Video: Why There's Still A Coronavirus Testing Swab Shortage : Shots - Health News To contain the coronavirus, the U.S. needs to be able to test a lot of people. But we're facing a shortage of a key ingredient: the swab. Here's why these swabs are so hard to source.NPRWidespread testing for the coronavirus is key to safely reopening the country, but the U.S. has struggled for months to get to the level of testing many experts say we need — even as states and cities begin to loosen restrictions. Part of the problem is that a test for the coronavirus is not a single device. Testing entails...…Video: Why There's Still A Coronavirus Testing Swab Shortage : Shots - Health News To contain the coronavirus, the U.S. needs to be able to test a lot of people. But we're facing a shortage of a key ingredient: the swab. Here's why these swabs are so hard to source.NPRWidespread testing for the coronavirus is key to safely reopening the country, but the U.S. has struggled for months to get to the level of testing many experts say we need — even as states and cities begin to loosen restrictions. Part of the problem is that a test for the coronavirus is not a single device. Testing entails...WW…

Hospitals Lose Money During Pandemic; Healthcare Workers Face Layoffs, Cut Hours Faced with lost revenue from canceled elective procedures, hospitals laid off 1.4 million health care workers in April, including nearly 135,000 from hospitals.Heard onToggle more optionsUpdated at 9:00 a.m. ET Michelle Sweeney could barely sleep. The nurse in Plymouth, Mass., had just learned she would be furloughed. She only had four hours the next day to call all of her patients. "I was in a panic state. I was sick over it," Sweeney said. "Our patients are the frailest, sickest group." Sweeney works for...…Hospitals Lose Money During Pandemic; Healthcare Workers Face Layoffs, Cut Hours Faced with lost revenue from canceled elective procedures, hospitals laid off 1.4 million health care workers in April, including nearly 135,000 from hospitals.Heard onToggle more optionsUpdated at 9:00 a.m. ET Michelle Sweeney could barely sleep. The nurse in Plymouth, Mass., had just learned she would be furloughed. She only had four hours the next day to call all of her patients. "I was in a panic state. I was sick over it," Sweeney said. "Our patients are the frailest, sickest group." Sweeney works for...WW…

A Pediatrician Treating Adults In The COVID-19 Pandemic Remembers His Patients A pediatric cardiologist working at a hospital in the Bronx reflects on treating adults after part of the Children's Hospital at Montefiore Medical Center was converted to an adult COVID-19 unit.Heard onToggle more optionsOn the night of March 30, just before 7 p.m., Dr. Ray Lorenzoni put on his face mask, walked across the street from the Bronx apartment he shares with his wife and started his shift at the Children's Hospital at Montefiore Medical Center. Lorenzoni, 35, is in his second year of a pediatric...…A Pediatrician Treating Adults In The COVID-19 Pandemic Remembers His Patients A pediatric cardiologist working at a hospital in the Bronx reflects on treating adults after part of the Children's Hospital at Montefiore Medical Center was converted to an adult COVID-19 unit.Heard onToggle more optionsOn the night of March 30, just before 7 p.m., Dr. Ray Lorenzoni put on his face mask, walked across the street from the Bronx apartment he shares with his wife and started his shift at the Children's Hospital at Montefiore Medical Center. Lorenzoni, 35, is in his second year of a pediatric...WW…

In March, Trump Promised Resources To Fight The Pandemic. Few Happened On March 13, President Trump promised to mobilize private and public resources to respond to the coronavirus. NPR followed up on each promise and found little action had been taken.Heard onToggle more optionsUpdated at 10:10 p.m. ET One month ago today, President Trump declared a national emergency. In a Rose Garden address, flanked by leaders from giant retailers and medical testing companies, he promised a mobilization of public and private resources to attack the coronavirus. "We've been working very hard on this....…In March, Trump Promised Resources To Fight The Pandemic. Few Happened On March 13, President Trump promised to mobilize private and public resources to respond to the coronavirus. NPR followed up on each promise and found little action had been taken.Heard onToggle more optionsUpdated at 10:10 p.m. ET One month ago today, President Trump declared a national emergency. In a Rose Garden address, flanked by leaders from giant retailers and medical testing companies, he promised a mobilization of public and private resources to attack the coronavirus. "We've been working very hard on this....WW…

Seattle-Area Patient With Coronavirus Dies; Trump Defends U.S. Response A man in his 50s has died, according to Washington state health officials. It's the first death from COVID-19 in the U.S. The president defended the administration's response.Updated at 5:54 p.m. ET A person in Washington state has died of the new coronavirus, President Trump confirmed Saturday. The fatality marks the first reported death from the virus in the United States. The patient who died was a man in his 50s with underlying medical conditions, according to Washington state health officials. Also at the press...…Seattle-Area Patient With Coronavirus Dies; Trump Defends U.S. Response A man in his 50s has died, according to Washington state health officials. It's the first death from COVID-19 in the U.S. The president defended the administration's response.Updated at 5:54 p.m. ET A person in Washington state has died of the new coronavirus, President Trump confirmed Saturday. The fatality marks the first reported death from the virus in the United States. The patient who died was a man in his 50s with underlying medical conditions, according to Washington state health officials. Also at the press...WW…

Military Veterans Overrepresented In Those Charged In Jan. 6 Capitol Riot Amid rising concern over domestic extremism, an NPR analysis found military veterans were overrepresented in those charged in the attack on the U.S. Capitol when compared to the general population.Heard onToggle more optionsAs a violent mob descended on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, lawmakers and aides hid wherever they could, waiting for the military and police to arrive. But many of those who stormed the Capitol were military veterans themselves, who had once sworn to protect the Constitution. In fact, an NPR analysis...…Military Veterans Overrepresented In Those Charged In Jan. 6 Capitol Riot Amid rising concern over domestic extremism, an NPR analysis found military veterans were overrepresented in those charged in the attack on the U.S. Capitol when compared to the general population.Heard onToggle more optionsAs a violent mob descended on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, lawmakers and aides hid wherever they could, waiting for the military and police to arrive. But many of those who stormed the Capitol were military veterans themselves, who had once sworn to protect the Constitution. In fact, an NPR analysis...WW…