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| Coronavirus, Sweden, Joe Biden: Your Wednesday Briefing | |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| (Want to get this briefing by email? Here’s the sign-up.) | |
| Good morning. | Good morning. |
| We’re covering how Sweden has avoided mandatory lockdowns, the pandemic’s impact on Spain’s remote villages and the power of influencers. | We’re covering how Sweden has avoided mandatory lockdowns, the pandemic’s impact on Spain’s remote villages and the power of influencers. |
| Sweden has seemed to handle the coronavirus outbreak without an economically devastating lockdown. | Sweden has seemed to handle the coronavirus outbreak without an economically devastating lockdown. |
| Our correspondents examined the country’s approach and found that trust is high in the government, institutions, and in fellow Swedes to socially distance from each other — something public health officials have used to justify not imposing mandatory orders. | Our correspondents examined the country’s approach and found that trust is high in the government, institutions, and in fellow Swedes to socially distance from each other — something public health officials have used to justify not imposing mandatory orders. |
| The country has kept its borders open, allowed restaurants to keep serving and left many schools in session while other nations have slammed the brakes. “I’m happy we didn’t go into lockdown,” one restaurant consultant said. “Life has to go on.” | The country has kept its borders open, allowed restaurants to keep serving and left many schools in session while other nations have slammed the brakes. “I’m happy we didn’t go into lockdown,” one restaurant consultant said. “Life has to go on.” |
| Details: Though Sweden’s older residents have been hit hard, its death rate of 22 per 100,000 people is the same as that of Ireland, which has been praised for its handling of the pandemic — far better than that in Britain or France. | Details: Though Sweden’s older residents have been hit hard, its death rate of 22 per 100,000 people is the same as that of Ireland, which has been praised for its handling of the pandemic — far better than that in Britain or France. |
| Markets: Futures markets were predicting strong openings for Wall Street and Europe. Follow our live briefing. | |
| Here are the latest updates and maps of the pandemic’s spread. | Here are the latest updates and maps of the pandemic’s spread. |
| In other news: | In other news: |
| China is mounting an aggressive “no holds-barred” diplomatic push to quash criticism of its handling of the outbreak, fending off efforts to hold it financially accountable. Chinese consumers are more reluctant to spend after job losses and pay cuts, despite factories reopening. | China is mounting an aggressive “no holds-barred” diplomatic push to quash criticism of its handling of the outbreak, fending off efforts to hold it financially accountable. Chinese consumers are more reluctant to spend after job losses and pay cuts, despite factories reopening. |
| Known infections in the U.S. passed one million. Also on Tuesday, Vice President Mike Pence toured a medical facility treating coronavirus patients, but he didn’t wear a mask. | Known infections in the U.S. passed one million. Also on Tuesday, Vice President Mike Pence toured a medical facility treating coronavirus patients, but he didn’t wear a mask. |
| The head of a group of Japanese physicians said it would be “exceedingly difficult” for Japan to hold the Tokyo Olympics even next summer, as planned, without an effective vaccine. | The head of a group of Japanese physicians said it would be “exceedingly difficult” for Japan to hold the Tokyo Olympics even next summer, as planned, without an effective vaccine. |
| More medical workers are testing positive for the virus in Afghanistan. The infections threaten to overwhelm a stretched health system in a time of raging conflict. | More medical workers are testing positive for the virus in Afghanistan. The infections threaten to overwhelm a stretched health system in a time of raging conflict. |
| Residents of Belgium are helping to feed and house homeless asylum seekers after the authorities emptied half of the country’s detention centers. | Residents of Belgium are helping to feed and house homeless asylum seekers after the authorities emptied half of the country’s detention centers. |
| In England, thousands are making or updating their wills, but an archaic law requiring two witnesses in person is forcing people to take drastic measures. | In England, thousands are making or updating their wills, but an archaic law requiring two witnesses in person is forcing people to take drastic measures. |
| As restrictions ease in areas with few cases, fearful residents in countries like India are unconvinced that returning to work is safe. | As restrictions ease in areas with few cases, fearful residents in countries like India are unconvinced that returning to work is safe. |
| 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. |
| The governments of Spain, France and Greece on Tuesday announced plans to rekindle some semblance of normalcy, but warned that restrictions on large groups would remain in place for months. | The governments of Spain, France and Greece on Tuesday announced plans to rekindle some semblance of normalcy, but warned that restrictions on large groups would remain in place for months. |
| Greeks, used to being seen as the European Union’s problem child, are celebrating a far more limited outbreak than expected despite a weakened health care system. France’s government will ease some restrictions by May 11, with measures re-evaluated on June 2. | Greeks, used to being seen as the European Union’s problem child, are celebrating a far more limited outbreak than expected despite a weakened health care system. France’s government will ease some restrictions by May 11, with measures re-evaluated on June 2. |
| But in Spain, where the pandemic has ravaged large cities like Barcelona and Madrid, the plight of the country’s remote villages has been less noticed. For them, isolation mixed blessing: offering some protection against the contagion, but revealing vulnerabilities once the coronavirus strikes. | But in Spain, where the pandemic has ravaged large cities like Barcelona and Madrid, the plight of the country’s remote villages has been less noticed. For them, isolation mixed blessing: offering some protection against the contagion, but revealing vulnerabilities once the coronavirus strikes. |
| Quote of note: “In the areas that may have been neglected, the feeling of abandonment can be as much emotional as it is material,” said one writer who coined the expression “España vacía,” or “empty Spain,” to refer to the draining away of resources and people. | Quote of note: “In the areas that may have been neglected, the feeling of abandonment can be as much emotional as it is material,” said one writer who coined the expression “España vacía,” or “empty Spain,” to refer to the draining away of resources and people. |
| Related: European doctors have been warned to look out for a rare inflammatory condition in children that may be tied to the new coronavirus — a concern as schools begin to reopen under the premise that children are less affected by the virus. | Related: European doctors have been warned to look out for a rare inflammatory condition in children that may be tied to the new coronavirus — a concern as schools begin to reopen under the premise that children are less affected by the virus. |
| Sopan Deb, a Times writer, grew up in the U.S. with a love of sports that his father, an immigrant from India, did not understand. | Sopan Deb, a Times writer, grew up in the U.S. with a love of sports that his father, an immigrant from India, did not understand. |
| “Like many South Asian parents of his generation living in the United States, his focus was on survival and trying to get to the next day,” Mr. Deb writes. “On behalf of their children, it was on professional and scholastic pursuits. Anything else was a distraction.” | “Like many South Asian parents of his generation living in the United States, his focus was on survival and trying to get to the next day,” Mr. Deb writes. “On behalf of their children, it was on professional and scholastic pursuits. Anything else was a distraction.” |
| Their relationship faded after his father returned to India — until years later, when they found common ground on the tennis court, above, in Kolkata. | Their relationship faded after his father returned to India — until years later, when they found common ground on the tennis court, above, in Kolkata. |
| 2020 presidential election: Hillary Clinton, the 2016 Democratic nominee, endorsed former Vice President Joe Biden, adding to a string of endorsements in recent weeks. | 2020 presidential election: Hillary Clinton, the 2016 Democratic nominee, endorsed former Vice President Joe Biden, adding to a string of endorsements in recent weeks. |
| Genoa bridge: Nearly two years after 43 people died when a bridge collapsed, its replacement, a symbol of Italian can-do spirit, has all but been completed in record time. | Genoa bridge: Nearly two years after 43 people died when a bridge collapsed, its replacement, a symbol of Italian can-do spirit, has all but been completed in record time. |
| U.F.O. sightings: The U.S. Department of Defense confirmed that three Navy videos of “unidentified aerial phenomena” were authentic. While seekers of extraterrestrial life were encouraged, there was nothing new. | U.F.O. sightings: The U.S. Department of Defense confirmed that three Navy videos of “unidentified aerial phenomena” were authentic. While seekers of extraterrestrial life were encouraged, there was nothing new. |
| Snapshot: Above, scavengers in Indonesia who make a living picking plastic, metal and even bones from one of the world’s largest landfills face additional misery as the global economic slowdown closes recycling centers. | Snapshot: Above, scavengers in Indonesia who make a living picking plastic, metal and even bones from one of the world’s largest landfills face additional misery as the global economic slowdown closes recycling centers. |
| New fiction from Simone de Beauvoir: A novel abandoned by the author, who died in 1986, draws on a childhood relationship that shaped her views on gender inequality and sexism. The book is being released in France this fall and in the U.S. next year. | New fiction from Simone de Beauvoir: A novel abandoned by the author, who died in 1986, draws on a childhood relationship that shaped her views on gender inequality and sexism. The book is being released in France this fall and in the U.S. next year. |
| What we’re reading: This meditation in Elle on the Stanley Tucci Negroni video you’ve all seen. “The bullet points will make you laugh,” writes Melina Delkic of the Briefings team. | What we’re reading: This meditation in Elle on the Stanley Tucci Negroni video you’ve all seen. “The bullet points will make you laugh,” writes Melina Delkic of the Briefings team. |
| Cook: Even our Food editor, Sam Sifton, admits that cooking after weeks of lockdown can be wearing. In his latest newsletter, he suggests some recipes that can help you out of the feeling that you’re performing a chore, like one-pot pasta with chicken and mushrooms. | Cook: Even our Food editor, Sam Sifton, admits that cooking after weeks of lockdown can be wearing. In his latest newsletter, he suggests some recipes that can help you out of the feeling that you’re performing a chore, like one-pot pasta with chicken and mushrooms. |
| Watch: As stand-up comedians move their jokes online, we review the first social distancing special, by Ted Alexandro. His own quarantine hair? A “coronahawk.” Also, the showrunner for “Homeland” has the lowdown on the series finale. | Watch: As stand-up comedians move their jokes online, we review the first social distancing special, by Ted Alexandro. His own quarantine hair? A “coronahawk.” Also, the showrunner for “Homeland” has the lowdown on the series finale. |
| Listen: With Broadway closed, Ben Brantley recommends streaming “Take Me to the World,” a celebration for Stephen Sondheim’s 90th birthday. And here’s how the cast of “Sing Street” made a show from home. | Listen: With Broadway closed, Ben Brantley recommends streaming “Take Me to the World,” a celebration for Stephen Sondheim’s 90th birthday. And here’s how the cast of “Sing Street” made a show from home. |
| We have lots more suggestions of fun and interesting things to do, or read, or cook, or watch on our At Home page. | We have lots more suggestions of fun and interesting things to do, or read, or cook, or watch on our At Home page. |
| Taylor Lorenz covers internet culture for The Times. In the latest On Tech newsletter, Taylor talked to Shira Ovide about influencers’ power, the mix of opportunity and stress they face during the pandemic, and her STRONG FEELINGS that internet companies are failing us. | Taylor Lorenz covers internet culture for The Times. In the latest On Tech newsletter, Taylor talked to Shira Ovide about influencers’ power, the mix of opportunity and stress they face during the pandemic, and her STRONG FEELINGS that internet companies are failing us. |
| Shira: Why should we care about influencers? | Shira: Why should we care about influencers? |
| Taylor: Influencers are part of a massive industry that drives retail, marketing, entertainment and more. Companies’ marketing deals with influencers are projected to be far larger than advertising sales for the entire newspaper industry in the United States. The products you see in Target and Walmart are often the influencers’ own products, use their names, are developed with them or are promoted by them. | Taylor: Influencers are part of a massive industry that drives retail, marketing, entertainment and more. Companies’ marketing deals with influencers are projected to be far larger than advertising sales for the entire newspaper industry in the United States. The products you see in Target and Walmart are often the influencers’ own products, use their names, are developed with them or are promoted by them. |
| People who say they don’t follow influencers might have scrolled through updates from an Instagram mommy blogger, taken a cruise after seeing someone’s YouTube review or bought needlepoint kits from a person they follow online. Those are probably all influencers! | People who say they don’t follow influencers might have scrolled through updates from an Instagram mommy blogger, taken a cruise after seeing someone’s YouTube review or bought needlepoint kits from a person they follow online. Those are probably all influencers! |
| How will this crisis change how we and social media stars behave online? | How will this crisis change how we and social media stars behave online? |
| It might cull influencers who seem out of touch, like those showing off lavish lifestyles. More of us are likely to adapt what young people are already doing. They’re ditching the hyper-perfect aesthetic online, and embracing the chaos of livestreaming and TikTok, where humor and personality matter more than beautiful pictures. | It might cull influencers who seem out of touch, like those showing off lavish lifestyles. More of us are likely to adapt what young people are already doing. They’re ditching the hyper-perfect aesthetic online, and embracing the chaos of livestreaming and TikTok, where humor and personality matter more than beautiful pictures. |
| How do you feel about people spending more time online now? | How do you feel about people spending more time online now? |
| I worry about the lack of healthy boundaries, and internet companies don’t make it easy to escape. These sites need an option to pause activity, and a universal “away” message to signal that you’re taking a break. I deactivate my Twitter account on many weekends so people can’t message me. Many people do that with Instagram. That’s a sign that people want easier ways to tune out and come back. | I worry about the lack of healthy boundaries, and internet companies don’t make it easy to escape. These sites need an option to pause activity, and a universal “away” message to signal that you’re taking a break. I deactivate my Twitter account on many weekends so people can’t message me. Many people do that with Instagram. That’s a sign that people want easier ways to tune out and come back. |
| That’s it for this briefing. Indulge in some coronavirus hip-hop. See you next time. | That’s it for this briefing. Indulge in some coronavirus hip-hop. See you next time. |
| — Isabella | — Isabella |
| Thank youTo Melissa Clark for the recipe, and to Theodore Kim and Jahaan Singh for the rest of the break from the news. You can reach the team at briefing@nytimes.com. | Thank youTo Melissa Clark for the recipe, and to Theodore Kim and Jahaan Singh for the rest of the break from the news. You can reach the team at briefing@nytimes.com. |
| P.S.• We’re listening to “The Daily.” Our latest episode is about coronavirus testing around the world. • Here’s today’s Mini Crossword puzzle, and a clue: Shape of a toilet seat (four letters). You can find all our puzzles here.• Tara Parker-Pope, the founding editor of our health site Well, hosts a Q. and A. with Lisa Damour, a psychologist, and a group of teenagers on how they are managing stress and anxiety during the Covid-19 pandemic. R.S.V.P. here for the call, which will happen at 4 p.m. Eastern (9 p.m. in London), or catch up with it afterward here. | P.S.• We’re listening to “The Daily.” Our latest episode is about coronavirus testing around the world. • Here’s today’s Mini Crossword puzzle, and a clue: Shape of a toilet seat (four letters). You can find all our puzzles here.• Tara Parker-Pope, the founding editor of our health site Well, hosts a Q. and A. with Lisa Damour, a psychologist, and a group of teenagers on how they are managing stress and anxiety during the Covid-19 pandemic. R.S.V.P. here for the call, which will happen at 4 p.m. Eastern (9 p.m. in London), or catch up with it afterward here. |