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Coronavirus Briefing: What Happened Today Coronavirus Briefing: What Happened Today
(6 days 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.
Most people will be required to wear a face mask while in the White House — but not President Trump.
Coronavirus cases are climbing around Washington, D.C., as the federal government presses for thousands of employees to return to work.
New York State will begin a limited reopening in upstate areas as early as this weekend.
Get the latest updates here, plus maps, a tracker for U.S. metro areas, and full coverage.
Dozens of U.S. states are starting to reopen their economies, hoping to ease the economic pain brought on by pandemic-fighting restrictions. But by doing it now — before meeting even minimal criteria for a safe reopening — they are inviting disaster, our science reporter Donald G. McNeil Jr. writes.Dozens of U.S. states are starting to reopen their economies, hoping to ease the economic pain brought on by pandemic-fighting restrictions. But by doing it now — before meeting even minimal criteria for a safe reopening — they are inviting disaster, our science reporter Donald G. McNeil Jr. writes.
The states lifting restrictions now “are living in a dream world,” Donald told us. “They’re desperate to reopen — and they’re right to feel that. But they have convinced themselves that it’s safe to reopen, and it’s not.”The states lifting restrictions now “are living in a dream world,” Donald told us. “They’re desperate to reopen — and they’re right to feel that. But they have convinced themselves that it’s safe to reopen, and it’s not.”
As a result, the much-feared second wave of infection may not wait until autumn, many scientists told Donald. Premature, scattershot reopenings may instead bring on a storm of wavelets, breaking unpredictably across the country.As a result, the much-feared second wave of infection may not wait until autumn, many scientists told Donald. Premature, scattershot reopenings may instead bring on a storm of wavelets, breaking unpredictably across the country.
“We’re not reopening based on science,” said Dr. Thomas R. Frieden, a former director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the Obama administration. “We’re reopening based on politics, ideology and public pressure. And I think it’s going to end badly.”“We’re not reopening based on science,” said Dr. Thomas R. Frieden, a former director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the Obama administration. “We’re reopening based on politics, ideology and public pressure. And I think it’s going to end badly.”
Some key takeaways:Some key takeaways:
Masks. Evidence is mounting that if all people wear masks in public, they are far more effective at stopping transmission than was previously realized. But outside New York, California and a few other states, many Americans resist wearing them.
Contact tracing. The goal of tracking and testing the contacts of every infected person remains very far out of reach in the United States. To keep up, the country would need 30 or 40 times as many trained contact tracers as it has now, 100 times as much testing and a budget of $1.5 billion a week.
Time lag. The effects of the reopenings will not be immediately apparent, because it takes two or three weeks for newly infected people to become very sick. People may let their guard down — and make the second wave worse.
Having states and territories all doing competing and uncoordinated experiments in reopening is “daring Mother Nature to kill you or someone you love,” Dr. Frieden said. “Mother Nature bats last, and she bats a thousand.”Having states and territories all doing competing and uncoordinated experiments in reopening is “daring Mother Nature to kill you or someone you love,” Dr. Frieden said. “Mother Nature bats last, and she bats a thousand.”
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.
Countries across Europe took some of their biggest steps toward easing restrictions on Monday. But they did it mostly region by region, calibrated to local risk. And daily life remains far from the pre-virus norm.Countries across Europe took some of their biggest steps toward easing restrictions on Monday. But they did it mostly region by region, calibrated to local risk. And daily life remains far from the pre-virus norm.
In France, residents were allowed the leave their homes without government paperwork for the first time in eight weeks — except in Paris during the morning and evening rush hours. Some “nonessential” businesses reopened, some schools welcomed back students and some hair salons were fully booked. Cafes, restaurants, bars and theaters remain closed at least until June.In France, residents were allowed the leave their homes without government paperwork for the first time in eight weeks — except in Paris during the morning and evening rush hours. Some “nonessential” businesses reopened, some schools welcomed back students and some hair salons were fully booked. Cafes, restaurants, bars and theaters remain closed at least until June.
Germany eased restrictions in most areas, but not in three states where the number of new infections was deemed too high. Gyms were allowed to reopen in the country’s most populous region. Many houses of worship are open again, although congregants are asked to maintain social distance and to refrain from singing. Germany is also reopening some schools (see next item).Germany eased restrictions in most areas, but not in three states where the number of new infections was deemed too high. Gyms were allowed to reopen in the country’s most populous region. Many houses of worship are open again, although congregants are asked to maintain social distance and to refrain from singing. Germany is also reopening some schools (see next item).
Half the population of Spain can now meet in groups of up to 10 people, eat at outdoor bars and restaurants and visit shops. The other half — largely those in densely populated cities like Barcelona and Madrid — remain under tight restrictions.Half the population of Spain can now meet in groups of up to 10 people, eat at outdoor bars and restaurants and visit shops. The other half — largely those in densely populated cities like Barcelona and Madrid — remain under tight restrictions.
Reviving global economies may hinge on the safe return of students to school, allowing parents to fully re-enter the work force. But there’s no consensus on how to go about it — and we still don’t know how readily young people transmit the virus.Reviving global economies may hinge on the safe return of students to school, allowing parents to fully re-enter the work force. But there’s no consensus on how to go about it — and we still don’t know how readily young people transmit the virus.
Germany’s approach may prove to be a model. Some schools there are offering free self-administered coronavirus tests. The testing will help reassure students and teachers about their safety, and perhaps help answer whether schoolchildren can be “super spreaders” who can infect many others while showing few, if any, symptoms themselves.Germany’s approach may prove to be a model. Some schools there are offering free self-administered coronavirus tests. The testing will help reassure students and teachers about their safety, and perhaps help answer whether schoolchildren can be “super spreaders” who can infect many others while showing few, if any, symptoms themselves.
Older students have been allowed to return first, on the assumption that they will be better at following rules on masks and social distancing. They’ve been told to dress warmly, because windows and doors are being kept open to circulate fresh air. Smaller classes, one-way hall traffic and staggered breaks are also part of the plan.Older students have been allowed to return first, on the assumption that they will be better at following rules on masks and social distancing. They’ve been told to dress warmly, because windows and doors are being kept open to circulate fresh air. Smaller classes, one-way hall traffic and staggered breaks are also part of the plan.
Coronavirus and children: A new study paints the most detailed picture yet of the virus’s toll on young people. Only a small percentage of children are severely affected, but some can become devastatingly ill.Coronavirus and children: A new study paints the most detailed picture yet of the virus’s toll on young people. Only a small percentage of children are severely affected, but some can become devastatingly ill.
Updated August 27, 2020
The Shanghai Disneyland theme park reopened. Masks were required, and even costumed characters had to maintain social distancing.
Russia ended the nationwide “nonworking period” it imposed six weeks ago. Regional governors are allowed to strengthen or relax lockdowns.
The national train network in India will start to resume service on Tuesday.
Though the spread of the virus has intensified in Afghanistan, several cities there have ended lockdowns because officials say the economy has been hit too hard.
In Bangkok, a city that is crazy for purebred dogs, pet salons are among the businesses that have been allowed to reopen.
Here’s a roundup of reopening plans and restrictions in all 50 U.S. states.Here’s a roundup of reopening plans and restrictions in all 50 U.S. states.
Prevent childhood trauma. Here’s how parents can help children use the stress of coronavirus shutdowns, which can leave them traumatized, as an opportunity for growth.Prevent childhood trauma. Here’s how parents can help children use the stress of coronavirus shutdowns, which can leave them traumatized, as an opportunity for growth.
Rethink your wedding. In the podcast “Together Apart,” Priya Parker, a professional conflict facilitator, talks about celebrating your big day during a pandemic.Rethink your wedding. In the podcast “Together Apart,” Priya Parker, a professional conflict facilitator, talks about celebrating your big day during a pandemic.
Find a new way to cope. Try your hand at making a papier-mâché “coroñata” — a piñata shaped like a coronavirus particle, naturally — and then smash it to smithereens.Find a new way to cope. Try your hand at making a papier-mâché “coroñata” — a piñata shaped like a coronavirus particle, naturally — and then smash it to smithereens.
Airlines in the U.S. are losing $350 million to $400 million a day, with an average of just 23 passengers on each domestic flight.
Georgia’s case numbers remain steady two weeks after the state eased social-distancing measures. Experts say it’s too soon to assess the public health effects of the reopening.
How do pandemics end? Historians say it depends on whether you mean the medical ending, when rates of infection and death plummet, or the social ending, when people stop being afraid. They can come at very different times.
The Times gave disposable cameras to six residents at an assisted-living center on lockdown in Colorado. See their photos and hear how they’re coping with the pandemic in their own words.
The internet has taken public shaming to new levels during the pandemic, our critic-at-large Amanda Hess writes.
Americans who ordered food in bulk when store shelves were empty are wondering what to do with all those potatoes and beans and sacks of flour.
We’ve been exploring new ways of cooking and eating, out of necessity. I’m keeping a hard-copy file of all our new recipes and meal hacks, annotated with the date made and level of lockdown we were in, as well as ingredient substitutions, etc. I’m going to scan these into a PDF to preserve all the notes and splatters, and make a Covid-19 recipe book to hand down through the family.
— Billie Lythberg, Auckland, New Zealand
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.
Sign up here to get the briefing by email.Sign up here to get the briefing by email.
Lara Takenaga and Jonathan Wolfe helped write today’s briefing, and Melina Delkic contributed reporting.Lara Takenaga and Jonathan Wolfe helped write today’s briefing, and Melina Delkic contributed reporting.