Policy Watch
Quick-hitting policy analysis, polling, and updates on the key issues facing the country in 2020.
COVID-19 Has Claimed the Lives of 100,000 Long-Term Care Residents and Staff
This week marks a bleak milestone in the pandemic’s effect on residents and staff in long-term care facilities across the country. According to our latest analysis of state-reported data, COVID-19 has claimed the lives of more than 100,000 long-term care facility residents and staff as of the last week in November. This finding comes at a time when public health experts are predicting a surge in cases after holiday gatherings and increased time indoors due to winter weather, which will have ripple effects on hospitals and nursing homes, given the close relationship between community spread and cases in congregate care settings. As the nation braces for the fallout of the holiday, recent data on deaths in long-term care facilities highlight the ongoing disproportionate impact on this high-risk population.
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Millions of Uninsured Americans are Eligible for Free ACA Health Insurance
This year has brought millions of job losses due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As cases now spike again and some states reverse course to limit non-essential activities, the next couple of months could bring new, permanent employment losses. As difficult as the next few months will be, one bit of good news is that most uninsured people are eligible for financial assistance under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), and they can sign up now while ACA Open Enrollment for 2021 lasts through December 15, 2020.
This Week in Coronavirus: November 13 to November 19
During the 44th week since the first coronavirus case appeared in the United States, there was an increase of almost 1 million confirmed cases between Nov. 13 and 19. Approximately 9,300 confirmed deaths in the past week brought the total in the United States to 252,500.
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With COVID-19 Cases Surging Again, States Are Taking Action, Though Current Efforts May Not Be Enough to Stop the Spread
More states are enacting measures to curtail the spread of the coronavirus as COVID-19 cases surge across the country.
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The Exit Polls Show The Need To Confront COVID-19 Denial in Red America
Drew Altman analyzes the exit polls in his latest Axios column. While Biden voters see COVID-19 as a top priority, Trump supporters are still largely pandemic deniers, echoing the President.
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This Week in Coronavirus: November 6 to November 12
During the 43rd week since the first coronavirus case appeared in the United States, there was an increase of almost 1 million confirmed cases between Nov. 5 and 12. Approximately 7,000 confirmed deaths in the past week brought the total in the United States to 242,400.
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