Iowa news
Long-term care facility COVID-19 outbreaks drop to zero in Iowa
State officials are reporting as of Thursday morning, there are no COVID-19 outbreaks in the state’s long-term care facilities. This marks a significant milestone in the COVID-19 pandemic, which has devastated long-term care facilities across the state. It’s the first time since last March, none of the state’s 430 nursing homes and 250 assisted living facilities is experiencing a COVID-19 outbreak. (Iowa Public Radio)
St. Luke’s to begin modernization project this spring
UnityPoint Health-St. Luke’s Hospital has announced it will begin a $14 million inpatient modernization project this spring that will result in an improved environment of care for its medical and surgical patients. St. Luke’s will begin renovation of its third floor in May. The project will replace its medical/surgical inpatient units, which were built in the 1950s and ’60s. (Corridor Business Journal)
Iowa lawmakers debate payment parity for telemental health services
Iowa lawmakers are debating a bill that would mandate payment parity for mental health services delivered by telehealth. The state’s House of Representatives has approved HF 294, which would require health plans to reimburse telemental health services “on the same basis and at the same rate” as in-person services. It defines telehealth as the use of real-time interactive audio and video or other interactive electronic media, but not audio-only platforms such as the telephone. (mHealth Intelligence)
National news
Could COVID-19 vaccination bring relief for long-haul sufferers? Researchers want to find out
Vaccination could offer a glimmer of hope for people still enduring symptoms weeks or months after recovering from COVID-19. Among people who catch COVID-19, 10% to 30% end up with long-term symptoms referred to colloquially as long COVID-19 or long-haul COVID-19. Although most people with lingering problems had a bad bout with the disease, some barely had any symptoms. A theory is emerging, though still preliminary, that getting a COVID-19 vaccine could help some of these long-suffering people. (USA Today)
Biden administration to meet goal of 100 million vaccine doses today
President Biden said Thursday his administration would reach its initial goal of administering 100 million shots of the COVID-19 vaccines well ahead of his initial 100-day benchmark. Biden said that the goal of 100 million shots would be achieved today, which is 58 days into his presidency. He said he would announce his next vaccination goal next week. (Iowa Public Radio)
Vaccines could prevent asymptomatic infection. Here’s why that’s key to ending the pandemic.
Vaccine distribution is ramping up in many countries, but with COVID-19 cases also climbing once again and the prospect of another surge of infections on the horizon, the world is in a race against time. Key to winning the race, experts say, is not only whether the vaccines will play a significant role in preventing serious illness from COVID-19, but also whether they can block people from spreading the virus. (NBC News)