'Coronavirus Briefing: What Happened Today' diff viewer (0/1)

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Coronavirus Briefing: What Happened Today	Coronavirus Briefing: What Happened Today
2020-04-18 04:14:13 UTC	2020-06-08 08:56:34 UTC (about 2 months 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 encouraged right-wing protests against social-distancing measures in several states.	President Trump encouraged right-wing protests against social-distancing measures in several states.
Governors in Texas, Michigan, Wisconsin and Idaho began announcing plans to ease restrictions, despite persistent testing shortfalls.	Governors in Texas, Michigan, Wisconsin and Idaho began announcing plans to ease restrictions, despite persistent testing shortfalls.
China’s economy shrank for the first time in nearly half a century.	China’s economy shrank for the first time in nearly half a century.
Get the latest updates here, plus maps and full coverage.	Get the latest updates here, plus maps and full coverage.
Since the outbreak began in the United States, there have been few deadlier places than the inside of a nursing home.	Since the outbreak began in the United States, there have been few deadlier places than the inside of a nursing home.
In New Jersey, coronavirus infections have broken out in 394 long-term facilities and more than 1,500 residents have died — including 17 whose bodies were piled up in a single nursing home morgue.	In New Jersey, coronavirus infections have broken out in 394 long-term facilities and more than 1,500 residents have died — including 17 whose bodies were piled up in a single nursing home morgue.
In New York, 72 facilities have had five or more deaths, including one in Brooklyn where 55 people have died, and another in Queens with 29 likely deaths.	In New York, 72 facilities have had five or more deaths, including one in Brooklyn where 55 people have died, and another in Queens with 29 likely deaths.
Since the first outbreak at a nursing home in Washington in February, the virus has ripped through more than 4,000 nursing and long-term care facilities across the country, killing at least 7,000 people connected to them. About one in five deaths from the coronavirus in the United States has occurred in one of these facilities, according to a New York Times tally.	Since the first outbreak at a nursing home in Washington in February, the virus has ripped through more than 4,000 nursing and long-term care facilities across the country, killing at least 7,000 people connected to them. About one in five deaths from the coronavirus in the United States has occurred in one of these facilities, according to a New York Times tally.
“They’re death pits,” Betsy McCaughey, a former lieutenant governor of New York, told The Times. “They’re crowded and they’re understaffed. One Covid-positive patient in a nursing home produces carnage.”	“They’re death pits,” Betsy McCaughey, a former lieutenant governor of New York, told The Times. “They’re crowded and they’re understaffed. One Covid-positive patient in a nursing home produces carnage.”
The vulnerabilities are hard to escape: Nursing homes concentrate an aging population into small, confined spaces and are staffed by workers who move freely between rooms. But specific failures and oversights have made the crisis worse.	The vulnerabilities are hard to escape: Nursing homes concentrate an aging population into small, confined spaces and are staffed by workers who move freely between rooms. But specific failures and oversights have made the crisis worse.
Virus tests and protective gear are often in short supply. Employees — many of whom have gone to heroic efforts to care for their residents — are often poorly paid, undertrained, work multiple jobs and live in at-risk communities.	Virus tests and protective gear are often in short supply. Employees — many of whom have gone to heroic efforts to care for their residents — are often poorly paid, undertrained, work multiple jobs and live in at-risk communities.
The crisis has left families of the elderly scrambling. Many cannot bring older family members home because they cannot provide the extensive medical care they need, or they are afraid they may inadvertently infect them. At a time when families are already stretched for resources and personal space, it can often feel like there are no good options.	The crisis has left families of the elderly scrambling. Many cannot bring older family members home because they cannot provide the extensive medical care they need, or they are afraid they may inadvertently infect them. At a time when families are already stretched for resources and personal space, it can often feel like there are no good options.
The Times is providing free access to much of our coronavirus coverage, and our Coronavirus Briefing newsletter — like all of our newsletters — is free. Please consider supporting our journalism with a subscription.	The Times is providing free access to much of our coronavirus coverage, and our Coronavirus Briefing newsletter — like all of our newsletters — is free. Please consider supporting our journalism with a subscription.
Some European nations are starting to ease restrictions, but the rules for kids vary wildly.	Some European nations are starting to ease restrictions, but the rules for kids vary wildly.
In Denmark, elementary schools reopened this week, in a first for Western countries on lockdown. To prevent infection, pupils have returned to smaller classes, desks are spaced six feet apart and hourly hand-washing is mandatory.	In Denmark, elementary schools reopened this week, in a first for Western countries on lockdown. To prevent infection, pupils have returned to smaller classes, desks are spaced six feet apart and hourly hand-washing is mandatory.
Meanwhile, in Spain, children are not allowed to leave their homes, let alone return to their schools, which will remain shut for the rest of the academic year. Parents have reported behavioral changes in their children, and experts have warned against mental health issues that confinement may cause.	Meanwhile, in Spain, children are not allowed to leave their homes, let alone return to their schools, which will remain shut for the rest of the academic year. Parents have reported behavioral changes in their children, and experts have warned against mental health issues that confinement may cause.
A dire global warning: Even though children seem to be largely unaffected by the coronavirus, the pandemic could indirectly lead to hundreds of thousands of children dying and millions becoming impoverished, according to a new report from the United Nations. As schools stay closed, parents lose work, food becomes insecure and health needs are put off, putting the young — especially those in already difficult situations —at “potentially catastrophic” risk.	A dire global warning: Even though children seem to be largely unaffected by the coronavirus, the pandemic could indirectly lead to hundreds of thousands of children dying and millions becoming impoverished, according to a new report from the United Nations. As schools stay closed, parents lose work, food becomes insecure and health needs are put off, putting the young — especially those in already difficult situations —at “potentially catastrophic” risk.
In the United States, children are predicted to be among the hardest hit by rising poverty levels.	In the United States, children are predicted to be among the hardest hit by rising poverty levels.
China has adjusted the official death toll from the outbreak in Wuhan, and, sadly, it was not a minor tweak. Counting deaths at home and those initially incorrectly categorized in hospitals, the number of dead in the city where the pandemic began rose by 1,290, for a new total of 3,869 lives lost.	China has adjusted the official death toll from the outbreak in Wuhan, and, sadly, it was not a minor tweak. Counting deaths at home and those initially incorrectly categorized in hospitals, the number of dead in the city where the pandemic began rose by 1,290, for a new total of 3,869 lives lost.
China is facing sharp criticism, including from President Trump, about the accuracy of its numbers and calls are mounting for Beijing to answer for the global health crisis.	China is facing sharp criticism, including from President Trump, about the accuracy of its numbers and calls are mounting for Beijing to answer for the global health crisis.
But such revisions are not unusual. Many countries are probably underreporting their tallies, in part because of problems with testing and the speed with which the virus has overwhelmed public health care systems.	But such revisions are not unusual. Many countries are probably underreporting their tallies, in part because of problems with testing and the speed with which the virus has overwhelmed public health care systems.
New York City, the epicenter of the U.S. outbreak, added 3,700 people to its death toll this week to include people who probably died of the virus, based on symptoms and medical history, but were never tested.	New York City, the epicenter of the U.S. outbreak, added 3,700 people to its death toll this week to include people who probably died of the virus, based on symptoms and medical history, but were never tested.
Spain has begun combing through records to verify its death toll, which now stands at close to 20,000, the highest in the world after the U.S.’s toll of more than 31,000.	Spain has begun combing through records to verify its death toll, which now stands at close to 20,000, the highest in the world after the U.S.’s toll of more than 31,000.

	Updated June 5, 2020
	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.
	Exercise researchers and physicians have some blunt advice for those of us aiming to return to regular exercise now: Start slowly and then rev up your workouts, also slowly. American adults tended to be about 12 percent less active after the stay-at-home mandates began in March than they were in January. But there are steps you can take to ease your way back into regular exercise safely. First, “start at no more than 50 percent of the exercise you were doing before Covid,” says Dr. Monica Rho, the chief of musculoskeletal medicine at the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab in Chicago. Thread in some preparatory squats, too, she advises. “When you haven’t been exercising, you lose muscle mass.” Expect some muscle twinges after these preliminary, post-lockdown sessions, especially a day or two later. But sudden or increasing pain during exercise is a clarion call to stop and return home.
	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.
	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.
	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.)
	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.
	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.
Britain has extended its lockdown by at least three weeks, until the second week of May. It reported 861 new deaths on Thursday, 100 more than the previous day.	Britain has extended its lockdown by at least three weeks, until the second week of May. It reported 861 new deaths on Thursday, 100 more than the previous day.