Government

As coronavirus cases rise swiftly around the country, surpassing both the spring and summer surges, health officials brace for a coming wave of hospitalizations and deaths. Knowing which hospitals in which communities are reaching capacity could be key to an effective response to the growing crisis. That information is gathered by the federal government — but not shared openly with the public.

NPR has obtained documents that give a snapshot of data the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services collects and analyzes daily. The documents — reports sent to agency staffers — highlight trends in hospitalizations and pinpoint cities nearing full hospital capacity and facilities under stress. They paint a granular picture of the strain on hospitals across the country that could help local citizens decide when to take extra precautions against COVID-19.

Federal government to pay for future virus vaccines for Americans The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services says it wants to ensure ‘broad vaccine access and coverage.’ When a coronavirus vaccine is approved by the Food and Drug Administration to be safely delivered to Americans, the costs of it will be covered by the government. The Centers for Medicare and YahooNews

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services says it wants to ensure ‘broad vaccine access and coverage.’