Apr 16, 2018

Amazon pulls back drug distribution plans

Amazon isn't jumping into drug distribution for now. Photo: David Ryder / Getty Images

Amazon is suspending plans to sell and distribute prescription drugs and instead will continue to focus on "less sensitive" medical supplies, CNBC reports. Logistics and hospitals' current relationships forced Amazon to abandon its plans, although they could be revived.

The big picture: The thought of Amazon's cost-cutting tactics entering health care in a bigger way has routinely freaked out the industry, but it turns out health care is complicated. Stock prices of companies in the drug supply chain, like McKesson and CVS, shot up sharply on the news.

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Axios

Coronavirus dashboard

Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios

Global: Total confirmed cases as of 1:30 p.m. ET: 887,067 — Total deaths: 44,264 — Total recoveries: 185,541 — Map.
U.S.: Total confirmed cases as of 1:30 p.m. ET: 190,740 — Total deaths: 4,127 — Total recoveries: 7,141 — Map.
Federal government latest: Vice President Mike Pence said that White House modeling suggests "Italy may be the most comparable area to the United States" in terms of the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.
State updates: Florida and Pennsylvania are the latest to issue stay-at-home orders, totaling 34 states and D.C.
2020 update: New York is latest state to delay primary — Bernie Sanders urges Wisconsin to delay April 7 primary.
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What should I do? Answers about the virus from Axios experts — What to know about social distancing — Q&A: Minimizing your coronavirus risk.
Other resources: CDC on how to avoid the virus, what to do if you get it.

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Axios

West Virginia is latest state to delay primary due to coronavirus

Photo: Barbara Davidson/Getty Images

West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice rescheduled the state's May 12 primary election to June 9 on Wednesday, citing fears surrounding the coronavirus pandemic, AP reports.

Why it matters: 23 other states and the District of Columbia haven't held primaries yet. The White House is recommending, for now, that Americans practice social distancing and gather in groups of no more than 10 people — while many states have issued stay-at-home orders.

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Rashaan Ayesh

Florida governor issues stay-at-home order

Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis ordered a statewide stay-at-home order on Wednesday after the number of coronavirus cases in the state rose to nearly 7,000.

Why it matters: DeSantis has been criticized for declining to order any statewide mandates to curb the spread of coronavirus as Florida — home to a significant elderly population — has increasingly become a hotspot. The order will go into effect at midnight and last for 30 days.

Go deeper29 mins ago - Health