COVID-19 Daily Facts

Coronavirus Is Upending Health Insurance Premiums and Copays for Next Year
The COVID-19 crisis is causing so much disruption in nonemergency care that insurers and large employers can't really estimate health spending for next year. Analysts at PwC’s Health Research Institute say there's so much uncertainty that it’s difficult to pinpoint whether medical-cost trends will be significantly lower or higher in 2021. Employers are reporting premium rate increases of 3 percent to 4.5 percent for 2021 from major insurers, but they worry delayed care will result in more acute medical claims next year.

Boston Hospital Worker Study Shows Masks Are Effective in Preventing Spread of Coronavirus
As COVID-19 infections soared in Massachusetts during the height of the outbreak, the infection rate among employees at Mass General Brigham hospitals dropped significantly once all workers were required to wear masks, suggesting face coverings do work in preventing the spread of the deadly contagion, according to a new study. “While we studied health care workers, the results also apply to other situations in which social distancing is not possible,” said Dr. Deepak L. Bhatt, head of interventional cardiovascular programs at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, in a separate statement. “For those who have been waiting for data before adopting the practice, this paper makes it clear: Masks work.”

Missouri Study Finds Masks Likely Prevented Stylists from Passing Coronavirus to 139 Clients
A mask policy at a Missouri salon likely helped prevent a pair of stylists who contracted the coronavirus from spreading it to any of the nearly 140 clients they came into contact with, according to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The agency touted the findings as evidence for why policies recommending facial coverings can be so important to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

COVID-19 Drug and Treatment Tracker
This New York Times resource summarizes the status of 20 COVID-19 treatments by rating them based on the scientific evidence for their effectiveness and safety. The list will be updated and expanded as more evidence emerges. Also included is a warning of several treatments that are just bunk. The New York Times also tracks the current status of vaccine development here.