Blog
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Data on COVID-19 Mortality by Race and Ethnicity Underscore Disparities
New figures compiled by the non-partisan APM Research Lab and released on May 20th, 2020, provide further evidence of the staggering divide in the COVID-19 death rate between black Americans and the rest of the United States population. Authors were able to gather and analyze data on race and ethnicity for 88% of COVID-19 deaths…
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Study Examines Value of Stock Asthma Rescue Medications in Schools
The April 2020 edition of Pediatrics contains an article examining the value of having stock asthma rescue (or reliever) medication laws in schools. “Some states have found these policies reduce the need for 911 calls and emergency medical services transports as a result of asthma exacerbations.” Researchers found that “initial data also demonstrate that these…
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Natural Resources Defense Council Releases Report Examining Clean Air Act
The National Resources Defense Council has released a report titled “Clearing the Air: The Benefits of the Clean Air Act.” The report estimates emissions reductions since the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 and enumerates the health and economic benefits. It also delves into the attacks the law is facing from the current administration and…
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UCLA School of Public Health Releases “Effects of Residential Gas Appliances on Indoor and Outdoor Air Quality and Public Health in California”
The UCLA School of Public Health has released a report titled, “Effects of Residential Gas Appliances on Indoor and Outdoor Air Quality and Public Health in California.” Based originally on a study, it assesses the additional indoor and outdoor air pollution impacts of residential gas appliances on health effects as well as investigates the benefits…
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Environmental Law Institute Releases Report “Reducing Indoor Exposure to Particle Pollution from Outdoor Sources: Policies and Programs to Improve Air Quality in Homes”
The Environmental Law Institute has released a report titled “Reducing Indoor Exposure to Particle Pollution from Outdoor Sources: Policies and Programs to Improve Air Quality in Homes.” The report supports efforts to increase “resilience and adaptive capacity of individuals and buildings” to reduce indoor exposure to outdoor pollutants. The report provides background on health effects…
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Study Concludes Asthma Prolongs Intubation in COVID-19
In an article published in The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice on May 14, 2020, researchers from Rush University Medical Center in Chicago report the results of their study on the role of asthma in the outcome of COVID-19 infection in a large cohort of COVID-19 positive patients. Consistent with other published literature,…
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Impact of asthma medications on COVID outcomes
On May 6, 2020, in the Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, Johns Hopkins researchers published “Asthma, Biologics, Corticosteroids, and COVID-19.” The authors reinforce the message that current data on the risk of acquiring COVID-19 or disease severity in patients with asthma is limited and they identify recommendations for future research (in the table below). In…
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COVID-19 Is Not a Reason to Rollback Air Quality Protections
Industry stakeholders, along with some California legislators, are using the coronavirus pandemic to justify rolling back or delaying much-needed air quality protections. While we’re sympathetic to the global economic impacts of COVID-19, this is precisely the wrong time to stop California’s progress toward clean air, especially in inequitably burdened communities. Why? There is compelling early research showing…
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The Rent is Due: Tenant Protections and the COVID-19 Outbreak
Tenant protections are a core part of RAMP’s work to promote stable and healthy housing, and the coronavirus outbreak has only reinforced the importance of such protections. As the outbreak expanded, we were proud to support a call for a statewide moratorium on rent increases and evictions. But we know these policies are only temporary. …
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COVID-19, Asthma and Equity: RAMP’s Response
COVID-19 has had tremendous impacts on millions of individuals, families and communities. It has also significantly affected the work of asthma stakeholders, including RAMP. As we continue to work toward our mission of reducing the burden of asthma with a focus on equity, we want to share what we’re doing to help keep communities healthy…
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Presentation Recording on California’s 2020 and COVID-19 tenant protections
In partnership with Health Leads’ Bay Area Healthcare for Healthy Communities Learning Initiative (BALI), we also hosted a presentation on tenant protections. As you can see from this recording from early April, Madeline Howard from Western Center on Law and Poverty (WCLP) provided an update on new-in-2020 tenant protection laws, as well as some COVID-specific tenant protection…
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Examining Use of Albuterol in School Asthma Emergencies
In April 2020’s Pediatrics, researchers examined the availability of medications and how to manage asthma within schools. The researchers suggest “timely access to albuterol… provides a simple policy solution that can translate to a safer school environment regarding asthma.” For more information on the article, click here.