Jan 19, 2017

Another story on Price's donor ties

J. Scott Applewhite / AP

Two things: HHS nominee Price received the maximum campaign donation of $2,700 from the CEO of Arbor Pharmaceuticals LLC. According to ProPublica, last summer one of Price's aides repeatedly emailed the federal Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality in an alleged move to get an unfavorable study taken offline — on behalf of Arbor Pharmaceuticals, whose drug BiDil was at stake in the study.

Why it matters: The storyline of Price's close ties to industry groups is well established by now, but he doesn't need more questions about his ethics, especially after the brutal questioning he got about his stock trades from the Senate HELP Committee Wednesday.

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Dan Primack

Serological coronavirus testing could be key to economic reopening

Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios

America's economy won't reopen anytime soon, despite frantic CEO whispers, but a glimmer of hope may be emerging in the form of serological testing.

Why it matters: Serologic tests aren't to determine whether or not you're infected with coronavirus. They are to determine if you have potential immunity that could allow you to safely return to work.

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Ina Fried

Government tech struggles to dole out coronavirus stimulus cash

Illustration: Eniola Odetunde/Axios

Tech challenges are hampering federal and state government efforts to get funds from the $2 trillion coronavirus relief law into the hands of newly unemployed workers and struggling small businesses who need it.

Why it matters: Many businesses and individuals need the money now for essentials, including meeting payroll and paying rent.

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Rebecca Falconer, Orion Rummler, Marisa Fernandez

U.S. coronavirus updates: Death toll passes 9,600

Data: The Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins; Map: Andrew Witherspoon/Axios

Recorded deaths from the novel coronavirus surpassed 9,600 in the U.S. on Monday, per Johns Hopkins data. More than 1,000 people in the U.S. have died of coronavirus-related conditions each day since April 1.

Why it matters: U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams said on Sunday the coming week will be "the hardest and saddest week of most Americans' lives" — calling it our "our Pearl Harbor, our 9/11 moment."

Go deeperUpdated 3 hours ago - Health