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Coronavirus Briefing: What Happened Today Coronavirus Briefing: What Happened Today
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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.
Deaths from the coronavirus in the U.S. have passed 100,000, according to a Times database.
Disney announced that its Florida theme parks would reopen in mid-July.
California became the fourth state with at least 100,000 known cases.
Get the latest updates here, plus maps and a tracker for U.S. metro areas.
This afternoon we received a grim note from Mitch Smith, one of the reporters who keep track of The Times’s database of coronavirus-related deaths: “We crossed 100,000 known deaths at about 3:40 E.T. with new data from Illinois.”This afternoon we received a grim note from Mitch Smith, one of the reporters who keep track of The Times’s database of coronavirus-related deaths: “We crossed 100,000 known deaths at about 3:40 E.T. with new data from Illinois.”
One hundred thousand deaths. It’s a staggering toll, larger than the number of American casualties in every military conflict since the Korean War. As we pass this milestone — one that, just last month, President Trump predicted we would never reach — we are reminded how quickly this all happened, and how incomplete our knowledge of the virus remains.One hundred thousand deaths. It’s a staggering toll, larger than the number of American casualties in every military conflict since the Korean War. As we pass this milestone — one that, just last month, President Trump predicted we would never reach — we are reminded how quickly this all happened, and how incomplete our knowledge of the virus remains.
A new study revises the timeline for when the virus began to spread in the West. According to an analysis of the virus’s genome, the earliest known infections in the United States and Europe petered out before they could ignite outbreaks. Instead, the study says, the pandemic was seeded weeks later by a different set of infections.A new study revises the timeline for when the virus began to spread in the West. According to an analysis of the virus’s genome, the earliest known infections in the United States and Europe petered out before they could ignite outbreaks. Instead, the study says, the pandemic was seeded weeks later by a different set of infections.
Carl Zimmer, who writes about science for The Times, said the study demonstrated that most people who get the virus do not end up passing it on; rather, outbreaks stem from a small number of super-spreaders.Carl Zimmer, who writes about science for The Times, said the study demonstrated that most people who get the virus do not end up passing it on; rather, outbreaks stem from a small number of super-spreaders.
“The virus probably arrived a number of times in the United States, before the virus showed up that really set off some of these big outbreaks,” Carl told us.“The virus probably arrived a number of times in the United States, before the virus showed up that really set off some of these big outbreaks,” Carl told us.
If correct, the study backs up what public health experts have been arguing for months: that in order to identify the people who could become super-spreaders, we needed rigorous contact tracing and testing early on.If correct, the study backs up what public health experts have been arguing for months: that in order to identify the people who could become super-spreaders, we needed rigorous contact tracing and testing early on.
“If there had been large-scale testing in the United States, as there was in South Korea, we could have seen these little sparks of the virus showing up and could have kept an eye on them to see if any were leading to outbreaks,” Carl said. “Instead, scientists are having to be historians now.”“If there had been large-scale testing in the United States, as there was in South Korea, we could have seen these little sparks of the virus showing up and could have kept an eye on them to see if any were leading to outbreaks,” Carl said. “Instead, scientists are having to be historians now.”
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.
They saw it coming over a decade ago: Government-supported researchers predicted that a pandemic would one day cause a severe shortage of medical masks. To prepare, multiple federal agencies urged hospitals and policymakers to consider stockpiling elastomeric respirators — industrial masks that can be cleaned and reused, and are certified to protect as well as N95 masks. But the warnings went unheeded.They saw it coming over a decade ago: Government-supported researchers predicted that a pandemic would one day cause a severe shortage of medical masks. To prepare, multiple federal agencies urged hospitals and policymakers to consider stockpiling elastomeric respirators — industrial masks that can be cleaned and reused, and are certified to protect as well as N95 masks. But the warnings went unheeded.
Now, even as U.S. hospitals face a severe shortage of N95s, the Trump administration has not tried to produce or distribute more elastomerics, a Times investigation found. At the same time, federal regulators have allowed single-use N95s to be worn multiple times and cleaned using unproven decontamination methods.Now, even as U.S. hospitals face a severe shortage of N95s, the Trump administration has not tried to produce or distribute more elastomerics, a Times investigation found. At the same time, federal regulators have allowed single-use N95s to be worn multiple times and cleaned using unproven decontamination methods.
While elastomerics have practical challenges, like fitting and cleaning, they have failed to catch on largely because of their industrial look and a general reluctance to consider alternatives to N95s, which had been cheap and plentiful before the coronavirus struck.While elastomerics have practical challenges, like fitting and cleaning, they have failed to catch on largely because of their industrial look and a general reluctance to consider alternatives to N95s, which had been cheap and plentiful before the coronavirus struck.
But administrators at hospitals where elastomerics are being used have credited them with helping to prevent shortages of protective equipment, and health care workers have praised them.But administrators at hospitals where elastomerics are being used have credited them with helping to prevent shortages of protective equipment, and health care workers have praised them.
Updated September 1, 2020
Maggie Astor, one of our political reporters based in New York, became sick with Covid-19 in late March. She wrote about the ordeal and shared some valuable insight, especially on how to maintain a healthy state of mind during the illness:Maggie Astor, one of our political reporters based in New York, became sick with Covid-19 in late March. She wrote about the ordeal and shared some valuable insight, especially on how to maintain a healthy state of mind during the illness:
Having Covid-19 is intensely stressful. It’s not unusual to feel depressed or anxious, or to have panic attacks. Don’t be embarrassed to talk to your doctor about your mental health — it’s just as important as your physical health.
It’s also OK to not be OK. You don’t have to handle this “well,” whatever that means. You just have to get through each day. So go ahead and cry, binge Netflix, do a jigsaw puzzle, reread the entire “Animorphs” series — whatever gets you through the day.
Some people have mild symptoms for the first few days and then suddenly get sicker. Some have fevers that go up and down repeatedly. Some are sick for two weeks straight, then have a few symptom-free days, then relapse. Some have lingering symptoms for months.
This is both maddening and very common. Give yourself as much time to rest as your job and financial situation will allow.
The National Hockey League announced a plan to complete its season, with a 24-team playoff tournament hosted in empty arenas in two hub cities.
Spain began 10 days of national mourning for victims of the virus. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez waited to begin the period until the whole country had entered its first reopening phase.
After months of lockdown, many people in Italy are hitting the beach, and some are flouting social-distancing measures.
In Switzerland, events of up to 300 people and spontaneous gatherings of up to 30 will be allowed starting June 6.
Here’s a roundup of reopenings and restrictions in all 50 states.Here’s a roundup of reopenings and restrictions in all 50 states.
Take time to disconnect. Overcome Zoom fatigue by designating certain times of the day to be device-free. If you want to decline a call, you don’t need a big excuse — just be honest.Take time to disconnect. Overcome Zoom fatigue by designating certain times of the day to be device-free. If you want to decline a call, you don’t need a big excuse — just be honest.
Have a good first date. Getting to know someone virtually? It’s helpful to start with your cameras off, come prepared with a few questions and have a loose plan for the meetup.Have a good first date. Getting to know someone virtually? It’s helpful to start with your cameras off, come prepared with a few questions and have a loose plan for the meetup.
Prepare your pup for alone time. Dogs may experience behavioral issues once their owners start leaving home more often. Help transition them to a less social life by leaving them in a familiar safe space and finding new ways to engage their brains.Prepare your pup for alone time. Dogs may experience behavioral issues once their owners start leaving home more often. Help transition them to a less social life by leaving them in a familiar safe space and finding new ways to engage their brains.
Only half of Americans say they plan to get a coronavirus vaccination when one arrives, according to a survey by The Associated Press and the National Opinion Research Center.
France is no longer allowing hydroxychloroquine as a treatment for Covid-19 patients.
The United States is on the precipice of a compounding crisis of evictions, as protections and payments extended to millions of renters begin to run out.
The U.S. House of Representatives held its first partly remote vote, using a new proxy voting system instituted for the pandemic.
A Michelin-starred chef is helping to feed the destitute in India who have suffered during coronavirus lockdowns.
I shop for two other senior families. When shopping, I take my iPhone and do FaceTime with one of the family members, walk around the store, and they can see the products. It’s like they’re right there with me in a virtual sense, picking out their own groceries.
— Lynne Shapiro, Brea, Calif.
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.
Carole Landry contributed reporting.Carole Landry contributed reporting.