Mar 31, 2020 - Health

More than 400 long-term care facilities report coronavirus cases

The Life Care Center of Kirkland nursing home in Washington, a center of the state's coronavirus outbreak. Photo: Jason Redmond/AFP via Getty Images

More than 400 long-term care facilities across the United States are now combatting cases of the novel coronavirus, the Centers for Disease Control told Axios on Tuesday.

Why it matters: The numbers mark a 172% reported rise in long-term facility cases since March 23, notes NBC News, which first reported the news. Long-term care facilities often host ill and elderly people who are particularly susceptible to the adverse effects of COVID-19. A spokesperson for the CDC said the agency is working with state and local health departments to assist facilities with the virus and help those without cases to reduce their risk.

Go deeper: Nursing homes prepare for coronavirus

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The pandemic’s health side effects are growing

Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios

Nearly half of Americans said that either they or someone in their household has skipped or delayed needed medical care because of the coronavirus, according to new polling by the Kaiser Family Foundation.

Why it matters: Shutting down elective medical care may have been necessary, particularly in coronavirus hotspots, but will have lasting effects on some patients.

Go deeper (1 min. read)ArrowMay 27, 2020 - Health

U.S. coronavirus updates

Data: The Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins; Map: Andrew Witherspoon/Axios. This graphic includes "probable deaths" that New York City began reporting on April 14.

About 40.7 million Americans have filed for unemployment since the coronavirus pandemic began, including 2.1 million more claims filed from last week.

Why it matters: Even as states reopen their economies, Americans are still seeking relief. Revised data out Thursday also showed U.S. economy shrunk by an annualized 5% in the first quarter — worse than the initially estimate of 4.8%.

Go deeper (1 min. read)ArrowUpdated 13 mins ago - Health

Fauci: Data is "really quite evident" against hydroxychloroquine for coronavirus

Anthony Fauci told CNN Wednesday that the scientific data "is really quite evident now about the lack of efficacy" of hydroxychloroquine as a coronavirus treatment.

Driving the news: The comments came in response to news that France on Wednesday banned the use of hydroxychloroquine to treat the virus, after a large retrospective study in The Lancet found an increased risk of heart problems and death among coronavirus patients who took the anti-malarial drug.

Go deeper (1 min. read)ArrowMay 27, 2020 - Health