Today’s NewsStand

Today’s NewsStand

By Iowa Hospital Association|
|September 14, 2021

Iowa news

Iowa widow blames unvaccinated people for her husband’s death from ‘breakthrough’ COVID infection

Gary Keplinger’s widow is furious at Americans who refuse to take COVID-19 vaccinations or wear masks in public, indoor places. Gary Keplinger, 77, of Mount Ayr, died Aug. 11 of COVID-19, although he’d been fully vaccinated against the disease several months earlier. The family held a small graveside service for him on Sept. 5, at a cemetery next to the farm where he grew up north of town. They would have held a bigger funeral, with hundreds of mourners, if the pandemic were under control. But many people in their area refuse to take precautions that could rein in the coronavirus, Ardith Keplinger said. (Des Moines Register)

MercyOne reviewing options after proposed UIHC hospital approved

One of the medical groups opposed to the University of Iowa’s plan for a new hospital in North Liberty is still considering its options. MercyOne Health says they are disappointed the State Health Facilities Council reversed an earlier ruling and approved the UIHC’s request. The approval means 13 hospitals will now be serving Iowa City and the surrounding communities. MercyOne says it is considering its next step. Those who opposed the hospital have until the end of the month to appeal the state Facilities Council approval. (Radio Iowa)

Hospitals in Cedar Rapids limiting elective procedures

Hospitals in Cedar Rapids are limiting elective procedures because of increased numbers of patients driven partly by a surge in COVID-19 admissions. Both UnityPoint Health-St. Luke’s Hospital and Mercy Medical Center in Cedar Rapids confirmed their facilities are preserving capacity because of high patient counts in recent weeks. Cedar Rapids hospitals had not delayed or postponed elective surgeries and procedures since last fall. (WHO-TV)

National news

Joe Biden’s $2B rapid testing plan calls for discounted COVID-19 tests at Amazon, Kroger and Walmart

Consumers could soon get discounted coronavirus tests at Amazon, Kroger and Walmart as part of President Joe Biden’s plan to significantly increase testing. The Biden administration said those three major retailers over the next three months will sell rapid, over-the-counter tests “at cost,” a discount of up to 35% from retail prices. Biden’s strategy calls for spending nearly $2 billion to procure 280 million rapid tests for long-term care facilities, community testing sites, homeless shelters, prisons and other vulnerable populations. Another 25 million free at-home rapid tests would be sent to community health centers and food banks. (Des Moines Register)

Alabama man dies of cardiac event after 43 hospitals with full ICUs turned him away

The family of a man who died of heart issues in Mississippi is asking people to get vaccinated for COVID-19 after 43 hospitals across three states couldn’t accept him because of full cardiac ICUs. Ray Martin DeMonia died three days shy of his 74th birthday. DeMonia suffered from a cardiac event, and emergency staff at Cullman Regional Medical Center in Alabama had to bring him to the nearest available bed, which was nearly 200 miles away at a Mississippi hospital. (Des Moines Register)

Some FDA scientists and others say boosters aren’t needed for the general population

None of the data on coronavirus vaccines so far provides credible evidence in support of boosters for the general population, according to a review published by an international group of scientists, including some at the Food and Drug Administration and the World Health Organization. The 18 authors include Dr. Philip Krause and Dr. Marion Gruber, FDA scientists who will be leaving the agency, at least in part because they disagreed with the Biden administration’s push for boosters before federal scientists could review the evidence and make recommendations. (The New York Times)

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