A Los Angeles doctor says he has received hundreds of requests after offering on social media to treat injuries suffered by protesters from law enforcement during the protests over the death of George Floyd for free. 

Amir Moarefi, a Long Beach-area ophthalmologist, posted on Instagram that he would provide “free health care and eye care, especially to those without any insurance” for any Californians injured by police during recent protests across the state.

Moarefi told LAist.com that he received “hundreds” of requests on his personal cellphone once word got out.

“I started to get the messages coming in and first it started off with a lot of virtual consults, a lot of messages, pictures, FaceTime chats,” he said.

“I’ve seen broken ankles, broken hands, broken fingers, welts all over the body. I’ve seen people who have sustained really bad tear gas injuries, where their entire face broke out into these nasty hives, including their eyes. Pepper spray, I’ve seen really bad cases. You could just see visible swelling of their eyeball,” Moarefi added.

The ophthalmologist, a Los Angeles native, told LAist.com that his offer was his personal means of supporting the protests over the death of Floyd, an unarmed black man who died in Minneapolis police custody. Bystander video of Floyd’s arrest showed that white officer knelt on his neck for more than eight minutes until he was unresponsive.

“The feeling of injustice is what this is all about. And this is just more little bits of injustice that people are feeling if they’re peacefully protesting, and they’re getting hurt,” he said.

Protests have risen up in California and states nationwide over Floyd’s death, resulting in calls from activists and demonstrators for police resources to be moved to other initiatives to support communities of color.

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European Union officials plan to file antitrust charges against Amazon over the company’s treatment of third-party sellers on the e-commerce platform, according to multiple reports.

The case would be one of the most aggressive attempts by any government entity to regulate Amazon.

Antitrust regulators at the European Commission, the executive body of the European Union, have determined that the e-commerce giant is stifling competition by using third-party seller data to boost its own line of products, sources with knowledge of the case told the Wall Street Journal and New York Times. 

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The timing of the charges remains unclear.

Spokespeople for the European Commission and Amazon declined to comment on the reports.

Antitrust concerns about Amazon operating the retail platform and selling products on it have been raised before.

The European Commission formally opened its antirust investigation into Amazon in July 2019.

Margrethe Vestager, the European Commissioner leading antitrust enforcement, said at the time that her team was probing whether Amazon was gaining an advantage from its dual role as a marketplace operator and seller of its own products.

–Updated at 3:30pm

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Welcome to Hillicon Valley, The Hill’s newsletter detailing all you need to know about the tech and cyber news from Capitol Hill to Silicon Valley. If you don’t already, be sure to sign up for our newsletter with this LINK.

Welcome! Follow our cyber reporter, Maggie Miller (@magmill95), and tech reporter, Chris Mills Rodrigo (@chrisismills), for more coverage.

BIDEN V FACEBOOK: Joe BidenJoe BidenHillicon Valley: Biden calls on Facebook to change political speech rules | Dems demand hearings after Georgia election chaos | Microsoft stops selling facial recognition tech to police Trump finalizing executive order calling on police to use ‘force with compassion’ The Hill’s Campaign Report: Biden campaign goes on offensive against Facebook MORE‘s presidential campaign on Thursday called for Facebook to change its rules about posts from politicians and to strengthen its policies against election-related misinformation.

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In an open letter from the former vice president and presumptive Democratic nominee’s campaign to Facebook CEO Mark ZuckerbergMark Elliot ZuckerbergHillicon Valley: Biden calls on Facebook to change political speech rules | Dems demand hearings after Georgia election chaos | Microsoft stops selling facial recognition tech to police The Hill’s Campaign Report: Biden campaign goes on offensive against Facebook Biden campaign calls on Facebook to change political speech rules MORE, the campaign urged Facebook to make changes to the platform’s hands-off approach to political speech.

The letter calls on Facebook to “proactively stem the tide of false information” by fact-checking election-related material that goes viral.

It also urges the social media platform to fact-check political ads two weeks before elections. Facebook has faced intense criticism for not subjecting ads from political candidates to fact-checking.

Finally, the letter asks Facebook to apply clear rules prohibiting threatening behavior or lies and how to participate in an election.

The campaign is asking supporters to sign a petition backing the same changes.

“With fewer than five months until the 2020 election, real changes to Facebook’s policies for their platform and how they enforce them are necessary to protect against a repeat of the role that disinformation played in the 2016 election and that continues to threaten our democracy today,” campaign spokesman Bill Russo said in a statement to The Hill. “We are urging our supporters to make their voices heard in this call for change.”

Facebook responded to the letter and petition in a blog post, saying it is up to lawmakers to make rules surrounding political speech.

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“Just as they have done with broadcast networks — where the US government prohibits rejecting politicians’ campaign ads — the people’s elected representatives should set the rules, and we will follow them,” the company wrote.

“There is an election coming in November and we will protect political speech, even when we strongly disagree with it.”

Read more here.

 

DEMS DEMAND HEARINGS ON GEORGIA ELECTION: The top Democrats on three Senate committees on Thursday demanded their Republican counterparts hold hearings examining the impact of COVID-19 on elections following chaos at the polls in Georgia this week.

Sens. Amy KlobucharAmy KlobucharHillicon Valley: Biden calls on Facebook to change political speech rules | Dems demand hearings after Georgia election chaos | Microsoft stops selling facial recognition tech to police Democrats demand Republican leaders examine election challenges after Georgia voting chaos Harris grapples with defund the police movement amid veep talk MORE (D-Minn.), Gary PetersGary Charles PetersWarren, Democrats urge Trump to back down from veto threat over changing Confederate-named bases Hillicon Valley: Biden calls on Facebook to change political speech rules | Dems demand hearings after Georgia election chaos | Microsoft stops selling facial recognition tech to police Democrats demand Republican leaders examine election challenges after Georgia voting chaos MORE (D-Mich.) and Dianne FeinsteinDianne Emiel FeinsteinHillicon Valley: Biden calls on Facebook to change political speech rules | Dems demand hearings after Georgia election chaos | Microsoft stops selling facial recognition tech to police Democrats demand Republican leaders examine election challenges after Georgia voting chaos GOP votes to give Graham broad subpoena power in Obama-era probe MORE (D-Calif.) sent a letter to Senate Rules Committee Chairman Roy BluntRoy Dean BluntSenate advances public lands bill in late-night vote Hillicon Valley: Biden calls on Facebook to change political speech rules | Dems demand hearings after Georgia election chaos | Microsoft stops selling facial recognition tech to police OVERNIGHT ENERGY: Senate headed for late night vote amid standoff over lands bill | Trump administration seeks to use global aid for nuclear projects | EPA faces lawsuit alleging failure to update flaring requirements MORE (R-Mo.), Homeland Security Chairman Ron JohnsonRonald (Ron) Harold JohnsonHillicon Valley: Biden calls on Facebook to change political speech rules | Dems demand hearings after Georgia election chaos | Microsoft stops selling facial recognition tech to police Republicans release newly declassified intelligence document on FBI source Steele Democrats demand Republican leaders examine election challenges after Georgia voting chaos MORE (R-Wis.) and Judiciary Chairman Lindsey GrahamLindsey Olin GrahamHillicon Valley: Biden calls on Facebook to change political speech rules | Dems demand hearings after Georgia election chaos | Microsoft stops selling facial recognition tech to police OVERNIGHT DEFENSE: Joint Chiefs chairman says he regrets participating in Trump photo-op | GOP senators back Joint Chiefs chairman who voiced regret over Trump photo-op | Senate panel approves 0B defense policy bill GOP senators back Joint Chiefs chairman who voiced regret over Trump photo-op MORE (R-S.C.) asking that they examine election vulnerabilities after several coronavirus-related challenges.

“Nobody should have to choose between their health and their right to vote, and Americans deserve accurate information about our democracy,” the Senate Democrats wrote. “Primary voters across Georgia and Wisconsin can attest to the fact that failure to enact reforms and provide assistance to states will result in widespread chaos, the disenfranchisement of voters, and even voters and election workers becoming sick.”

Voting reform advocates and congressional Democrats called on Congress to step in to make election reforms and send funding to states to address new election challenges following confusion at polling precincts in Atlanta during the primary elections in Georgia this week.

The issues occurred two months after a Supreme Court ruling forced many Wisconsin voters to cast their ballots in person, with dozens of COVID-19 cases subsequently traced to the election. 

Congress appropriated $400 million to states to address election concerns as part of the stimulus bill signed into law by President TrumpDonald John TrumpSenate advances public lands bill in late-night vote Warren, Democrats urge Trump to back down from veto threat over changing Confederate-named bases Esper orders ‘After Action Review’ of National Guard’s role in protests MORE in March, but experts estimate a total of $4 billion is needed to ensure elections can move forward this year. 

Read more.

 

MICROSOFT JOINS IBM, AMAZON: Microsoft said Thursday it will not sell facial recognition tools to police departments until there is a federal law governing the technology.

The company’s president, Brad Smith, made the announcement during a Washington Post Live event, noting that it’s in keeping with past Microsoft policy.

“We will not sell facial recognition technology to police departments in the United States until we have a national law in place, grounded in human rights that will govern this technology,” Smith said.

“The bottom line for us is to protect the human rights of people as this technology is deployed,” he added.  

Several federal bills governing the use of facial recognition by different groups, including the police, have been introduced, but as of now there are no laws on the books regulating the controversial technology.

Microsoft’s commitment comes amid concern from activists and civil rights groups that law enforcement may be using facial recognition tech to identify individuals participating in the anti-police brutality demonstrations that have erupted across the nation since the killing of George Floyd.

IBM on Monday announced it will no longer offer general purpose facial recognition or analysis software.

Amazon made a smaller move on Wednesday, placing a one-year moratorium on the sale of its facial recognition technology, Rekognition, to police.

Read more.

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TWITTER TAKEDOWN: Twitter announced Thursday that it had deleted more than 170,000 accounts tied to a Chinese state-linked operation, saying the accounts were spreading deceptive information around the COVID-19 virus, political dynamics in Hong Kong, and other issues. 

Almost 25,000 of the deleted accounts formed what Twitter described as the “core network,” while around 150,000 were amplifying messages from the core groups. 

“In general, this entire network was involved in a range of manipulative and coordinated activities,” the company wrote in a blog post. “They were Tweeting predominantly in Chinese languages and spreading geopolitical narratives favorable to the Communist Party of China (CCP), while continuing to push deceptive narratives about the political dynamics in Hong Kong.” 

Twitter noted that the accounts taken down this week were tied to a Chinese state-backed operation last year that attempted to sow political discord in Hong Kong. Those accounts were also taken down. 

According to an analysis of the accounts by the Stanford Internet Observatory (SIO), many of the accounts shut down were tweeting about the COVID-19 pandemic, with activity around this issue beginning in late January and reaching its peak in late March. 

The accounts primarily praised China’s response to the COVID-19 crisis. While most of the accounts had less than 10 followers and no bios, the SIO found that they had tweeted almost 350,000 times before being shut down. 

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Read more about Twitter’s actions now.

DEMS PRESS DNI ON FOREIGN MEDDLING: Reps. Val DemingsValdez (Val) Venita DemingsHillicon Valley: Biden calls on Facebook to change political speech rules | Dems demand hearings after Georgia election chaos | Microsoft stops selling facial recognition tech to police The Hill’s Coronavirus Report: Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas says country needs to rethink what ‘policing’ means; US cases surpass 2 million with no end to pandemic in sight Democrats press Intel chief for answers on foreign efforts to exploit US racial tensions MORE (D-Fla.) and Raja KrishnamoorthiSubramanian (Raja) Raja KrishnamoorthiHillicon Valley: Biden calls on Facebook to change political speech rules | Dems demand hearings after Georgia election chaos | Microsoft stops selling facial recognition tech to police Democrats press Intel chief for answers on foreign efforts to exploit US racial tensions The Hill’s Coronavirus Report: Singapore Minister for Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan says there will be consequences from fraying US-China relations; WHO walks back claims on asymptomatic spread of virus MORE (D-Ill.) pressed Director of National Intelligence John RatcliffeJohn Lee RatcliffeHillicon Valley: Biden calls on Facebook to change political speech rules | Dems demand hearings after Georgia election chaos | Microsoft stops selling facial recognition tech to police Republicans release newly declassified intelligence document on FBI source Steele Democrats press Intel chief for answers on foreign efforts to exploit US racial tensions MORE for answers Thursday on whether any hostile foreign actors were attempting to take advantage of recent U.S. protests to spread misinformation.

In a letter to Ratcliffe, the two House Democrats pointed to specific concerns that foreign actors would seek to exploit increased racial tensions in the U.S. following protests over the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis last month. 

“I am writing you today to request information regarding your plans to ensure that foreign actors do not exploit the current heightened tensions in America by spreading misinformation, inciting violence, or utilize any other means to support a foreign agenda not in the best interests of American national security, public health, and safety,” Demings and Krishnamoorthi wrote.

The lawmakers, who both serve on the House Intelligence Committee, asked Ratcliffe for details on whether the intelligence community had a plan in place to respond to any foreign efforts to exploit racial tensions and whether there was evidence that foreign adversaries were already doing so.

“The underlying issues that led to these continued protests are based on years of systemic racism and concerns that originated from American policies and American actors,” the lawmakers wrote. “But we do not want foreign state actors to exploit the injustice in America as we try to heal these wounds and rebuild a more equitable and just society for all.”

The Office of the Director of National Intelligence did not immediately respond to The Hill’s request for comment on the letter. 

Read more.

YOUTUBE STEPS UP: YouTube will create a $100 million fund “dedicated to amplifying and developing the voices of Black creators and artists and their stories,” the CEO announced Thursday.

CEO Susan Wojcicki committed to the multi-year fund in her mid-year update to “center and amplify Black voices and perspectives” on the video platform. 

“We have always been proud that we are a platform that celebrates a broad and diverse set of voices,” she wrote. “And we have implemented many policies and product features to protect our communities.

“But we recognize we need to do more, in particular with the Black community, and that is why we are committing to following actions,” she added.

Wojcicki cited the upcoming live stream fundraising event “Bear Witness, Take Action” as an example of content YouTube wishes to further promote. The event produced by YouTube Originals will feature creators, artists, public figures and activists for discussions and musical performances on Saturday, with the donations going to the Equal Justice Initiative.

The platform’s Spotlight channel will focus on racial justice issues through the rest of the month, including perspectives from black community members, historical content, educational videos and protest coverage, she said.

The CEO also vowed to do more to protect diverse communities from hate and harassment, saying the company will review how its policies work for everyone but especially the black community and “close any gaps.”

Read more about the YouTube fund here.

 

EU TO TARGET AMAZON’S THIRD-PARTY TREATMENT: European Union officials plan to file antitrust charges against Amazon over the company’s treatment of third-party sellers on the e-commerce platform, according to multiple reports.

The case would be one of the most aggressive attempts by any government entity to regulate Amazon.

Antitrust regulators at the European Commission, the executive body of the European Union, have determined that the e-commerce giant is stifling competition by using third-party seller data to boost its own line of products, sources with knowledge of the case told the Wall Street Journal and New York Times. 

The timing of the charges remains unclear.

Spokespeople for the European Commission and Amazon declined to comment on the reports.

Antitrust concerns about Amazon operating the retail platform and selling products on it have been raised before.

The European Commission formally opened its antitrust investigation into Amazon in July 2019.

Margrethe Vestager, the European Commissioner leading antitrust enforcement, said at the time that her team was probing whether Amazon was gaining an advantage from its dual role as a marketplace operator and seller of its own products.

Read more.

 

ICYMI – MORE ELECTION CONCERNS: Voting reform advocates are warning the chaos seen during Georgia’s primary elections on Tuesday portends widespread problems in November if measures are not taken to expand mail-in voting and address other election challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Tuesday’s elections saw voters in some areas of Atlanta waiting hours to cast their vote due to a combination of malfunctioning voting equipment, the consolidation of in-person polling places due to the COVID-19 crisis and confusion over voting absentee. 

The voting precincts hit hardest were those with heavily minority populations, reinforcing concern about voter disenfranchisement as protests continued across the country over the police killing of George Floyd. 

Nse Ufot, the executive director of the voting rights group New Georgia Project, told reporters Wednesday that she was “equal parts determined and pissed off,” describing the election confusion as “completely avoidable.”

“We witnessed a direct attack on our democracy and a trial run of what we are going to see,” Ufot said. “We saw people frustrated who literally quit on the spot, we saw polling locations close before voting was done and open late, hours late … we need to make sure things are fixed on the march to November.” 

Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms (D) voiced her own frustrations late Tuesday night.

“Let’s all work, hope and pray that this is not a preview of November,” she tweeted.

Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger (R) announced Tuesday that he was launching an investigation to understand what steps Georgia counties need to take to ensure November elections can move forward smoothly.

Georgia’s statewide voting implementation manager, Gabriel Sterling, directed blame at county election officials for the chaos at the polls, saying in a statement on Tuesday that the “breakdown occurred at the county level.”

But county officials and some reform advocates have cast their blame on Georgia elections officials for not adequately preparing the state for the voting changes implemented on Tuesday.

Read more about election concerns in Georgia here.

 

Lighter click: USPS workers <3

An op-ed to chew on: Private lawsuits are a necessary expedient in privacy legislation

 

NOTABLE LINKS FROM AROUND THE WEB: 

Motherboard asked 43 facial recognition companies if they will refuse to work with cops (Vice Motherboard / Kevin Truong) 

The ‘new normal’ as cyber-spies navigate pandemic (BBC News / Gordon Corera) 

Here’s what that Capital One court decision means for corporate cybersecurity (CyberScoop / Jeff Stone) 

Tech’s big five lost nearly $270 billion in value in Thursday’s market plunge (CNBC / Jessica Bursztynsky) 

COVID-19 could push us to cut the cord faster than ever (Protocol / Kevin McAllister)

The coronavirus is spiking across more than a dozen states, but many governors are signaling they have no interest in bringing back restrictive stay-at-home orders almost regardless of what happens.

Even governors with detailed metrics for reopening have shown little appetite to plan for the inevitable virus surges. Public health experts say there are less drastic measures to take than reimposing lockdowns, but as the virus rages, they warn time may be running short.

“Once you see cases rise, it’s too late. [A rising] number of cases signifies a spread that’s already happened,” said Jen Kates, a senior vice president at the Kaiser Family Foundation.   

The average number of confirmed cases over a two-week period has doubled or more in Arizona, Arkansas, Oregon and Utah. South Carolina, Nevada, North Carolina and Florida have all set new highs over a seven-day rolling average.

Fewer than a quarter of intensive care unit beds in Alabama and Georgia are available. California, Mississippi and Arkansas are all also reporting record levels of hospitalizations.

In Texas, the number of people hospitalized with coronavirus has grown more than 40 percent since Memorial Day. There are currently more than 2,000 people hospitalized, an all-time high in the state, but Gov. Greg Abbott (R) is moving ahead with easing even more restrictions.

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Arizona’s top health official has urged hospitals to activate their emergency plans. The numbers of hospitalizations, cases, and deaths have been rising sharply for two weeks, and are at an all-time high.

“The data are compelling in our state. Things are getting worse, fast,” said Will Humble, director of the Arizona Public Health Association, and former director of the state’s Department of Health Services. 

“If nothing changes we’re going to end up with field hospitals, or another stay-at-home order, or both. But it doesn’t have to be that way,” Humble said. 

Humble accused Gov. Doug Ducey (R) of deliberately ignoring the worrisome trend in order to focus on the state’s economy. 

The governor’s stay-at-home order expired on May 15, and was not replaced by anything binding. Bars, restaurants, gyms, spas and movie theaters all re-opened, in many cases without even a mask requirement. 

Two weeks later, cases and hospitalizations started their rapid increase. 

During a recent press conference, Ducey said the state is focused on protecting people most at risk, but everyone else should be allowed to “participate in the opening of our economy.”

Ducey said the rising numbers were expected, and are the result of additional testing, not the lifting of restrictions. 

That viewpoint has been echoed by other governors across the country, who contend an uptick in cases does not necessarily correlate to reopenings. 

Officials have also generally been hesitant to pause reopening measures after the crippling economic effects of lockdowns that kept businesses closed and people at home.

“Our data in Arkansas tells us that the growth rate in cases is not the result of lifting restrictions,” Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R) told reporters this week, adding that the state has been testing more people, so there should be an increase in cases. Restaurants, gyms, and salons, are all taking precautions, he said.

Arkansas first opened non-essential businesses on May 4, with some occupancy limits. Hutchinson said those limits will be increased as the state’s reopening continues next week.

“Americans are on the move and they can’t be tied down and they can’t be restrained, unless they make a voluntary decision that this is right for me and my health or my family,” Hutchinson said. 

In South Carolina, which was one of the first states to reopen businesses and has seen a precipitous rise in coronavirus cases, health officials this week exhorted the public to continue wearing masks and following physical distancing recommendations. 

But the joint statement from state health officials did not mention a risk of re-imposing restrictions, or any other plan to address the continued rise in infections.

Public health experts contend that case spikes are inevitable, but the solutions don’t have to involve locking down an entire state again.

“It’s not a given that lockdowns will be needed, but if a state is unable to get on top of an outbreak” there may not be a choice, Kates said.

In Virginia for instance, Department of Health officials told The Hill that if there’s a case surge, they may ask hospitals to reduce or put a hold on elective procedures in order to preserve capacity and personal protective equipment. 

If outbreaks are happening in schools in a particular community, the state “may need to consider a temporary, short term closure of schools in certain areas.”

If there’s a “sustained increase” for a week or more, only then will the state possibly reimpose stay at home orders or restrictions on some businesses, health officials said. 

In Arizona, Ducey on Thursday told reporters he would consider reducing elective surgeries if hospitals were struggling to handle a surge of coronavirus patients, but stressed the state wasn’t at that point. 

Kates said lockdowns were a “blunt instrument” meant to buy time for states and communities to build up surveillance and contact tracing capacity, so they would be able to quickly respond to any virus flash points once they reopen.

“Not every state has done this, and that’s what’s concerning,” Kates said. “It’s an open question if states that are seeing these increases are really prepared.”

 

 

Chinese researchers developing a coronavirus vaccine say it showed promise in animal trials, according to a study published Saturday in the medical journal Cell.

The potential vaccine, called BBIBP-CorV, reportedly produced antibodies that fought against the virus in monkeys, rats, guinea pigs and rabbits. 

“These results support the further evaluation of BBIBP-CorV in a clinical trial,” researchers said in the paper. 

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The vaccine is being developed by the Beijing Institute of Biological Products, which is a unit of the China National Pharmaceutical Group (Sinopharm). It is one of five vaccine candidates that is being tested in the country. 

There are more than 100 potential vaccines in works worldwide, about five of which are in different stages of development around the U.S. 

Moderna, the American biotech company working on a vaccine with the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), announced Wednesday that it will begin the final testing stages in July. 

In its previous phase, Moderna’s vaccine showed promising results when tested on animals, much like BBIBP-CorV.

John Mascola, the director of the vaccine research center at NIAID, told The Wall Street Journal that the trials will involve about 30,000 people at more than 50 sites, which will mostly be within the U.S.   

Happy Thursday, and welcome to Overnight Defense. 

I’m Ellen Mitchell, and here’s your nightly guide to the latest developments at the Pentagon, on Capitol Hill and beyond. CLICK HERE to subscribe to the newsletter.

 

THE TOPLINE: Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Mark Milley says he regrets his participation in President Trump’s photo opportunity outside St. John’s Church last week.

“I should not have been there,” Milley said during a recorded message aired at the graduation of the National Defense University on Thursday morning. “My presence in that moment and in that environment created a perception of the military involved in domestic politics.”

“As a commissioned, uniformed officer, it was a mistake that I have learned from,” he said. “And I sincerely hope we all can learn from it.”

Context: Milley was photographed in uniform walking with Trump to the historic church last Monday, shortly after demonstrators protesting the police killing of George Floyd were forcibly cleared from Lafayette Square by federal law enforcement and National Guardsmen.

Trump has been widely criticized for the photo-op, including by his former secretary of Defense James Mattis, and his administration has withstood scrutiny for the decision to clear the protesters.

Milley’s message: Milley acknowledged in his prerecorded remarks Thursday that the incident triggered a national conversation about the role of the U.S. military in civil society. He went on to emphasize the importance of preserving the principle of a military that is not involved in politics.

“We who wear the cloth of our nation come from the people of our nation and we must hold dear the principle of an apolitical military that is so deeply rooted in the essence of our republic,” Milley said in the taped address.

He spoke at length about Floyd’s “senseless and brutal killing” and racial injustice in general, expressing support for peaceful protesters and underscoring the work ahead for the United States to address racism.

“[Floyd’s] death amplified the pain, the frustration and the fear that so many of our fellow Americans live with day in, day out,” Milley said.

 

A collision course with the White House?: It’s unclear how Milley’s remarks will be received at the White House. The White House and other administration officials, including Attorney General William Barr, have defended the events in Lafayette Square, insisting the clearing of protesters was warranted and not connected to Trump’s decision to visit St. John’s.

Defense Secretary Mark Esper told reporters during a news conference last week that he was aware of Trump’s destination when he accompanied him to the church, which had been vandalized the night prior when protest turned violent, but that he didn’t know it would be a photo opportunity.

“I did know that following the president’s remarks on Monday evening that many of us were wanting to join President TrumpDonald John TrumpSenate advances public lands bill in late-night vote Warren, Democrats urge Trump to back down from veto threat over changing Confederate-named bases Esper orders ‘After Action Review’ of National Guard’s role in protests MORE and review the damage in Lafayette Park and at St. John’s Episcopal Church,” Esper said. “What I was not aware of was exactly where we were going when we arrived at the church and what the plans were once we got there.”

Esper also broke with Trump by saying he would not support the use of the Insurrection Act to allow the deployment of active-duty troops to quell domestic protests after Trump threatened to do so in order to crack down on looting and rioting.

Esper’s statement caught the White House by surprise, and Trump reportedly wanted to fire him over the disagreement, but was talked out of it.

 

GOP senators back Milley’s statement: Several Republican senators backed Milley’s statement on Thursday, with Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) saying he has nothing but “deep admiration for and total confidence in” the general. 

“I support his statement in both substance and spirit regarding the recent presidential visit to St. Johns,” Graham tweeted Thursday. 

“General Milley is a tremendous military leader who understands the long tradition of maintaining an apolitical, nonpartisan military,” Graham added.

Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) also voiced support for Milley’s statement, noting that he thinks Milley regrets wearing his camouflage utility uniform at the time. 

And when asked about Milley’s statement, Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) told reporters she thought it was “a good strong statement for him to make.” 

“I appreciated it,” she added. 

 

SENATE PANEL APPROVES $740B DEFENSE POLICY BILL: The Senate Armed Services Committee has advanced its $740.5 billion annual defense policy bill, the panel said Thursday.

The fiscal 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) was approved by the committee in a 25-2 vote during a closed-door session Wednesday.

“This year marks the 60th year in a row that the committee has fulfilled our constitutional duty to provide for the common defense by advancing the National Defense Authorization Act — once again with overwhelming support,” committee Chairman James Inhofe (R-Okla.) said in a statement.

“Building on the last two years, this year’s NDAA charts a decisive course of action to implement the National Defense Strategy, regain a credible military deterrent, and, ultimately, achieve a lasting peace, not only for us, but for our children and grandchildren,” Inhofe added.

Controversial issues in a standard bill: This year’s NDAA could prove controversial at a time of nationwide protests against police violence and racial injustice. Amendments approved by the committee would require the Pentagon to rename military bases named after Confederate leaders and bar the use of troops against protesters.

But the bulk of the bill focuses on standard defense issues. The bill would authorize $636.4 billion for the Pentagon’s base budget and $25.9 billion for national security programs within the Department of Energy.

The money breakdown: It would also authorize $69 billion for a war fund known as the Overseas Contingency Operations account.

The funding would include $9.1 billion to 95 F-35 fighter jets, 14 more than the administration requested.

It would also include $21.3 billion for shipbuilding, $1.4 billion more than the administration requested. That would fund seven new battle force ships, which is one fewer than the administration requested because the Senate previously authorized buying an amphibious transport dock ship.

The bill would also authorize a 3 percent pay raise for troops, in line with the administration’s request.

As Inhofe and the committee’s top Democrat, Sen. Jack Reed (R.I.), previewed, this year’s NDAA would also create a Pacific Deterrence Initiative aimed at countering China. The bill would put an initial $1.4 billion into the fund in fiscal 2021 and authorize another $5.5 billion for fiscal 2022.

 

Tackling coronavirus concerns: The bill’s was complicated this year by the coronavirus pandemic this year. However, the legislation also has several measures to address the health crisis.

It would authorize $44 million for vaccine and biotechnology research supported by the Pentagon. It would also provide reserve retirement relief for service members affected by the stop-movement order the Pentagon issued because of the pandemic. Additionally, it would authorize a transitional health benefit for National Guardsmen who were called up to help with the pandemic response but are not covered by the Title 32 designation in which the federal government paid for the deployment.

 

MILITARY BASE NAME DEBATE HEATS UP: President Trump and Congress are on a collision course over whether to rename Army bases that are named for Confederate military officers.

Trump is adamantly opposed to changing the names, tweeting Wednesday that he would “not even consider” doing so. The next day he warned Republicans not to “fall for” for a legislative effort to change the names.

But just hours after making his position clear, news emerged that the Republican-led Senate Armed Services Committee approved an amendment to the annual defense policy bill that would require the Pentagon to rename bases and other military assets bearing the names of Confederate leaders.

The amendment, offered by Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), would give the Pentagon three years to remove the Confederate names.

 

Congress’ position on the amendment: Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), a committee member, said the amendment shows Trump’s “resistance is so out of touch to be almost irrelevant,” while Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) said “it’s part of the reckoning that’s long overdue.”

The House, too, appears poised to adopt a related amendment when it considers its version of the NDAA — increasing the odds that a form of the amendment finds its way to Trump’s desk, forcing him to decide whether to veto a $740 billion bill that includes a pay raise for troops, new military hardware and other administration priorities.

 

The bases at play: The rapid moves on Capitol Hill come on the heels of Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy and Defense Secretary Mark Esper announcing through an Army spokesperson on Monday that they were open to changing the names of 10 bases named after Confederate military officers: Fort Bragg in North Carolina; Fort Benning and Fort Gordon in Georgia; Fort Pickett, Fort A.P. Hill and Fort Lee in Virginia; Fort Polk and Camp Beauregard in Louisiana; Fort Hood in Texas; and Fort Rucker in Alabama. 

 

A reversal at the Pentagon: The Army’s Monday position was a reversal from as recently as February, when the service said it had no plans to change the name of any base, including those named after Confederate officers.

The about-face came amid nationwide protests over police brutality and racial injustice sparked by the death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man who died when a white police officer knelt on his neck for more than eight minutes. The officer has since been fired and charged with second-degree murder and manslaughter.

 

A brewing battle: The inclusion of the amendment to force the Pentagon to change the base names, coupled with a threat of a veto by the president, potentially puts the White House on a collision course with Congress over what’s generally considered a must-pass bill. Republicans disinclined to confront the president still have opportunities to strip the amendment if they want, such as when the bill hits the Senate floor as soon as next week. 

 

Trump knocks Warren: Trump on Thursday lashed out at Warren for the amendment, dismissing her as a “seriously failed presidential candidate” and mocked her with the nickname “Pocahontas” in a tweet, while warning Republican senators not to support the amendment.

“Seriously failed presidential candidate, Senator Elizabeth ‘Pocahontas’ Warren, just introduced an Amendment on the renaming of many of our legendary Military Bases from which we trained to WIN two World Wars,” Trump tweeted Thursday afternoon. “Hopefully our great Republican Senators won’t fall for this!” 

 

Scott stays neutral:  Sen. Tim Scott (S.C.), the only African American Republican in the Senate, isn’t taking a position yet on whether to rename U.S. military bases.

Scott, who is taking the lead in drafting GOP legislation responding to the death of Floyd and other African Americans killed by law enforcement, said the police reform bill is his top focus now.

“I haven’t given it much thought. I’ve certainly seen the reports of it all but ultimately I’ve been focusing on the police reform and no need to answer questions I haven’t given full thought to,” he said. 

“What I’ve learned is that the devil is always in the details,” he added, explaining that going with first “instincts” in responding to a tricky policy question “doesn’t always produce the best results.”

 

Meanwhile, at the Naval Academy: The school’s Board of Visitors chairman said Thursday that the names of two Confederate naval officers should be removed from campus buildings at the U.S. Naval Academy. 

Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger (D-Md.) said the Pentagon should consider removing Confederate names from all military bases as Americans nationwide protest and call for an end to racial inequality and police brutality.

“There has been discussion of renaming these buildings since at least 2017,” Ruppersberger said in a statement posted to his congressional website.

“As the new Chairman, the time for discussion is over. It’s time for action,” he said. “Midshipmen who have earned the privilege to study in one of our nation’s most prestigious institutions should not have to walk around campus and see buildings named for men who fought to uphold slavery and promote white supremacy.”

 

ICYMI

— The Hill: China condemns US military for ‘provocative’ flight over Taiwan

— The Hill: House panel again presses Pentagon leaders to testify on military’s role in protests

— The Hill: Trump administration accuses international court of corruption at ‘highest levels,’ authorizes sanctions

— The Hill: North Korea warns US to stay out of its affairs to ensure ‘smooth running’ of presidential election

— The Hill: Democrats press Intel chief for answers on foreign efforts to exploit US racial tensions

— The Hill: Troop levels up for debate in US, Iraqi negotiations this week

— The Hill: Opinion: Why cutting American forces in Germany will harm this alliance

— The Hill: Opinion: An intelligence perspective: Stop predicting and start ‘living the questions’

Click Here: COLLINGWOOD MAGPIES 2019

Welcome to Wednesday’s Overnight Health Care.

Anthony FauciAnthony FauciOvernight Health Care: Fauci underscores concerns about protests spreading coronavirus | COVID-19 surge in Texas sparks reopening fears | A day in the life of America’s contact tracing army Minnesota AG Keith Ellison says racism is a bigger problem than police behavior; 21 states see uptick in cases amid efforts to reopen Texas experiences third consecutive day of record coronavirus hospitalizations MORE expressed concern about the mass protests spreading the coronavirus. COVID-19 cases in Texas are spiking, and Senate Republicans are in no rush to pass the next coronavirus relief bill.

We’ll start with Fauci:

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Fauci underscores concerns about protests spreading coronavirus

All the people coming together for protests in recent weeks will likely spread the coronavirus, top infectious disease expert Anthony Fauci warned. 

Fauci told ABC’s “Good Morning America” he isn’t surprised that members of the Washington, D.C., National Guard who mobilized in response to the protests had tested positive, but he called the development “disturbing.”

“The issue of physical separation is important. Masks can help, but it’s masks plus physical separation, and when you get congregations like we saw with the demonstrations, like we have said — myself and other health officials — that’s taking a risk,” Fauci said. “Unfortunately, what we’re seeing now is just an example of the kinds of things we were concerned about.”

Fauci said he wouldn’t be surprised if some protesters in D.C. subsequently contracted the novel coronavirus and noted that many of them came from other areas and will return to their home state or city.

“It’s the kind of things we were concerned about and unfortunately we’re seeing it come true right now,” Fauci said.

Read more here.

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COVID-19 surge in Texas sparks reopening fears 

The indicators coming out of Texas have not been great lately. 

The state has been relatively aggressive about reopening, lifting its stay-at-home order on May 1 and gradually increasing capacity at shops, bars and restaurants since then. 

Now, though, the state is seeing a surge of cases of the coronavirus. The state reached a new high of coronavirus hospitalizations on Monday, with 1,935 people hospitalized with the illness, according to state data. 

Texas is not alone. Arizona and North Carolina have also reached new highs of coronavirus hospitalizations in recent days. South Carolina, Arkansas and Florida are seeing spikes in cases as well. 

Big picture: The data illustrates how the virus is still gathering steam in some areas, even as the situation improves dramatically in old hot spots like New York and New Jersey. 

There has also been an element of unpredictability, though, given that some states, like Georgia, which drew national scrutiny after moving quickly to reopen, have not yet seen spikes in cases. 

Marcia Ory, a professor at the Texas A&M School of Public Health, said “it is not surprising that the numbers of cases are going up as social distancing reduces.”

Read more here.

A day in the life of America’s contact tracing army 

States across the country are turning to one of the most basic practices of epidemiology to stamp out the coronavirus, deploying contact tracers to identify and inform anyone who has come into contact with the virus that they are at risk.

Every day, thousands of tracers and case investigators head to the new front line in the war against the coronavirus, legions armed with iPhones, databases and carefully worded scripts meant to both educate and reassure. They deliver bad news to those they call, and they bear witness to the suffering their communities endure.

Our colleague Reid Wilson spoke to some of these tracers for a look at what their day to day work is like. Read more here.

Don’t hold your breath for another relief bill too soon

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Republican senators are leaning into their go-slow approach on the next coronavirus bill, our colleague Jordain Carney reports. 

Bolstered by last week’s unexpectedly positive jobs report, Senate Republicans are signaling they will not pass another bill before late July. They have also flatly rejected the $3 trillion price tag of the bill passed last month by House Democrats.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnellAddison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellFloyd’s brother urges Congress to take action Schumer blocks resolution opposing calls to defund police Highest-circulation Kentucky newspaper endorses Charles Booker in Senate race MORE (R-Ky.) indicated to GOP colleagues during a closed-door policy lunch on Tuesday that he does not anticipate the chamber will take up another coronavirus relief package before leaving for a two-week July 4 recess, according to senators in the meeting.

Instead, McConnell told Republicans he viewed the next work period — which runs from July 20 to Aug. 7 — as the time to take up and pass a bill, setting up a crucial three-week window.

“That seemed like a pretty wise strategy,” said Sen. John ThuneJohn Randolph ThuneSenate at logjam over changing ‘qualified immunity’ for police Hillicon Valley: Senators raise concerns over government surveillance of protests | Amazon pauses police use of its facial recognition tech | FBI warns hackers are targeting mobile banking apps Overnight Health Care: Fauci underscores concerns about protests spreading coronavirus | COVID-19 surge in Texas sparks reopening fears | A day in the life of America’s contact tracing army MORE (S.D.), the No. 2 Republican senator, “and we’ll have a better sense for what we’ll need to do probably a few weeks down the road.”

Read more here.

Americans divided on return to regular routines: poll

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Americans are divided on returning to their regular routines about three months after the country shut down because of the coronavirus pandemic, according to a poll released Wednesday. 

A CNN poll conducted by SSRS found that 49 percent of respondents said they feel comfortable returning to their normal routines after the shutdowns, compared to 50 percent who say they do not. In May’s poll, 41 percent said they felt comfortable returning to regular life, and 58 percent said they did not. 

The level of comfort is split among partisan lines, with 73 percent of Republicans, 53 percent of independents and 23 percent of Democrats polled saying they are comfortable returning to regular life.

Out of those who are not comfortable going back to normal life, 17 percent say they will probably or definitely return to their regular routines by the end of the year, while 32 percent say regular life will not begin until 2021. 

Read more here. 

What we’re reading

Trump’s task force warns governors of COVID spike tied to protests (Daily Beast)

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U.S. states accuse 26 drugmakers of generic drug price fixing in sweeping lawsuit (Reuters)

12 states see rising Covid-19 hospitalizations as Arizona asks hospitals to activate emergency plans (CNN.com) 

State by state

An ‘Unprecedented’ Number Of Coloradans Are Enrolling in Medicaid Due To The Coronavirus Pandemic (CPR News)

New coronavirus hot spots emerge across South and in California, as Northeast slows (Kaiser Health News)

States are wrestling on their own with how to expand testing, with little guidance from the Trump administration (Washington Post)

Tennessee to allow limited visitation at nursing homes beginning June 15 (News Channel 5 Nashville)

A Los Angeles doctor says he has received hundreds of requests after offering on social media to treat injuries suffered by protesters from law enforcement during the protests over the death of George Floyd for free. 

Amir Moarefi, a Long Beach-area ophthalmologist, posted on Instagram that he would provide “free health care and eye care, especially to those without any insurance” for any Californians injured by police during recent protests across the state.

Moarefi told LAist.com that he received “hundreds” of requests on his personal cellphone once word got out.

“I started to get the messages coming in and first it started off with a lot of virtual consults, a lot of messages, pictures, FaceTime chats,” he said.

“I’ve seen broken ankles, broken hands, broken fingers, welts all over the body. I’ve seen people who have sustained really bad tear gas injuries, where their entire face broke out into these nasty hives, including their eyes. Pepper spray, I’ve seen really bad cases. You could just see visible swelling of their eyeball,” Moarefi added.

The ophthalmologist, a Los Angeles native, told LAist.com that his offer was his personal means of supporting the protests over the death of Floyd, an unarmed black man who died in Minneapolis police custody. Bystander video of Floyd’s arrest showed that white officer knelt on his neck for more than eight minutes until he was unresponsive.

“The feeling of injustice is what this is all about. And this is just more little bits of injustice that people are feeling if they’re peacefully protesting, and they’re getting hurt,” he said.

Protests have risen up in California and states nationwide over Floyd’s death, resulting in calls from activists and demonstrators for police resources to be moved to other initiatives to support communities of color.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) said Thursday that nursing homes that confiscate residents’ coronavirus stimulus payments could be subject to federal enforcement actions, including possible removal from participating in Medicaid and Medicare programs.

CMS said in a news release that it is aware of allegations that some nursing homes are demanding residents’ payments, and that the practice is prohibited. The agency said that it has not received specific complaints about this practice but wants to inform nursing home residents of their rights while warning facilities of the potential consequences of seizing residents’ checks.

CMS’s message comes after state attorneys general have been reporting that they’ve had complaints of nursing homes and assisted-living facilities requiring residents on Medicaid to sign over their payments. Members of Congress on both sides of the aisle have been asking federal agencies to help protect residents, with House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richard NealRichard Edmund NealOvernight Health Care: US showing signs of retreat in battle against COVID-19 | Regeneron begins clinical trials of potential coronavirus antibody treatment | CMS warns nursing homes against seizing residents’ stimulus checks CMS warns nursing homes against seizing residents’ stimulus checks Nursing homes under scrutiny after warnings of seized stimulus checks MORE (D-Mass.) and House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Frank Pallone Jr. (D-N.J.) urging CMS to issue guidance to nursing homes and residents.

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CMS said that the confiscation of residents’ checks could be considered misappropriation of resident property under federal regulations. Nursing homes that require residents to sign over their payments could also be in violation of rules that give residents the right to manage their own financial affairs, the agency added.

CMS encouraged nursing home residents and their family members who were directed to turn over their stimulus checks to file complaints with their state survey agency and to contact their state attorney general.

Under legislation enacted in March, most Americans are entitled to one-time payments of up to $1,200 per adult and $500 per dependent child. The checks are advance payments of refundable tax credits, which means that they cannot count as income for Medicaid eligibility purposes.

Welcome to Thursday’s Overnight Health Care.

The U.S. has surpassed 2 million confirmed cases of COVID-19, but it is likely many more are going undetected. Meanwhile, states are moving ahead with plans to allow businesses to reopen. Senate Minority Leader Chuck SchumerChuck SchumerOvernight Health Care: US showing signs of retreat in battle against COVID-19 | Regeneron begins clinical trials of potential coronavirus antibody treatment | CMS warns nursing homes against seizing residents’ stimulus checks Schumer requests briefing with White House coronavirus task force as cases rise Schumer on Trump’s tweet about 75-year-old protester: He ‘should go back to hiding in the bunker’ MORE (D) is asking for a briefing next week with the White House coronavirus task force to explain the spike in cases in states like Texas and Arizona.

 

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US showing signs of retreat in battle against COVID-19

When throngs of tourists and revelers left their homes over Memorial Day weekend, public health experts braced for a surge in coronavirus infections that could force a second round of painful shutdowns.

Two weeks later, that surge has hit places like Houston, Phoenix, South Carolina and Missouri. Week-over-week case counts are on the rise in half of all states. Only 16 states and the District of Columbia have seen their total case counts decline for two consecutive weeks.

But instead of new lockdowns to stop a second spike in cases, states are moving ahead with plans to allow most businesses to reopen, lifting stay-at-home orders and returning to something that resembles normal life.

“There is no — zero — discussion of re-tightening any measures to combat this trend. Instead, states are treating this as a one-way trip. That sets us up for a very dangerous fall, but potentially even for a dangerous summer,” said Jeremy Konyndyk, a senior fellow at the Center for Global Development who oversaw the U.S. Agency for International Development’s Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance during the Obama administration.

The states: The average number of confirmed cases over a two-week period has at least doubled in Arizona, Arkansas, Oregon and Utah. In Texas, the number of people admitted to the hospital has grown 42 percent since Memorial Day. Arizona’s top health official has urged hospitals to activate their emergency plans.

Read more here.

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Schumer requests briefing with White House coronavirus task force as cases rise 

Senate Minority Leader Charles SchumerChuck SchumerOvernight Health Care: US showing signs of retreat in battle against COVID-19 | Regeneron begins clinical trials of potential coronavirus antibody treatment | CMS warns nursing homes against seizing residents’ stimulus checks Schumer requests briefing with White House coronavirus task force as cases rise Schumer on Trump’s tweet about 75-year-old protester: He ‘should go back to hiding in the bunker’ MORE (D-N.Y.) asked the White House coronavirus task force to brief Senate Democrats next week on the status of the pandemic as several states begin to see surges in new cases.

Schumer said that the briefing was needed “to wrest the focus back” on the coronavirus. 

“As the president continues to fixate on the stock market and Senate Republicans are ready to prematurely declare victory, we need to wrest the focus back to this crucial issue,” Schumer said Thursday from the Senate floor.

“We need to understand why these spikes are happening and how to adapt our national response,” he added.

A White House spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment.

Read more here.

 

Regeneron begins clinical trials of potential coronavirus antibody treatment

There’s new progress in a potentially promising type of treatment for coronavirus. 

Regeneron Pharmaceuticals announced Thursday that it has begun clinical trials on a potential treatment for the coronavirus using antibodies that the body produces to fight the virus.

Regeneron is testing a cocktail of two antibodies to both treat and prevent the coronavirus, developed using people who have recovered from COVID-19 as well as genetically modified mice.

The company did not give a firm timeline for its work, but these antibody cocktails could be ready sooner than a vaccine.

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A competitor company also working on the idea, Eli Lilly, said its antibody treatment could be as ready as early as September; it started trials earlier this month.   

Read more here. 

 

In non-coronavirus news….Hoyer: House will vote soon on bill to improve ObamaCare

Remember ObamaCare? 

Well, the House will vote the week of June 29th on a bill aimed at improving the Affordable Care Act (ACA), House Majority Leader Steny HoyerSteny Hamilton HoyerOvernight Health Care: US showing signs of retreat in battle against COVID-19 | Regeneron begins clinical trials of potential coronavirus antibody treatment | CMS warns nursing homes against seizing residents’ stimulus checks Hoyer: House will vote soon on bill to improve ObamaCare Hoyer: Infrastructure package to hit floor this month MORE (D-Md.) said Thursday. 

Hoyer said the measure would help improve the affordability of plans under the law. 

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“We’re going to meet on the Affordable Care Act, trying to bring the costs of premiums and co-pays and deductibles in the Affordable Care Act down to a place where people can in fact afford them,” Hoyer said during a webinar hosted by the law firm Baker Hostetler. 

The exact details of the measure are not yet clear, though sources said the bill will increase the subsidies that help people afford premiums, as well as other items aimed at strengthening the law. 

Reminder: The measure is not likely to go anywhere in the Senate, given the Republican opposition to the ACA. 

Read more here. 

 

CMS warns nursing homes against seizing residents’ stimulus checks

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) said Thursday that nursing homes that confiscate residents’ coronavirus stimulus payments could be subject to federal enforcement actions, including possible removal from participating in Medicaid and Medicare programs.

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CMS said in a news release that it is aware of allegations that some nursing homes are demanding residents’ payments, and that the practice is prohibited. The agency said that it has not received specific complaints about this practice but wants to inform nursing home residents of their rights while warning facilities of the potential consequences of seizing residents’ checks.

CMS’s message comes after state attorneys general have been reporting that they’ve had complaints of nursing homes and assisted-living facilities requiring residents on Medicaid to sign over their payments. Members of Congress on both sides of the aisle have been asking federal agencies to help protect residents, with House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richard NealRichard Edmund NealOvernight Health Care: US showing signs of retreat in battle against COVID-19 | Regeneron begins clinical trials of potential coronavirus antibody treatment | CMS warns nursing homes against seizing residents’ stimulus checks CMS warns nursing homes against seizing residents’ stimulus checks Nursing homes under scrutiny after warnings of seized stimulus checks MORE (D-Mass.) and House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Frank Pallone Jr. (D-N.J.) urging CMS to issue guidance to nursing homes and residents.

Read more here. 

 

The next COVID-19 challenge: Convincing people to get flu shots

Public health officials, doctors and pharmacists who have struggled for decades to convince Americans to get the flu shot are warning it is now more important than ever to get vaccinated as the U.S. faces a potential second wave of COVID-19 in the fall.

Coinciding flu and COVID-19 outbreaks could overwhelm hospitals and drain resources, threatening lives and the response to the pandemic. 

Getting vaccinated could keep thousands of flu patients out of the hospitals and preserve resources that are urgently needed for COVID-19, experts say. 

“We are going to try to encourage people, urge them, implore them even, to come out and roll up their sleeves and get vaccinated so we can mitigate the impact of this season of viral attack,” said William Schaffner, medical director for the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases. 

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Public health agencies and groups are gearing up for a massive flu vaccination campaign beginning later this summer that will hone in the importance of getting the shot as a way to help the country get through the coronavirus pandemic. 

Read more here. 

 

 What we’re reading: 

Federal help falters as nursing homes run shot of protective equipment (Kaiser Health News) 

Coronavirus immunity is a mystery. Scientists are trying to crack the case (STAT)

These people have been sick with coronavirus for more than 60 days (The Washington Post) 

State by state 

Dr. Amy Acton steps down as Ohio state health director (cleveland.com)

Florida Medicaid enrollment jumps amid pandemic (The News Service of Florida)