Plus, sending the homeless to camp
A statewide grand jury releases its first report finding many COVID-19 prevention policies harmful and counterintuitive, Florida legislation advances to get homeless people off the streets and into designated camps, and more Americans report they are focused on reducing stress in their lives in 2024. Why and how is all in this week’s Healthcare Digest.
COVID Prevention Misguided: A statewide Grand Jury requested by Governor DeSantis has released its first interim report, highlighting that many preventative measures taken during the COVID-19 pandemic were ineffective. Topping the list: mandatory masks and lockdowns. The report cited a lack of sound evidence on the effectiveness of masks in reducing transmission, made worse once we understood COVID-19 to be a virus primarily transmitted through aerosol. It found that jurisdictions with lockdowns tended to have higher overall excess mortality, while those areas that targeted highest-risk populations saw more direct results.
The report also found that hospitalizations were heavily encouraged without discerning between severity and contagiousness, leading much of the data to be skewed because of the financial incentives of taking on more patients. It also found that nonpharmaceutical interventions, such as exercise and dietary changes, were ignored or lampooned by public health and media entities. The grand jury has many months of testimony still to be heard.
Homeless Camps in Florida: Several bills are working their way through the Florida Legislature that take a different approach to handling the ever-growing homelessness on the streets. The measures would require counties to outlaw the homeless from sleeping in public places and instead be steered into designated camps that include security and behavioral health services. Governor DeSantis has endorsed the “Florida Model” as it has been recently dubbed and said he’s willing to consider putting state funding behind it.
This new model is opposite of the federal “housing first” approach that tries to get homeless populations into permanent housing as a foundation to rebuild lives. As such, the bills have been much debated, including on whether such camps should require residents’ sobriety, something currently not included in the bills.
Stress on the Rise Across America: In a recent study by Lisa Miller and Associates LLC (no relation to yours truly), 33% of Americans made it their New Year’s resolution to find more joy in their day-to-day lives, which highlights the growing focus on mental health our country has seen over the last couple years. The American Psychological Association (APA) also conducted a survey that showed the weight of stress on many Americans. The group reporting the highest rate (50%) of mental health issues were ages 18 to 34. Adults 35 to 44 report that money worries (77%) and the economy (74%) were their biggest stressors.
While mental issues are apparent, even physical issues can manifest from overwhelming stress, including stomach problems, heart issues, and weight gain to name a few. But the APA advises that stress can also be an opportunity for growth, showing us how to overcome obstacles and persevere. Just be sure to get ample sleep and have a support network you can depend on in these trying times.
LMA Newsletter of 2-12-2024
