Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
'Critical Point In Fight': Texas Rethinks Plans, Cancels Elective Surgeries
Leaders of Texas Medical Center hospitals said they’re ready to handle a COVID-19 surge as Gov. Greg Abbott banned elective procedures in four counties, including Harris. The hospitals’ message, delivered at a virtual news conference, was a change in tone from a letter the executives published 18 hours earlier, warning an alarming increase in hospitalizations could soon overwhelm the system. (Despart and Wallance, 6/25)
Parkland Memorial Hospital opened a third ward for COVID-19 patients on Thursday, adding 48 beds to help absorb a continuing rise in coronavirus cases.UT Southwestern Medical Center said it was also expanding space dedicated to COVID-19. (Schnurman and Jimenez, 6/25)
Dallas-area hospitals on Thursday told city officials that they have the capacity to handle the rapidly increasingly number of people suffering from COVID-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus. As a result, the makeshift hospital at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center will go unused, Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson said on Twitter. (Garcia, 6/25)
As hospitals in some areas struggle and ICU beds run short, recent events like bar crawls and family gatherings may have contributed to the increase in coronavirus cases across the country, experts say... "Every activity that involves contact with others has some degree of risk right now," according to a press release issued by the CDC on Thursday. (Carrega, 6/25)
Eighteen members of a Texas family have tested positive for COVID-19, according to multiple reports. The infections began after one relative, who was unknowingly sick with coronavirus, came into contact with seven family members at a birthday party in Carrollton, Texas, on May 30, according to area outlet WFAA. Those seven relatives spread the virus to 10 others through interactions. (Pitofsky, 6/25)
New emergency rules to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in licensed child care centers were enacted Thursday by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission . The change comes nearly two weeks after the commission moved to terminate previous emergency restrictions on child care. Since June 12, providers have not been required to screen for illness. (Dellinger, 6/25)
Four Dallas teenagers noticed something about the outpouring of support for health care workers treating COVID-19 patients: No one had reached out to the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in east Oak Cliff. In short order, they created Serve Our Heroes, a nonprofit that on April 10 began delivering 75 warm meals daily to nurses and support staff working in the facility’s COVID-19 ward. (Haber, /26)
