Catch up on coronavirus stories and special reports, curated by Mike Allen everyday

Catch up on coronavirus stories and special reports, curated by Mike Allen everyday

Feb 15, 2018 - Technology

Uber exec Andrew Chen leaving for Andreessen Horowitz

Dan Primack, author of Pro Rata

Andrew Chen. Photo courtesy of Andreessen Horowitz.

Andrew Chen is stepping down as head of growth at Uber, in order to join venture firm Andreessen Horowitz as a general partner.

Why it matters: Chen is as well-known in Silicon Valley for his thoughtful business writing as for his work as an executive.

Four things to know:

He began his professional career as a Seattle-based analyst at Mohr Davidow Ventures.
His real claim to fame came from the hundreds of online essays he published, with a focus on go-to-market strategies. Among the terms he popularized was "growth hacker."
Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz reached out to Chen in 2007, when they were still just angel investors:

Chen comes from Uber and Andreessen Horowitz is an investor in Lyft, but Ben Horowitz tells Axios: "The single most important characteristic for a partner here is integrity. He was very clear that confidential information is just that and I wouldn't hire someone who would share information with a competitor, even after he left."

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Jonathan Swan, Rebecca Falconer

24 mins ago - Health

CDC to cut guidance on quarantine period for coronavirus exposure

A health care worker oversees cars as people arrive to get tested for coronavirus at a testing site in Arlington, Virginia, on Tuesday. Photo: Olivier Douliery/AFP via Getty Images

The CDC will soon shorten its guidance for quarantine periods following exposure to COVID-19, AP reported Tuesday and Axios can confirm.

Why it matters: Quarantine helps prevent the spread of the coronavirus, which can occur before a person knows they're sick or if they're infected without feeling any symptoms. The current recommended period to stay home if exposed to the virus is 14 days. The CDC plans to amend this to 10 days or seven with a negative test, an official told Axios.

The CDC did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

1 hour ago - Health

CDC panel: COVID vaccines should go to health workers, long-term care residents first

Hospital staff work in the COVID-19 intensive care unit in Houston. Photo: Go Nakamura via Getty

Health-care workers and nursing home residents should be at the front of the line to get coronavirus vaccines in the United States once they’re cleared and available for public use, an independent CDC panel recommended in a 13-1 emergency vote on Tuesday, per CNBC.

Why it matters: Recent developments in COVID-19 vaccines have accelerated the timeline for distribution as vaccines developed by Pfizer and Moderna undergo the federal approval process. States are preparing to begin distributing as soon as two weeks from now.

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Sara Fischer, author of Media Trends

2 hours ago - Politics & Policy

Obama: Broad slogans like "defund the police" lose people

Snapchat.

Former President Barack Obama told Peter Hamby on the Snapchat original political show "Good Luck America" that "snappy" slogans such as "defund the police" can alienate people, making the statements less effective than intended.

What he's saying: "You lost a big audience the minute you say it, which makes it a lot less likely that you're actually going to get the changes you want done," Obama told Hamby in an interview that will air Wednesday morning at 6 a.m. EST on Snapchat.

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