject of a congressional hearing on Tuesday.  Miles O'Brien joins John Yang to discuss.

 

 

"Supply shortages and delays leave Europe’s vaccination campaign in crisis" PBS NewsHour 2/23/2021

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SUMMARY:  Europe’s vaccination rollout is in crisis with manufacturing delays causing supply shortages and thousands of appointments canceled indefinitely.  The European Union wants to see 70 percent of its population inoculated by the fall.  But frustration is growing amongst its citizens amid the realization those targets could be out of reach.  Special Correspondent Lucy Hough reports.

 

 

"Britain cautiously plans to ease rigid lockdown restrictions" PBS NewsHour 2/23/2021

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SUMMARY:  Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced a cautious timetable ending the country’s COVID lockdown, one of the strictest in the world with almost all foreign travel outlawed under the guidelines.  But the full lockdown isn’t due to finish until at least late June, while mental health issues are increasingly being amplified.  Special correspondent Malcolm Brabant reports.

 

 

"Raising children for a second time, ‘grandfamilies’ struggle during the pandemic" PBS NewsHour 2/23/2021

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SUMMARY:  More and more older adults are raising kids for the second time around because of illness, incarceration, addiction, or any number of reasons.  And since the start of the pandemic, almost 40 percent of "grandfamilies" say they struggle to pay for housing, and a third have trouble accessing food.  Stephanie Sy reports.

 

 

"Global disparities highlighted by uneven access to COVID vaccines" PBS NewsHour 2/24/2021

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SUMMARY:  The West African country of Ghana on Wednesday became the first nation to receive a delivery of COVID-19 vaccines through a global initiative called COVAX, which aims to give more equitable access to the vaccine.  Nick Schifrin reports and speaks to Dr. Nahid Bhadelia, medical director of the special pathogens unit at Boston Medical Center, to learn more about global inequities.

 

 

"Despite being first in line, many health care workers are delaying vaccinations" PBS NewsHour 2/25/2021

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SUMMARY:  COVID-19 vaccines were developed with record-breaking speed, and by late last year they were rolled out to frontline health care workers across the country.  But despite being first in line many of those workers have decided to delay getting the shot.  Amna Nawaz reports on the critical effort to vaccinate America’s health care professionals.

 

 

"Remembering 5 extraordinary people who lost their lives to COVID-19" PBS NewsHour 2/26/2021

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SUMMARY:  This week the nation reached a grim milestone as the pandemic death count surpassed 500,000 in the United States.  We take a moment to remember five remarkable individuals who lost their lives to COVID-19.

 

 

"J&J vaccine: Fight against COVID-19 gets another shot in the arm" PBS NewsHour 2/27/2021

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SUMMARY:  Vaccination efforts to fight the pandemic got another shot in the arm.  The Johnson & Johnson vaccine, which is expected to rollout soon after the FDA nod, will speed up inoculations against COVID-19, but it might be a while before the efforts make a big difference.  Kaiser Health News Correspondent Rachana Pradhan joins to discuss the vaccination efforts, bottlenecks and long-term impact.

COVID-19 SUMMER - Impact and Responses

"A muted Fourth of July as virus shatters infection records" PBS NewsHour 7/6/2020

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SUMMARY:  Fourth of July celebrations in many parts of the United States were muted this year, overshadowed by a virus spreading with alarming speed.  The national death toll from COVID-19 has surpassed 130,000, and hospitals in the South and West particularly are struggling to keep up with the demand for urgent care.  Still, some Americans oppose shutdowns and mask requirements.  William Brangham reports.

"How federal response has failed to address racial disparities in pandemic’s toll" PBS NewsHour 7/6/2020

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SUMMARY:  For months, it's been clear that the pandemic is taking a disproportionate toll on people of color.  Now, new data quantifies the disparities, showing that African American and Latinx people are nearly three times as likely to contract COVID-19 as white Americans and twice as likely to die from it.  Amna Nawaz talks to Dr. Kirsten Bibbins-Domingo of the University of California, San Francisco.

"‘We need help,’ say Latina workers, hit hard by pandemic job losses" PBS NewsHour 7/6/2020

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SUMMARY:  With the U.S. economy in shambles due to the novel coronavirus pandemic, Latina workers have suffered the worst job losses, with 19 percent reporting being unemployed in May.  Latinx Americans are also among the groups most likely to contract COVID-19 -- and to die from it.  We spoke to several Latina women, including two undocumented immigrants, about their experiences of the past few months.

"Hong Kong residents challenge government over laws, but fight virus together" PBS NewsHour 7/6/2020

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SUMMARY:  Recent headlines out of Hong Kong have focused on politics, with the imposition of a controversial new national security law from Beijing.  But on the public health front, Hong Kong has been a coronavirus success story, suffering much less infection and death than was expected considering the semi-autonomous city’s high population density and proximity to China.  Nick Schifrin reports.

"In Britain, fears that reopened pubs will drive more virus spread" PBS NewsHour 7/6/2020

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SUMMARY:  In Britain, pubs reopened over July 4th weekend after nearly three months of coronavirus lockdowns.  Patrons expressed their desire to get out and socialize after the long period of isolation, and business owners took special precautions to prepare.  But many revelers ignored appeals for social distancing, and police had to disperse drunken crowds.  Special correspondent Malcolm Brabant reports.

Ye Olde Salutation Inn, Britain (700 yrs old)


"More states are seeing ICUs reach capacity as coronavirus spreads" PBS NewsHour 7/7/2020

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SUMMARY:  Coronavirus infections are on the rise in 42 states, with the national total passing the 3 million mark.  In the hardest-hit areas, including parts of Florida, intensive care units are filled to the brim with patients, and communities are grappling with testing shortages and delays.  But some officials, including President Trump, are downplaying the crisis and pushing to reopen.  John Yang reports.

"Schools face unprecedented pressure as they grapple with reopening" PBS NewsHour 7/7/2020

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SUMMARY:  Parents across the U.S. are wondering what the next school year will hold for their children.  While reopening decisions will ultimately be up to state and local officials, President Trump said Tuesday he'll pressure governors to resume in-person classes.  Judy Woodruff talks to Noel Candelaria of the Texas State Teachers Association and Elliot Haspel an education policy expert and former teacher.

"Why more renters are being evicted in the middle of the pandemic" PBS NewsHour 7/7/2020

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SUMMARY:  During this coronavirus pandemic, we hear repeatedly from public health officials to stay at home.  But many Americans don’t have stable housing -- and now, a growing number of people are being forced out of where they live because they can’t pay the rent.  William Brangham reports on the causes and consequences of a national rise in evictions.

"In government’s absence, Mexicans turn to cartels for pandemic aid" PBS NewsHour 7/7/2020

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SUMMARY:  President Trump will welcome the president of Mexico to the White House on Wednesday.  The country has more than 215,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19, the second-highest total in Latin America.  More than 20,000 deaths have been recorded from the pandemic in Mexico -- but its government admits the number is a major undercount.  Nick Schifrin reports on Mexico’s failures to contain the coronavirus.

"Despite virus surge, Trump pressures schools to resume in-person classes this fall" PBS NewsHour 7/8/2020

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SUMMARY:  The summer surge of COVID-19 is raising more and more questions about reopening schools this fall.  That issue was at the forefront today, even as daily deaths nationwide rose to nearly 1,000, the most in weeks.  White House correspondent Yamiche Alcindor begins our coverage.

"What the U.S. coronavirus response says about American exceptionalism" PBS NewsHour 7/8/2020

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SUMMARY:  Coronavirus cases in Florida, Arizona and South Carolina are increasing faster than in any other country in the world, reigniting the debate over American exceptionalism.  Nick Schifrin talks to former Mexican foreign minister Jorge Castaneda, former Hungarian ambassador to the U.S. Réka Szemerkényi, and Maina Kiai a human rights and anti-corruption lawyer previously with the United Nations.

"Why is the U.S. still struggling to test everyone who needs it?" PBS NewsHour 7/8/2020

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SUMMARY:  Since the earliest days of the coronavirus pandemic, public health experts have emphasized that having an efficient system for wide-scale testing was key to bringing the COVID-19 outbreak under control.  But in reality, virus testing in the United States has consistently missed the mark.  William Brangham talks to Dr. Jennifer Nuzzo, an epidemiologist at Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security.

"Top U.S. health officials say states should pause reopening efforts" PBS NewsHour 7/9/2020

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SUMMARY:  The rising number of coronavirus infections in the U.S. proves the pandemic is far from abating.  New cases are setting single-day records in several states and declining in only two.  While the nation’s top medical officials say states should pause reopening in order to control virus spread, the Trump administration insists schools should resume as normal this fall.  Yamiche Alcindor reports.

"This Maryland nursing home has had no coronavirus cases.  How did they do it?" PBS NewsHour 7/9/2020

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SUMMARY:  Of the nation’s roughly 130,000 coronavirus deaths, more than 40,000 have occurred in nursing homes.  But one facility in Maryland has had zero COVID-19 cases so far -- despite serving one of the most at-risk populations.  Rev.  Derrick DeWitt, director of the Maryland Baptist Aged Home, joins Amna Nawaz to discuss his facility’s proactive approach, systemic racism and a lack of federal leadership.

"Remembering 5 people lost to coronavirus" PBS NewsHour 7/10/2020

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SUMMARY:  The coronavirus pandemic is exacting a devastating toll on families and communities across the United States.  Each week, we want to remember some of the tens of thousands of lives we have lost.  Judy Woodruff shares five more stories.

"More states return to containment measures as virus sets new records" PBS NewsHour 7/10/2020

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SUMMARY:  The U.S. has set another record for daily new coronavirus infections -- as it has on six out of the past 10 days.  Texas logged 10,000 new cases Thursday, and hospitals in Florida are overwhelmed with COVID-19 patients.  With no signs of improvement in infection rates, more states are again implementing restrictions such as mask requirements and business shutdowns.  Lisa Desjardins reports.

PANDEMIC - Updates COVID-19

"Why the U.S. is still ‘severely constrained’ in ability to test for COVID-19" PBS NewsHour 3/30/2020

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SUMMARY:  Despite recent signs of advancement, many health experts say the U.S. capacity to test for the novel coronavirus remains too limited and progress too slow.  President Trump has previously claimed anyone could be tested -- but that isn't what we’re hearing from people who have tried.  Jennifer Nuzzo, senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, joins Judy Woodruff to discuss.

"‘Everyone is afraid’ as Illinois virus cases spike" PBS NewsHour 3/30/2020

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SUMMARY:  Illinois has become another national hot spot for coronavirus, with a surging number of confirmed cases.  Most are in Cook County, the region that is home to Chicago.  William Brangham talks to Dr. Claudia Fegan, chief medical officer for Cook County Health, about how her employees are holding up amid the stress and why they continue to worry about a shortage of critical medical supplies.

"As more people order delivery, workers fear virus exposure" PBS NewsHour 3/30/2020

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SUMMARY:  More than 250 million Americans in 30 states have been asked or ordered to stay at home.  Although some still buy essentials in person at stores, many are ordering online instead.  As a result, warehouse and delivery workers and professional shoppers have become central to the current economy -- and a growing number are concerned about the risks they face by doing their jobs.  Paul Solman reports.

Editor's Note:  Amazon disputes the claim that dozens of workers walked out in protest on Monday.  According to Amazon, “15 people participated in the demonstration of which only 9 were Amazon associates—the rest were community organizers.”  According to protest leaders, “Organizers on the ground counted 62 workers who walked off their jobs.”

"Why scientists need to learn more about how COVID-19 behaves within a human body" PBS NewsHour 3/31/2020

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SUMMARY:  How much do we know about COVID-19, the virus spreading misery across the globe?  Dr. Siddhartha Mukherjee joins Jeffrey Brown to discuss understanding the dynamics of the virus within people it has infected, why some experience much more severe forms of illness than others, how we can limit asymptomatic transmission and the need to buy medical researchers time to develop treatments.

"As New York’s death toll approaches 2,000, Cuomo warns other states of what’s to come" PBS NewsHour 4/1/2020

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SUMMARY:  New York’s death toll from COVID-19 is nearing 2,000, and experts warn it will continue to rise.  But many other areas of the country are also seeing cases climb and taking steps to try to limit them.  President Trump sounded a grave warning during a Tuesday Coronavirus Task Force briefing, saying the virus is projected to kill at least 100,000 Americans in the months to come.  John Yang reports.

"Strategies from hospitals on the front lines of the COVID-19 fight" PBS NewsHour 4/1/2020

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SUMMARY:  COVID-19 is a huge challenge for many U.S. hospitals, from large cities to rural areas.  The next few weeks are expected to be especially difficult, as critical supplies dwindle and health care workers are stressed.  William Brangham talks to Dr. Phillip Coule, chief medical officer for Georgia’s Augusta University Health System, and Michael Dowling, president and CEO of New York's Northwell Health.

"U.S. facing 2-front war amid medical crisis and economic collapse" PBS NewsHour 4/2/2020

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SUMMARY:  The coronavirus pandemic has infected at least 1 million people and killed over 50,000 worldwide.  In the U.S., President Trump is taking new action to bolster medical supplies, and unemployment is surging.  Meanwhile, the U.S. Navy relieved the captain of the USS Theodore Roosevelt amid conflict over his response to COVID-19.  John Yang reports, and Nick Schifrin joins Judy Woodruff to discuss.

"Stories from Americans suffering the pandemic’s financial fallout" PBS NewsHour 4/2/2020

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SUMMARY:  The loss of jobs caused by the coronavirus pandemic and its fallout is unprecedented in the U.S.  Over 10 million Americans became unemployed in the past two weeks alone -- and economists say there are many more who have not yet been counted.  The NewsHour continues to share the stories of some of those who have been laid off or furloughed, in their own words.

"Will these shuttered restaurants be able to reopen after pandemic?" PBS NewsHour 4/2/2020

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SUMMARY:  A sector of the economy that is being hit especially hard amid the coronavirus pandemic is the restaurant industry.  In normal times, Americans were spending roughly as much money on dining out as they were at grocery stores.  With restaurants now closed, more than 3 millions jobs have been lost nationwide.  Paul Solman reports on the impact on establishments in the Washington, D.C., metro area.

"COVID-19 may not discriminate based on race — but U.S. health care does" PBS NewsHour 4/2/2020

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SUMMARY:  Health officials have stressed that novel coronavirus doesn’t discriminate based on race or ethnicity.  But disparities long present in the U.S. medical system are now driving what some call a crisis within a crisis: black and brown communities across the country are being hit harder, and with fewer resources to save them.  Amna Nawaz talks to Dr. Uché Blackstock of Advancing Health Equity.

"What Dr. Fauci wants you to know about face masks and staying home as virus spreads" PBS NewsHour 4/3/2020

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SUMMARY:  Message:

Americans should wear face masks as a way to help stifle the spread of COVID-19, said Dr. Anthony Fauci, one of the nation’s top doctors leading the public health fight against the coronavirus pandemic — a departure from previous government guidance to only wear a mask if you were caring for someone with the illness or had it yourself.

“If everybody does that, we’re each protecting each other,” Fauci said in an interview with PBS NewsHour anchor and managing editor Judy Woodruff.  His comments came shortly before President Donald Trump’s coronavirus task force shared national recommendations for people to wear non-medical face masks.  The task force did not recommend the use of surgical or medical grade face masks, which are in short supply for hospitals and front line health care workers.

For months, federal health officials discouraged the use of surgical face masks.  In recent weeks, some health experts began to question that decision, suggesting that the use of face coverings could have helped slow the spread of the virus sooner.  But on Friday, the task force said it was now recommending face coverings “in light of recent studies.” Trump added that this recommendation does not eliminate the need for social distancing.

This guidance comes as more states this week told residents to stay at home to prevent further spread of the virus that causes the disease, COVID-19.  But more states and communities should join in tightening those measures, Fauci said.

He warned that the U.S. is currently “in a very difficult period.  It will get worse before it gets better.”

So far, testing has confirmed roughly 240,000 cases of COVID-19 in the U.S., where nearly 5,900 people have died after they were infected by the virus, according to the latest data from The COVID Tracking Project.  Public health experts have said those numbers are likely an undercount because testing remains inadequate, despite being the only way to measure how far the pandemic has spread within the country.

As of Thursday, the pandemic crossed another milestone, now infecting more than 1 million people worldwide, according to Johns Hopkins University researchers who have been tracking the virus’ global spread.  Fauci said he was confident Americans “will get out of this.”

"For some doctors, pandemic means accelerated career launch — or truncated retirement" PBS NewsHour 4/3/2020

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SUMMARY:  As the coronavirus pandemic spreads across the U.S., officials are warning that there are not enough medical professionals available to meet the growing needs of patients.  The shortage has led to the easing of some regulations, enabling medical students to graduate early and retired doctors to return to practice.  Lisa Desjardins shares some of their stories from this all-hands-on-deck moment.

"As the world stays home, will the environment improve?" PBS NewsHour 4/4/2020

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SUMMARY:  As more and more people stay at home during the pandemic, millions of vehicles are no longer on the roads and the skies are comparatively free of airplanes.  Many other human activities that cause air pollution also have been scaled back.  But will this lull in activity make a difference in the air we breathe or the future of climate change?  NewsHour Weekend's Christopher Booker reports.

"What Florida’s stay-at-home order means for residents" PBS NewsHour 4/4/2020

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SUMMARY:  Amid heavy criticism, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Friday issued a state-wide stay-at-home order for the state in response to the coronavirus.  This came after some local counties and cities had already put similar orders in place ahead of the governor’s mandate.  Stephen Mort of PBS station WUCF joins Hari Sreenivasan from Orlando to discuss what's happening in the state related to the outbreak.

OUTBREAK - Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update, World and America

"Amid virus outbreak, U.S. communities brace for disruption" PBS NewsHour 3/9/2020

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SUMMARY:  As U.S. cases of COVID-19 rise, officials are stepping up efforts to control the outbreak's spread.  Communities across the country are bracing for disruption, with many schools closing or holding remote classes.  Also, two GOP congressmen who were with President Trump recently are self-quarantining after a conference attendee with whom they met tested positive for the virus.  Amna Nawaz reports.

"How economic effects of global virus outbreak ripple beyond stock markets and travel" PBS NewsHour 3/9/2020

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SUMMARY:  Monday was a tumultuous day in the global battle against coronavirus.  Italy’s government banned travel nationwide after new spikes in infections and fatalities.  Meanwhile, U.S. stocks had their worst day in over a decade.  Special correspondent Christopher Livesay reports from Rome, and Judy Woodruff talks to Mark Zandi of Moody’s Analytics and Ben Mutzabaugh of air travel website The Points Guy.

"Why clear, consistent communication is so important during a public health crisis" PBS NewsHour 3/9/2020

Which we are NOT getting from the Trump Administration.

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SUMMARY:  Amid the growing U.S. coronavirus outbreak, some experts have criticized the way President Trump, his team and top public health officials are communicating information to the public.  For example, Trump made inaccurate statements Friday about the availability of virus tests.  Dr. Joshua Sharfstein of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health joins Judy Woodruff to discuss.

"As impact of COVID-19 deepens, U.S. officials debate economic response" PBS NewsHour 3/10/2020

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SUMMARY:  The impact of the novel coronavirus in the U.S. is deepening.  On Tuesday, new cancellations, closures and quarantines were announced and President Trump and lawmakers huddled about potential measures to soften the crisis’ economic impact -- but the stock market rallied back from Monday’s major losses.  Amna Nawaz reports and Lisa Desjardins and Yamiche Alcindor join Judy Woodruff to discuss.

"How this school district is educating students at home during coronavirus outbreak" PBS NewsHour 3/10/2020

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SUMMARY:  A growing number of U.S. schools, including several colleges and universities, are shutting their doors to reduce the spread of COVID-19.  Although only a small fraction of public elementary and high schools have closed, more than 430,000 students are affected already.  John Yang talks to Michelle Reid, superintendent of Washington state’s Northshore School District, about the decision to close.

"British government worries about virus outbreak, but residents carry on" PBS NewsHour 3/9/2020

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SUMMARY:  In the United Kingdom, novel coronavirus has killed six people as of Tuesday, with another 370 infected and quarantined.  The British government is watching how the illness spread quickly and pervasively in Italy, fearing the same could happen in the UK.  But as special correspondent Malcolm Brabant reports, the current attitude among the British is very much to keep calm and carry on.

"What WHO doctor says Americans should do in face of COVID-19 pandemic" PBS NewsHour 3/11/2020

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SUMMARY:  The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the novel coronavirus outbreak to be a global pandemic.  The illness has infected about 120,000 people worldwide and claimed 4,400 lives, and public health officials both within the U.S. and abroad are warning that the crisis will get worse.  Amna Nawaz reports, and Judy Woodruff talks to WHO’s Dr. Margaret Harris about how people should be preparing.

"Why UVA joined scores of other colleges in asking students to stay off campus" PBS NewsHour 3/11/2020

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SUMMARY:  As the U.S. novel coronavirus outbreak worsens, colleges and universities around the country are asking students to stay off campus -- and essentially shutting down.  Though some classes are migrating online, the closures may still represent a hardship for students who rely on school for housing, meals and other services.  Amna Nawaz talks to James Ryan, president of the University of Virginia.

"Pandemic’s ‘unique uncertainty’ creates market shockwaves" PBS NewsHour 3/12/2020

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SUMMARY:  The economic consequences of the novel coronavirus pandemic are growing even more severe.  Stocks logged their worst day of trading since the 1987 market crash, cancellations and closures rippled across the globe and the fallout from President Trump’s decision to ban most travel from Europe became evident.  Nick Schifrin reports and Charles Schwab’s Liz Ann Sonders joins Judy Woodruff to discuss.

"Can Congress, Trump put pandemic response ahead of politics?" PBS NewsHour 3/12/2020

Answer, no, at least not at first.  Republicans will see anything from Democrats as a threat.

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SUMMARY:  On Capitol Hill, lawmakers are working on a multi-billion dollar novel coronavirus aid package to help the Americans hit hardest by the pandemic.  They, along with Democratic presidential candidates Joe Biden and Sen. Bernie Sanders, also weighed in on President Trump’s response to the crisis.  Lisa Desjardins reports and joins Nick Schifrin, Yamiche Alcindor and Judy Woodruff to discuss.

"Why Trump declared COVID-19 a national emergency — and what he denied responsibility for" PBS NewsHour 3/13/2020

Note the "and what he denied responsibility for."

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SUMMARY:  Friday was another day of mass closings and cancellations as schools, sports and travel shut down amid the novel coronavirus pandemic.  President Trump also declared a national emergency to increase funding for a federal response, and he appears to have a deal with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi for related legislation.  Amna Nawaz reports and Lisa Desjardins and Yamiche Alcindor join Judy Woodruff.

"What the U.S. health system needs now to fight COVID-19" PBS NewsHour 3/13/2020

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SUMMARY:  President Trump has declared the pandemic of novel coronavirus a national emergency, allowing him to direct additional funds toward the federal government’s outbreak response.  Will it mean faster virus testing and more ventilators?  Dr. Irwin Redlener, director of the Center for Disaster Preparedness at Columbia University, and The New York Times’ Dr. Sheri Fink join Judy Woodruff to discuss.

"South Korea proves pandemic response requires more than money" PBS NewsHour 3/13/2020

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SUMMARY:  South Korea’s government is spending nearly $10 billion to fight novel coronavirus, which has infected nearly 8,000 people there.  But the effort to contain the illness requires more than just money -- entire communities must come together, sharing information, volunteering at testing centers and limiting consumption of vital medical supplies.  Bruce Harrison of Feature Story News reports.

"New York launches drive-thru testing site for COVID-19" PBS NewsHour 3/14/2020

Again, a state responds better than the federal government.

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SUMMARY:  New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has deployed the National Guard and created a one-mile containment zone around the town of New Rochelle, just north of New York City, where at least 158 cases of COVID-19 have been reported.  And on Friday, the state launched its first drive-thru mobile testing facility in the region.  NewsHour Weekend's Christopher Booker has more.

"The economic fallout from the new coronavirus outbreak" PBS NewsHour 3/14/2020

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SUMMARY:  With businesses shuttering, professional sports leagues suspending their seasons and widespread travel restrictions initiated around the world, the economic fallout from the new coronavirus outbreak may continue for months.  Vijay Vaitheeswaran, U.S.business editor for The Economist, joins Hari Sreenivasan for more on the financial impact of the virus.

"Outbreak tests Italy’s limits a week after lockdown began" PBS NewsHour 3/14/2020

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SUMMARY:  A week after Italy’s government began locking down the country due to the coronavirus outbreak, new cases are emerging as the death toll climbs.  The scenario is overwhelming a medical system already reeling from an influx of patients.  NewsHour Weekend Special Correspondent Chris Livesay joins Hari Sreenivasan from Rome with updates on the coronavirus outbreak in Italy.

"Coronavirus in the US: things are ‘changing hour by hour’" PBS NewsHour 3/14/2020

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SUMMARY:  The response to the coronavirus outbreak in the U.S. is changing on an almost hourly basis.  But as health care workers face a volley of new challenges amid an American populace wary of the global pandemic, there has been an increase in testing and guidelines to consider.  Caroline Chen, a ProPublica reporter who is covering the outbreak, joins Hari Sreenivasan with more.

"Coronavirus outbreak is ‘a time of sacrifice for all of us’" PBS NewsHour 3/15/2020

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SUMMARY:  To help contain transmission of coronavirus, the CDC has issued guidelines for “social distancing.”  But as the virus continues to spread, many more questions on when to close schools, how to seek day-to-day healthcare and the extent of the outbreak in the coming weeks remain unanswered.  Crystal Watson, a senior scholar at Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, joins Hari Sreenivasan with more.

OUTBREAK - Coronavirus (COVID-19) Response Update, Political and Financial Fallout

COMMENT:  The U.S. response has been bungled, especially since the response has been put in the hands of a politician rather that our health experts.  At one point our political control has gagged our health experts from making comments.

"Why Washington health officials fear novel coronavirus may have been quietly spreading" PBS NewsHour 3/2/2020

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SUMMARY:  The novel coronavirus outbreak in the U.S. is now blamed for six deaths, all in Washington state.  Health officials worry the illness may have been spreading undetected near Seattle for weeks, possibly resulting in many undiagnosed cases.  Can hospitals in Washington and across the country accommodate a “surge” of patients?  Lisa Desjardins reports and talks to The New York Times’ Dr. Sheri Fink.

"With novel coronavirus deaths rising, health officials face grilling on Capitol Hill" PBS NewsHour 3/3/2020

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SUMMARY:  As states discover increasing numbers of new novel coronavirus cases, public health officials are scrambling to respond -- while also facing questions from a Senate panel on Tuesday about why the U.S. has been so slow to roll out effective tests for the virus.  COVID-19 is responsible for nine deaths so far, all of them in Washington state.  William Brangham reports.

"In Iran, government distrust rises amid deadly outbreak of novel coronavirus" PBS NewsHour 3/3/2020

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SUMMARY:  The global spread of novel coronavirus has hit Iran hard.  Nearly two dozen members of the nation’s parliament as well as its director of emergency services are infected with the illness, and a third government official died from the virus Tuesday.  Special correspondent Reza Sayah reports from Tehran about how the country is handling the crisis -- and where they are placing blame.

"As virus deaths rise, Congress agrees on $8.3 billion to fund public response" PBS NewsHour 3/4/2020

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SUMMARY:  The novel coronavirus has claimed more lives in the U.S., with a total of 10 deaths in Washington state and one in California.  As the number of infections also continues to rise, the House and Senate have agreed on a bipartisan, multi-billion dollar emergency spending measure to fight the outbreak.  The bill includes money for vaccine research, medical supplies and more.  William Brangham reports.

"How the IMF is trying to reduce the economic fallout of novel coronavirus" PBS NewsHour 3/5/2020

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SUMMARY:  Restrictions intended to control the global outbreak of novel coronavirus continue to increase.  In many countries, schools are closed, travelers face quarantine and business has ground to a halt.  William Brangham reports and Judy Woodruff talks to Kristalina Georgieva, managing director of the International Monetary Fund, about how it is attempting to offset the economic implications of the virus.

"Can $8 billion in emergency spending help the U.S. curb novel coronavirus?" PBS NewsHour 3/6/2020

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SUMMARY:  On Friday, President Trump signed a bipartisan, $8 billion emergency spending package to fund the U.S. government response to novel coronavirus.  Still, concerns remain over how quickly health officials are able to conduct tests for the illness.  Meanwhile, the number of novel coronavirus cases across the globe is approaching 100,000, according to the World Health Organization.  Amna Nawaz reports.

"How lack of paid sick leave is complicating U.S. virus response" PBS NewsHour 3/6/2020

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SUMMARY:  As COVID-19 spreads to communities nationwide, financial and logistical concerns about its impact are rising.  Among the major questions are whether employers will require workers to take unpaid sick leave, and who will pay for potentially significant medical bills.  William Brangham talks to Georgetown University’s Sabrina Corlette and Joseph Leitmann-Santa Cruz of Capital Area Asset Builders.

"With the coronavirus, ‘pay attention to the basics’" PBS NewsHour 3/8/2020

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SUMMARY:  As the novel coronavirus continues to spread in the U.S., the National Institute of Health on Sunday advised vulnerable people, particularly the elderly with underlying health conditions, to avoid large crowds and trips.  ProPublica reporter Caroline Chen, who has been reporting on the virus, joins Hari Sreenivasan to discuss what people need to understand about testing, infection rates and more.

"Italy’s coronavirus outbreak sparks ‘a lot of panic’" PBS NewsHour 3/8/2020

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SUMMARY:  The coronavirus has now spread to 107 countries and there are close to 108,000 cases worldwide.  Italy is one of the hotspots, where more than 230 people have died from the virus.  In response, Italy's government this weekend issued a quarantine restricting travel for more than 16 million people in portions of the country.  Special correspondent Christopher Livesay joins Hari Sreenivasan with more.

OUTBREAK - Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update

"How U.S. health officials are responding to the threat of novel coronavirus" PBS NewsHour 2/17/2020

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SUMMARY:  With the novel coronavirus crisis gripping parts of Asia, thousands of passengers have been quarantined aboard cruise ships.  Among them were several hundred Americans, who are now being evacuated back to the U.S., where they will undergo another quarantine in case they are infected with the virus.  Amna Nawaz reports and talks to Vanderbilt University’s Dr. William Schaffner for insight.

"The big question that researchers are trying to answer about novel coronavirus" PBS NewsHour 2/19/2020

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SUMMARY:  There are many unanswered questions about the deadly novel coronavirus outbreak, but the Chinese government has released new information about the mortality rate and other important concerns.  William Brangham talks with Dr. Anthony Fauci of the National Institutes of Health about whether some patients are catching the virus without getting sick and the global effort to contain it.

VACCINE WARS - The Deadly Measles Resurgence

The Anti-Vax movement is based on misconceptions and lies, and is believed by people who do not understand nor believe in science.

"How vaccine hesitancy is contributing to deadly measles resurgence" PBS NewsHour 2/13/2020

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SUMMARY:  As health care officials around the world struggle to respond to novel coronavirus, another deadly -- and far more contagious -- disease is on the rise, fueled in large part by insufficient immunization.  In some countries, military conflict diminishes access to vaccines.  But in other parts of the world, misinformation and vaccine hesitancy allow the disease to flourish.  Hari Sreenivasan reports.

OUTBREAK - Coronavirus (COVID-19)

FOR CONSPIRACY THEORISTS:  Is COVID-19 a natural virus or an escaped bio-weapon?  Will China turn it into a weapon?  Note that there is NO evidence of this theory.

"Can China’s information about the novel coronavirus be trusted?" PBS NewsHour 2/10/2020

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SUMMARY:  China is struggling to contain an outbreak of novel coronavirus that has now spread in small numbers to at least 25 other countries or territories.  Both the official death toll and the number of confirmed cases have doubled in recent days, and there are doubts about the accuracy of data the Chinese government is reporting.  William Brangham is joined by Georgetown University’s Lawrence Gostin.

"How novel coronavirus outbreak has disrupted life across China" PBS NewsHour 2/11/2020

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SUMMARY:  China continues to struggle with novel coronavirus and is only now starting to allow scientists and public health officials from outside to assist in its efforts.  While the majority of infections and fatalities are centered in Hubei province, the illness is increasingly being felt across China.  William Brangham talks to The Economist’s David Rennie for an inside look at how the country is coping.

"In China, political fallout from novel coronavirus outbreak continues" PBS NewsHour 2/13/2020

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SUMMARY:  As novel coronavirus continues to plague China, the country’s president, Xi Jinping, fired two high-level Communist Party officials in the region at the outbreak's center.  The move comes as both death toll and number of cases are surging, partly as a result of changes in the way infections are defined.  John Yang sits down with Jude Blanchette of the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

TRUMP AGENDA - Gaging Health Choices

A "March to Theocracy" report.

"Impact of ‘global gag rule’ goes beyond abortion for these health groups in Kenya" PBS NewsHour 12/19/2017

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SUMMARY:  The so-called global gag rule, which cuts off some U.S. government aid to health agencies that offer or mention abortion services, has been reinstated by every Republican president going back to Reagan.  But the Trump administration has gone much further, cutting all funding to groups that offer vital health care services in places like Kenya.  Special correspondent Fred de Sam Lazaro has the story.

HEALTH - Counterfeit Drugs

"Fighting the public health threat of counterfeit drugs" PBS NewsHour 12/14/2017

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SUMMARY:  Fake pharmaceuticals are a multi-billion dollar problem around the world.  Made and packaged to look like the real deal, these phonies may contain a fraction of the active ingredients or none at all.  These fake drugs can have serious consequences in countries with tenuous health care, as well as in the developed world.  Special correspondent Fred de Sam Lazaro reports from Kenya.

ONE ON ONE - Melinda Gates

"Why Melinda Gates thinks the U.S. must protect foreign aid" PBS NewsHour 9/21/2017

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SUMMARY:  As President Trump stressed his “America-first” approach in remarks to the United Nations this week, Bill and Melinda Gates hosted a conference to unveil the results of a three-year-long Gates Foundation study on the world’s major health issues.  Judy Woodruff spoke with Melinda Gates about the importance of U.S. leadership in world health, and how tech is affecting teens today.

WORLD HEALTH - Cleaner Cookstoves

"Can a cleaner cookstove save lives?" PBS NewsHour 2/1/2017

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SUMMARY:  Nearly half of the world's population cooks using stoves that burn fuel like wood or charcoal, creating harmful -- even deadly -- smoke when inhaled.  In Ghana, where cooking with wood is the norm, there's a study underway to find out whether cleaner, more efficient cookstoves can reduce the toxic health effects to those most at risk:  women and their babies.  Hari Sreenivasan reports.

JUDY WOODRUFF (NewsHour):  Nearly half of the world's population, three billion people, cook using stoves that burn wood or charcoal.

That seemingly harmless act is silently killing millions every year because of regular exposure to harmful smoke.  An international alliance is on a mission now to reduce those deaths by distributing 100 million cleaner stoves around the world.

But some health experts doubt whether those new stoves can truly save lives.

As Hari Sreenivasan reports in a story produced with Global Health Frontiers, researchers in Ghana are trying to find the answer.

DR. KWAKU POKU ASANTE, Kintampo Health Research Center:  Most of our communities and households in Ghana, and actually in Africa, are rural by nature, and therefore they depend on wood to cook their food, to heat their water.

HARI SREENIVASAN:  Dr. Kwaku Poku Asante is the head of research at the Kintampo Health Research Center of the Ghana Health Service.  He's leading a study on the effects of wood smoke on the health of women and children in rural Ghana.

DR. KWAKU POKU ASANTE:  The women who do commercial cooking with the traditional cookstoves, they get a very large amount of smoke coming out of the wood.  And, sometimes, you see them with their kids on their back, and that is really a problem.