Bipartisan COVID aid package deal? Plus, the state of mental health in teens during the pandemic, and more
AP, CNN
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Here’s a look at today’s COVID news for March 31.
Bipartisan $10 billion Covid-19 aid package deal struck ‘in principle’
Utah GOP Sen. Mitt Romney said Thursday that Republicans have struck an “agreement in principle” with Democrats on a $10 billion package to help US efforts to combat the Covid-19 pandemic, a breakthrough that could pave the way for new funds to help the United States’ response efforts amid growing fears that critical resources are being depleted.
Romney, the lead GOP negotiator, told reporters the plan is “entirely balanced by offsets.” He said the bill text still needs to be drafted and there needs to be a cost estimate from the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office before the Senate can vote on the matter. Read more here:
Will the pandemic’s end actually be bad for some?
When the end of the COVID-19 pandemic comes, it could create major disruptions for a cumbersome U.S. health care system made more generous, flexible and up-to-date technologically through a raft of temporary emergency measures.
Winding down those policies could begin as early as the summer. That could force an estimated 15 million Medicaid recipients to find new sources of coverage, require congressional action to preserve broad telehealth access for Medicare enrollees, and scramble special COVID-19 rules and payment policies for hospitals, doctors and insurers. There are also questions about how emergency use approvals for COVID-19 treatments will be handled. Read more here:
The results of rent relief in 2021
The federal government’s emergency rental assistance program helped prevent more than one million evictions last year.
An estimated 1.36 million renters avoided an eviction filing in 2021 as a result of the government’s unprecedented $46.5 billion rent relief program and other protections, according to a recent analysis by Princeton University’s Eviction Lab published earlier this month. Read more here:
Mental health of US teens declined during pandemic
Mental health concerns among high school students in the United States were exacerbated during the Covid-19 pandemic, according to survey results published Thursday by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
There have been significant increases in high school students reporting persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness, considering suicide or attempting suicide over the past decade — and findings from the new CDC survey suggest youth mental health was even worse during the pandemic. Read more here:
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Shuji Kajiyama
A Japanese white-eye, also known as Mejiro, drinks the nectar of a cherry blossom in Tokyo, Japan, Wednesday, March 23, 2022. (AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama)
Eugene Hoshiko
People view blooming cherry blossoms from an open tour bus Thursday, March 31, 2022, in Tokyo. Cherry blossoms, or "sakura," are Japan's favorite flower and usually reach their peak in late March to early April, just as the country celebrates the start of a new school and business year. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
Eugene Hoshiko
Visitors view seasonal cherry blossoms from a pedestrian bridge in the Roppongi district, Thursday, March 31, 2022, in Tokyo. People across Japan are celebrating the peak cherry blossom viewing season this week without COVID-19 restrictions in place for the first time in two years, but many people strolled under the trees to enjoy flowers and falling petals rather than drinking and eating at sit-down parties. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
Koji Sasahara
People on boat view cherry blossoms in full bloom at the Chidorigafuchi palace moat in Tokyo Monday, March 28, 2022. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara)
Shuji Kajiyama
A Japanese white-eye, also known as Mejiro, drinks the nectar of a cherry blossom in Tokyo, Japan, Wednesday, March 23, 2022. People across Japan are celebrating the peak cherry blossom viewing season this week without COVID-19 restrictions in place for the first time in two years, but many people strolled under the trees to enjoy flowers and falling petals rather than drinking and eating at sit-down parties. (AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama)
Eugene Hoshiko
A man wearing a protective mask to help curb the spread of the coronavirus view the seasonal cherry blossoms at the Ueno Park Thursday, March 24, 2022, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
Shuji Kajiyama
A visitor takes a picture under a shower of cherry blossoms in full bloom at a Shinto shrine in Tokyo, Thursday, March 31, 2022, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama)
Kiichiro Sato
Women wearing traditional Kimono outfits take a rickshaw ride under a canopy of the cherry blossoms in full bloom Thursday, March 31, 2022, in Tokyo. People across Japan are celebrating the peak cherry blossom viewing season this week without COVID-19 restrictions in place for the first time in two years, but many people strolled under the trees to enjoy flowers and falling petals rather than drinking and eating at sit-down parties. (AP Photo/Kiichiro Sato)
Kiichiro Sato
People stop to take pictures as they walk under a canopy of cherry blossoms in full bloom at a park Thursday, March 31, 2022, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Kiichiro Sato)
Shuji Kajiyama
Visitors stroll under a shower of cherry blossoms in full bloom at a Shinto shrine in Tokyo, Thursday, March 31, 2022, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama)
Koji Sasahara
People wearing face masks stroll under cherry blossoms in full bloom at the Zojoji Buddhist temple in Tokyo Tuesday, March 29, 2022. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara)
Kiichiro Sato
People gather under cherry blossoms in full bloom at a park for a traditional flower viewing called "Hanami" to celebrate the spring season Wednesday, March 30, 2022, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Kiichiro Sato)
Kiichiro Sato
People gather to take pictures under a canopy of cherry blossoms in full bloom at a park Wednesday, March 30, 2022, in Tokyo. People across Japan are celebrating the peak cherry blossom viewing season this week without COVID-19 restrictions in place for the first time in two years, but many people strolled under the trees to enjoy flowers and falling petals rather than drinking and eating at sit-down parties. (AP Photo/Kiichiro Sato)
Eugene Hoshiko
People wearing face masks view seasonal cherry blossoms at the Sumida Park on Monday, March 28, 2022, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
Kiichiro Sato
In this long exposure photo, streaks of lights indicate vehicles moving under a canopy of cherry blossoms flowers lit by street lights, in Tokyo, Monday, March 28, 2022. (AP Photo/Kiichiro Sato)
