"A series of missteps at the nation’s top public health agency caused a critical shortage of reliable laboratory tests for the coronavirus, hobbling the federal response as the pandemic spread across the country like wildfire, an Associated Press review found."
The momentous COVID-19 outbreak has many, many reporting angles — environment and energy stories certainly among them. Our latest Issue Backgrounder has an extensive rundown on possible ways in for environment and energy reporters, including everything from respiratory disease and air pollution to science denial and climate change, and more. Plus, pending passage of a massive congressional aid package. And an earlier TipSheet on how journalists can prepare for public health emergencies.
"The Bureau of Land Management missed a key deadline in an ongoing lawsuit over Freedom of Information Act requests due to the agency's response to the COVID-19 outbreaks."
"The global struggle to slow the spread of the coronavirus has brought with it canceled flights, closed businesses and a quickly escalating economic slowdown that could be devastating to millions. It is also certain to shrink greenhouse gas emissions this year, according to climate scientists."
The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press has assembled some information and guidelines for journalists on FOI, First Amendment and open-government issues coming up as a result of the coronavirus emergency.
"An employee who works at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regional office in Helena, Mont., tested “presumed positive” for COVID-19, according to the agency and an internal email obtained by The Hill."
"Low prices and concerns about the new coronavirus should postpone a Gulf of Mexico oil lease sale planned for Wednesday, environmental groups said Tuesday."
"The National Park Service headed toward a partial shutdown today as officials scrambled to close park sites and facilities across the country in response to the coronavirus pandemic."
"Across the world, public health experts are asking people to practice "social distancing" to slow the spread of the new coronavirus. ... But there are thousands of Arizonans who can't follow this advice. They have no home to isolate in."
"Alex Greninger was watching it all from the start. An epidemiologist and expert in laboratory medicine, Greninger spent the first few weeks of the year paying close attention to China, where a new SARS-like virus was burning through the city of Wuhan at an alarming rate."
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