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2020-06-02: News Headlines

Brasil de Fato (2020-06-02). Nobel Peace Prize Campaign for Cuban Physicians grows across the globe. peoplesdispatch.org Cuban doctors' solidarity, once again, has gained international attention. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, 1,800 Cuban healthcare professionals have been sent to dozens of countries. In response to the initiative, a Nobel Peace prize campaign to honor the physicians have been gaining more support each day. | Launched by the French organization "

WSWS (2020-06-02). More than half of parents defy UK school reopening:Education unions seek to demobilise popular opposition. wsws.org The Socialist Equality Party calls for the building of action committees, independent from the trade unions, to safeguard the health of children, teachers and the entire working class.

Rep. Ron Paul (2020-06-02). Listen to the Doctors, End the Lockdowns. globalresearch.ca Six hundred physicians recently signed a letter to President Trump calling for an end to the coronavirus lockdowns. The physicians wrote that, far from protecting public health, the lockdowns are causing "exponentially growing negative health consequences" for millions of Americans….

Staff (2020-06-02). Independent Autopsy Concludes George Floyd's Death Was A Homicide. therealnews.com An independent autopsy released by Floyd's family raises serious questions about the previous findings, which implied underlying health issues were responsible for his death. Forensic pathologist Dr. Cyril Wecht says police should never place downward pressure on a person in a prone position…

Aakash Desai, Bishal Gyawali (2020-06-02). [Commentary] Endpoints used in phase III randomized controlled trials of treatment options for COVID-19. thelancet.com Studies to identify potential drugs effective in treating the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are currently ongoing at a rapid pace, although no drug has yet shown improved mortality outcomes in a randomized clinical trial (RCT). Whether the ongoing RCTs are using endpoints that matter remains unknown. Here we provide a summary of the endpoints used in the actively recruiting phase III RCTs for the treatment of COVID-19.

WSWS (2020-06-02). Julian Assange unable to attend court hearing due to illness as legal travesty continues. wsws.org Assange has a chronic lung condition and his health has been ruined by years of psychological torture and medical neglect.

WSWS (2020-06-02). Nurses at HCA Healthcare across the US protest job cuts and lack of PPE. wsws.org Nurses protests are erupting under conditions where hospitals across the country are denying access to personal protective equipment in the pandemic and have already laid off thousands of health care workers.

WSWS (2020-06-02). Workers Struggles: The Americas. wsws.org Health care workers in Argentina and Brazil have staged protests against government neglect as COVID-19 surges throughout the region.

Man S, Xian Y, Holmes DN, et al. (2020-06-02). Association Between Thrombolytic Door-to-Needle Times and Ischemic Stroke Outcomes. jamanetwork.com This cohort study estimates associations between intravenous tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) door-to-needle times of less than 4.5 hours for acute ischemic stroke and 1-year mortality or readmission among Medicare beneficiaries aged 65 years or older.

Flanagin A, Bauchner H, Fontanarosa PB. (2020-06-02). Patient and Study Participant Rights to Privacy in Journal Publication. jamanetwork.com Personal health information is defined as identifiable data related to the past, present, or future health status of an individual. Personal health information has been considered protected health information, which is governed by ethical principles and laws to shield against intrusions into an individual's rights to privacy. However, rapid growth in the volume of electronic health records, access to other health information, and increasing use of personal health data by artificial intelligence, social media, technology, and other companies are threatening the traditional tenets of privacy protections for persona…

WSWS (2020-06-02). Flooding in central Michigan exposes decades of Dow Chemical's environmental crimes. wsws.org A major health crisis threatens residents of central Michigan after last week's flooding that displaced more than 10,000 people and destroyed thousands of homes.

Max Parry (2020-06-02). The Pandemic Revives Fears the U.S. Is Developing 'Ethnic Bioweapons' Against Russia. globalresearch.ca It has been 75 years since the surrender of Nazi Germany and the end of World War II in Europe. Amidst the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Russia postponed its annual Victory Day celebrations last month due to the health crisis as …

jamanetwork (2020-06-02). Fact and Opinion on the Present Epidemic. jamanetwork.com The recent meeting of the American Public Health Association in Chicago was devoted largely to the present epidemic of influenza. An abstract of the proceedings of the sessions devoted to this subject appears in this issue of The Journal. This abstract is not, of course, a verbatim report of the proceedings, but represents that which seems of permanent value, eliminating a large mass of discussion that was argumentative rather than of the nature of scientific evidence. There are certain large phases of the subject on which much evidence was presented leading to what might be expressed as a consensus of opinion. I…

Stephen Sefton (2020-06-02). Nicaragua — False Witness, False Memory. COVID-19 and Nicaragua's Community Approach to Health Care. globalresearch.ca On Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuela. The standard Western canonical sources of record, namely international institutions, non-governmental organizations and media outlets, practically universally contend that all three countries are authoritarian or even tyrannical regimes, denying their peoples' basic democratic rights. The …

newsnetwork.mayoclinic (2020-06-02). Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast: Health and Human Services plays key role in supporting Americans amid COVID-19 crisis. newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org The COVID-19 pandemic has been a unique situation that has required work across federal and state agencies to support communities and frontline workers during this challenging time. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has played a key role by providing effective health and human services and fostering advances in medicine, public health …

Berwick DM. (2020-06-02). COVID-19 and 6 Dimensions of Health Care Poised for a "New Normal" jamanetwork.com In this Viewpoint, Donald Berwick summarizes the rapid changes the COVID-19 pandemic has wrought on the pace, scientific standards, delivery mechanisms, and working conditions of health care and how it has sharply increased awareness of the societal costs of poor public health preparedness and health inequities.

WSWS (2020-06-02). COVID-19 pandemic exposes a rapidly developing global health crisis. wsws.org The pandemic has caused severe disruptions in the delivery of health care in fragile health systems the world over.

Lindsell CJ, Stead WW, Johnson KB. (2020-06-02). Action-Informed Artificial Intelligence—Matching the Algorithm to the Problem. jamanetwork.com This Viewpoint discusses ways in which artificial intelligence (AI) methods can enhance the use of health care data in detection, prognostication, and prediction; suggests ways in which AI tools might be better developed and deployed; and calls for increased focus on anticipated changes that will be made in the health care system to better benefit from the use of AI.

WSWS (2020-06-02). UK: Allowing mass-attended sporting events to go ahead led to COVID-19 deaths. wsws.org Ignoring the WHO's announcement on January 30 that the emergence of the novel coronavirus represented a "public health emergency of international concern," the Conservative government made no preparations to stop its spread in Britain.

Prof. Scott Aquanno (2020-06-02). The Bank of Canada: In Crisis and Beyond. globalresearch.ca Viewing the COVID-19 pandemic as a purely exogenous shock, Canadian economists and policymakers have tended to predict a quick return to economic growth once health restrictions are lifted. As an account of current events, this turns a blind eye to …

Ankur Singh (2020-06-02). Two Bimbo Workers Dead, Others Fired After Raising COVID-19 Concerns. zcomm.org "We believe Bimbo is risking the health and lives of us–the workers and community members (including Bimbo customers) with which we live."

Andrea Germanos, staff writer (2020-06-02). 'Do the Right Thing': Veterans Call On National Guard Members to Refuse to Deploy Against Protesters. commondreams.org "It is asinine for a rich man hiding in a bunker to ask these troops, most of whom probably signed up to pay for access to college and healthcare, to take actions that will inevitably lead to more violence and haunt them for the rest of their lives." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files…

ACLU (2020-06-02). Pride 2020 is About Resilience, and we are Resilient Together. aclu.org Pride has never been just about the parties. To the LGBTQ community, Pride is about staking our place in the world and speaking truth to power. It's about making clear that we're here, we belong, and we are resilient — resilient together., , As our Trans Justice Campaign Manager LaLa Zannell has said: "For many Black and Brown queer and trans people, gathering in person has always come with a health and safety risk — including from law enforcement, and others who feel they have the right to harm us for simply being who we are … For many of us, this is not the first pandemic that shows the injust…

The Canary (2020-06-02). Wales's health minister defends George Floyd protesters in US. thecanary.co Wales's health minister has defended people protesting against the death of George Floyd in the United States, saying the loss of black lives was the "biggest harm" to the country. | Vaughan Gething said that the US was not alone in appearing to be "going backwards" on race relations, and that though all lives should matter "in some countries they don't". | African American Floyd died in police custody last week after a white Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck for several minutes. | Gething, who became the first black minister of any of the UK's devolved governments in 2013, was speaking after posting a…

The Canary (2020-06-02). Prostate cancer is now the UK's most commonly diagnosed cancer. thecanary.co Prostate cancer is now the most commonly diagnosed cancer in the UK, according to new figures. | Data analysed by the charity Prostate Cancer‚ÄØUK shows prostate cancer has overtaken breast cancer to be the most commonly diagnosed form of the disease, with 57,192 new cases in 2018 — the most recent data available. | This comes just ahead of 57,153 breast cancer cases, 48,054 cases of lung cancer and 42,879 of bowel cancer. | Prostate Cancer‚ÄØUK said the news comes a decade earlier than previously predicted, largely due to increased awareness which has led to more men get…

RT (2020-06-02). 'A visual thank you': London designer CREATES striking ornamental masks to honor key workers during Covid-19 crisis. rt.com A London-based fashion designer has used everyday items to create a striking set of decorative face masks to honor various groups of Covid-19 essential workers and the results are certainly eye-catching, if a little creepy. | In Facebook posts displaying the creations, designer Freyja Sewell said she had been looking for a way to turn her free time in lockdown into something good, and came up with the masks as a "visual thank you" to key workers. | Sewell created eight completely different colorful designs to honor the eight main groups of essential workers outlined by the UK government, including healthcare,…

RT (2020-06-02). Covid-19 death rates in England HIGHER among ethnic minorities — Public Health England report. rt.com Covid-19 mortality rates among BAME (black, Asian and minority ethnic) people in England are higher than for the white population, with black people most likely to contract the deadly disease, according to an official report. | A review of "Disparities in the risk and outcomes of Covid-19" was finally The government-led inquiry found that black people wer…

RT (2020-06-02). 300 asymptomatic Covid-19 cases found in Wuhan, after it screens entire population. rt.com The Chinese city of Wuhan, where the coronavirus originated, has tested almost 10 million people for Covid-19. No active cases of the disease were recorded, but 300 people were identified as asymptomatic infection carriers. | Since the launch of centralized nucleic acid testing on May 14, over 90 percent of Wuhan's population has been tested. According to the city authorities, 300 symptomless carriers were discovered and ordered to self-quarantine. | Read more | | While asympt…

sputniknews (2020-06-02). COVID-19: Munich Bans Display of Nazi-Era Stars of David at Anti-Lockdown Protests. sputniknews.com Demonstrations against safety measures introduced to curb the spread of the disease continue in Germany, despite the authorities having eased some restrictions. Protests were held in major cities, including the capital Berlin, Cologne, Frankfurt, Munich, and Stuttgart.

Eds. (2020-06-02). Is the Republican Party Fascist? mronline.org Donald Trump is the culmination of how the Republican Party has been developing for years. Together they threaten to establish an authoritarian state in the service of big capital. They endanger the lives, health, and living standards of the working class and the rest of the population. But supporting the Democratic Party is not the …

Hampton T. (2020-06-02). Do Gut Bacteria Play a Role in Preeclampsia? jamanetwork.com As investigators from diverse biomedical fields continue to study gut microbes' widespread effects on health and disease, 1 group is homing in on preeclampsia. Gut microbiota imbalances have been linked to conditions like obesity and the metabolic syndrome, which can contribute to pregnancy complications. Researchers recently questioned whether these imbalances also might be associated with preeclampsia, a condition that lacks reliable prediction methods and can lead to serious and even fatal complications for both mother and baby.

Khullar D, Bond AM, Schpero WL. (2020-06-02). COVID-19 and the Financial Health of US Hospitals. jamanetwork.com This Viewpoint reviews the revenue sources and financial liquidity of nonfederal US general hospitals to estimate the economic effects pandemic-related reductions in elective procedures and outpatient revenues might have, and argues for targeted government financial support for smaller, independent, and more rural institutions.

teleSUR (2020-06-02). Peru: Minister Requests Aid for COVID Infected Police Officers. telesurenglish.net Peru's Ombudsman office on Monday requested health assistance for 30 COVID-19 infected police officers in the Tumbes department. | RELATED: | "We request the regional government to provide food and lodging to police officers who were infected with COVID-19 during the Emergency State," the government body tweeted. | Tumbes is one of Peru's most affected departments, with over 1,300 cases. According to the Ombudsman office, the…

commondreams (2020-06-02). Patients Call on AstraZeneca to Make Coronavirus Vaccine Patent-free. commondreams.org ______________________________…

newsnetwork.mayoclinic (2020-06-02). Coronavirus grief: Coping with the loss of routine during the pandemic. newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org It isn't easy adjusting to changes brought on by the pandemic. Consider how to deal with grief caused by the loss of your normal routine. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has changed people's lives in many ways. In addition to feeling grief over the loss of life caused by COVID-19, you're likely grieving the loss …

Sam Pizzigati (2020-06-02). "Failed State" Status Here We Come. counterpunch.org Americans have at various times in our past battled horrific bouts with infectious disease. And Americans have lived through times of sheer economic desperation. But we've never — until this corona spring — experienced both at once. The stats out this week have made this grim landmark "official." Over 100,000 Americans now dead from Covid-19.

Andrey Areshev (2020-06-02). 'The Fury of the Virus Illustrates the Folly of War' — But Trump Is Waging War on the World Health Organisation. strategic-culture.org On March 23, United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres

Labor Video Project (2020-06-02). Health Over Profits!" Where The Hell Is OSHA At? Oakland Speak-out For Health Safety &. indybay.org Trade unionists and workers spoke out about the failure of Cal-OSHA to defend health and safety on the job. Cal-OSHA because of Governor Newsom and the California legislature has less than 200 OSHA inspectors and there are no physical inspections. Workers also talked about how they are retaliated against for making health and safety complaints.

Leon Kunstenaar (2020-06-02). Oakland From Covid-19 To Cops: We Can't Breath Caravan. indybay.org Rally at the California State Building to demand that Cal-OSHA enforce the health and safety laws…

en.mehrnews (2020-06-02). US has taken hostage health of 83 million Iranians: Rouhani. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Jun. 02 (MNA) — Iranian President Hassan Rouhani condemned the unjust sanctions imposed by the United States against Iran which is affecting the civilians.

en.mehrnews (2020-06-02). Iran COVID-19 update: 3117 new cases, 64 deaths in 24 hours. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Jun. 02 (MNA) — The novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has infected 3117 people and claimed 64 lives in Iran in the past 24 hours, a senior health official said.

sputniknews (2020-06-02). Face Masks Help Stop COVID-19, But Only If You're Not Showing Symptoms, New Study Shows. sputniknews.com Although the current debate over the efficacy of different types of masks in reducing the spread of the novel coronavirus continues the latest research suggests family members who are more at risk of coming into contact with the illness, such as healthcare workers, should consider using them at home, a professor of Global Biosecurity tells Sputnik.

yenisafak (2020-06-02). Morocco: Number of coronavirus cases surpasses 7,800. yenisafak.com Health authorities in Morocco and Tunisia confirmed more cases of the novel coronavirus on Tuesday, as the countries struggle to stem the spread of the pandemic.In Morocco, the Health Ministry confirmed 26 new virus cases, pushing the total infections to 7,859. Moroccan authorities have so far confirmed 205 deaths and 6,291 recoveries from the disease.The country had declared a nationwide medical emergency on March 20 to curb the spread of coronavirus.The Tunisian Health Ministry, meanwhile, said the country's infections rose to 1,086 as two new cases were registered.Tunisia's death toll from the virus now stands…

yenisafak (2020-06-02). Hong Kong extends coronavirus curbs after new cluster. yenisafak.com Hong Kong has decided to extend coronavirus restrictions after a new cluster of infections was detected, local media reported on Tuesday.According to Hong Kong Free Press, the government has prolonged the ban on public gatherings of more than eight people and the restrictions on customers at bars and restaurants.The decision was taken after nine new COVID-19 cases were confirmed in Hong Kong, raising its total to 1,093, including four deaths.The curbs, which were due to end on Thursday, will remain in force until June 18, according to Food and Health Secretary Sophia Chan.Entry restrictions and mandatory quaranti…

yenisafak (2020-06-02). Turkey sends medical supplies to Tajikistan. yenisafak.com Turkey's state-run aid agency has delivered 70,000 face masks and 1,000 medical overalls to Tajikistan to help the country tackle the coronavirus outbreak.The help by the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) was acknowledged by Tajikistan's deputy health minister, who said the medical supplies were a "significant contribution to the country's fight against the pandemic."Saida Umarzoda said TIKA has carried out many projects in the country, including the establishment of Disability Rehabilitation Center, renovation of Pediatric Infection Hospital in Tursunzade province, and the founding of the Contem…

yenisafak (2020-06-02). Iran's coronavirus death toll nears 8,000. yenisafak.com Iran on Tuesday confirmed 64 more fatalities from the novel coronavirus over the past 24 hours, bringing the nationwide death toll to 7,942.A further 3,117 people have tested positive for the virus, raising the overall count to 157,562, Health Ministry spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour said.Jahanpour said 123,077 patients have recovered and been discharged from hospitals so far, while 2,565 patients remain in critical condition.Despite the rising number of cases, government employees went back to work, and mosques resumed daily prayers across the Middle Eastern country on Saturday.Shopping malls are now open beyond th…

Stephen Lendman (2020-06-01). The Great COVID-19 Vaccines to the Rescue Hoax. "Making A Billion Dollars" vs. "Harmful Side Effects" globalresearch.ca Instead of serving the public interest by reporting truthfully on major issues, establishment media serve as press agents for powerful interests. | Their managed news misinformation and disinformation includes the myth of barbarians at the gates to support endless wars on …

Staff (2020-06-01). "America's Moment of Reckoning": Cornel West Says Nationwide Uprising Is Sign of "Empire Imploding" democracynow.org As thousands from coast to coast took to the streets this weekend to protest the state-sanctioned killing of Black people, and the nation faces its largest public health crisis in generations and the highest unemployment rate since the Great Depression, professor Cornel West calls the U.S. a "predatory capitalist civilization obsessed with money, money, money." He also makes the connections between U.S. violence abroad and at home. "There is a connection between the seeds that you sow of violence externally and internally."

The Canary (2020-06-01). Minister insists lockdown easing 'is not a dash' as health officials voice fears. thecanary.co A Cabinet minister has insisted the lockdown is being eased in a "very cautious" way as children in England begin returning to school, despite public health officials warning against the relaxation.Business secretary Alok Sharma said he understands parents' concerns over sending their children back to class on Monday, but added that the government had not undertaken a "dash" to re-start the economy.The Association of Directors of Public Health (ADPH) warned that experts were "increasingly concerned" that ministers are making the wrong judgment by easing restrictions too quickly.Alok Sharma (Aaron Chown/PA)Parents…

Kathy Kelly (2020-06-01). Our Disaster: Why the United States Bears Responsibility for Yemen's Humanitarian Crisis. commondreams.org Sanaa, Yemen. 30th Apr, 2020. A health worker wearing a protective suit sprays disinfectant on the hands of people at a market in the old city of Sanaa, amid concerns of the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19). (Photo: Hani Al-Ansi/dpa/Alamy Live News.) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files…

2020-06-01: News Headlines

Staff (2020-06-02). Independent Autopsy Concludes George Floyd's Death Was A Homicide. therealnews.com An independent autopsy released by Floyd's family raises serious questions about the previous findings, which implied underlying health issues were responsible for his death. Forensic pathologist Dr. Cyril Wecht says police should never place downward pressure on a person in a prone position…

Marjorie Cohn (2020-06-01). The Supreme Court Is About to Make Seismic Rulings on Reproductive Rights. zcomm.org The rights of women to terminate their pregnancies and to receive free contraceptives under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) are on the chopping block…

Kathy Kelly (2020-06-01). Our Disaster: Why the United States Bears Responsibility for Yemen's Humanitarian Crisis. commondreams.org Sanaa, Yemen. 30th Apr, 2020. A health worker wearing a protective suit sprays disinfectant on the hands of people at a market in the old city of Sanaa, amid concerns of the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19). (Photo: Hani Al-Ansi/dpa/Alamy Live News.) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files…

Kathy Kelly (2020-06-01). Our Disaster: Why the United States Bears Responsibility for Yemen's Humanitarian Crisis. counterpunch.org An entire generation of Yemeni children has suffered the traumas of war, many of them orphaned, maimed, malnourished, or displaced. The United Nations reports a death toll of 100,000 people in that nation's ongoing war, with an additional 131,000 people dying from hunger, disease, and a lack of medical care. A report from Save the Children, issued in November 2018, estimated

Joe Emersberger (2020-06-01). US Campaign Against Cuba's Medical Brigades Targets Healthcare, Not 'Forced Labor'. zcomm.org According to UNICEF figures, Cuba has since 2000 consistently maintained a lower child mortality rate than the US…

Stephen Lendman (2020-06-01). The Great COVID-19 Vaccines to the Rescue Hoax. "Making A Billion Dollars" vs. "Harmful Side Effects" globalresearch.ca Instead of serving the public interest by reporting truthfully on major issues, establishment media serve as press agents for powerful interests. | Their managed news misinformation and disinformation includes the myth of barbarians at the gates to support endless wars on …

WHO-Watch Team (2020-06-01). Looking at healthcare workers only as heroes does them a disservice. peoplesdispatch.org There is a huge lacuna in ensuring adequate compensation for health workers who acquire the illness, despite a broad based demand from the international trade union movement…

Austin J, Derk JM, Kachalia A, et al. (2020-06-01). Assessing Hospital Performance Agreement on 3 National Mortality Ratings for 2 Inpatient Conditions. jamanetwork.com This study assesses the agreement of the US Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Hospital Compare, Healthgrades, and US News & World Report Best Hospitals on hospital performance for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and heart failure.

news.un (2020-06-01). COVID-19 disrupting services to treat non-communicable diseases, WHO survey finds. news.un.org The fight against COVID-19 has severely disrupted services to prevent and treat cancer, diabetes, hypertension and other non-communicable diseases (NCDs) which kill more than 40 million people each year, according to a new survey published on Monday by the World Health Organization (WHO).

news.un (2020-06-01). WHO to support DR Congo as Ebola resurfaces in the northwest. news.un.org The World Health Organization (WHO) will assist the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) as it confronts a new Ebola outbreak in the northwest amid the novel coronavirus pandemic and other challenges, agency chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Monday.

Wang TY. (2020-06-01). Public Health Interventions for Lowering Dietary Sodium Intake. jamanetwork.com The link between dietary sodium intake and hypertension has been well established, with reductions in dietary sodium intake being associated with decreases in blood pressure and cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The World Health Organization recommends reducing sodium intake (limit sodium intake to <5 g [87 mmol] per day for adults) as one of the most cost-effective measures that countries can take to improve general population health outcomes.

newsnetwork.mayoclinic (2020-06-01). Mayo Clinic surgeons perform during special tribute. newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org Mayo Clinic "singing surgeons" Dr. Elvis Francois and Dr. William Robinson performed an inspiring tribute to fellow frontline health care workers today before the "Indy 500 Special: Back Home Again" on NBC. "It was an honor to be part of this special broadcast," Dr. Francois said. "Seeing colleagues and frontline workers across the country come …

Galea S, Merchant RM, Lurie N. (2020-06-01). The Mental Health Consequences of COVID-19 and Physical Distancing. jamanetwork.com This Viewpoint emphasizes the importance of mitigating the mental health consequences of social distancing in the COVID-19 era.

newsnetwork.mayoclinic (2020-06-01). Health and Human Services Secretary Azar tours Mayo Clinic, meets with leaders. newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org (Left to right) Christina Zorn, J.D., CAO, Mayo Clinic in Florida, U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar, Kent Thielen, M.D., CEO of Mayo Clinic in Florida JACKSONVILLE, Fla. ? As part of a visit to Florida on Friday, May 22, to discuss reopening the country's economy, U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar …

Zoà´ Carpenter (2020-06-01). Will Covid-19 Be a Turning Point in the Fight Against Racial Disparities in Health Care? thenation.com Will Covid-19 Be a Turning Point in the Fight Against Racial Disparities in Health Care?

newsnetwork.mayoclinic (2020-06-01). Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast: Health and Human Services plays key role in supporting Americans amid COVID-19 crisis. newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org The COVID-19 pandemic has been a unique situation that has required work across federal and state agencies to support communities and frontline workers during this challenging time. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has played a key role by providing effective health and human services and fostering advances in medicine, public health …

_____ (2020-06-01). Distracted and looking the other way: 30 days to the next crisis. truepublica.org.uk TruePublica Editor: While the pandemic swirls throughout society and wreaks havoc to public health and then the economy, the general public are largely unaware that Tuesday, June 30th is one of the most important days in the history of Great Britain. As if the pandemic is not enough cover for this huge event, the remaining …

news.un (2020-06-01). Central and South America now 'intense zones' for COVID-19 transmission. news.un.org Greater solidarity must be shown to Central and South American countries which have become "the intense zones" for COVID-19 transmission, a top official with the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Monday.

DesRoches CM, Walker J, Delbanco T. (2020-06-01). Care Partners and Patient Portals—Faulty Access, Threats to Privacy, and Ample Opportunity. jamanetwork.com Millions of people manage their health and illness with the help of family members and friends. These informal care partners (or caregivers) take responsibility, sometimes at a cost to their own health, for a wide variety of tasks, including arranging and attending medical appointments, participating in decision-making, coordinating services, and addressing various patient needs. Despite the vital role played by care partners, particularly in serious advancing illness and at the end of life, they are often unable to access health information in the electronic health record (EHR) that is necessary to coordinate an…

_____ (2020-06-01). UK failure to support Covid-19 vaccine collaboration is 'shameful' on global stage. truepublica.org.uk TruePublica Editor: As the UK prepares itself to crash out of the European Union and sign a trade deal with America — Downing Street continues to side with Donald Trump, if not overtly — more indirectly. It has been known for a few months now that Donald Trump, in his odd quest to weaken America's …

Iyer AS, Curtis J, Meier DE. (2020-06-01). Geriatrics and Palliative Care Principles for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. jamanetwork.com This Viewpoint proposes that clinicians who routinely care for older patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease should proactively integrate geriatrics and palliative care principles into their daily practice.

Eoin Higgins, staff writer (2020-06-01). 'The Tragic Cause of This Death Is Incredibly Clear': Independent Autopsy Finds George Floyd Death Result of 'Sustained Forceful Pressure'. commondreams.org "What we found is consistent with what people saw. There is no other health issue that could cause or contribute to the death." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files…

Staff (2020-06-01). "America's Moment of Reckoning": Cornel West Says Nationwide Uprising Is Sign of "Empire Imploding" democracynow.org As thousands from coast to coast took to the streets this weekend to protest the state-sanctioned killing of Black people, and the nation faces its largest public health crisis in generations and the highest unemployment rate since the Great Depression, professor Cornel West calls the U.S. a "predatory capitalist civilization obsessed with money, money, money." He also makes the connections between U.S. violence abroad and at home. "There is a connection between the seeds that you sow of violence externally and internally."

The Canary (2020-06-01). Minister insists lockdown easing 'is not a dash' as health officials voice fears. thecanary.co A Cabinet minister has insisted the lockdown is being eased in a "very cautious" way as children in England begin returning to school, despite public health officials warning against the relaxation.Business secretary Alok Sharma said he understands parents' concerns over sending their children back to class on Monday, but added that the government had not undertaken a "dash" to re-start the economy.The Association of Directors of Public Health (ADPH) warned that experts were "increasingly concerned" that ministers are making the wrong judgment by easing restrictions too quickly.Alok Sharma (Aaron Chown/PA)Parents…

RT (2020-06-01). WHO's chief wants good ties with US to continue, as Trump announces exit. rt.com World Health Organization (WHO) head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, at a briefing on Monday, praised the United States' "immense" contribution to global health. He also urged a continuation of good ties despite President Donald Trump's move to quit the UN body. | Trump announced on Friday he would cut ties with the WHO, accusing it of becoming a puppet of China during the global coronavirus crisis. | Another WHO official, epidemiologist Maria Van Kerkhove, was asked at the same briefing about health risks during protests in the US. Close contact could heighten the risk of spreading the Covid-19 virus, Reuters quo…

en.mehrnews (2020-06-02). Social distancing in Tehran Bazaar. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Jun. 02 (MNA) — Iranian Headquarter for the battle against CIVID-19 declared home quarantine as a way to prevent the spread of the disease at the beginning of the pandemic. Currently, with limitations lifted, it is necessary to observe social distancing in crowded places such a Tehran Bazaar.

yenisafak (2020-06-01). Relatives queue to cremate coronavirus dead in India's capital. yenisafak.com A queue of ambulances formed outside the main crematorium in India's capital New Delhi on Monday, as the number of deaths from the novel coronavirus continues to rise.Cases in the country crossed 190,000, the health ministry said on Monday, overtaking France to become seventh highest in the world, as the government eases back on most curbs after a two-month lockdown that left millions without work. There have been more than 5,000 deaths.At Nigambodh Ghat on the banks of the Yamuna River, relatives and staff said a shortage of medical professionals trained in handling the bodies of victims was leading to delays.As…

Shailly Gupta Barnes (2020-06-01). Even Now, Our Leaders Are Still Putting Their Faith in the Rich. commondreams.org Health care workers, students, child care givers, food service workers, big box store employees, delivery drivers, mail carriers, and others are taking action to call out gross inequities and organize our society differently. (Photo: Shutterstock) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files…

_____ (2020-06-01). Ethics Groups Call On Coronavirus 'Vaccine Czar' To Disclose Potential Conflicts. popularresistance.org The Trump administration's decision to hire its new "vaccine czar" as a private contractor, rather than a government employee, has alarmed some ethics experts who say the designation will involve him in programs that could channel millions of federal dollars into the development of coronavirus vaccine and treatments without requiring he disclose financial holdings or potential conflicts. | When it was announced two weeks ago that Moncef Slaoui would head up "Operation Warp Speed" to find and distribute a vaccine, the administration described him as "chief advisor," but did not explicitly say he would not be a for…

_____ (2020-06-01). Some Countries Have Brought New Cases Down To Nearly Zero. popularresistance.org Perhaps the greatest success story is New Zealand, which has stopped local transmission and has a plan to completely eliminate the virus from its territory. | "The lesson is that it can be done," says Siouxsie Wiles, an associate professor of microbiology in New Zealand. "Obviously, the longer you leave it, and the more cases there are, the harder it becomes. But that doesn't mean that we shouldn't try." | Wiles heads up the Bioluminescent Superbugs Lab at the University of Auckland. Much of her work focuses on antibiotic resistance and infectious diseases. When the coronavirus hit, she got involved in communicat…

Party for Socialism and Liberation (2020-05-31). Racism & police repression are the symptoms, capitalism is the disease, socialism is the cure. liberationnews.org The Party for Socialism and Liberation condemns the lynching murder of George Floyd by the Minneapolis Police Department.

Gerry Scoppettuolo (2020-05-30). Capitalism = Death: U.S. government response to COVID-19 mirrors ineptitude and malfeasance of response to HIV epidemic. liberationnews.org To compare the early years of the HIV epidemic to the COVID-19 pandemic is to relive a nightmare…

Eds. (2020-05-30). The Monster Enters: COVID-19, Avian Flu and the Plagues of Capitalism — book review. mronline.org Mike Davis' The Monster Enters updates his earlier book on capitalism and pandemic disease to reflect on the current failure of the neoliberal state, finds Elaine Graham-Leigh…

Anand Naidoo (2020-05-30). The Heat: U.S.-China tensions. america.cgtn.com United States President Donald Trump lashes out at China and says the U-S is pulling out of the World Health Organization.

Anja M S Ariansen, Siri Gloppen, Lise Rakner, Kjell Arne Johansson, àòystein A Haaland (2020-05-30). [Correspondence] Time for global health diplomacy. thelancet.com 2019 was The Lancet's Year for Nutrition. Highlights included reports from the EAT-Lancet Commission1 and The Global Syndemic Commission,2 both emphasising that global trade systems must be transformed to ensure healthy and sustainable diets. But what developments can be expected following these reports? We might get an indication by considering what has happened since The Lancet's 2009 Trade and Health Series. This Series criticised the trade agreements of the World Trade Organization (WTO) for being detrimental to global health, among other things, by facilitating unhealthy diets.

Manuel W Hetzel, Bassirou Bonfoh (2020-05-30). [Correspondence] Towards more balanced representation in Lancet Commissions. thelancet.com Enthusiastically, Richard Horton1 reports on the foundation of the Italian Institute of Planetary Health at a time when youth strikes, an emerging pandemic of a new coronavirus, and burning forests remind us of our planet being in jeopardy. We agree that something must change so that the undoubtable advances in science and medicine that were made since the time of Lucretius translate into a better life for all humans, no matter who they are, where they were born, and where they live and work.1 Yet, the lamented crisis of trust in science and medicine cannot be overcome by concepts of global health or planetary he…

Sharmila Devi (2020-05-30). [World Report] Fears of "highly catastrophic" COVID-19 spread in Yemen. thelancet.com Yemen's health system has been devastated by years of conflict and COVID-19 deaths are reported to be surging in Aden. Sharmila Devi reports.

Jennifer Prah Ruger, Richard Horton (2020-05-30). [Comment] Justice and health: The Lancet—Health Equity and Policy Lab Commission. thelancet.com Justice forms the foundation for what we owe each other and what fairness among human beings and institutions involves. Globally, there are large inequalities in health outcomes and opportunities for health. Not only is the global burden of disease distributed unevenly but capabilities to prevent and treat disease are also asymmetrical; those in greatest need often have the least access to human, physical, and financial resources for health. Global health justice provides an account of what justice across our planet embodies, offers solutions to global health problems, and identifies who has responsibilities and…

Barbara Fraser (2020-05-30). [World Report] COVID-19 strains remote regions of Peru. thelancet.com The health system in Iquitos is stretched and the true number of COVID-19 cases and deaths is unclear. Barbara Fraser reports from Lima.

Alison P Galvani, Meagan C Fitzpatrick (2020-05-30). [Correspondence] Cost-effectiveness of transitional US plans for universal health care. thelancet.com The USA stands alone as the only high-income country not to provide health care as a human right, leaving almost 80 million of its citizens without adequate insurance.1—3 In a 2020 study, we found that securing quality health care for the entire country would save 68‚Äà000 lives and 1 ∑73 million life-years annually.4…

Parth Patel (2020-05-30). [Correspondence] The health-related determinants of politics. thelancet.com I was pleased to read Richard Horton's Comment about populist politics.1 However, the problem of political populism and solution that he charts out seem somewhat non-sequitur.

The Lancet (2020-05-30). [Editorial] COVID-19 in Africa: no room for complacency. thelancet.com Despite over 100‚Äà000 confirmed cases and infections in every country, the passage of COVID-19 through the African continent remains somewhat enigmatic. High numbers of deaths were expected in the region due to fragile health systems, lack of access to preventive measures, barriers to testing, and potentially vulnerable populations. But, according to WHO, Africa is the least affected region globally, with 1 ∑5% of the world's reported COVID-19 cases and 0 ∑1% of the world's deaths. Although comparisons are inaccurate, mortality rates have been lower compared with outbreaks of similar si…

Richard Horton (2020-05-30). [Comment] Offline: After COVID-19—is an "alternate society" possible? thelancet.com How do we make sense of this pandemic? The first interpretations are now appearing. Slavoj ≈Ωi≈æek is a prolific philosopher and cultural theorist. He is the first to produce a volume of reflections—Pandemic! COVID-19 Shakes the World (Polity, 2020). ≈Ωi≈æek doubts the epidemic will make us wiser: he insists that "we should resist the temptation to treat the ongoing epidemic as something that has a deeper meaning". Despite these cautions, we still have an important question to answer: "What is wrong with our system that we were caught unprepared by the catastr…

Marion Nestle (2020-05-30). [Perspectives] A call for food system change. thelancet.com In shutting down entire societies, the COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the fundamental inequities and inadequacies of market-driven economies that prioritise profits over human welfare. Inequities show up in businesses that furlough employees while paying high salaries and bonuses to executives. They are also revealed by the dependence of food systems on poorly paid workers and cheap global supply chains. The COVID-19 crisis demonstrates how current food systems fail to protect populations from hunger and diet-influenced non-communicable diseases and why the poor, disenfranchised, discriminated against, and chronic…

news.un (2020-05-30). Life and death for Yemen's women and girls, as funding evaporates. news.un.org In mid-May, just as the COVID-19 pandemic arrived in Yemen, funding for UNFPA's life-saving reproductive health services dried up. The agency has been forced to suspend the provision of reproductive healthcare in 140 out of the 180 health facilities, it supports, meaning only 40 now remain.

T.J. Coles (2020-05-29). What's NATO Up to These Days? Provoking Russia, Draining Healthcare Budgets and Protecting Its Own from COVID. counterpunch.org In November 2019, as experts warned that a novel coronavirus was likely to develop in the near-future, NATO boasted that its European Allies, including the UK, as well as Canada, were boosting their military budgets by an average of 4.6 percent, or an additional $130bn since 2016. The implication is that this increase in military spending is at the expense of healthcare, which is being privatized worldwide.

David Cavendish (2020-05-29). Millions jobless, benefits hard to get — We need a federal unemployment system. peoplesworld.org The current federal-state unemployment insurance (UI) system in the United States was a disaster waiting to happen. And when COVID-19 forced large parts of the economy to shut down in recent months, the disaster proved to be even worse than feared. With the number of newly unemployed people now officially passing 40 million (with millions more uncounted), …

news.un (2020-05-29). Nine in 10 smokers start before they are 18 years old, warns WHO. news.un.org Tobacco products continue to kill eight million people a year who get hooked via a $9 billion a year marketing strategy. That's the warning from the UN World Health Organization (WHO) on Friday, which has said that even during a global pandemic, the tobacco and nicotine industry has continued to promote products that limit people's ability to fight new coronavirus and recover from the disease.

Derrick Broze (2020-05-29). Bill Gates' Web of Dark Money and Influence — Part 3: Health Surveillance, Event 201 and the Rockefeller Connection. thelastamericanvagabond.com Lockdowns, Contact Tracing, Digital Certificates, and Vaccines Over the last four months Bill Gates has made dozens of media appearances where he has called for several controversial "solutions" to COVID-19. Gates says these proposals must be implemented before society can go back to "normal." From calling for extended lock downs, health surveillance (aka contact tracing) …

Arianna Demas (2020-05-29). Maine's ISP Privacy Law Does Not Violate the First Amendment, Much as ISPs Would Like for It To. aclu.org Without many of us even realizing it, our use of the Internet reveals deeply private information about us, ranging from the contents of our communications to details about our finances, health, and exact location. This information — especially when aggregated — provides an intimate window into our personal lives and can reveal a great deal of personal, private information about us, like our health care needs and personal or political beliefs., , For each of us, there's at least one entity that can see perfectly through that window: our "broadband information access service" provider, more commonly…