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| Coronavirus Briefing: What Happened Today | Coronavirus Briefing: What Happened Today |
| (1 day later) | |
| This is the Coronavirus Briefing, an informed guide to the global outbreak. Sign up here to get the briefing by email. | This is the Coronavirus Briefing, an informed guide to the global outbreak. Sign up here to get the briefing by email. |
| President Trump declares a national emergency | President Trump declares a national emergency |
| Medical workers’ heavy burden | Medical workers’ heavy burden |
| Why New York City hasn’t closed schools yet | Why New York City hasn’t closed schools yet |
| Get the latest updates here, plus maps and full coverage | Get the latest updates here, plus maps and full coverage |
| President Trump declared a national emergency for the growing coronavirus pandemic on Friday, capping a week in which the virus began to alter nearly every part of life in the United States. Cases in the U.S. have climbed to almost 2,000, even with sparse testing, and the death toll has risen to 41. | President Trump declared a national emergency for the growing coronavirus pandemic on Friday, capping a week in which the virus began to alter nearly every part of life in the United States. Cases in the U.S. have climbed to almost 2,000, even with sparse testing, and the death toll has risen to 41. |
| There are signs that we are still much closer to the beginning of the outbreak than the end. Our colleague Sheri Fink reported today that officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have projected that in a worst-case situation, 160 million to 214 million people in the U.S. could be infected. | There are signs that we are still much closer to the beginning of the outbreak than the end. Our colleague Sheri Fink reported today that officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have projected that in a worst-case situation, 160 million to 214 million people in the U.S. could be infected. |
| The projections suggest that 2.4 million to 21 million people in the U.S. could require hospitalization, potentially crushing the nation’s medical system, which has only about 925,000 staffed hospital beds, in an outbreak that could last months or even over a year. | The projections suggest that 2.4 million to 21 million people in the U.S. could require hospitalization, potentially crushing the nation’s medical system, which has only about 925,000 staffed hospital beds, in an outbreak that could last months or even over a year. |
| Those dire scenarios are not guaranteed to come true. They don’t account for interventions that are now underway: increased testing, tracing contacts of infected people, and limiting social interactions by banning large gatherings and encouraging people to stay home. (And, yes, frequently washing your hands and not touching your face.) | Those dire scenarios are not guaranteed to come true. They don’t account for interventions that are now underway: increased testing, tracing contacts of infected people, and limiting social interactions by banning large gatherings and encouraging people to stay home. (And, yes, frequently washing your hands and not touching your face.) |
| “When people change their behavior,” said Lauren Gardner, a Johns Hopkins professor who models epidemics, “those model parameters are no longer applicable.” | “When people change their behavior,” said Lauren Gardner, a Johns Hopkins professor who models epidemics, “those model parameters are no longer applicable.” |
| Another health expert compared the situation to an approaching hurricane: “You’ve got to take potentially very disruptive actions when the sun is shining and the breeze is mild.” | Another health expert compared the situation to an approaching hurricane: “You’ve got to take potentially very disruptive actions when the sun is shining and the breeze is mild.” |
| China was the first country to face the coronavirus, Italy is in the thick of its own outbreak, and in the United States it’s still early days. But in all three countries, health workers are on the front lines. | China was the first country to face the coronavirus, Italy is in the thick of its own outbreak, and in the United States it’s still early days. But in all three countries, health workers are on the front lines. |
| In Wuhan, China, the story of two young doctors starkly reveals the peril. The two 29-year-old women were in constant contact with the virus; within weeks, both were in critical condition at the hospitals where they worked. One recovered. The other did not. | In Wuhan, China, the story of two young doctors starkly reveals the peril. The two 29-year-old women were in constant contact with the virus; within weeks, both were in critical condition at the hospitals where they worked. One recovered. The other did not. |
| Some doctors in northern Italy are already unable to treat every patient, effectively leaving those with lower chances of survival to die. “The outbreak has put hospitals under a stress that has no precedents since the Second World War,” said one hospital director in Milan. | Some doctors in northern Italy are already unable to treat every patient, effectively leaving those with lower chances of survival to die. “The outbreak has put hospitals under a stress that has no precedents since the Second World War,” said one hospital director in Milan. |
| In California and Washington, two of the first states in the U.S. to deal with large numbers of coronavirus cases, nurses have had to beg for masks and clearer treatment protocols. At a Seattle-area hospital where 15 coronavirus patients died, they used menstrual pads to refurbish gear, called quarantined staff members back to work and reused face shields that were cloudy with bleach residue. | In California and Washington, two of the first states in the U.S. to deal with large numbers of coronavirus cases, nurses have had to beg for masks and clearer treatment protocols. At a Seattle-area hospital where 15 coronavirus patients died, they used menstrual pads to refurbish gear, called quarantined staff members back to work and reused face shields that were cloudy with bleach residue. |
| Still, health care workers call in to say, “If you need me, I’m available.” | Still, health care workers call in to say, “If you need me, I’m available.” |
| Public schools in Oregon, Ohio, Michigan, Maryland, Kentucky and New Mexico have been ordered to close by next week. Countries like Italy, China, South Korea and France have shuttered schools for days or weeks on end. | Public schools in Oregon, Ohio, Michigan, Maryland, Kentucky and New Mexico have been ordered to close by next week. Countries like Italy, China, South Korea and France have shuttered schools for days or weeks on end. |
| All told, hundreds of millions of students around the world missed class today. | All told, hundreds of millions of students around the world missed class today. |
| The tough decision to shutter schools is now under the microscope in New York City, where Mayor Bill de Blasio is resisting increasing pressure to close the nation’s biggest school system. | The tough decision to shutter schools is now under the microscope in New York City, where Mayor Bill de Blasio is resisting increasing pressure to close the nation’s biggest school system. |
| While there is evidence that school closings can slow the spread of disease in a pandemic, it comes at a cost: Sending students home makes it harder for vital health care staff members to go to work. And in New York City, around 750,000 of its 1.1 million students are living in poverty, including roughly 114,000 who are homeless. | While there is evidence that school closings can slow the spread of disease in a pandemic, it comes at a cost: Sending students home makes it harder for vital health care staff members to go to work. And in New York City, around 750,000 of its 1.1 million students are living in poverty, including roughly 114,000 who are homeless. |
| Schools don’t just provide an education, but also food, mental health care and other services. As one Indiana teacher told our education reporter Dana Goldstein, “If you think about it, the school is a city we provide to kids.” | Schools don’t just provide an education, but also food, mental health care and other services. As one Indiana teacher told our education reporter Dana Goldstein, “If you think about it, the school is a city we provide to kids.” |
| Updated June 16, 2020 | |
| The coronavirus emergency relief package gives many American workers paid leave if they need to take time off because of the virus. It gives qualified workers two weeks of paid sick leave if they are ill, quarantined or seeking diagnosis or preventive care for coronavirus, or if they are caring for sick family members. It gives 12 weeks of paid leave to people caring for children whose schools are closed or whose child care provider is unavailable because of the coronavirus. It is the first time the United States has had widespread federally mandated paid leave, and includes people who don’t typically get such benefits, like part-time and gig economy workers. But the measure excludes at least half of private-sector workers, including those at the country’s largest employers, and gives small employers significant leeway to deny leave. | |
| So far, the evidence seems to show it does. A widely cited paper published in April suggests that people are most infectious about two days before the onset of coronavirus symptoms and estimated that 44 percent of new infections were a result of transmission from people who were not yet showing symptoms. Recently, a top expert at the World Health Organization stated that transmission of the coronavirus by people who did not have symptoms was “very rare,” but she later walked back that statement. | So far, the evidence seems to show it does. A widely cited paper published in April suggests that people are most infectious about two days before the onset of coronavirus symptoms and estimated that 44 percent of new infections were a result of transmission from people who were not yet showing symptoms. Recently, a top expert at the World Health Organization stated that transmission of the coronavirus by people who did not have symptoms was “very rare,” but she later walked back that statement. |
| Touching contaminated objects and then infecting ourselves with the germs is not typically how the virus spreads. But it can happen. A number of studies of flu, rhinovirus, coronavirus and other microbes have shown that respiratory illnesses, including the new coronavirus, can spread by touching contaminated surfaces, particularly in places like day care centers, offices and hospitals. But a long chain of events has to happen for the disease to spread that way. The best way to protect yourself from coronavirus — whether it’s surface transmission or close human contact — is still social distancing, washing your hands, not touching your face and wearing masks. | Touching contaminated objects and then infecting ourselves with the germs is not typically how the virus spreads. But it can happen. A number of studies of flu, rhinovirus, coronavirus and other microbes have shown that respiratory illnesses, including the new coronavirus, can spread by touching contaminated surfaces, particularly in places like day care centers, offices and hospitals. But a long chain of events has to happen for the disease to spread that way. The best way to protect yourself from coronavirus — whether it’s surface transmission or close human contact — is still social distancing, washing your hands, not touching your face and wearing masks. |
| A study by European scientists is the first to document a strong statistical link between genetic variations and Covid-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus. Having Type A blood was linked to a 50 percent increase in the likelihood that a patient would need to get oxygen or to go on a ventilator, according to the new study. | A study by European scientists is the first to document a strong statistical link between genetic variations and Covid-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus. Having Type A blood was linked to a 50 percent increase in the likelihood that a patient would need to get oxygen or to go on a ventilator, according to the new study. |
| The unemployment rate fell to 13.3 percent in May, the Labor Department said on June 5, an unexpected improvement in the nation’s job market as hiring rebounded faster than economists expected. Economists had forecast the unemployment rate to increase to as much as 20 percent, after it hit 14.7 percent in April, which was the highest since the government began keeping official statistics after World War II. But the unemployment rate dipped instead, with employers adding 2.5 million jobs, after more than 20 million jobs were lost in April. | The unemployment rate fell to 13.3 percent in May, the Labor Department said on June 5, an unexpected improvement in the nation’s job market as hiring rebounded faster than economists expected. Economists had forecast the unemployment rate to increase to as much as 20 percent, after it hit 14.7 percent in April, which was the highest since the government began keeping official statistics after World War II. But the unemployment rate dipped instead, with employers adding 2.5 million jobs, after more than 20 million jobs were lost in April. |
| Mass protests against police brutality that have brought thousands of people onto the streets in cities across America are raising the specter of new coronavirus outbreaks, prompting political leaders, physicians and public health experts to warn that the crowds could cause a surge in cases. While many political leaders affirmed the right of protesters to express themselves, they urged the demonstrators to wear face masks and maintain social distancing, both to protect themselves and to prevent further community spread of the virus. Some infectious disease experts were reassured by the fact that the protests were held outdoors, saying the open air settings could mitigate the risk of transmission. | Mass protests against police brutality that have brought thousands of people onto the streets in cities across America are raising the specter of new coronavirus outbreaks, prompting political leaders, physicians and public health experts to warn that the crowds could cause a surge in cases. While many political leaders affirmed the right of protesters to express themselves, they urged the demonstrators to wear face masks and maintain social distancing, both to protect themselves and to prevent further community spread of the virus. Some infectious disease experts were reassured by the fact that the protests were held outdoors, saying the open air settings could mitigate the risk of transmission. |
| States are reopening bit by bit. This means that more public spaces are available for use and more and more businesses are being allowed to open again. The federal government is largely leaving the decision up to states, and some state leaders are leaving the decision up to local authorities. Even if you aren’t being told to stay at home, it’s still a good idea to limit trips outside and your interaction with other people. | States are reopening bit by bit. This means that more public spaces are available for use and more and more businesses are being allowed to open again. The federal government is largely leaving the decision up to states, and some state leaders are leaving the decision up to local authorities. Even if you aren’t being told to stay at home, it’s still a good idea to limit trips outside and your interaction with other people. |
| Common symptoms include fever, a dry cough, fatigue and difficulty breathing or shortness of breath. Some of these symptoms overlap with those of the flu, making detection difficult, but runny noses and stuffy sinuses are less common. The C.D.C. has also added chills, muscle pain, sore throat, headache and a new loss of the sense of taste or smell as symptoms to look out for. Most people fall ill five to seven days after exposure, but symptoms may appear in as few as two days or as many as 14 days. | Common symptoms include fever, a dry cough, fatigue and difficulty breathing or shortness of breath. Some of these symptoms overlap with those of the flu, making detection difficult, but runny noses and stuffy sinuses are less common. The C.D.C. has also added chills, muscle pain, sore throat, headache and a new loss of the sense of taste or smell as symptoms to look out for. Most people fall ill five to seven days after exposure, but symptoms may appear in as few as two days or as many as 14 days. |
| If air travel is unavoidable, there are some steps you can take to protect yourself. Most important: Wash your hands often, and stop touching your face. If possible, choose a window seat. A study from Emory University found that during flu season, the safest place to sit on a plane is by a window, as people sitting in window seats had less contact with potentially sick people. Disinfect hard surfaces. When you get to your seat and your hands are clean, use disinfecting wipes to clean the hard surfaces at your seat like the head and arm rest, the seatbelt buckle, the remote, screen, seat back pocket and the tray table. If the seat is hard and nonporous or leather or pleather, you can wipe that down, too. (Using wipes on upholstered seats could lead to a wet seat and spreading of germs rather than killing them.) | If air travel is unavoidable, there are some steps you can take to protect yourself. Most important: Wash your hands often, and stop touching your face. If possible, choose a window seat. A study from Emory University found that during flu season, the safest place to sit on a plane is by a window, as people sitting in window seats had less contact with potentially sick people. Disinfect hard surfaces. When you get to your seat and your hands are clean, use disinfecting wipes to clean the hard surfaces at your seat like the head and arm rest, the seatbelt buckle, the remote, screen, seat back pocket and the tray table. If the seat is hard and nonporous or leather or pleather, you can wipe that down, too. (Using wipes on upholstered seats could lead to a wet seat and spreading of germs rather than killing them.) |
| Taking one’s temperature to look for signs of fever is not as easy as it sounds, as “normal” temperature numbers can vary, but generally, keep an eye out for a temperature of 100.5 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. If you don’t have a thermometer (they can be pricey these days), there are other ways to figure out if you have a fever, or are at risk of Covid-19 complications. | Taking one’s temperature to look for signs of fever is not as easy as it sounds, as “normal” temperature numbers can vary, but generally, keep an eye out for a temperature of 100.5 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. If you don’t have a thermometer (they can be pricey these days), there are other ways to figure out if you have a fever, or are at risk of Covid-19 complications. |
| The C.D.C. has recommended that all Americans wear cloth masks if they go out in public. This is a shift in federal guidance reflecting new concerns that the coronavirus is being spread by infected people who have no symptoms. Until now, the C.D.C., like the W.H.O., has advised that ordinary people don’t need to wear masks unless they are sick and coughing. Part of the reason was to preserve medical-grade masks for health care workers who desperately need them at a time when they are in continuously short supply. Masks don’t replace hand washing and social distancing. | The C.D.C. has recommended that all Americans wear cloth masks if they go out in public. This is a shift in federal guidance reflecting new concerns that the coronavirus is being spread by infected people who have no symptoms. Until now, the C.D.C., like the W.H.O., has advised that ordinary people don’t need to wear masks unless they are sick and coughing. Part of the reason was to preserve medical-grade masks for health care workers who desperately need them at a time when they are in continuously short supply. Masks don’t replace hand washing and social distancing. |
| If you’ve been exposed to the coronavirus or think you have, and have a fever or symptoms like a cough or difficulty breathing, call a doctor. They should give you advice on whether you should be tested, how to get tested, and how to seek medical treatment without potentially infecting or exposing others. | If you’ve been exposed to the coronavirus or think you have, and have a fever or symptoms like a cough or difficulty breathing, call a doctor. They should give you advice on whether you should be tested, how to get tested, and how to seek medical treatment without potentially infecting or exposing others. |
| If you’re sick and you think you’ve been exposed to the new coronavirus, the C.D.C. recommends that you call your healthcare provider and explain your symptoms and fears. They will decide if you need to be tested. Keep in mind that there’s a chance — because of a lack of testing kits or because you’re asymptomatic, for instance — you won’t be able to get tested. | If you’re sick and you think you’ve been exposed to the new coronavirus, the C.D.C. recommends that you call your healthcare provider and explain your symptoms and fears. They will decide if you need to be tested. Keep in mind that there’s a chance — because of a lack of testing kits or because you’re asymptomatic, for instance — you won’t be able to get tested. |
| Over the past seven days, the number of cases in the United States has jumped from about 300 to more than 1,800. | Over the past seven days, the number of cases in the United States has jumped from about 300 to more than 1,800. |
| In Italy, the spike was even more dramatic: More than 17,600 cases and 1,266 deaths, up from 4,600 cases and 197 deaths a week ago. | In Italy, the spike was even more dramatic: More than 17,600 cases and 1,266 deaths, up from 4,600 cases and 197 deaths a week ago. |
| Spain also declared a state of emergency on Friday as it reported more than 4,200 cases — the most in Europe after Italy — and 120 deaths. The country ordered its first lockdowns, affecting about 70,000 people in Catalonia. | Spain also declared a state of emergency on Friday as it reported more than 4,200 cases — the most in Europe after Italy — and 120 deaths. The country ordered its first lockdowns, affecting about 70,000 people in Catalonia. |
| In Iran, the W.H.O. says “more needs to be done” as cases totaled more than 11,000. A severe shortage of testing kits means the spread of the virus is most likely much higher. | In Iran, the W.H.O. says “more needs to be done” as cases totaled more than 11,000. A severe shortage of testing kits means the spread of the virus is most likely much higher. |
| In South Korea, more than 7,900 cases and 66 deaths have been reported. The government has not fully restricted the movement of citizens, focusing instead on aggressively monitoring for infections. | In South Korea, more than 7,900 cases and 66 deaths have been reported. The government has not fully restricted the movement of citizens, focusing instead on aggressively monitoring for infections. |
| Kenya, Ghana and Ethiopia reported their first cases, as the virus starts to take root in Africa. | Kenya, Ghana and Ethiopia reported their first cases, as the virus starts to take root in Africa. |
| Singapore, Taiwan and Hong Kong seem to have brought their outbreaks under control without using China’s draconian measures. | Singapore, Taiwan and Hong Kong seem to have brought their outbreaks under control without using China’s draconian measures. |
| Scrub-a-dub-dub: We all know we should wash our hands with soapy water, but this is how soap actually kills the coronavirus. Helpful tip: “Wash your hands like you’ve been chopping jalapeños and you need to change your contacts.” | Scrub-a-dub-dub: We all know we should wash our hands with soapy water, but this is how soap actually kills the coronavirus. Helpful tip: “Wash your hands like you’ve been chopping jalapeños and you need to change your contacts.” |
| Your nose itches. Is it coronavirus? Not necessarily: Here’s how to tell the difference between seasonal allergy symptoms and those caused by viral infections. | Your nose itches. Is it coronavirus? Not necessarily: Here’s how to tell the difference between seasonal allergy symptoms and those caused by viral infections. |
| Got some free time at home this weekend? Try to relax. Here’s what our TV critic recommends watching, and here are some comforting shows for stressful times. | Got some free time at home this weekend? Try to relax. Here’s what our TV critic recommends watching, and here are some comforting shows for stressful times. |
| Around the world, women make up a majority of caregivers and health care workers, which means they may face a greater risk of catching the coronavirus. | Around the world, women make up a majority of caregivers and health care workers, which means they may face a greater risk of catching the coronavirus. |
| Over humanity’s long history, pandemics have had the ugly side effect of killing people’s compassion, writes our Opinion columnist David Brooks. But there’s a way to break that cycle: Follow the example set by doctors, nurses and other health care workers. | Over humanity’s long history, pandemics have had the ugly side effect of killing people’s compassion, writes our Opinion columnist David Brooks. But there’s a way to break that cycle: Follow the example set by doctors, nurses and other health care workers. |
| Fear, humor and defiance: The coronavirus has touched a diverse collection of countries and cultures, but a number of shared experiences have emerged — from grieving the dead to writing songs. | Fear, humor and defiance: The coronavirus has touched a diverse collection of countries and cultures, but a number of shared experiences have emerged — from grieving the dead to writing songs. |
| Some young people are taking advantage of plummeting airline ticket prices to travel on the cheap during the pandemic. What could go wrong? | Some young people are taking advantage of plummeting airline ticket prices to travel on the cheap during the pandemic. What could go wrong? |
| Italians sing from their balconies amid a nationwide lockdown in this Guardian News video. | Italians sing from their balconies amid a nationwide lockdown in this Guardian News video. |
| My mother lives in a retirement home in Florida that is on lockdown. She was very disappointed that I had to cancel my trip from Chicago to see her, so we have improvised by having a 5:00 happy hour together on FaceTime. It is really fun and something we both look forward to every afternoon. | My mother lives in a retirement home in Florida that is on lockdown. She was very disappointed that I had to cancel my trip from Chicago to see her, so we have improvised by having a 5:00 happy hour together on FaceTime. It is really fun and something we both look forward to every afternoon. |
| — Susan Hanes, Chicago | — Susan Hanes, Chicago |
| Let us know how you’re dealing with the outbreak. Send us a response here, and we may feature it in an upcoming newsletter. | Let us know how you’re dealing with the outbreak. Send us a response here, and we may feature it in an upcoming newsletter. |
| Editor’s note: In yesterday’s briefing we misstated the number of cases in California. As of Thursday there were more than 1,300 confirmed cases and 38 deaths across the entire U.S., not in that state alone. In California, there have been over 250 cases and four deaths. We regret the error. | Editor’s note: In yesterday’s briefing we misstated the number of cases in California. As of Thursday there were more than 1,300 confirmed cases and 38 deaths across the entire U.S., not in that state alone. In California, there have been over 250 cases and four deaths. We regret the error. |
| Today’s newsletter was written by Lara Takenaga, Jonathan Wolfe, Tom Wright-Piersanti and Adam Pasick. | Today’s newsletter was written by Lara Takenaga, Jonathan Wolfe, Tom Wright-Piersanti and Adam Pasick. |