Author Archives: jbakerjrblog

A little noticed new federal mandate announced today may put many U.S. hospitals at risk. The federal coronavirus task force, led by Dr. Deborah Birx, decided to demand additional information from hospitals today. By the end of the year, the requirements for reporting of influenza and COVID-19 cases will become more exacting and carry remarkableContinue reading “A new federal stand-off may undermine healthcare for Medicare and Medicaid recipients.”

I have been providing information on medical issues for the past five nights on WGN’s national news program “News Nation.” I agreed to do this because they are focused on news and not commentary, and have no agenda as to what they report. If you are interested, you can find my reports at: https://wgnamerica.com.

Today the CDC finally made a statement that was obvious to everyone else; that aerosols can spread COVID-19. The concept that a cloud of virus released into the air from someone singing or speaking loudly could persist for some period of time In a closed space and infect other people has been well accepted. InContinue reading “The CDC Acknowledges the obvious..”

Three topics for a Sunday evening. The President is in day three of the public portion of his COVID-19 diagnosis. He seems well, both from his physician’s reports and especially in a video of him speaking at Walter Reed that showed him without shortness of breath or any apparent weakness or trouble standing.  In contrast,Continue reading “Three New York Newsmakers: The President, Regeneron, and Mayor de Blasio”

The President’s infection, day two.  Today’s reports confused me medically. Reports from the President’s physicians seemed to indicate that he is stable, in no respiratory distress, and requiring no supplemental oxygen to support his breathing. His personal physician also suggested the President no longer had a fever. There is certainly nothing disconcerting in any ofContinue reading “Why are there conflicting reports on the President’s condition?”

I apologize for the lateness of tonight’s post, but I’ve been on national TV discussing the condition of the President. The live stream is at https://wgnamericaupfront.com, with the final interview at 10:15 EDT tonight. I want to make several quick points about his medical condition and diagnosis. I should say beforehand that I have no personalContinue reading “The President is infected.”

As first reported by Reuters, the FDA is making a wider review of the severe, adverse event suffered by a participant in AstraZeneca’s/Oxford University coronavirus vaccine trial. AstraZeneca’s large, late-stage U.S. trial has remained on hold since Sept. 6, after a study participant in Britain fell ill with what was believed to be a rare spinal inflammatoryContinue reading “COVID-19 Vaccine Roundup: AstraZeneca under further FDA investigation, Moderna will take until December (at least), and Novavax executives hit the jackpot!”

I shouldn’t watch the nightly news. It makes me crazy. Tonight on ABC they reported (although not as breaking news!) that numbers were “way up” and “31 states had increases in infections.” Since I hadn’t looked at the numbers for several days, I found this alarming. I immediately went to the Hopkin’s COVID-19 dashboard toContinue reading “Yikes! Are COVID-19 numbers increasing as reported on ABC News tonight 9-30-2020?”

Statement from the NFL; “The Steelers-Titans game, originally scheduled for Sunday at 1 p.m. ET, will be rescheduled to allow additional time for further daily COVID-19 testing and to ensure the health and safety of players, coaches and game day personnel. Details on the new game date and time on either Monday or Tuesday willContinue reading “The NFL has delayed the next Tennessee Titans game for up to two days.”

The Tennessee Titans identified a COVID-19 outbreak that involved three members of the team and five team staff. The team announced that it closed its training facilities until this Saturday as part of the NFL COVID-19 program. The Titans played the Minnesota Vikings in Minneapolis on Sunday, and the Vikings now are planning on closingContinue reading “The NFL has its first COVID-19 outbreak.”