The CDC retracted its virus guidance

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Today in healthcare news: health insurance startup Bright Health just raised another $500 million, bringing its total raised to about $1.5 billion. It’s a big time for health insurance companies — Oscar Health is reportedly looking at a 2021 IPO. Both have now raised about the same amount of capital, so consider me intrigued for what comes next. 

For reference, here’s a look at how the health insurance startups (Bright, Oscar, Devoted, and more) fared through the first half of 2020. 

The CDC is retracting new guidance that the coronavirus can float beyond 6 feet in poorly ventilated spaces

• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Friday acknowledged for the first time that the coronavirus could “remain suspended in the air.”
• The new CDC guidance was retracted on Monday morning — the agency said “a draft version” had been “posted in error.” This has happened several times in recent months after the White House has taken issue with recommendations.
• The now-retracted phrasing lined up with studies from around the world that suggested the virus could linger and float through the air, especially indoors.

Read the full story from Hilary Brueck here>>

Even more evidence shows the coronavirus spreads easily on long plane flights

• A CDC study offers even more evidence that the coronavirus spreads on airplanes.
• Epidemiologists traced 16 coronavirus cases back to a single 10-hour flight where one symptomatic passenger was seated in business class.
• The case study showed that 92% of passengers sitting two seats or fewer away from the passenger contracted the coronavirus.
• It's unlikely most of the passengers on the flight were wearing masks.

Read the full story from Susie Neilson here>>

The rollout of a COVID-19 vaccine is under threat: Leading experts tell us they're worried about a shortage of glass vials, cargo planes, and cold-storage units

•  A glass vial shortage, as well as cargo restraints, could limit the mass rollout of a coronavirus vaccine.
• The vials are only made by a few companies, and boosting production could prove tricky.
• While many of world's leading vial manufacturers are up for a challenge, several experts tell Business Insider that several factors including time, demand uncertainty, temperature control, transport, and storage issues could also curb production.

Read the full story from Norman Miller here>>

More stories we're reading: 

• 50 experts to trust amid the coronavirus pandemic (Elemental)
• The 22 billion-dollar startups to watch that are revolutionizing healthcare in 2020 (Business Insider)
• A healthcare company in South Dakota that urges people to avoid social gatherings is hosting an indoor country concert (Insider)
• An anonymous troll who's been speaking out against the NIH worked for the agency (The Daily Beast)

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- Lydia