Senators reach deal on $2 trillion stimulus bill, House won’t pass today
The U.S. Senate is scheduled to reconvene today to begin the process of passing the $2 trillion economic rescue package to combat coronavirus, a historic deal. After its expected passage, it will head to the U.S. House of Representatives for a vote there before heading to President Donald Trump for his signature. The bill includes one-time payments of $1,200 per adult and $500 per child, $367 billion for small businesses, $500 billion for loans to larger industries, $100 billion for hospitals and health systems, $600 more per week in unemployment benefits for those out of work. It is the largest economic stimulus package expected to come from Congress this month. Read more here.
UPDATE: U.S. House of Representatives is not expected to pass the bill today.
Democrats want Trump to federalize med supply chain during coronavirus
U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan (D-OH) is introducing a bill that would require President Donald Trump to federalize the manufacturing and production of medical products that are in short supply during the coronavirus pandemic. The bill would identify private sector capacity to produce 500 million surgical masks and pairs of gloves, 20 million surgical gowns and face shields and 200,000 medical ventilators, and to direct their distribution to end competition for them. The Defense Production Act of 1950 gives the president broad authority to influence domestic industry during national emergencies. President Trump invoked his authority under that law to sign an executive order to fight hoarding. FEMA told CNN it will use the law to acquire approximately 60,000 coronavirus testing kits and would insert Defense Production Act language into contracts to buy protective masks. Read more here.
Healthcare workers need medical gloves as world’s top producers have cut capacity
Malaysia’s medical glove factories, which make most of the world’s critical hand protection, are operating at half capacity when they’re most needed. Medical-grade gloves are running low globally. The Malaysian government ordered factories to halt all manufacturing starting March 18. Those that make products deemed essential, including medical gloves, have been required to seek exemptions to reopen, but with only half of their workforce to reduce the risk of transmitting the coronavirus. The Malaysian government says companies must meet domestic demand before exporting anything. Read more here.
Texas governor orders hospitals to submit daily reports on bed capacity
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott issued an executive order for hospitals to postpone all surgeries not medically necessary to free up more hospital beds to battle coronavirus. Also, hospitals must submit daily reports on hospital bed capacity to the Texas state health department. Gov. Abbott also urged hospitals to allow more than one patient per room. Read more here.
NYC, Spain cases significantly worsen
Alarmed by the scale of the epidemic in New York City, the White House advised people who have passed through or left the area to quarantine themselves for 14 days. Meanwhile, the situation in Spain worsens as more than 40,000 Spaniards have tested positive for the virus and 3,400 have died. Most of the cases are in Madrid. Spain has asked NATO for assistance as it struggles to get the virus under control. Read more here.
NYU medical school seniors graduate early to help combat coronavirus outbreak
New York University’s (NYU) Grossman School of Medicine is offering its senior students the chance to graduate early so they can help combat the coronavirus pandemic. It made the unprecedented offer to the class of 2020 in an email Tuesday afternoon. Those who accept the offer would start working as soon as April, three months earlier than the usual July start dates for graduates. The offer was made to get more physicians into the health system more quickly. Early graduates can voluntarily agree to start working as paid interns at NYU Langone Health’s Internal Medicine and Emergency Medicine departments. Read more here.
Eddie Bauer to make masks, donate them to healthcare facilities throughout Washington state
Eddie Bauer (Seattle, WA), the outdoor retailer, said it will be shifting some of its production line to help make masks for hospitals. It will make N95 and surgical masks. “With our production capabilities and supply chain resources, Eddie Bauer is working with our vendors to shift apparel production to make the masks our healthcare workers so urgently needed,” said Damien Huang, president of Eddie Bauer. “Our neighbors here in Washington state and the greater Seattle area have been seriously impacted by COVID-19. We’ve been a part of this community for 100 years, and we take our responsibility to our community seriously.” The company plans to donate 20,000 masks and will start as early as next week. Read more here.
Over 800 quarantined passengers on Diamond Princess, Grand Princess tested positive
More than 800 people who traveled on the ill-fated Diamond Princess and Grand Princess cruise ships that were quarantined tested positive for coronavirus, according to the CDC. Ten of those people have died. The CDC has said people should avoid traveling on cruise ships during the pandemic. “Outbreaks of COVID-19 on cruise ships pose a risk for rapid spread of disease beyond the voyage,” read the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report this week. “Aggressive efforts are required to contain spread.” The Diamond Princess had 3,700 passengers and crew with 712 becoming infected. More than 60 passengers on one Grand Princess cruise stayed on the ship to embark on a second voyage. The CDC said many of the travelers from the first trip tested positive for coronavirus and passed it on to people on the second trip. Read more here.