Health & Safety

What Last Year's Government Simulation Predicted About Today's Pandemic

4:29pm March 20, 2020

NPR's Ailsa Chang talks with New York Times reporter David Sanger about how "Crimson Contagion," a U.S. government simulation from 2019, predicted weaknesses in handling today's pandemic.

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Seattle Hospitals Brace For Wave Of COVID-19 Patients

4:29pm March 20, 2020

by Martin Kaste

The wave of critical patients is expected to arrive first at Seattle-area hospitals, which have spent recent weeks trying to shore up supplies of "staff and stuff." No one is sure they have enough.

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The Latest Developments Around Federal Coronavirus Response

4:29pm March 20, 2020

NPR economics, politics and science correspondents relay the latest federal developments in the coronavirus pandemic.

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Former Federal Health, Science And Economic Officials On Government Epidemic Response

4:29pm March 20, 2020

NPR's Ailsa Chang talks with Dr. Margaret Hamburg, Douglas Holtz-Eakin and Tara O'Toole — three former government officials — about the federal government's response to the coronavirus.

Flanked by members of the coronavirus task force, President Trump speaks during a briefing on the latest development of the coronavirus outbreak in the James Brady Briefing Room at the White House on Friday.

White House Update: Coronavirus Supply Effort And New Border Restrictions

3:46pm March 20, 2020

The coronavirus task force insisted progress is being made as concerns over shortages mount, and officials emphasized current social distancing guidelines. Here are the briefing highlights.

An expanding number of state health exchanges are reopening enrollment this month to help uninsured residents gain coverage during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Health & Safety

9 States Reopen ACA Insurance Enrollment To Broaden Health Coverage

3:39pm March 20, 2020

by Carmen Heredia Rodriguez

Some state exchanges have begun allowing new enrollment to help ease consumers' worry about health care costs. It's also so the uninsured won't inadvertently spread the coronavirus by avoiding care.

Smaller Employers Worry About Bouncing Back As Limitations Remain

3:04pm March 20, 2020

by Keri Brown

Many small businesses across the state are feeling the impacts of restrictions put in place by state officials

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A Border Patrol agent walks along a border wall separating Tijuana, Mexico, from San Diego earlier this week. Travel between the U.S. and Mexico will halt as of Saturday to try to stop the spread of the coronavirus.

Trump Administration Says U.S. Border With Mexico To Close To Nonessential Travel

2:56pm March 20, 2020

by Merrit Kennedy

The agreement is similar to one announced earlier this week to partially close the U.S. border with Canada. Both will go into effect on Saturday, Trump administration officials said.

State Department Halts Routine Visa Services Worldwide

2:23pm March 20, 2020

by Jackie Northam

The U.S. is temporarily stopping visa services at its embassies and consulates due to the coronavirus, as it urges U.S. citizens overseas to return home or be prepared to shelter in place.

Mary Mills, longtime intensive care nurse, feels the response to coronavirus at her Seattle hospital has been haphazard. She worries the growing number of patients will overwhelm the ICUs in the coming days.

Health & Safety

Seattle Nurses Scrounge For Masks To Stay Safe On Pandemic's Front Lines

12:50pm March 20, 2020

by Will Stone

The first U.S cluster of coronavirus cases began in the Seattle area, and the case count is growing. Now nurses face shortages of protective gear, and confusion and fear about how to stay safe.