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Weekly Update
August 31, 2020
8:26 AM EST
*Aggregate data from Johns Hopkins
(Worldwide Data)
LINKS TO THE LATEST NEWS ON COVID-19
August 31, 2020
- After Laura, Learning How To Recover From A Hurricane During A Pandemic – Coronavirus testing in Louisiana has been disrupted by Hurricane Laura, meaning the true impact of the hurricane could take weeks to assess
- U.S. Approaches 6 Million Cases As New Infections Rise In More States – New cases are rising by 5% in 26 states across the US while it was only rising at that rate in 12 states last week
- Coronavirus Cases Top 25 Million Globally As India Emerges As A New Epicenter – The spread of the virus in India has grown in recent weeks, with daily cases there now outpacing both the United States and Brazil. India has now registered more than 3.5 million cases despite a government mandated lockdown in March
- Drinking Bans Are Back In Fashion During The Covid Pandemic. But Experts Are Wary Of Prohibition 2.0 – In order to not burden the hospitals and clinics with alcohol related injuries, South Africa has instituted an alcohol sale ban from March to June and reinstated on July 12th
- Mayors Of College Towns Brace For The Economic Impact Of Remote Learning – With colleges and universities attempting to reopen with a hybrid model of in person and online, many are having to change course as students are testing positive and the the college towns are bracing for impact on their economy
- Venezuela Seeks Testers For Russian Vaccine – The Venezuelan government has agreed to participate in trials for Russia, China, and Cuba. Venezuela agreed to provide 500 participants to Russia even though the approval by regulators was provided before the completion of the larger study with thousands of participants
August 24, 2020
- At Least 3 Dozen States Have Reported Coronavirus Cases On College Campuses – As students return to College, they are ignoring social distancing and going to parties which has resulted in cases rising on campuses. Colleges are all reacting differently with some threatening disciplinary actions and suspending students
- FDA Authorizes Convalescent Plasma As Emergency Treatment For COVID-19 – FDA has issued an emergency use authorization to treat hospitalized COVID patients with convalescent plasma from people who have recovered from the virus
- Louisiana, Texas Preparing As 2 Major Storms Expected To Hit Gulf Coast This Week – Emergency declarations have been issued on the Gulf Coast as two major storms are expected to make landfall. This has resulted in COVID testing sites closing and in Louisiana, they are urging people to stay home and to use a group shelter as a ‘last resort’
- What If A Powerful Hurricane Hits During The Pandemic? Here’s How To Prevent A Double Disaster – With the peak hurricane season approaching, researchers are using historical hurricane and evacuation models to advise residents to evacuate to counties with lower rates of viral spread and pack their own food, water, medical supplies and masks rather than relying on stores in their destination county
- Another COVID-19 Medical Mystery: Patients Come Off Ventilator, But Linger In A Coma – After extubation, many doctors are noticing that patients remain unconscious for days, weeks, or longer. With no historical data to reference, doctors are perplexed on guidance to provide families
- Returning From Overseas Or Out Of State? The CDC Removes Its 14-Day Quarantine Recommendation – With mixed quarantine requirements by state, all are urged to still wear masks, wash hands, and maintain social distancing guidelines to prevent the spread. All are urged to reference the state government websites for current information on quarantine and test requirements
- China’s E-Commerce Giants Get A Boost As Consumers Continue To Shift Online After Coronavirus – While hotel and restaurant travel is down, e-commerce has seen a significant rise in demand for online food delivery and other services
August 17, 2020
- Canada-U.S. Border Will Remain Closed Until Sept. 21 – Canada has extended the land border closure to the United States for another 30 days until September 21
- A Key Prediction About the Economic Aftermath of the COVID Crash Has Been Confirmed: Morning Brief – With the S&P setting record highs last week, many executives are surprised by the rapid bounce back of the economy
- Less Than A Week After Starting Classes, UNC-Chapel Hill Reports 4 COVID-19 Clusters – With classes beginning on Aug 4th, UNC continues to monitor and test as a fourth cluster is identified within a 3 day period
- South Korea Faces New Spike In COVID-19 After Months Of Low Infection Rates – With new cases in the triple digits for the fourth day, social distancing guidelines are being tightened in South Korea including religious activities which is believed to be the cause of the increase in cases
- Rural Schools Struggle With Road Ahead In Era Of Coronavirus – In small towns where social distancing is the norm and masks are uncommon, teachers are ready for in person instruction but preparing with training to move to virtual if necessary
- Coronavirus Live Updates: New Zealand Delays Election as Cases Climb – After Auckland’s lockdown due to 9 reported cases, elections have been delayed until mid-October to allow candidates adequate time to campaign
August 10, 2020
- U.S. Hits 5 Million Coronavirus Cases As Debate Lingers Over The Path Forward – After 4 million mark only 17 days ago, the US has hit 5 million confirmed cases. Many are concerned that the numbers may be much higher than reported as states evaluate reopening schools and businesses
- 97,000 Children Reportedly Test Positive For Coronavirus In Two Weeks As Schools Gear Up For Instruction – In an effort to determine the role in which children play in transmitting the virus, a doctor from Vanderbilt University is leading a study which includes sending home 2,000 at home testing kids
- Trump Signs Executive Orders On Coronavirus Economic Relief – The president signed a new executive order that will defer payroll taxes and student loan payments through the end of the year as well as discourage evictions, and extend enhanced unemployment benefits
- COVID-19 May Never Go Away — With Or Without A Vaccine – After herd immunity is achieved, experts advise that COVID may never go away and may become known as a ‘common cold coronavirus’ where we will not be required to wear masks and social distance
- Adults May Not Be The Only Covid ‘Long Haulers.’ Some Kids Still Have Symptoms, Months After Falling Ill – Awareness is growing on symptoms and impact of “long Covid” among adults and children
August 7, 2020
- Coronavirus Cases Are Surging. The Contact Tracing Workforce Is Not – The contract tracing workforce has barely grown since June as the number of cases continues to rise
- US Weekly COVID-19 Cases, Deaths Down – Last week in the U.S. cases and deaths were down. The CDC has projected deaths to continue to decrease throughout the month of August
- 300,000 Deaths By December? 9 Takeaways Of The Newest COVID-19 Projections – With more than 100,000 deaths projected between now and December, experts analyze whether cold weather could accelerate the spread
- U.S. Lifts Global Health Coronavirus Travel Advisory – The U.S. State Department and CDC lifted global advisories recommending U.S. citizens to avoid all international travel due to the pandemic
- U.S. Job Growth Forecast To Slow Sharply In July As COVID-19 Cases Soar – With a resurgence in new COVID infections, the U.S. employment growth likely slowed significantly
- India Surges Past 2 million Coronavirus Cases, Angry Health Workers Launch A Strike – India has reported a record jump in cases taking its total number over two million. More than 3.5 million healthcare workers have been on a two-day strike to secure better wages and proper PPE
August 6, 2020
- FDA Adviser: Not Realistic To Expect A COVID-19 Vaccine In 2020 – Dr. Paul Offitt from University of Pennsylvania is optimistic that although the vaccine will not be available by end of year, there’s hope that it will be available in early 2021 following phase 3 trials
- Tracking The Pandemic: Are Coronavirus Cases Rising Or Falling In Your State? – Track COVID cases in your state to see if they are rising or falling
- Most Teachers Concerned About In-Person School; 2 In 3 Want To Start The Year Online – In a survey done by NPR/Ipsos, they found that 82% of K-12 teachers are concerned about returning to in-person teaching this fall and two-thirds prefer to teach primarily remotely
- NC Gov. Roy Cooper Extends Phase Two Of Coronavirus Restrictions Into September – As schools prepare to reopen later this month, Governor Cooper extends Phase 2 in order to allow experts to capture data and trends to respond to COVID
- De Blasio Announces Coronavirus Quarantine Checkpoints At ‘Major Entry Points’ Into NYC – With 20% of new cases coming from people from out of state, NYC is cracking down with checkpoints for bridges, tunnels, and public transportation to share information regarding quarantine requirements
- WHO: Proportion Of Youth With COVID-19 Triples In Five Months – An analysis by the WHO of 6 million infections between Feb-July found that the share pf people aged 15-24 years rose from 4.5% to 15%
- Moderna To Charge $32 To $37 A Dose For Its COVID Vaccine – Moderna will charge between $32-$37 a dose for its COVID vaccine. They have a tiered pricing system – the more you order, the less it costs
August 5, 2020
- After ‘Severe’ Delays, 6 States Band Together To Buy Coronavirus Tests – Six states joined together to purchase 3 million rapid antigen testes that can quickly detect the virus
- Novavax’s Coronavirus Vaccine Generates Promising Immune Response In Early Trial, Data Shows – In the fight to develop a vaccine, Novavax conducted a study in Australia with 131 participants and the vaccine produced neutralizing antibodies in early study results
- Clorox Wipes Shortage Expected To Continue Until 2021 As Coronavirus Drives Demand – Due to a surge in demand, Clorox, the world’s biggest cleaning products maker, said grocery store shelves won’t be fully stocked with disinfecting wipes until next year
- COVID-19 And Children: Doctors See Link Between Virus And Neurological Side Effects – Emerging research highlights a connection between COVID and significant neurological effects in young brains
- Latin America Now Has World’s Highest Coronavirus Death Toll – Approximately 30% of the population has died due to coronavirus and numbers continue to rise as the countries relaxed lockdown restrictions to stimulate the economy
- Disney CEO Bob Chapek Says Walt Disney World Seeing Cancellations From Florida’s COVID “Ebb And Flow” – With Florida seeing a spike in cases, Disney World has seen higher cancellations at their part then they’d first anticipated
August 4, 2020
- New Evidence Suggests Young Children Spread Covid-19 More Efficiently Than Adults – Risk of transmitting COVID for children 14 years old and younger is more than two times that of adults age 30-44
- Despite Mask Wars, Americans Support Aggressive Measures To Stop COVID-19, Poll Finds – With the US national death toll for COVID-19 rising above 150,000 deaths, many Americans feel that the US could be handling the virus better
- Mississippi On Track To Become No. 1 State For New Coronavirus Cases Per Capita – Mississippi is on track to take over Florida for most COVID-19 cases per capita
- Who’s First In Line For A COVID-19 Vaccine? The Debate Begins – While it’s a vexing decision, who should be first in line for a vaccine? U.S. health authorities hope by late next month to have some draft guidance on how to ration initial doses
- Covid-19 Is More Widespread Than Ever In The US But There Are Some States Doing Things Right – Certain states are cracking down on individuals and businesses not following the strict coronavirus guidelines for reopening and wearing protective masks
- How A Long-Forgotten Word Rallied A Nation – During the pandemic, the Danish community came together by putting aside individuality for the benefit for the community
August 3, 2020
- Next Big COVID-19 Treatment May Be Manufactured Antibodies – Leading scientists believe the development of monoclonal antibodies to target the virus is ‘almost a sure bet’ against COVID
- Colleges Need To Test For Covid-19 Frequently To Keep Campuses Open This Fall, Study Says – In an effort to keep the spread of the infection at a controllable rate, researchers are encouraging screening every 2 days instead of reacting when someone exhibits symptoms
- Birx Warns U.S. Coronavirus Epidemic Is In ‘New Phase’ As Cases And Deaths Climb – With the US surpassing the 4.6 million confirmed cases mark, people in both rural and urban areas are contracting COVID at equal rates
- In Much Of The US, Progress Made In The Covid-19 Fight Has Turned Into Progress Lost – July has shattered records for new cases, hospitalizations and deaths across the country with almost 2 million new cases
- Russia Preparing Mass Vaccination Against Coronavirus For October – With plans to secure regulatory approval in August, Russia is planning on administering the vaccine to health care workers first followed by wider vaccinations in October
- Australian State Declares ‘State Of Disaster’ – A state of disaster was declared in Australia’s state of Victoria with the local government implementing a night curfew as part of its toughest restrictions yet to contain the virus
- Thousands Protest In Berlin Against Coronavirus Restrictions – Thousands of protesters marched against German COVID restrictions while authorities voice increasing concern about an increase in new infections
July 31, 2020
- Extra $600 CARES Act Unemployment Benefit Ends July 31: Here’s Where Things Stand – The GOP proposed the HEALS act which would reduce the unemployment benefit from $600 to $200 until October and then benefits would equal 70% of the individuals previous wages
- COVID-19 Hospital Data System That Bypasses CDC Plagued By Delays, Inaccuracies – The new online data system that the White House had hospitals switch over to instead of reporting to the CDC is a mess. It updates erratically and has multiple inconsistencies and errors
- There Is No ‘Zero Risk’ In Easing Travel Restrictions, WHO Says – The WHO has said there is no ‘zero risk’ strategy for any country to begin easing international travel restrictions during the pandemic and that essential travel for emergencies should remain the priority
- Britain Brings Back Restrictions As Europe, Asia See COVID-19 Cases Spike – The UK has reintroduced new restrictions amid a rise in cases while Germany has implemented stricter travel regulations
- Coronavirus Cases In Tokyo Hit New High As City Prepares To Launch Its Own “CDC” – The “Tokyo CDC” would be responsible for convene experts for surveys and policy development. In August, Tokyo is incentivizing bars, restaurants, and parlors by offering $1,900 for closing by 10 PM
- Data Analysis: COVID-19 Is Filling Up Hospitals In Small Cities – As COVID moves across the country and into more rural areas, hospital capacity disparities are causing issues as they are not prepared to deal with the pandemic or lack of ICU beds
July 30, 2020
- U.S. Records A Coronavirus Death Every Minute As Total Surpasses 150,000 – The national death toll surpassed 150,000 people, which averages about one person dying per minute yesterday
- Health Experts Urge A Shutdown Do-Over As COVID-19 Cases Surge – A group of doctors, scientists, nurses, and teachers are urging the country to step back and shut down non-essential businesses in peak impacted states. This will allow the states time to prepare more testing and contract tracing
- 3 Months Of Hell: U.S. Economy’s Worst Quarter Ever – The GDP has dropped by 35% during the 3 months the country was shut down to stop the spread of the virus. This is four times the drop during the worst quarter of the Great Recession
- COVID-19 ‘Long-Haulers’ Report Nearly 100 Symptoms For More Than 100 Days – With no one knowing how long it takes to get “back to normal”, patients are experiencing long term impacts such as body aches, dizziness, and shortness of breath lasting 100 days+
- Johnson & Johnson Starts Human Safety Trial For Its COVID-19 Vaccine Candidate – Johnson & Johnson kicked off U.S. human safety trials for its vaccine after study in monkeys showed strong protection in a single dose
- EU Warns Of Risk Of Syringe Shortages For Possible COVID-19 Vaccine – The EU has warned member states of the risk of shortages of syringes, wipes and PPE gear needed for potential mass vaccinations
- Florida Will Pause Coronavirus Testing Due To Impending Storm – With impending storm Tropical Storm Isaias, the state has shut down testing facilities until next Tuesday as they prepare for the storm.
July 29, 2020
- U.S. Records 10,000 Coronavirus Deaths In 11 Days As Fatalities Approach 150,000 – U.S. deaths rose by 10,000 in 11 days as the country approaches 150,000 deaths – the highest in the world
- Harvested Antibodies Now Being Tested As A Prevention Tool Against COVID-19 – A new study is underway to see whether an infusion of antibodies can protect someone who has been exposed to the virus and is at high risk of infection
- Large Gatherings Are Fueling Rising Covid-19 Cases, But They Keep Happening – States are seeing young adults gathering at large parties and ignoring social distancing only to return home to put their families and friends at risk
- ‘The Virus Beat Us’: Colleges Are Increasingly Going Online For Fall 2020 Semester As COVID-19 Cases Rise – While students prepare to return in the fall, many colleges and universities are moving to virtual until at least the end of September and 49% are prepared for in person sessions
- Germany’s New Coronavirus Cases Fell To Below 500 A Day For Weeks. Now They’ve Topped 800 – Germany has been diligent with reopening practices tracking the reproduction rate and opening the average was under 1 and is offering free testing for all residents
- Hong Kong On Verge Of ‘Large-Scale’ Coronavirus Outbreak, Carrie Lam Warns – Leaders continue to encourage residents to follow guidelines as Hong Kong prepares for the 3rd wave
July 28, 2020
- Pandemic Is Overwhelming U.S. Public Health Capacity In Many States. What Now? – Many had high hopes for the US going into the COVID pandemic, however many were wrong with cases here spreading like wildfire
- WHO Says COVID-19 Pandemic Is One Big Wave’, Not Seasonal – The WHO is warning people that the virus does not behave like the flu that tends to follow a seasonal trend. They also mentioned to not think of the virus in terms of waves. It is really one big wave that will go up and down
- First Phase 3 Test Of Coronavirus Vaccine Candidate Begins In US – A vaccine being developed by Moderna and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases has begun phase three trials on Monday, being the first U.S candidate to reach that step in testing
- List Of Countries Barring American Tourists As The US Coronavirus Outbreak Surges To New Heights – Here is a running list of countries barring American tourist from entering as the U.S. coronavirus outbreak surges to new heights
- Demand Surges For See-through Face Masks As Pandemic Swells – For the hearing impaired, children, and elderly, transparent face masks are being evaluated for FDA clearance
- Google Employees Can Work From Home Until July 2021 – All Google employees are allowed to work from home for at least another year – a sign that the technology industry is expecting disruption from the pandemic to linger for a long time
July 27, 2020
- The U.S. Has More COVID-19 Testing Than Most. So Why Is It Falling So Short? – While the U.S. has more testing than most countries, it is taking patients a week or longer to get results because these private/public labs aren’t running near capacity due to supply-chain bottlenecks
- US Coronavirus Deaths Top 1,000 4 days In A Row As Experts Urge Shut Down – More than 150 prominent medical experts, scientists, teachers, nurses and other experts signed a letter urging leaders to shut the country down to help control the spread of the virus
- Second Wave Of Coronavirus In Asia Prompts Fresh Lockdowns – Countries around Asia are confronting a second wave of infections prompting many of them to begin lockdowns
- State Unemployment Agencies Could Take Months To Adapt To WH Proposal, Memos Show – With outdated technology, state unemployment agencies are requesting an extension to the CARES $600 payment while they work to implement the new changes to unemployment benefits
- CDC Says Patients Suffer Long-Term COVID-19 Illness – Many patients report ongoing symptoms such as fatigue, coughing, and headaches weeks after diagnosis
- Florida Case Count Surpasses That Of New York, The Country’s Original Epicenter – With over 15,000 cases reported in one day, Governor DeSantis resists statewide mask mandate
July 24, 2020
- U.S. Hits 4 Million Cases Of Coronavirus — Adding A Million New Cases In Just 15 Days – While still in the first wave of the pandemic, the US struggles to contain the spread of the virus and has twice as many deaths as Brazil. The highest peak was anticipated to be on April 15th but reports indicate the peak is now July 16th with more cases reported daily
- Without A Vaccine, Researchers Say, Herd Immunity May Never Be Achieved – Concerns rise that pursuing herd immunity would cause thousands of deaths
- New CDC Coronavirus Guidelines Push Opening Schools – The CDC is in favor of children returning to school saying children don’t suffer much from the virus and are less likely to spread it
- Southwest And American Airlines Tighten Their Mask Requirements By Ending Exemptions – American Airlines and Southwest Airlines will be requiring all customers over the age of 2 to wear face coverings on board and at airports
- China Offers $1 Billion Loan To Latin America And The Caribbean For Access To Its Covid-19 Vaccine – China announced a $1B loan to Latin America and the Caribbean for COVID vaccine access
- New CDC Guidelines Say People With Mild To Moderate COVID-19 Only Need To Isolate 10 Days – Scientists are finding that in patients with severe symptoms, 88% were not infectious after 10 days and 95% after 20 days
July 23, 2020
- U.S. Sets Global Benchmark For COVID-19 Vaccine Price At Around The Cost Of A Flu Shot – The U.S. government made a $2 billion deal with Pfizer to secure enough vaccines to inoculate 50 million Americans for about $40 per person
- GOP Senators And White House Tentatively Agree On Part Of Coronavirus Aid Bill – Republicans Senators and the White House have reached an agreement in principle on a large portion of the upcoming Coronavirus aid bill. The agreement includes $105 billion for schools
- COVID-19 tests: There’s An Insurmountable Backlog Of Virus Tests. A Rapid Test Could Help – Machines are being developed to support rapid test results however they will not be available for the masses and scientists worry about the accuracy of the results
- Can Masks Save Us From More Lockdowns? Here’s What The Science Says – Scientists have found that if 95% of the population wears masks, the transmission of coronavirus will decrease by at least 30%
- Baseball Shouts ‘Play Ball!’ But For How Long? A Nervous 2020 Season Begins – The MLB plans to kick its season off on Friday which will consist of 60 games instead of the normal 162 game season
July 22, 2020
- U.S. Records 1,000 Deaths In One Day From COVID-19, California Passes 400,000 Cases – The U.S. reported more than 1,000 deaths from COVID yesterday and California almost passed NY in total infections by reporting more than 400,000 cases since January
- Coronavirus Infections Far Higher Than Confirmed But Most Americans Still Not Exposed – CDC estimates the number of positive cases is 10 times higher than reported based on blood test results for antibodies
- U.S. Government Taps Pfizer To Produce Millions Of Doses Of Potential Coronavirus Vaccine – The U.S. will pay $1.95 billion for Pfizer to produce and deliver 100 million doses of its COVID-19 vaccine candidate in the U.S. if it proves safe and effective
- N.Y., N.J., Connecticut Now Say Travelers From 31 Hot Spot States Must Quarantine – NY, NJ and CT have expanded their advisory requiring people who travel from 31 different hot spots to their states to self-quarantine for 14 days
- “Our Hospitals Look Like War Zones”: Texas Hit Hard By The Coronavirus – With 22 people dying per day over the past week in Texas, some states are running out of ICU beds and are forced to bring in refrigeration trucks for morgues
- How Remote Work Divides America – Companies are struggling to determine if job functions can be performed remote. Most blue-collar workers are struggling with debt and living paycheck to paycheck will be most at risk of exposure as they return to work
- U.S. Disaster Response Scrambles To Protect People From Both Hurricanes And COVID-19 – Red Cross prepares to adhere to CDC new guidelines and cut shelters by 60% as many prepare for hurricanes yet to come
July 21, 2020
- The Surge In US Cases Has Left Labs Overwhelmed And Covid-19 Tests Delayed – With testing taking up to 2 weeks to receive results, labs are working to increase testing capacity by the end of July
- Another Problem On The Health Horizon: Medicare Is Running Out Of Money – With people out of work, the cash flowing into the trust fund for Medicare finances has dropped dramatically. Congress also touched Medicare’s reserves to help fund the COVID relief efforts. It is estimated that the fund will run out of money in 2026
- Early Oxford-AstraZeneca Coronavirus Vaccine Data ‘Encouraging,’ Scientists Say – A vaccine being developed by Oxford University and AstraZeneca is showing promise as it triggered an immune response with only minor side effects
- EU Agrees To $858 Billion In Grants, Loans To Bail Out Pandemic-Battered Economies – European Union leaders have agreed to a $858 billion plan of grants and loans to be disbursed to fellow nations to help fight against their worst economic downturn since the Great Depression
- Brazil Tops 80,000 COVID-19 Deaths As 2 Government Ministers Test Positive For Virus – Brazil has the second highest amount of infections with over 2 million cases and over 80,000 deaths
- California Went From Bending The Curve To A Major Coronavirus Surge. What Happened? – With numbers increasing by 250%, California continues to struggle as some counties are not requiring masks and others have bars and restaurants forced to close. People under 40 are responsible for 50% of the cases
July 20, 2020
- Global Coronavirus Deaths Surpass 600,000, With U.S. Accounting For Nearly A Quarter – With approximately 5,000 deaths reported each week, the US continues to struggle to get the coronavirus under control while other leaders tighten restrictions in response to new cases
- Cities Hit Hard By Covid-19 Weigh Another Stay-At-Home Order But State Leaders Are Pushing Backcord – Cities such as Houston and Atlanta are facing backlash from their governors over wanting to issue stay-at-home orders or require face masks
- ‘We Need To Close Down’ — Florida Reports More Than 10,000 New Virus Cases For Fifth Day – Florida has reported over 10,000 cases for the the fifth consecutive day which is up 29% from a week ago
- Why More Young People Are Getting Sick In The Latest Covid-19 Outbreaks – Nationwide, “The average age of people getting infected is now a decade and a half younger than a few months ago”. While younger people are less likely to become severely ill, they are spreading it to older people who vulnerable to infection or death
- U.S. Companies Fear Workplace Coronavirus Precautions Do Not Address Airborne Risk – U.S. companies are raising new questions about how they can make workplaces safe, with fears that COVID might have an airborne risk
- The End Of $600 Unemployment Benefits Will Hit Millions Of Households And The Economy – With the unemployment benefits set to expire in 2 weeks, lawmakers are debating extending benefits to avoid defaults on loans and credit cards
July 17, 2020
- U.S. Coronavirus Cases Shatter Records And Rise By 70,000 In Single Day – Cases are on the rise as the U.S. reported at least 70,000 new cases, a record daily increase for the seventh time this month
- Travel Alert: Americans From 26 States Should Stay Home, Per Harvard’s COVID-19 Tracking Site – Harvard’s Global Health Institute has created a risk-assessment color coded map of the states assessing their risk of traveling
- Brazil’s Coronavirus Curve May Hold The Key To A Global Vaccine – Researchers and pharmaceutical companies are looking to Brazil in search of a vaccine
- ‘Meaningless’ FDA Certificates Are Used To Tout Dubious Face Masks – Manufacturers are using fake FDA certificates to sell face masks that may be subpar
- CDC Bans U.S. Cruises Through September, Citing ‘Ongoing’ Coronavirus Outbreaks On Ships – The CDC has extended its ban on cruising in U.S. waters through September 30 citing an ‘ongoing’ COVID outbreak aboard ships
July 16, 2020
- Despite Months Of Warning, The US Could Soon Run Out Of Gloves, Goggles, And Body Bags As Coronavirus Cases Keep Surging – The U.S. could face another PPE shortage as national stockpiles run low and cases surge to record levels
- Georgia’s Governor Issues Order Rescinding Local Mask Mandates – Georgia’s governor Brian Kemp rescinds order to wear mask’s in public across major cities all through the state, saying its “A bridge to far”
- Even Mild Obesity Linked To Severe COVID-19, Death, In Study – A published study has found that COVID-19 patients with a BMI of 30 or more increased the risk of respiratory failure, ICU admissions and death
- Americans On COVID-19 Jobless Benefits Spent More Than When Working, Study Shows – Americans who received enhanced unemployment benefits spent more than when they were working. This adds to concerns about a steep fall in spending when the emergency benefits expire
- Maryland Uncovers $501M In Coronavirus Unemployment Fraud – Maryland is investigating a vast operation using identity theft to commit unemployment insurance fraud on the order of more than half a billion dollars
- Scientists Call For Volunteers To Be Infected With The Coronavirus To Test Vaccines – Top scientists are calling for healthy volunteers to be exposed to coronavirus. This would see whether vaccines against the virus actually work
July 15, 2020
- First Coronavirus Vaccine Tested in Humans Shows Early Promise – An experimental coronavirus vaccine resulted in a promising immune response against COVID-19 and appeared safe in the first 45 participants who received it
- HHS Confirms Coronavirus Hospital Data Will Now Be Sent To DC Instead Of CDC – Hospital data on COVID-19 patients will now be routed to the Trump administration, rather than the US Centers for Disease Control
- Canada-U.S. Border Closure To Be Extended For Another 30 days, Say Officials – Despite lobbying by U.S. members of Congress to plan a phased reopening, the Canadian U.S. border restrictions has been rolled over for another 30 days
- States Look To Trump For A National Plan To Fight Coronavirus – Cash-strapped cities and states trying to create testing, tracing and public awareness campaigns from scratch are desperate for federal support
- Coronavirus: Why Attitudes To Masks Have Changed Around The World – As more is understood about how COVID-19 is spread, the number of governments recommending face coverings has gone up significantly
- What Happens If Covid-19 Symptoms Don’t Go Away? Doctors Are Trying To Figure It Out – Doctors are discovering that a small percentage of COVID patients are suffering long term symptoms and they cannot find treatment
July 14, 2020
- California Closes Indoor Businesses Statewide As COVID-19 Cases Surge – Indoor operations are being suspended for restaurants, wineries, movie theaters, family entertainment centers, zoos, museums and card rooms in California due to rising cases
- Miami Is Now The Coronavirus Epicenter As Cases Surge, One Expert Says – According to infectious disease experts, Miami is now the epicenter of the pandemic with hospitalizations up 68% and the use of ventilators up over 109%
- WHO Sounds Alarm As Coronavirus Cases Rise By One Million In Five Days – With worldwide cases climbing by one million in just five days, the WHO says countries are heading in the wrong direction
- Covid-19 Reinvades U.S. States That Beat It Back Once – Cases are on the rise again in part because states and their people have let their guard down with their non willingness to stay home and wear masks
- Hong Kong Disneyland Closes Due to Coronavirus – After being open for less than a month, Hong Kong Disneyland is closing its doors again due to a spike in coronavirus cases in the city
July 13, 2020
- New York City Reports First Day With No Confirmed Coronavirus Deaths Since March 11 – New York City finally has been able to start slowing down the number of COVID cases since they spiked in March and went a whole day with no reported deaths
- Florida Reports More Than 15,000 New Coronavirus Cases, Shattering Record – A record number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Florida was reported on Saturday, the highest reported by any state since the pandemic has started
- Pfizer, BioNTech’s Coronavirus Vaccine Candidates Get FDA’s ‘Fast Track’ Status – Two experimental coronavirus vaccines developed jointly have received ‘fast track’ designation from the FDA
- Mexico Surpasses Italy To Post World’s Fourth-Highest Coronavirus Death Toll – Mexico’s coronavirus death toll surpasses 35,000 and is now higher than the death toll in Italy
- Nearly 1 Out Of Every 100 Americans Has Tested Positive For Covid-19 – Even though about 1 out of every 100 Americans have tested positive for COVID, experts have said they believe that infections are 10 times higher than what’s reported
- Coronavirus FAQ: How Do I Protect Myself If The Coronavirus Can Linger In The Air? – Tips for protecting yourself from airborne coronavirus
- Kids Feel Pandemic Stress Too. Here’s How To Help Them Thrive – Help keep your children calm and stress free from this pandemic by doing what is recommended by child psychologist, Jernigan-Noesi
July 10, 2020
- WHO: Aerosolized Particles Unlikely To Be Significant Source Of COVID-19 Transmission – The WHO has issued a new scientific brief that summarizes what is known about the different ways the virus transmits. They call for more research into the matter of transmission by aerosolized particles
- Pathologist Found Blood Clots In ‘Almost Every Organ’ During Autopsies On Covid-19 Patients – After conducting multiple autopsies on people who have died from COVID, doctors have found blood clots in almost every organ of the body
- 13 States Now Report Coronavirus Testing Issues, In Echo Of Early Troubles – State, local and hospital officials at 13 states are experiencing issues with testing availability. These shortages and delays contribute to limiting the number of people with access to testing
- COVID-19 Cases Are Rising, So Why Are Deaths Flatlining? – There are a few reasons why COVID cases are rising and deaths are flatlining with some of them being a lag in death cases and the typical patient is getting younger
- Medics Are Down To Their Last Defense With Coronavirus Swamping Their Town – El Centro, California is loosing a battle against COVID as hospitals are overfilled, tents are being put up to handle more cases and deaths are rising
- Disney World Set To Reopen At Weekend Despite Coronavirus Surge In Florida – With cases continuing to rise in Florida, Disney World is moving ahead with reopening their theme parks this weekend with extensive precautions in place to keep workers and guests safe
July 9, 2020
- WHO Sets Up Panel To Review Handling Of Pandemic – The WHO will be setting up an independent panel to review its handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and the response by governments
- Covid-19 Vaccine Trials Now Open To Volunteers In U.S. – Volunteers can now sign up to participate in COVID vaccine clinical trails led by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
- The Mysterious Coronavirus Can Wreak Havoc On Your Health. Medical Care For Very Ill COVID-19 Patients Is Getting Better – Doctors are challenged with treatment plans as patients having different reactions to the virus. Reactions range from large groups with their immune system over-reacting toothers immune system is under-reacting
- US Records Over 58,000 New Cases In A Single Day – The Global case count topped 12 million and the U.S. records over 58,000 new cases yesterday
- ‘Devastated’: As Layoffs Keep Coming, Hopes Fade That Jobs Will Return Quickly – From airlines to tradeshow workers, everyone is feeling the affect as the labor market is in distress and there’s only signs of future layoffs to come
- ‘We Were Treated Worse Than Animals’: Disaster Recovery Workers Confront COVID-19 – As climate driven disasters become more frequent, disaster responders are concerned that protocols are not being followed with lack of protective equipment and social distancing
July 8, 2020
- WHO Confirms There’s ‘Emerging Evidence’ Of Airborne Transmission Of Coronavirus – Scientists studying evidence whether people can catch the virus from droplets floating in the air
- The Lifeline Pipeline – With more than 100 vaccine candidates in development around the world and 15 in preliminary testing in people as of June, here are some of the drugs, vaccines and other therapies in development for COVID
- The US Is About To Reach 3 million Coronavirus Cases. Here’s What Happened In The Days Leading Up To It – With the future of the pandemic unclear for the US, concerns continue to increase as hospitals are overcrowded and people are waiting in lines for hours to receive a COVID test
- More States Require Masks In Public As COVID-19 Spreads, But Enforcement Lags – Many governors and mayors are requiring people to wear masks in public places, but some local police and sheriffs are refusing to enforce the rule due to a belief that it is infringing on constitutional rights
- Scientists Warn Of Potential Wave Of COVID-Linked Brain Damage – New evidence suggests that COVID can lead to severe neurological complications, including inflammation, psychosis and delirium
- School Openings Across Globe Suggest Ways To Keep Coronavirus At Bay, Despite Outbreaks – Outbreaks within schools is inevitable as many struggle to decide to return to school or have classes virtually. Plans are being reviewed which include social distancing and wearing masks
- Texas Sets State Record With More Than 10,000 New Coronavirus Cases Reported Tuesday – Texas reports more than 10,000 new cases yesterday, hitting its record for single-day increases and becoming the latest state to hit this milestone along with Florida and New York
July 7, 2020
- U.S. Government Awards Novavax $1.6 Billion For Coronavirus Vaccine – The U.S. government gives Novavax $1.6 billion to cover testing, commercialization and manufacturing of a potential coronavirus vaccine with the aim of delivering 100 million doses by January 2021
- Aerosols, Droplets, Fomites: What We Know About Transmission Of COVID-19 – According to the CDC and WHO, contact with respiratory droplets is the most common method of transmission for coronavirus. Research still continues regarding the spread through Aerosol (traveling through air currents most commonly indoors) and Formites (on service areas)
- Contact Tracing Is No Longer Possible Across The US South Due To Rapid Coronavirus Surges, Health Expert Says – Contact tracing is no longer possible in the South and Southwest due to the rapid surge in cases
- ICE: Foreign Students Must Leave The U.S. If Their Colleges Go Online-Only This Fall – To keep their student visa, international students are faced with the decision to transfer to a school with onsite classes and risk exposure to COVID or leave the country
- How Blood Type May Affect Your Coronavirus Risk – Although Type O seems to be more protected, people should not jump to conclusions that they are safer. The finding is helping scientists understand the virus more but does not conclude any immunity based on blood type and proper precautions should remain in place
- Melbourne To Reimpose Six-Week Coronavirus Lockdown As Australia Battles Potential Second Wave – With 127 new cases reported on Monday, Melbourne has implemented a lockdown to only permit people to leave their homes to grocery shop, caregive, exercise, or work. One densely populated area is not permitted to leave until all 3000 residents are tested
- U.N. Predicts Rise In Diseases That Jump From Animals To Humans Due To Habitat Loss – With meat consumption up 260% over the last half century, countries are urged to conserve wild life and regulate meat markets to prevent future outbreaks
July 6, 2020
- Hundreds Of Scientists Reportedly Claim WHO Is Downplaying Risk Of Airborne Spread Of Coronavirus – 239 scientists from 32 different countries are preparing to publish a letter to the WHO urging them to update its recommendations for the virus due to findings about it being airborne
- Pooling Coronavirus Tests Can Spare Scarce Supplies, But There’s A Catch – Combining test samples will allow labs to process twice the amount of tests however, it could result in diluted samples which may present false results. If a positive result is obtained, the lab will run each sample individually
- India Just Surpassed Russia To Become The Country With The 3rd-Highest Number Of Coronavirus Infections – With testing facilities not being able to keep up with demand, India and Russia struggle to contain the spread of COVID. India eased lockdown restrictions at the end of May when results indicate that they could not flatten the curve
- U.S. COVID-19 Deaths Near 130,000; Florida And Texas Report Record Case Numbers – Early reopenings in states such as Texas, Florida, and Arizona has caused a spike in number of COVID cases across the United States, with cases coming close to 3 million
- Florida’s Coronavirus Cases Top 200,000, Officials Announce – Due to a recent spike in COVID cases with over 200,000 cases in Florida the Governor decided to close all beaches down this past weekend to try to slow things down
- Tracking The Pandemic: Are Coronavirus Cases Rising Or Falling In Your State? – View charts, graphs and statistics on COVID cases per state in the U.S.
July 2, 2020
- Another Unwanted U.S. Record: 50,000 New Coronavirus Cases In 1 Day – In an effort to control the spread of the virus, Europe achieved 95% lockdown for citizens where the US has only been able to achieve 50%. The numbers are expected to continue to increase as inconsistent messages about face masks continues to be a topic of debate
- House Follows Senate In Passing Extension Of COVID-19 Business Loans – The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) was extended with $660 billion on Tuesday to help small businesses
- China Appears to Have Tamed a Second Wave of Coronavirus in Just 21 Days with No Deaths – After a second outbreak last month in Beijing, China appears to have gotten the breakout under control after a partial shutdown of the capital
- US Buys Up COVID Drug, As Some Countries Say Well-Stocked – The U.S. purchased 92% of all remdesivir production by Gilead laboratory until the end of September
- Drive-Through Naturalizations Make New U.S. Citizens In The COVID-19 Era – U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services put together a series of naturalization drive-through’s, where prospective citizen could take the final step toward citizenship, without leaving their cars
- Young People Are Throwing Coronavirus Parties With A Payout When One Gets Infected, Official Says – As parties and group gatherings continue to rise, some young Americans are making it a game for who contracts COVID first with a payout. Local lawmakers are furious as these parties are exponentially increasing the risk of exposure for attendees parents and grandparents
July 1, 2020
- ‘Going To Be Very Disturbing’: Fauci Warns Coronavirus Cases Could Reach 100K A Day – If precautionary measures such as social distancing and wearing masks do not remain in place, the number of positive cases will exponentially rise. Experts worry as states are reopening and the vaccine may not be available until early 2021
- EU Sets New List Of Approved Travel Partners. The U.S. Isn’t On It – With EU borders opening today, U.S. travelers are not on the list of welcomed visitors
- Green, Yellow, Orange or Red? This New Tool Shows COVID-19 Risk In Your County – Online risk assessment map allows people to check the state or county where they live and see a COVID risk rating of green, yellow, orange or red
- Schools Already Struggled With Cybersecurity. Then Came COVID-19 – School districts in the U.S already had significant cybersecurity shortcomings due to a lack of funding and skilled personnel. The pandemic has only amplified these risks as schools transitioned to online learning
- N.Y., N.J., and Connecticut Add Several States To List That Must Quarantine – As Governors within the 3 states have worked diligently to decrease COVID cases, advisement are being implemented to mandate a 2-week quarantine upon arrival from several states
- California Smashes State Coronavirus Record With Over 8,000 Confirmed Cases – California records its highest daily count for the third time in a just a week with over 8,000 infections and surpassing 6,000 deaths
June 30, 2020
- WHO Warns Coronavirus Pandemic Is Speeding Up As Countries Ease Lockdown Rules: ‘The Worst Is Yet To Come’ – The WHO announced that the pandemic is accelerating around the world as many countries that reopened their economies see a resurgence in COVID cases
- As Coronavirus Surges, How Much Testing Does Your State Need To Subdue The Virus? – The majority of states need to double the amount of daily testing as the nation’s totals are far below what is needed to contain the current outbreaks
- US Coronavirus: Many States Hit Pause On Reopening But Experts Say Spread Of Virus Is Hard To Control – Many businesses are forced to close again including restaurants and bars while fear increases that the number of hospital beds can become inadequate
- Birx Tells Governors She Wants To Try New Large-Scale COVID Testing Techniques – The number of cases sharply increasing after Memorial Day weekend including those for people under the age of 40; Governors are encourages to implement large testing techniques to best control the spread
- Arizona Issues New Shutdown Order As Coronavirus Cases Spike – With Arizona cases hitting record highs, the governor has issued a shutdown of all state bars, gyms, movie theaters and water parks
June 29, 2020
- Global COVID-19 Deaths Top 500,000 – With 4% of the population, the US accounts for 25% of the COVID cases and deaths as the world reaches the glim milestone of 10M confirmed cases
- Fauci Says Covid-19 Vaccine May Not Get US To Herd Immunity If Too Many People Refuse To Get It – With a vaccine being studied over the next 3 months, Fauci indicates that he would be happy with 70-75% efficacy to help with herd immunity. Some Americans indicate that they will not get the vaccine when available which will make it difficult to quell the outbreak
- ‘Window Is Closing’ For US To Get Coronavirus Under Control, Trump’s HHS Secretary Warns – With states seeing record numbers of hospitalizations, Health and Human Services Secretary, Alex Azar, is warning that the time to get this pandemic under control is closing
- How Coronavirus Could Widen The Gender Wage Gap – Unemployment for women has surpassed men as households are having to evaluate which partner earns the most leaving the other to focus on childcare and other household duties
- Houston Hospitals Stop Reporting COVID-19-Related Data After Reaching Base ICU Capacity: Report – As Texas continues to see a sharp incline with 5% new cases reported daily, some hospitals no longer including information regarding ICU capacity
- Coronavirus: Swift And Dangerous Turn In Texas Cases, Says Governor – COVID cases in Texas have spiked with the daily average of new cases going from 2000 a day to 5000
June 26, 2020
- This Coronavirus Doesn’t Change Quickly, And That’s Good News For Vaccine Makers – Scientists are monitoring the virus for genetic changes that could make a vaccine ineffective but they are not seeing any
- Scientists Just Beginning To Understand The Many Health Problems Caused By COVID-19 – After months of treating the disease, scientists are examining the impact on other vital organs such as the heart, kidneys, and brain as more neurological problems are uncovered
- CDC: At Least 20 Million Americans Have Had Coronavirus. Here’s Who’s At Highest Risk – The CDC estimates that for every case reported, there actually were 10 other infections which would be at least 20 million people not accounted for
- 100 Percent Of Regular ICU Beds In Texas Medical Center Occupied, But Hospitals Have Space For Surge – More than 1 in 4 ICU patients are being treated for COVID which causes hospitals to shift the balance of care. However it is not unheard of for hospitals to be at 80-90% capacity
- Texas And Florida Pause Reopening More Business As Cases Surge – Number of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations in Texas continue to rise so the state has decided to pause their efforts for reopening
- Coronavirus Mortgage Bailouts Suddenly Swell As Homeowners Face New Struggles – As part of the CARES act, the mortgage bailout allows borrowers to miss payments for at least 3 months. As more requests are being submitted, the loan forbearance plan accounts for 8.8% of active mortgages or $1 trillion in unpaid principal
June 25, 2020
- COVID-19 Is Increasing At Warp Speed In The US – With different reopening plans, different assessments of data, different timelines, states are experiencing large increases in positive cases as the disease continues to spread across state lines
- U.S. Hits Highest Single Day Of New Coronavirus Cases With More Than 45,500, Breaking April Record – Yesterday, the U.S. hit a record number of cases in a single day, with 45, 557 reported
- With COVID-19 Cases Rising, Some States Slow Their Reopening Plans – Several governors, largely in the South and West, have opted to postpone the next phase of their states’ reopening due to cases numbers surging
- Both Chambers Of Congress Back For First Time During Pandemic Amid Questions On Tests – Contract tracing has shown that a large number of cases are linked to parties versus rallies or protests. Results are showing 2 out of 3 people over the age of 29 are contracting the disease
- Both Chambers Of Congress Back For First Time During Pandemic Amid Questions On Tests – With Congress rationing tests, the House has approved proxy voting and video conferencing as the capital has seen a large influx of cases in mid-June
- Tri-State to Require Visitors From COVID Hotspots To Quarantine – New York, New Jersey and Connecticut are implementing a mandatory quarantine on visitors to their states from viral hotspots
- Walt Disney World Employees Petition To Delay Reopening As Coronavirus Cases Surge In Florida – As the number of cases continue to surge in Florida, more than 7,000 people have signed an online petition urging Disney to reconsider opening
June 24, 2020
- E.U. May Block Travelers From America As U.S. Struggles To Contain Coronavirus – E.U. diplomats are saying that when their borders reopen, they might block incoming travelers from the U.S. because the number of cases is still too high
- The Federal Government Is Ending Funding For Coronavirus Test Sites In 5 States As Trump Claims The US Is Testing Too Much – Federal government is ending funding/support for 13 testing sites in five states including Texas who is currently seeing a record spike in cases
- What Parents Can Learn From Child Care Centers That Stayed Open During Lockdowns – The YMCA has remained open to care for essential workers children and instituted “quick start” guides for each facility to keep children and staff safe. Protocols such as temperature checks and “pods” of no more than 9 children per worker were put in place as early as March
- Is It Safe To Use A Public Bathroom During Coronavirus? – Experts say if you take the right precautions and avoid any lines, it is safe to use a public restroom during the pandemic
- Baseball Is Coming Back For A Pandemic-Shortened 2020 Season – Major league baseball and it’s player association have came to an agreement to play a 60 game season starting on either July 23 or 24
- 5,489 New COVID-19 Cases: Texas Reports All-Time Daily High – Texas advising residents to stay home when possible and wear masks as the numbers are continuing to increase by threefold
June 23, 2020
- Fauci And CDC Director Redfield To Testify At House Coronavirus Oversight Hearing – Government officials including Dr. Anthony Fauci and CDC Director Dr. Robert Redfield will be testifying today at a House oversight hearing on the Trump administration’s response to the current pandemic
- Study Suggests 80% Of COVID-19 Cases In The US Went Undetected In March – A new study in the journal Science Translational Medicine suggests that as many as 8.7 million Americans came down with coronavirus in March, but more than 80% of them were never diagnosed
- Your Immunity To Coronavirus Might Only Last This Long, Study Says – Immunity levels to COVID-19 survivors have been found to drop sharply 2 to 3 months after being infected according to a newly published study
- As Cases Rise, Pence Warns Young People Increasingly Catching Coronavirus – Vice President Mike Pence warns of uptick in coronavirus cases in people under 35
- Experts Predict What A Second Wave Of Coronavirus Will Be Like – Experts suggest the possibility that the first wave will continue to swell, with daily cases and death counts rising and falling in particular areas, until the population eventually achieves herd immunity ― which seems unlikely without a widely available vaccine. With that said, there may not be a “second wave”
- Some Public Health Officials Are Resigning Amid Threats During The Covid-19 Pandemic – The backlash toward health officials has taken its toll: At least 24 public health officials across the country have either resigned, retired or been fired from the positions during the Covid-19 pandemic, the National Association of City and County Health Officials (NACCHO) said Monday
June 22, 2020
- WHO Reports Biggest One-Day Rise In Coronavirus Cases To Date – Yesterday, the WHO reported the largest single-day increase in cases ever with over 183,000 with Brazil, the US and India leading in numbers
- 12 States Have Set Record Highs In New COVID-19 Cases Since Friday – A dozen states have seen record highs of new COVID-19 cases since Friday, an ABC News analysis has found. The states that saw the increase were Florida, Texas, Utah, South Carolina, Nevada, Georgia, Missouri, Montana, Arizona, California, Tennessee and Oklahoma
- COVID-19’s Impact On Passports, Global Entry, TSA PreCheck – The New York Times reported that the U.S. Passport service has accumulated a backlog of 1.7 million unprocessed passport renewals and applications since the State Department closed down most of its operations on March 19, 2020. Passport renewals could take as long as four months
- Yes Wearing Masks Helps. Here’s Why – There is more evidence that wearing masks help reduce the spread of COVID-19. Researchers emphasize that there is evidence that there is some protection for the wearer of masks, but stronger evidence that masks protect others from catching the infection from the person wearing the mask
- What We Know – and Really Don’t Know – About The Future Of Covid-19 Vaccines – An overview of the race to find an effective vaccine for COVID-19, there are over 135 vaccines in development, with 16 in human trial phases
- Thai Trials Of COVID-19 Vaccine Reach Make-Or-Break Stage – Scientist in Saraburi, Thailand are testing a second dose of a COVID-19 vaccine on monkeys in hopes that they will receive a positive response and can start testing it on humans as soon as October
June 19, 2020
- China Finds Heavy Coronavirus Traces In Seafood, Meat Sections Of Beijing Food Market – More than 100 people have become infected and it has been traced back to a meat and seafood wholesale food market in Beijing
- Coronavirus Was Already In Italy By December, Waste Water Study Finds – Evidence collected through wastewater lead investigators to believe COVID had been in Italy along with other EU countries
- India Reports Record Spike In COVID-19 Cases, But Nixes Another Nationwide Lockdown – A record spike of COVID cases has taken place in India with over 12,000 new cases reported. However India’s prime minister announced there is no plan for another shutdown
- Members Of Congress Ask Why More Coronavirus Aid Hasn’t Been Spent On Nursing Homes – With little over half of the required infection control inspections completed, nursing home funding through CARES appears to only be allocated to a handful of states and many nursing homes are still lacking the PPE required to protect staff
- Insurers May Only Pay For Coronavirus Tests When They’re ‘Medically Necessary’ – Health care providers worry about covering the cost of testing as nursing home staff are required to test weekly in many states and companies may mandate testing in order to return to work
- CDC Issues Recommendations To Help Protect Beachgoers From Covid-19 Spread – Suggestions from the CDC for vacationers include remaining remain 6 feet apart when possible, wearing face coverings (except when swimming), and do not share food, equipment, or toys with anyone other than those you live with
- Flights Canceled, Communities Fenced Off As Coronavirus’ Return Plunges Beijing Into “Soft Lockdown” – With a new outbreak in Beijing, communities have been locked down and closed off, flights canceled and schools have closed in an attempt to stop the spread
- Coronavirus Spikes Bring States And Cities Back To The Table To Discuss Protection Measures – Leaders developing plans to protect both our health and the economy which may include mandating masks. Some argue that the social distancing time frame was not enough and that’s why the numbers are accelerating
- California Gov. Newsom Makes Face Masks Mandatory Amid Rising Coronavirus Cases – As hospital numbers continue to rise, Gov. Newsom mandates residents to wear face masks in public places. Exceptions exist for children under 2 or when dining at restaurants as long as the 6 feet social distancing is maintained
June 18, 2020
- Amid Confusion About Reopening, An Expert Explains How To Assess COVID-19 Risk – Epidemiologist Michael Osterholm discusses important topics such as anticipating a second wave, conflicting messaging of some states reopening while others remain locked down and how to assess risk based on general airflow
- As States Reopen, Do They Have The Workforce They Need To Stop Coronavirus Outbreaks? – Only seven states are staffed with enough contact tracers to the level public health researchers say is needed to contain outbreaks
- Ginkgo Bioworks CEO On Scaling Up Covid-19 Testing: ‘If We Try, We Can Win’ – If approved, the technology would allow saliva-based testing to be performed which would result in a half million tests being processed daily
- Certain Blood Type May Limit Risk From COVID-19, Other May Hurt, Study Suggests – Study indicates type O blood has a lower risk of infection compared to type A which is higher risk
- Florida, Arizona And Texas Set Records For New COVID-19 Cases – States such as Florida, Arizona, and Texas are starting to see large increases in number of COVID-19 cases shorty after reopening states
- Bank Of England Adds Another £100 Billion To Bond-Buying Program To Combat Coronavirus Slowdown – In an effort to avoid having interest rates in negative territory, rates are currently holding at 0.1% as the UK economy attempts to recover
- Canada- U.S. Border To Remain Closed To Non-Essential Travel Until July 21 – Border closure extended until July 21st to prevent the transmission of coronavirus from US to Canada but will now allow immediate family members to cross border
June 17, 2020
- WHO Moves To Update COVID-19 Guidance After “Great News” In Drug Study – Preliminary results for dexamethasone, most commonly used for arthritis, seem favorable as the drug has cut death rates by 1/3 in critically ill patients
- Tracking The Pandemic: Are Coronavirus Cases Rising Or Falling In Your State? – With coronavirus hitting some states harder than others, track the weekly trends per state and average new cases per day by state
- The Rich Have Stopped Spending And That’s Tanked The Economy – Wealthy Americans are not spending their discretionary income like before the pandemic and this is hurting the economy
- New Zealand Coronavirus: Two New Cases Reported After UK Travelers Test Positive – After 24 day’s with no new COVID-19 cases, New Zealand reports two women have tested positive
- Brazil Reports Big Surge In Coronavirus Infections – The number of COVID-19 cases in Brazil has spiked with over 35,0000 new cases reported over a 24 hour span Tuesday
- China Races To Contain A Second Wave Of Coronavirus Cases In Beijing – Beijing is struggling to contain a second outbreak after two months of no new cases
- Navy Calls 1,629 Reservists To Shipyards Left Shorthanded By COVID-19 Pandemic – Four shipyards have mobilized reservists to help with the backlog as 25% of the workforce has been unable to report for duty due to COVID
June 16, 2020
- CDC Report Offers Detailed Demographic Breakdown Of Who Is Getting Coronavirus – With community transmissions of COVID still ongoing, 6 states report a 50% jump in the past week. CDC confirms pandemic still appears to be severe in certain demographic groups
- Under 20s Around Half As Susceptible To COVID-19, Study Finds – New research shows that clinical symptoms of COVID appear in only about a fifth of infections in kids and teens
- Is This The Second Wave Of COVID-19 In The U.S.? Or Are We Still In The First? – First wave is considered passed when community spread does not occur for one to two weeks. Another big surge is dependent upon the actions of people to follow guidelines
- Airlines Say They Will Ramp Up Enforcement Of Face Covering Policies – Airlines will begin to enforce their policy on face coverings and if you do not comply, you could be put on a no-fly list
- With Tax Deadline Looming, IRS Faces Backlog As It Transitions Out Of COVID-19 Crisis – With the extended deadline for filing tax returns begins July 15, many federal workers are being called back into their offices because the IRS is incredibly behind
- African Countries Are Still Waiting For A Surge In Covid-19 Cases. Some Public Health Experts Question Whether It Will Happen – Swift action taken by leaders across the continent helped to contain the spread. South Africa closed their economy and schools before reaching 100 confirmed cases and with sparse roadways, the disease does not have an opportunity to spread
June 15, 2020
- Coronavirus 2nd Wave? Nope, The U.S. Is Still Stuck In The 1st One – The U.S. has not gotten through the current first way of infections and it is predicted that a slow but steady accumulation of deaths will continue until Oct. 1
- Record Spikes In New Coronavirus Cases, Hospitalizations Sweep Parts Of U.S. – Increased hospitalizations confirm fears that the virus is continuing to spread even as states are reopening. Fear a rollback may be imminent
- “Totally Predictable”: State Reopenings Have Backfired – Around the US many states are starting to see a rise in number of cases after many states pushed for early reopenings in May
- 4 Main Factors Determine Your Risk Of Getting The Coronavirus In Any Situation. Here’s How Daily Activities Stack Up. – Enclosed spaces, crowds, close contact with others and difficulty social distancing are four factors that raise your risk of catching the virus
- More Than 40,000 Cruise Ship Workers Still Stranded At Sea Amid Coronavirus Pandemic – With country boarders closed, cruise ships have faced difficulty getting crew members home safe which has taken a toll on their mental health
- Health Experts Link Rise In Arizona Coronavirus Cases To End Of Stay-At-Home Order – Experts linked Arizona’s surge in cases to the state lifting it’s stay-at-home order last month. Their weekly average of daily cases nearly tripling from two weeks ago
June 12, 2020
- Study: 100% Face Mask Use Could Crush Second, Third COVID-19 Wave – With worries of a second and third wave of COVID-19 hitting in the upcoming months researcher are now saying wearing masks might be more important in preventing this then they had thought
- ‘This Is About Livelihoods’: U.S. Virus Hotspots Reopen Despite Second Wave Specter – With high unemployment rates, governors of states that are hotspots continue to reopen which is creating a fear of a second wave of infections
- Few N95 Masks, Reused Gowns: Dire PPE Shortages Reveal COVID-19’s Racial Divide – Shortages of PPE at hospitals is causing staff to reuse equipment for days or weeks as they see prices soaring for medical equipment
- First Known U.S. Lung Transplant For COVID-19 Patient Performed In Chicago – For the first time doctors in the US have been able to successfully conduct a double lung transplant on a COVID-19 patient
- No New COVID-19 Cases Reported After Infected Hair Stylists Saw 140 Clients – The diagnosis of the two stylists at the same Great Clips in Springfield, Missouri, last month raised fears that 140 customers may have been exposed. This is great news showing the value of wearing masks and protective measures
- Florida Breaks Record For New Coronavirus Cases – Florida has reported its highest number of new cases which is 20% higher than the old daily high
June 11, 2020
- U.S. Hits 2 Million Coronavirus Cases As Many States See A Surge Of Patients – The U.S. surpassed 2 million confirmed cases while over 20 states are seeing a rise in cases as restrictions continues to ease across the country
- US Human Trials Begin For First Antibody Cocktail That Might Treat And Prevent COVID-19 – A new medicine that might be the first real treatment for COVID-19 is now being tested in multiple locations across the United States
- ‘Are You Immune?’ The New Class System That Could Shape The COVID-19 World – Depending on how authorities, business and society at large respond, experts predict that if survivors are found to be immune, they could be entitled to greater freedoms
- United Airlines Adds A Step To Check-In: Stating You Don’t Have COVID-19 Symptoms – Airline is taking steps to ensure the safety of it’s passengers including a ‘Ready-to-fly’ checklist which passengers must acknowledge
- Coronavirus: Renewed Push For ‘Travel Corridors’ – Business groups are asking for more detail on how and when the government will agree travel corridors with countries with low infection rates, so passengers on certain routes will not have to self-isolate for two weeks when they arrive in the UK
- Senate Panel Asks: When Can K-12 Schools Safely Reopen? – Schools will require federal funding to support additional cleaning and precautions required to reopen as they plan for a mix of physical and virtual classes
June 10, 2020
- 19 States See Rising Coronavirus Cases And Arizona Is Asking Its Hospitals To Activate Emergency Plans – States do not believe they are out of the woods and fear an increase in COVID cases following protests. Although multiple vaccines are expected, experts worry about the amount of people that will not get vaccinated which will impact herd immunity
- Amid Confusion, WHO Clarifies That COVID-19 Can Be Spread Without Symptoms – A WHO expert clarified that COVID can be spread by asymptomatic people, a day after they sparked confusion by saying such a spread was ‘very rare’
- Gundlach Warns Of White-Collar Layoffs As Covid-19 Reveals Who’s ‘Swimming Naked’ – With more companies working from home and evaluating spend, companies are starting to cut senior and middle management as there’s more visibility on who’s doing the “heavy lifting”
- When You Can’t Quarantine At Home: COVID-19 Contact Tracers Aim To Help – Within 24 hours of testing positive for COVID, contact tracers reach out to patients to determine others that may potentially be infected
- U.N. Chief: Security Council Gridlock Blocks Effective Coronavirus Response – Since each country is managing their response to COVID, there’s no unity in their responses and it’s become difficult for the U.N. to distribute aid
- From Rent Freezes To Liquor Buybacks: How States Are Helping People Cope – With millions of Americans currently unemployed, states are coming to their aid by offering different types of help such as grants to help pay your bills or allowing security deposits to be used towards your rent payment
June 9, 2020
- It’s Official: Recession Began In February, Ending Longest U.S. Expansion Ever – The U.S. economy officially entered a recession in February as COVID-19 began to spread across the country. This ended the longest expansion on record
- More Than Half Of States May Be Undercounting Coronavirus Cases By Not Following CDC Guidelines – 28 states are not following the CDC guidelines by not reporting probable COVID-19 cases
- Asymptomatic Spread Of Coronavirus Is ‘Very Rare,’ WHO Says – Focus needs to be on detecting and isolating infected people as results indicate it’s rare for an asymptomatic person to spread the virus
- Satellite Images Of Wuhan May Suggest Coronavirus Was Spreading As Early As August – Images of hospital parking lots along with searches for gastrointestinal disease indicate that activities were increased in China before when originally reported
- Texas Medical Center Sees 40 Percent Increase In Coronavirus Hospitalizations – As Texas continues to lighten restrictions, hospitals are concerned about the growth in new patients following the protests and restaurants being allowed to increase capacity
- Apple Adds Anonymous Symptom And Health Info Sharing To Its COVID-19 App And Website – Apple adds a new feature to their app/website allowing users to anonymously share info (age existing health conditions, symptoms, potential exposure risks & state they live in) that will be used to help inform the CDC and public health agencies
June 8, 2020
- Coronavirus News And Updates: Global Deaths Top 400K – Worldwide coronavirus deaths surpassed 400,000 including more than 110,000 fatalities in the U.S.
- Scarred And Scared: Post-Covid Consumers Not Their Old Selves – As lockdowns begin to lift, consumers are being more thrift-conscious than before
- The US Government’s Supply Of The Only Proven Covid-19 Drug Runs Out At The End Of The Month – The last shipment for remdesivir is set to ship the last week in June but it’s unclear when it will be available again this summer
- With No Active Covid-19 Cases, New Zealand Is Lifting Almost All Its Coronavirus Restrictions – All coronavirus restrictions are being lifted in New Zealand after the country has reported no active cases
- The Office Elevator In COVID Times: Experts Weigh In On Safer Ups And Downs – As offices are reopening, many cannot avoid the need to ride the elevator so “pack a mask, sanitizer and tissues or a toothpick”. Avoid touching surfaces and stand in the corner for the short ride
- COVID-19 Outbreak In Pacific Northwest Seafood Industry As Season Ramps Up – State pushes ahead even though there have been confirmed COVID cases among seafood workers with one ship having 3/4 of the crew testing positive
June 5, 2020
- CDC Is Worried Americans Aren’t Following Its Advice As The Number Of U.S. Coronavirus Cases Continues To Rise – The CDC is ‘very concerned’ that their advice isn’t resonating with the American public as the number of cases continues to rise
- US Coronavirus Deaths: Over 1,000 Reported In The Past 24 Hours – In a little over a week, Americans have gone from taking their first hesitant steps outside again to marching in tightly-packed crowds in cities all over the country. Experts fear that the presence of the virus over time may lead some people to lower their guards
- As America Struggles To Return To Work, Staggering Unemployment Numbers Loom – While many states in the U.S. begin to reopen, the unemployment rate is the highest it has ever been in 80 years
- Report: NBA Won’t Shut Down If Player Tests Positive For Coronavirus – Once reopened, sports will not shut down again if a player tests positive for coronavirus. This is likely the new norm
- India, Pakistan Record Big Jump In Coronavirus Cases – The 2 countries saw the highest number of cases on Friday as they reopen their economy with no end in sight for when the increase will peak
- NYC Hits Hopeful Milestone: Zero Confirmed Coronavirus Deaths For First Day Since March – For the first day since March, New York City has zero confirmed deaths due to coronavirus
June 4, 2020
- WHO Set To Resume Hydroxychloroquine Trial In Battle Against COVID-19 – The WHO will continue its trial of hydroxychloroquine for potential use against COVID-19 after those running the study briefly stopped giving it out due to health concerns
- Senate Approves House-Passed Paycheck Protection Program Reform Bill – The House and Senate approved the PPP reform bill which gives business owners more flexibility/time to use loan money and still get it forgiven
- Five Ways To Empower Wellness In Remote Working – Business owners are encouraged to empower wellness while remote working. Changes in the workplace are a leading cause of stress, which can have adverse effects on the immune system
- Fauci Says It’s Time To Think About Reopening Schools – Fauci said it’s not premature to start the conversation about reopening schools now
- CDC Creates New Color-Coded System To Designate Ships With Potential Coronavirus Exposure – In order to help with the debarkations of crew members, CDC creates new color coded system to designate ships with potential coronavirus exposure. No cruise line reopening dates have been established
June 3, 2020
- Millions Of Americans Skipping Payments As Tidal Wave Of Defaults And Evictions Looms – Fears increase with no federal guidelines over repayment for debt on credit cards, auto loans, installment loans, etc
- Protesting In A Pandemic: COVID-19 Testing Sites Shut Down Amid National Unrest – Testing sites had to temporarily shut down due to protests across the country. These closures could hamper efforts to control the virus
- Is It Safe Yet To Get Your Physical Or A Dental Checkup? – While offices are being cleaned regularly, here are questions to ask before visiting your medical provider
- Airport Fever Screenings For Coronavirus Raise Racial Discrimination, Privacy Concerns – Concerns over TSA performing screenings when untrained by medical professionals and others worried that fever may be indicator of an issue other than COVID
- Top Medical Journal Raises Concerns About Data In Two Studies Related To COVID-19 – Errors found in data collected during studies on heart drugs and hydroxychloroquine including number of patients
- Wuhan Tests Nearly 10M Citizens In 10 Days – Mass testing began after 6 new cases reported in May
June 2, 2020
- First Human Trial Of Potential Antibody Treatment For COVID-19 Begins – Eli Lilly’s “Lucky triple 5” testing has begun with results will be expected in late June to identify whether the therapy is safe and well tolerated
- CDC – Preparing For Hurricanes During The COVID-19 Pandemic – The CDC has provided tips to help people stay safe during hurricane season this year with the pandemic
- Protesting Racism Versus Risking COVID-19: ‘I Wouldn’t Weigh These Crises Separately’ – Health experts support demonstrations and urge protesters to not sing or yell but rather hold signs and use noise makers instead to prevent the spread
- ICUs Become A ‘Delirium Factory’ For COVID-19 Patients – The pandemic has made it harder to test and trace neurological issues that may be linked to COVID-19
- The Government Counts 26,000 COVID-19 Deaths In Nursing Homes. That’s At Least 14,000 Deaths Too Low – Numbers of cases within nursing homes are expected to be much higher as 3000 nursing homes have yet to submit data and cases prior to May are not required to be reported
- Can You Catch COVID-19 From Delivered Packages? – While there’s no precedent of transmission through a delivered package, COVID can last up to 24 hours on cardboard so continue to wash your hands after handling packages
June 2, 2020
- First Human Trial Of Potential Antibody Treatment For COVID-19 Begins – Eli Lilly’s “Lucky triple 5” testing has begun with results will be expected in late June to identify whether the therapy is safe and well tolerated
- CDC – Preparing For Hurricanes During The COVID-19 Pandemic – The CDC has provided tips to help people stay safe during hurricane season this year with the pandemic
- Protesting Racism Versus Risking COVID-19: ‘I Wouldn’t Weigh These Crises Separately’ – Health experts support demonstrations and urge protesters to not sing or yell but rather hold signs and use noise makers instead to prevent the spread
- ICUs Become A ‘Delirium Factory’ For COVID-19 Patients – The pandemic has made it harder to test and trace neurological issues that may be linked to COVID-19
- The Government Counts 26,000 COVID-19 Deaths In Nursing Homes. That’s At Least 14,000 Deaths Too Low – Numbers of cases within nursing homes are expected to be much higher as 3000 nursing homes have yet to submit data and cases prior to May are not required to be reported
- Can You Catch COVID-19 From Delivered Packages? – While there’s no precedent of transmission through a delivered package, COVID can last up to 24 hours on cardboard so continue to wash your hands after handling packages
June 1, 2020
- A Busy Hurricane Season And The Coronavirus Pandemic ‘Is A Cataclysmic Scenario’ – The combination of an ongoing pandemic and a forecasted busy hurricane season could be a cataclysmic scenario
- Active Hurricane Season Forecast, Coronavirus Adds New Twist To Disaster Response For AT&T – Emergency managers are retooling disaster plans to take into account the pandemic along with a predicted above normal hurricane season. Read how AT&T’s DR team is dealing with this issue
- Masks Are Here To Stay, Even After COVID Goes Away – Masks play a vital role in prevention and containment so masks may be necessary at times after this pandemic subsides
- Houses Passes PP Loan Forgiveness Bill, Treasury Issues Harsh Forgiveness Regulations – What You Need To Know – Bill addresses concerns expressed by small businesses regarding payroll and funds available
- Sign Here First: U.S. Salons, Gyms, Offices Require Coronavirus Waivers – In an effort to avoid lawsuits, businesses are requiring waivers before receiving services
- European Union Leaders Urge U.S. To Remain In WHO – EU and the WHO want to remain focused on the one enemy and ensure all global leaders are aligned
- Should I Get Tested For Coronavirus Just For The Heck Of It?– While tests are available now, results may be misleading
May 29, 2020
- ‘We All Feel At Risk’: 100,000 People Dead From COVID-19 In The U.S. – US accounts for one third of COVID-19 deaths globally with over 100,000 deaths
- How The Pandemic In U.S. Compares With Rest Of World – An overview of the coronavirus outbreak and how the US compares to the rest of the world
- With The Coronavirus Pandemic Entering A New Phase In The U.S., World Health Experts Shift Focus To New Hot Spots – Although on the decline, projected deaths in US will exceed 115,000 in June and WHO is focusing on new hot spots in Russia, Africa and the Americas
- De Blasio Excepts New York City To Head Back To Work Next Month – NYC mayor, Bill de Blasio, expects residents will return to work next month as restrictions are eased
- Colleges Face Student Lawsuits Seeking Refunds After Coronavirus Closures – Students filing lawsuits for refunds as their semesters were cut short due to coronavirus
- Thinking About Traveling Again? Here’s How To Assess The Risks – Assessing the risks of traveling as restrictions are eased
- Science vs. COVID-19: Vaccine Trial Wins And Other Hopeful Findings – An update on vaccine and therapy candidates as they progress through clinical trials
May 28, 2020
Chemistry and infectious diseases experts say individuals need to do more than stay six feet apart to control the spread of COVID-19. New data from the CDC indicates that close to 300 US health care workers have died from COVID-19. Jobless claims in the US are expected to hit a record high in mid-May. Larger unemployment checks as part of the CARES Act may hinder the incentive to seek work, further hurting the economy. Pay cuts have been enacted for many Americans who have kept their jobs during the pandemic. Disney World and several other Florida-base theme parks look to reopen in the coming weeks.
- Coronavirus Has Killed More Than 100,000 People In The U.S. In Less Than Four Months – With the death toll still rising, expert are saying that six feet apart is not enough and that a change in behavior is more crucial than a vaccine
- COVID-19 Has Killed Close To 300 U.S. Health Care Workers, New Data From CDC Shows – More than 60,000 health care workers have been infected and close to 300 have died
- New Wave Of U.S. Layoffs Feared As Coronavirus Pain Deepens – Given the reopening of states, we might be in an extended period of high unemployment which means recovery will be slower and will take a lot longer
- Fatter Unemployment Checks Are Hurting The COVID-19 Economic Recovery: Goldman – Many jobless workers are bringing home more money right now from being unemployed than they would have working. This will reduce incentive to seek work as the economy begins to reopen
- Salaries Get Chopped For Many Americans Who Manage To Keep Jobs – Many companies have cut employees salaries which may delay U.S. recovery
- Disney World And Other Florida Theme Parks Outline Reopening Plans – Disney World and SeaWorld have received approval to reopen their parks. Both plan to limit attendance, and guests/employees will undergo temperature checks upon arrival and face coverings will be required. Interactions will be contact-free and sanitation stations will be throughout the parks
May 27, 2020
The CDC provides updated guidance on when it is safe to leave quarantine if you have been infected with COVID-19. CDC now warns that it may be possible to spread coronavirus on surfaces. Mask use will influence the future of the pandemic. According to the CDC, anti-body tests for coronavirus may be wrong up to 50% of the time. Senate Majority Leader, Mitch McConnell says Congress will “probably” need to pass more legislation to mitigate damage from pandemic. The SEC is cracking down on coronavirus misconduct as a result of an increase in whistleblower tips. Experts explain why many are feeling anxious as stay-at-home orders are lifted.
- When Can You Be Around Others? CDC Updates Coronavirus Guidance – The CDC’s updated guidance on when it’s safe to leave quarantine, as well as consumer friendly guidance on using public transit and ride shares as states loosen restrictions on opening schools, businesses and leaving home
- CDC Warns It ‘May Be Possible’ For Coronavirus To Spread On Surfaces, In New Shift – Last week, the CDC said the virus does not spread easily by touching surfaces or objects. This week, they came out and said it is possible to contract the virus from touching a surface or object that has the virus on it, and then touching your face
- Path Ahead For Pandemic Could Be Shaped By Masks While The U.S. Death Toll Inches Closer To 100,000 – There is clear evidence that wearing masks works and what happens in the next two months is in the hands of how people respond
- Antibody Tests For COVID-19 Wrong Up To Half The Time, CDC Says – The CDC says tests are not accurate enough to use to make important policy decisions and should not be used to make decisions about returning persons to the workplace
- Congress Will ‘Probably’ Have To Pass Another Coronavirus Stimulus Bill, Mitch McConnell Says – The current package that Democrats approved ($3 trillion) will not be passed by Republicans. McConnell says a measure to lift the U.S. economy would have a more narrow scope than the $3 trillion package
- Armed With Whistleblower Tips, SEC Cracks Down On Coronavirus Misconduct – SEC reported since the pandemic started, they’ve seen a 35% increase in complaints
- Why Do We Feel Uneasy About A ‘New Normal’ – Experts explain why many of us feel uneasy about our looming return to work
May 26, 2020
World Health Organization is temporarily suspending its clinical trials using hydroxychloroquine over safety concerns. Inflammatory syndrome tied to COVID-19 is now showing up in young adults. Experts weigh-in on the COVID-19 exposure risk associated with common summer activities. The NYSE floor reopens after two month closure due to coronavirus concerns. Frequently asked questions related to COVID-19 addressed by HR professionals. Peru becomes a coronavirus hotspot despite putting restrictive measures in place. In the United Kingdom, the drug remdesivir is approved for use in select patients. In Canada, some businesses are implementing a COVID-19 surcharge to cover increased costs.
- WHO Halts Hydroxychloroquine Trial Over Safety Concerns – New reports are showing that patients getting the drug were dying at higher rates than other coronavirus patients.
- Mysterious Inflammatory Syndrome Tied To COVID-19 Is Showing Up In Adults In Their Early 20s – This new syndrome that has been mainly reported in children is now turning up in young adults. The older ones are having more severe cases and there is fear that many cases are going undiagnosed since doctors have never seen this syndrome before
- From Camping To Dining Out: Here’s How Experts Rate The Risks Of 14 Summer Activities – Since there is no such thing as a zero risk outing right now, see how experts rate the risks of summer activities such as backyard gatherings and eating indoors at a restaurant
- NYSE Floor Reopens After Coronavirus Shuts Historic Big Board For Two Months – NYSE partially reopens the trading floor today with a new set of safety and legal requirements
- Explaining A Layoff Caused By COVID-19: Ask HR – A human resource expert is interviewed by USA TODAY to help tackle your HR related questions around COVID-19
- Peru Seemed To Do Everything Right. So How Did It Become A COVID-19 Hotspot? – Peru took strict preventative measures like stay-at-home orders, curfews and border closings. Peru’s poor was the hardest hit since they have no choice but to venture outside their homes for work, food or even banking transactions
- UK Authorizes Anti-Viral Drug Remdesivir – This drug has appeared to shorten recovery time for people with coronavirus. UK regulators say there is enough evidence to approve its use in selected hospital patients
- ‘This Is Not Business As Usual’: You May Start Seeing A COVID-19 Surcharge On Your Receipts – Hair salons and restaurants in Canada are among the first to embrace a ‘COVID Fee’ to help cover the costs of PPE for employees and increased sanitation measures
May 22, 2020
The Centers for Disease Control estimate that 35% of coronavirus infections are asymptomatic. The World Health Organization says the immunity passports are unworkable due to a number of flaws. The US military will no longer ban COVID-19 survivors from serving in its ranks. US consumers are spending differently during the pandemic. Theme parks in Florida are preparing to reopen by putting protective measures in place. British coronavirus vaccine study will expand its human trials to 10,000 participants.
- CDC says 35% Of Coronavirus Infections Are Asymptomatic – The agency warns that these numbers are subject to change as we begin to learn more about the virus
- Coronavirus ‘Immunity Passports’ Are A Terrible Idea That Could Backfire, Experts Warn – The WHO and experts warn against this for multiple reasons such as that the tests are unreliable, they are not available for everyone, invasion of privacy and discrimination
- U.S. Military Will No Longer Ban COVID-19 Survivors From Serving – They have rescinded the rules the military put into place in the beginning of May banning people who have been hospitalized by COVID-19
- How U.S. Consumers Are Spending Differently During COVID-19 – See graphs on how consumers have changed how they are spending money during this pandemic
- Florida Theme Parks Getting Ready To Reopen With Anti-Coronavirus Measures – Their measures to keep guests and employees safe are temperature checks, masks (not mandatory at some parks), available hand sanitizer, contactless ordering in restaurants and much more
- Human Trials Of British Coronavirus Vaccine To Reach 10,000 – Oxford University and AstraZeneca are recruiting around 10,000 adults and children for trials of the vaccine
May 21, 2020
The Centers for Disease Control has released new guidelines advising that all babies born to mothers with coronavirus be tested. The success of a coronavirus vaccine will depend on global cooperation. A top US scientist warns that a vaccine for coronavirus is not guaranteed. A new poll shows that a quarter of Americans are apprehensive about receiving a COVID-19 vaccine. The CDC now states that although it may be possible, coronavirus does not spread easily by touching contaminated surfaces. Four states have been including viral and antibody test results to their totals, possibly skewing their testing ability. South America coronavirus cases now surpass new cases in the US and Europe.
- CDC Advises To Test All Babies Born To Moms With Coronavirus – New guidelines for newborns delivered to women with COVID-19 infections, confirmed or suspected, should be tested
- Why The Race For A Coronavirus Vaccine Will Depend On Global Cooperation – Developing a vaccine is very complicated and requires cooperation. Reasons such as protecting only the U.S. population wouldn’t be sufficient once global travel and trade resumes
- U.S. Scientist Warns Coronavirus Vaccine Not Guaranteed As Worldwide Cases Hit 5 Million – Experts say countries easing lockdowns should rely on contact tracing and isolation to control the spread of the virus
- A Quarter Of Americans Are Hesitant About A Coronavirus Vaccine – A recent poll found that a quarter of Americans have little to no interest in taking a vaccine, with some voicing concern that the record pace at which the vaccine candidates are being developed could comprise safety
- Coronavirus ‘Does Not Spread Easily’ By Touching Surfaces Or Objects, CDC Now Says. But It Still ‘May Be Possible’ – The CDC is saying that even though the virus may stay on a surface, it doesn’t mean that it’s actually infectious. They are also saying that it does not spread easily by animal-to-human contact or vice versa
- At Least 4 States Combined Numbers From Two Tests, Possibly Providing A Misleading Picture Of Coronavirus Spread – Virginia, Texas, Georgia and Vermont have said they have been adding two numbers to their totals: viral tests results and antibody tests results
- Global Coronavirus Cases Surpass 5 Million, Infections Rising In South America – Latin America has overtaken the U.S. and Europe this past week to report the largest portion of new daily cases globally
May 20, 2020
The US-Canada border will remained closed until at least June 21. Florida and Georgia are scrutinized over their reporting of COVID-19 cases. Scientists have proposed a 50 day on, 30 days off strategy for reducing coronavirus cases. Hotels look to make changes including increased cleaning, no pens or mini bars in rooms to win back business. As states reopen, small and mid-size businesses struggle to survive. Patients who have recovered from the coronavirus may later test positive.
- US-Canada Border Will Remain Closed To Nonessential Travel For At Least Another Month – Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced by mutual agreement, the border will remain closed to nonessential travel until at least June 21
- Florida And Georgia Facing Scrutiny For Their Covid-19 Data Reporting – Florida removed their employee in charge of the state’s dashboard web page after she questioned the state’s commitment to accessibility and transparency. In Georgia, data tracking of cases is under question after a misleading chart was posted on their web page
- Scientists Propose A 50 Days On, 30 Days Off Coronavirus Lockdown Strategy – This strategy would help in reducing deaths while ensuring some level of economic protection
- More Lysol, No More Pens In Rooms. Hotels Adapt To Win Back Guests – Hotels are taking extra steps to bring back customers such as Hilton partnering with Lysol and Marriott International identifying their ’12 touch points’. They are adapting not just with deep cleaning but with technology that allows for more contactless interactions
- As States Reopen, It’s A Race Against the Clock For Small Businesses To Pay Bills And Stay Solvent – With states reopening, small businesses are under pressure to see if they can survive the new environment
- Some Have Tested Positive For Covid-19 After Recovering. What Does That Mean? – Experts say the test results don’t necessarily establish that a person can be infected twice
May 19, 2020
President Trump threatens to permanently pull US funding from the World Health Organization. Moderna announces promising phase I study results related to its experimental coronavirus vaccine. Apple releases guidelines for reopening its retail stores, including customer temperature checks and required face masks. Flying in the future may involve health screenings, onboard janitors and missing middle seats. Strategies to consider for employees who are returning to the office as lockdown restrictions are eased. In Italy, the daily coronavirus deaths fall below 100 in more than 2 months.
- Trump Threatens To Permanently Cut Off WHO Funding, Withdraw U.S. Membership – President Trump said if WHO does not commit to major substantive improvements within the next 30 days, he will make the temporary freeze of U.S. funding to the WHO permanent and will reconsider our membership in the organization
- Moderna’s Coronavirus Vaccine Shows Promise In Early Results – The vaccine seems safe and able to prompt the body to produce antibodies against the coronavirus at levels comparable to a natural infection
- Apple’s Retail Reopening Plan: Temperature Checks, Mandatory Masks And 25 Stores To Reopen This Week – Apple will require customers to submit to temperature checks and wear masks before entering a store. If customers do not have masks, Apple will supply them
- Face Masks, Blood Tests And Onboard Janitors. Flying’s About To Feel Very Different – Airlines will have to implement changes to get back off the ground. Many will depend on government guidelines and airports will need to design their own health and safety measures such as touch-less check-in
- Scared To Return To Work, Or Can’t With Kids At Home? Here’s What You Need To Know – There are strategies and special protections that workers should know about, in particular people with health conditions and parents whose children’s school, day care or summer camp is shut down
- Italy Sees Its Daily Coronavirus Death Toll Fall Below 100 For The First Time In More Than Two Months With New Infections Also At Their Lowest Since Early March – Restrictions are easing in Italy as business begin to reopen. New cases increased by just 451, the lowest daily figure since March 2
May 18, 2020
Coronavirus testing capabilities have outpaced those being administered the test in multiple states. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo takes COVID-19 test live on television. As a direct impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, Harvard Medical School is employing a new remote way of teaching. Almost 100 countries are backing a resolution at the upcoming World Heath Assembly calling for an independent inquiry into China’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. In Qatar, those who do not wear masks in public face up to three years in prison and fines. If successful, a coronavirus vaccine may be available by September for 30 million Britons.
- As Coronavirus Testing Expands, A New Problem Arises: Not Enough People To Test – Testing capabilities have outpaces those being administered the test in multiple states
- Cuomo Takes Coronavirus Test On Live Television, Calls For More Testing As New York Opens – Cuomo took a nasal swab test on live television as part of a push to encourage New Yorkers to get tested since the state is beginning to reopen
- The Mother Of Invention – This pandemic has created new remote teaching methods at Harvard Medical School
- China Has Been Trying To Avoid Fallout From Coronavirus. Now 100 Countries Are Pushing For An Investigation – About 100 counties are backing a resolution at the upcoming World Heath Assembly, calling for an independent inquiry into the pandemic
- 3 Years In Jail For Not Wearing Masks In Qatar– Qatar is battling one of the world’s highest infection rates. About 1.1% of their population has tested positive. To help battle this, violators will face up to three years in jail and fines up to $55,000
- Coronavirus Vaccine For 30 Million Britons By September If Trial Succeeds – A drug by the University of Oxford is ‘progressing well’ but there are no guarantees it will be ready by September
May 15, 2020
The CDC has issued guideline documents to assist with the reopening of businesses, schools and other public places. Employers are implementing many changes to keep workers safe when they return to the office. Businesses are encouraging US lawmakers to protect them from employee lawsuits related to coronavirus exposure. A record drop in retail sales is expected as Americans are cutting back on their spending on nonessentials. Germany, Europe’s largest economy, has shrunk 2.2% as a result of the coronavirus lockdown.
- CDC Issues Decision Tools To Guide Reopening Of Schools, Businesses, Transit – The decision tools the agency released recommend that all workplaces hold off on reopening unless they are ready to protect employees at higher risk for severe illness
- Here’s What The Office Could Look Like Post Pandemic – Things to consider about the office after the pandemic that will change: workspace distancing, disinfecting areas, automating things so there is less touching, protective wear and communal spaces such as kitchens
- Companies Fear Coronavirus Liability Lawsuits. So Far, Few Exist – Companies fear liability lawsuits from employees as many of them were exposed to the virus
- Record Drop in Retail Sales Expected For April, As Americans Cut Spending On Most Nonessentials – They are expecting to see the largest drop ever recorded in retail for the month of April which is over 12%
- Germany In Recession As Economy Shrinks 2.2% In 1st Quarter – Europe’s biggest economy has gone into recession due to lockdown restrictions
May 14, 2020
Federal Reserve Chairman, Jerome Powell, urges Congress to provide further economic assistance to avoid permanent damage to the economy. Former head of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, warns of “darkest winter in modern history” unless more actions are taken to prevent a rebound of COVID-19. US weekly unemployment claims are expected to stay elevated as coronavirus related layoffs continue increase. In California, 18 counties prepare to further relax coronavirus restrictions. Drexel University researchers estimate that 6,200 lives were saved as a result of the coronavirus lockdown in Philadelphia. More data is needed to truly understand the value of a positive COVID-19 antibody test.
- Fed Chief Warns Coronavirus Could Permanently Damage Economy If Congress Fails to Provide Support – Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell urged Congress Wednesday to step in and provide further economic assistance due to the coronavirus pandemic
- US immunologist warns of ‘darkest winter’ if virus rebounds – America faces the “darkest winter in modern history” unless leaders act decisively to prevent a rebound of the coronavirus, says a government whistleblower who alleges he was ousted from his job after warning the Trump administration to prepare for the pandemic
- U.S. weekly jobless benefits to stay elevated as coronavirus layoffs widen – The global novel coronavirus crisis continues to batter the U.S. labor market, with millions more Americans, including white collar workers, expected to have filed for unemployment benefits last week as the hit from the pandemic spills over into a broader swath of the economy
- 18 Counties In California Set To Further Relax Coronavirus Restrictions – Eighteen of California’s 58 counties have received state approval to further ease coronavirus restrictions, but major population centers such as the San Francisco Bay Area are choosing not to relax stay-at-home orders for now
- California Cancels Fall University Classes As Fauci Warns Of Reopening Too Soon – As the hardships of coronavirus shutdowns grow and pressure to reopen mounts, public health researchers at Drexel University are modeling the deaths and suffering that have been — and could be — averted by these unprecedented measures
- Why a positive Covid-19 antibody test doesn’t mean much of anything yet – In today’s reality, testing positive for antibodies to Covid-19 means nothing of the sort. In fact, it may not mean much at all — at least right now
May 13, 2020
Dr. Anthony Fauci and other top Trump administration officials testified before Congress describing what reopening the country might look like. House Democrats unveil a new $3 trillion coronavirus relief bill. Several coronavirus models are combined, projecting 110,000 US deaths from the virus by June 6th. Some countries reinstate coronavirus lockdowns after new spikes in cases. California’s state university system has canceled fall classes. A new poll indicates that most Americans are uncomfortable returning to regular routines.
- Key Moments From Dr. Anthony Fauci’s Senate Hearing – Some top moments from the hearing were Fauci warning the government about reopening, defending his role after Rand Paul challenged him, discussing a vaccine for the fall school year ‘a bridge too far’ and mentioning a rising death toll
- House Democrats Unveil New $3 Trillion Coronavirus Relief Bill – Republicans are unlikely to approve the package in the Senate. The chamber votes on the legislation this Friday
- Different Coronavirus Models Are Starting To Agree. The Picture’s Not Good – Multiple models have been converged and are projecting 110K U.S. deaths by early June
- Some Countries Reimposing Coronavirus Lockdowns After Renewed Spikes – Experts widely predicted this resurgence of cases as countries begin to allow people to move around again
- California Cancels Fall University Classes As Fauci Warns Of Reopening Too Soon – California’s state university system, the largest in the country, canceled classes for the fall semester due to the virus
- Most Americans Would Be Uncomfortable Returning To Regular Routines Today – With a poll saying that most Americans would be uncomfortable returning to their regular routines, and increasing number of them are leaving their homes to visit others
May 12, 2020
Dr. Anthony Fauci will be warning the Senate not to reopen the country too quickly. Dr. Fauci is also suggesting that more than one vaccine will be needed to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. A new study shows that hydroxychloroquine does not work to treat the coronavirus. In the city of Wuhan, officials are formulating a plan to test the entire population of 11 million people. Pennsylvania Governor, Tom Wolf, threatens consequences for counties that violate his lockdown order. Major League Baseball is proposing Opening Day in early July. Air travel in the future will likely look very different for passengers.
- Fauci To Warn Of ‘Danger’ If Country Opens To Quickly In Key Senate Hearing – Senate is calling this hearing “COVID-19: Safely Getting Back To Work And Back To School’. Fauci will address lawmakers about the danger of opening the country prematurely
- Anthony Fauci Says More Than One Coronavirus Vaccine Needed To End Pandemic – More than one vaccine will be needed to effectively combat the virus due to production limitations and overwhelming demand
- Yet Another Study Shows Hydroxychloroquine Doesn’t Work Against Covid-19 – A new study has found that this drug doesn’t fight the virus and could cause hearth problems
- Wuhan Draws Up Plans To Test All 11 Million Residents – All distracts in Wuhan have been told to submit details as to how testing could be done within 10 days. This plan is in its early stages
- Pennsylvania Governor Threatens ‘Consequences’ For Counties That Violate His Order As Trump Pushes Him To Open ‘Quickly’ – Gov. Wolf announced on Monday that noncompliant counties will be blocked from getting discretionary federal stimulus funds and said moving against his orders could lead to businesses being sued or losing their liquor licenses
- MLB Owners Propose Opening Day In Early June – Owners have submitted a proposal to the players’ union to start the season in July without fans. Teams would play around 82 games this season compared to the standard 162 games
- Future Air Travel: Four-Hour Process, Self Check-In, Disinfection, Immunity Passes – Nine out of ten experts expect slower turnarounds between flights to due to the need of thorough cleaning of cabins and following of sanitary measures at airports
May 11, 2020
Taiwan is reporting no new cases of COVID-19 for a third straight day. In Germany, the number of cases of coronavirus are rising as lockdown restrictions are eased. In South Korea, a coronavirus outbreak is attributed an infected person’s visits to nightclubs and bars. Doctors continue to discover new ways COVID-19 attacks the body. Disneyland Shanghai reopens with masks and social distancing. Internet giants tell staff that they should plan to work from home for the remainder of 2020. In the US, social distancing is incorporated into the Atlantic hurricane season emergency response plan.
- Taiwan Records Zero Coronavirus Cases For A Third Straight Day – There total number of patients stands at 440, including 366 released from hospital isolation
- Germany Infection Rate Rises As Lockdown Eases – With things reopening and thousands of people gathering to protest for the end of the lockdown, reports of infection are now rising
- South Korea Records Spike In New Coronavirus Cases After Nightclub Outbreak – They reported 34 new cases, the highest daily tally in a month, following an outbreak tied to several nightclubs and bars
- Doctors Keep Discovering New Ways The Coronavirus Attacks The Body – Studies are showing that the virus does much more than invade the lungs. It can attack the heat, kidney, immune system, gastrointestinal system, nervous system and create blood clots
- All Masks, No Fireworks: Shanghai Disneyland In Muted Reopening After Coronavirus Closedown – With Disneyland opened, there are new rule such as mandatory masks, temperature screenings and social distancing for visitors and employees
- Internet Giants To Staff: Plan To Work From Home For The Year – The majority of staff at large tech giants are telling their employees they will be working from home until 2021
- U.S. Adds Social Distancing To Atlantic Hurricane Season Emergency Response Plan – With hurricane season approaching, FEMA is readying more hotel rooms, buses and shelter space for social distancing to reduce the spread of the virus during any potential hurricane evacuation
May 8, 2020
The White House rejects the guidance for reopening America provided by the CDC. The nation’s Strategic National Stockpile was not intended to be a panacea for a pandemic. A county in Washington state sees a rise in COVID-19 cases after coronavirus ‘parties’ are held by residents. Poorly ventilated spaces make it more likely to be infected with COVID-19, making the return to office spaces especially risky. The latest job loss statistics from the Labor Department are expected to show historic levels. A new study finds that nearly everyone who recovers from coronavirus produces antibodies.
- Trump Administration Rejects CDC Guidance On Reopening U.S. Amid Coronavirus -The Trump administration has rejected the CDC and Prevention’s 17-page draft on recommendation for reopening America. Members of the task force felt that it was too specific and would not be helpful nationwide as a guidance
- Nation’s Stockpile Proves No Match For The Coronavirus Pandemic – With massive shortages of protective gear for medical workers, President Trump has put the blame on Barack Obama and other administrations. While Obama failed to replace items from the swine Flu pandemic, President Trump never replaced those items despite warnings
- Coronavirus ‘Parties’ In This County Linked To Rise In Cases, Officials Say – In Walla Walla County, Washington, non-infected people are going to parties with an infected person in an effort to catch the virus
- You’re Most Likely To Catch The Coronavirus In A Poor Ventilated Space. That Makes Offices Very Risky – Companies will need to rethink how they resume office life since the virus mainly spreads indoors in smaller spaces such as offices
- Friday’s Job Numbers Will Be Brutal But Won’t Tell The Whole Story – The Labor Department will be delivering a bad employment report today with the jobless rate soaring around 16%, but the report is based on surveys from the middle of April. Since then, millions of additional jobs have been lost
- Study Finds Nearly Everyone Who Recovers From COVID-19 Makes Coronavirus Antibodies – Even though they don’t know how long you have immunity, these tests can be used to confirm that you produce antibodies to the virus after infection
May 7, 2020
President Trump is now stating that the White House coronavirus task force will stay in place indefinitely. In the US, coronavirus testing is falling short of what is needed. A record 20.2 million jobs are cut in April by US employers. The Pentagon is considering banning military recruits who were previously hospitalized by coronavirus. A new poll suggests that Americans are more concerned about the coronavirus spreading than economic damage. Emergency room doctors are concerned by the sharp decrease in heart attack and stroke patients. In New York City, children are being hospitalized with a rare condition that may be linked to COVID-19.
- Trump Reverses Course And Says White House Coronavirus Task Force Will Continue ‘Indefinitely’ – One day after Trump said that the task force would be winding down, President Trump has come out and said that it will continue indefinitely but focus more on rebooting the economy
- U.S. Coronavirus Testing Still Falls Short. How’s Your State Doing? – The U.S. should have enough capacity to conduct double the current amount of testing, but is that still enough?
- U.S. Companies Cut A Record 20.2 Million Jobs, ADP Says – The total job losses in April alone was more than double the total jobs lost during the Great Recession
- Pentagon Considering Banning Recruits Who Have Been Hospitalized By Coronavirus – This guidance is being put in place because there is little understanding of ‘long-term’ effects of the virus and that new recruits may need further medical assessments
- Overwhelming Majority More Concerned About Coronavirus Spreading Further Than Economic Damage: A new polls shows that American voters are more concerned about the virus spreading then they are about damaging the economy by waiting to long to ease social distancing
- Eerie Emptiness Of ERs Worries Doctors: Where Are The Heart Attacks And Strokes? – People are avoiding going to the hospital in fear of coronavirus. Doctors worry a new wave of patients will be arriving who have delayed care and will be sicker/more injured
- More Children Hospitalized In New York City With Rare Condition That May Be Linked To COVID-19 – The number of children being hospitalized with this has quadrupled. Health officials say this has features of Kawasaki Disease, an illness noted in children with COVID-19 in the UK
May 6, 2020
Pfizer and NYU partner on a coronavirus vaccine that could be ready by the end of summer. Lowe’s joins a growing list of retailers requiring its workers to wear face masks. The White House is planning to disband the coronavirus task force as it shifts its focus on reopening the economy. Former acting CDC director says the US is unprepared to protect its residents from coronavirus as states are reopening. Illinois announces its phased approach to reopening, despite having its largest daily number of deaths from COVID-19. The US lurches toward reopening despite ominous coronavirus models. Austria has seen a 90% drop in coronavirus cases after requiring people to wear face masks.
- Pfizer, NYU Working On Innovative Coronavirus Vaccine That Could Be Ready By End Of Summer – They are working on a never-before-tried vaccine that could be available by September
- Lowe’s Is The Latest Retailer Requiring Workers To Wear Masks During Coronavirus – Lowe’s is now requiring all workers to wear masks in the store and on home visits
- White House Plots Breakup Of Coronavirus Task Force – With the White House beginning to focus on reopening the economy, the task force will begin to be replaced by advisory groups
- U.S. Is Unprepared To Protect Residents From Virus While States Are Reopening, Former Acting CDC Director Says – With more than half the country now into the first stage of reopening, one expert says the U.S. still hasn’t done enough to protect residents from the virus
- Illinois Announces Phased Reopening And Its Largest Daily COVID-19 Death Toll – The Governor announced his five-stage reopening plan while the state saw its highest daily death toll
- U.S. Lurches Toward Reopening Despite Ominous Coronavirus Models – As states begin to reopen, it must be done with care. If done carelessly, then the effect on case growth will show up with a lag
- Austria Has 90% Drop In Coronavirus Cases After Requiring People To Wear Face Masks – Two weeks after Austria made it compulsory to wear masks, their cases dropped 90%
May 5, 2020
Projected deaths from COVID-19 will likely rise due to relaxed restrictions in the US. Herd immunity against coronavirus is a long way off. Countries pledge billions of dollars for a COVID-19 vaccine at a virtual vaccine summit. Pfizer begins human testing for its experimental vaccine. Colleges are exploring new ways to conduct classes in the fall. New Zealand will not open its borders beyond the ‘trans-Tasman bubble’.
- Relaxed Restrictions Across U.S. Will Have A Dire Impact On Coronavirus Death Toll, Experts Warn – With states loosening their lock downs, people have been seen flocking back to public spaces. Experts are warning that this premature opening could drive up the death toll
- Early Herd Immunity Against COVID-19: A Dangerous Misconception – Studies suggest that around 2-4% of the U.S. population has been infected with coronavirus. To reach herd immunity for coronavirus, you would need about 70% or more of the population to be immune
- Coronavirus Virtual Vaccine Summit See Leaders Pledge Billions, But U.S. Skips It – World leaders held an online summit to discuss efforts to develop a vaccine. Russia and U.S. declined to join the meeting
- Pfizer Begins Human Testing For Experimental Coronavirus Vaccine In The U.S. – The first human participants in the U.S. have been dosed with the potential vaccine. Pfizer is working alongside German drugmaker BioNTech
- 6 Ways College Might Look Different In The Fall – Some potential scenarios for reopening colleges and universities are going all virtual, delayed start, some online, some face-to-face, shortened blocks, only some on campus or some campus with changes
- New Zealand PM: No Open Borders For ‘A Long Time’ – While New Zealand and Australia are discussing having open borders towards each other, New Zealand’s PM has stated that the border will remain closed to international foreigners for a long time
May 4, 2020
Russia has seen an increase of 10,000 new COVID-19 cases in a new one-day record. Unemployment hasn’t been this bad since the 1930’s but economists are expecting a bounce-back once the economy is reopened. Nearly 97,000 residents and workers from nursing homes are reported to have tested positive for COVID-19 after multiple states release data from the facilities for the first time. Med students are graduating early to join the fight against the coronavirus. One of the most protective homemade masks can be made with two layers of chiffon. The FDA approves emergency use of Remdesivir for specific severe cases of COVID-19.
- Russia’s Cases Rise By 10,000 In One-Day Record – The increase in Russia’s total number brings Russia to the seventh highest tally of cases in the world
- U.S. Unemployment Hasn’t Looked This Bad Since The 1930’s – Since March, more than 30 million Americans have filed for unemployment benefits
- ‘Our Patients Are Dropping Like Flies’: 16,000 Dead From COVID-19 In U.S. Nursing Homes – States are beginning to release coronavirus related data on nursing homes and long-term care facilities. About a quarter of U.S. deaths have come from staff and residents at these facilities
- Medical Students Graduate Early To Join Coronavirus Front Lines – Med Schools are fast-tracking soon-to-be graduates so they can help fight against the pandemic
- The Best Material For Homemade Face Masks May Be A Combination Of Two Fabrics – Researchers are reporting that a combination of cotton with natural silk or chiffon effectively filter our aerosol particles
- FDA Approves Remdesivir – The FDA issued an Emergency Use Authorization for remdesivir for the treatment of COVID-19
May 1, 2020
U.S. states are under enormous pressure to relax social distancing rules and reopen because of mounting unemployment. Since announcing plans to reopen, Texas has added over 1,700 new cases of coronavirus. South Korea, for the first time in weeks, reports the first day with no new cases of COVID-19. Maryland Governor Larry Hogan purchased $9 mil in COVID-19 tests from South Korea that are under guard in an undisclosed location to protect from federal seizure. The United States has focused resources on an unproven technology and company for a vaccine. CNN provides an in-depth analysis of coronavirus cases over the past 2 months. No evidence has been found to link Wuhan research labs to the coronavirus’ origin.
- Half Of U.S. States Easing Coronavirus Restrictions As Jobless Numbers Grow – With the White House guidelines expiring, many states are going ahead with their own strategies to reopen their economies. More than 30 million Americans have sought unemployment benefits
- Texas Has Over 1,700 New COVID-19 Cases Since Abbott Announced State’s Reopening – Texas has yet to flatten the curve in confirmed cases but has begun to reopen their economy
- South Korea Records No New Domestic Cases of COVID-19 For The First Time Since February – South Korea will begin to relax their social distancing guidelines as they report no new domestic cases
- Maryland Called In National Guard Troops To Defend Coronavirus Tests From South Korea Against Seizure – Maryland Gov. has the National Guard and State Police guarding tests at a secret location to prevent the federal government from seizing them
- In Quest For Vaccine, U.S. Makes ‘Big Bet’ On Company With Unproven Technology – The U.S. has federally funded a trial for Moderna’s coronavirus vaccine
- Tracking COVID-19 Cases In The U.S. – See statistics on the reported cases and deaths per state and the curve per state
- Chinese Lab Conducted Extensive Research On Deadly Bat Viruses, But There Is No Evidence Of Accidental Release – While the labs are researching these diseases, all it takes is a single misstep to introduce this disease to the human population
April 30, 2020
The US passes 60,000 COVID-19 deaths, as new data on a promising drug treatment is revealed. A new way to test for coronavirus infection may be available. Meat plant workers fear for their safety after President Trump orders plants to stay open. As a result of the coronavirus, boneless chicken is scarce. US colleges and universities are formulating how to re-open in the fall. The governor of California intends to close beaches and parks due to overcrowding.
- U.S. Passes 60,000 Dead As Hopes Rise For A Promising Drug Therapy – Experimental antiviral drug remdesivir is showing early promise in its trial
- A Next-Generation Coronavirus Test Raises Hopes And Concerns – There is a new method to test for coronavirus infections
- Boneless Chicken Is The First To Go Scarce As Coronavirus Hits U.S. Meat Supply – With outbreaks shutting down meat plants, there is a shortage of boneless chicken in the stores. Grocers are trying to find a way to sell “end-cuts” to consumers
- Workers Scared As Trump Orders Meat Plants Top Open During Coronavirus Crisis – Meat plant workers are scared to remain at work while outbreaks continue at plants. Workers are protesting against plants staying open
- There’s No Simple Way To Reopen Universities – College administrators are weighing the danger of reopening campuses in the fall.
- California Governor Intends To Close All State Beaches And Parks, Police Memo Says – California governor issued an order to close all state beaches and parks starting this Friday. This is due to recent overcrowding of thousands of people at the beaches this past weekend
April 29, 2020
Dr. Anthony Fauci is warning that the US may experience a coronavirus comeback if treatments for COVID-19 do not work. President Trump has ordered meatpacking facilities to stay open to protect the nation’s food supply. The USNS Comfort will leave New York City but remain ready to return if needed. A survey finds that 1 in 6 older Americans delayed or cancelled essential medical care in March, likely due to COVID-19 concerns. Due to the global impact of COVID-19, carbon dioxide emissions are expected to fall by the largest amount since World War II. Hong Kong scientists have developed an antiviral coating that could provide 90 days of protection against bacteria and viruses, including coronavirus. Measures to halt the spread of coronavirus in India appear to be working.
- Dr. Anthony Fauci Warns U.S. Could ‘Be In For A Bad Fall’ If Coronavirus Treatments Don’t Work – The virus will make a comeback in the U.S. according to Dr. Fauci and it won’t be good if there is no vaccine
- Trump Orders Meatpacking Plants To Stay Open – President Trump has mandated that meat plants continue to operate to protect the nation’s food supply. So far, twenty-two plants across America have closed due to outbreaks among the workers
- USNS Comfort Departs New York City – The hospital ship is departing NYC but still remains prepared for future tasking should it be needed
- Survey: 1 In 6 Older Americans Delayed Or Canceled Medical Care In March – More than half of older Americans, many with chronic conditions, put off medical treatment during the first month of social distancing
- Coronavirus Could Trigger ‘Largest Ever Annual Fall In CO2 – With carbon dioxide levels falling, it is predicted that the numbers could fall by the largest amount since WW II this year due to the slowing down of production
- HK Scientists Say New Antiviral Coating Can Protect Surfaces For 90 Days – Researchers in Hong Kong say they’ve developed an antiviral coating that would protect against bacteria and viruses such as COVID-19
- India Coronavirus: How A Country Of 1.3 Billion People Has Around 1,000 Deaths – Experts say it is still early for India to be considered a success. They do say that the nationwide lockdown has halted the spread of the virus
April 28, 2020
A leading coronavirus predictive model has increased the number of projected deaths in the US. The governor of California has issued a warning that packed beaches are putting COVID-19 progress at risk. Tennessee reopens a day after reporting its highest one day increase in the number of coronavirus cases. The first dog in the US tests positive for COVID-19. JetBlue is the first US airline to require masks to be worn on flights. If the 2020 Olympics do not occur in 2021 they will be cancelled.
- Experts Say States Easing Restrictions Too Early May Increase The U.S. Coronavirus Death Toll – Updated models are showing a higher death toll through August due to longer peaks in some states and signs that people are becoming more active again
- California Governor Warns That Packed Beaches Put Coronavirus Pandemic Progress At Risk – Large crowds appear with the nice weather along California beaches as some begin to reopen. Officials are stressing people to still follow social distancing guidelines while on the beach
- As Tennessee And Neighboring Georgia Reopen, Coronavirus Cases In Tennessee Have Biggest One-Day Increase – Tennessee saw its biggest one-day jump in new confirmed cases as the state begins to reopen
- Dog Is Apparently First In The U.S. To Test Positive For New Coronavirus – A family pet dog is the first to test positive in the U.S. for COVID-19. It is taking part in a study at Duke University
- JetBlue Is Requiring All Passengers To Wear A Mask Throughout Their Journey, The First U.S. Airlines To Do So – All passengers to wear facial coverings on flights. The crew has been required to wear masks and has kept a number of seats empty on planes in order to keep people apart
- Tokyo 2020 Olympics Will Be ‘Scrapped’ Instead Of Delayed Again, Says Games Chief – If the Olympics cannot take place in 2021, they will be ‘scrapped’
April 27, 2020
The White House coronavirus coordinator, Dr. Birx, states that some form of social distancing will be in place throughout the summer. Researchers have found that more Americans are venturing out despite stay-at-home orders. A second wave of coronavirus is anticipated to occur this next winter with no vaccine expected in the next 12-18 months. A possible way to speed vaccine trials brings with it a moral dilemma. The CDC has added six new symptoms to its list for COVID-19. The FDA has approved an oral fluid test for coronavirus. New Zealand proclaims no community cases of coronavirus and starts to ease its restrictions.
- Social Distancing Could Last Months, White House Coronavirus Coordinator Says – Deborah Birx, the White House’s Coronavirus Task Force Coordinator mentioned on Sunday that some form of social distancing will probably remain in place through the summer
- ‘Quarantine Fatigue’: Researchers Find More Americans Venturing out Against Coronavirus Stay-At-Home Orders – Researchers are tracking smartphone data and have said that more people are staying at home less and traveling more
- ‘We Will Not Have A Vaccine By Next Winter.’ Like The 1918 Spanish Flu, CDC Says Second Wave Of Coronavirus Could Be Worse. So What Happens Next? – It usually takes 12-18 months to create a vaccine and Dr. Anthony Fauci is convinced that we will have a second wave of coronavirus in the fall
- Injecting Healthy Adults With live Coronavirus Provides Moral Dilemma, Faster Path To Vaccine – A ‘challenge trial’ is a possible way to speed vaccine trails but it brings about a moral dilemma
- CDC Adds 6 Symptoms To Its COVID-19 List – CDC has added chills, repeated shaking with chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat and new loss of taste or smell to the symptoms of COVID-19
- FDA Greenlights Oral Fluid Test For COVID-19 – This new oral test is developed by California diagnostic startup Curative Medical. The test has been in use since late March
- New Zealand Claims No Community Cases As Lockdown Eases – New cases are in single figures for several days in New Zealand
April 24, 2020
Testing suggests that the coronavirus has infected 20 percent of New York City residents. First responders want awareness of who has coronavirus to better protect themselves. Americans ignored early warning signs of coronavirus. Offices will likely be different when employees return to work. Results from new studies shed light on whether antibodies will be a reliable form of protection against COVID-19. In the Czech Republic, the restrictions are being eased.
- Coronavirus Has Infected A 5th Of New York City, Testing Suggests – Preliminary results from the first round of antibody testing conducted across NY show that around 21.2% of residents have had coronavirus
- First Responders Want Prior Warning About Who Has Coronavirus – There is a debate whether the public health department should give first responders the addresses of people who have COVID-19. First responders believe they have a right to know since they are at a great risk
- Humans Are Too Optimistic To Comprehend The Coronavirus – While evidence in other countries like Italy showed the horrors of this pandemic, Americans continued to be optimistic they would be fine and continued normal life while not preparing for the worse
- It’s The End Of The Office As We Know It – There will be many adjustments to the office post COVID-19 such as more people working from home regularly, spaced out desks, less chairs in meeting rooms and more
- Revealing S. Korean Studies Show Antibodies Could Thwart COVID-19 Reinfection, Spread – It remains unclear how long antibodies last in people who have recovered
- Czechs Free To Move Again – The Czech Republic’s ban on free movement has been lifted. People are allowed to leave their homes whenever but must continue social distancing and wear face masks
April 23, 2020
The latest coronavirus relief bill will fund small business loans, provide aid to hospitals, and more. The CDC director explains his comments regarding a possible second wave of COVID-19 cases in the fall. President Trumps disagrees with Georgia’s push to reopen its economy. In New York City, first responders are experiencing more stress than ever before. Washington state prepares to significantly scale up its coronavirus contact tracing system. In New York state, new data shows that almost 90 percent of those who were hospitalized and put on ventilators have died. Australia will keep its borders shut for at least three months as part of its coronavirus lockdown restrictions.
- Five Things To Know About The Latest Coronavirus Relief Bill – The new relief bill focuses on more funding for small business loans, carveouts for smaller lenders, aid for hospitals, more money for COVID-19 tests and requiring President Trump to release a testing plan
- CDC Director Tries To Walk Back Remarks On Coronavirus – CDC Director Robert Redfield explained what he meant behind his statement warning Americans of a second wave of the virus in the fall
- Trump Says He Disagrees With Georgia’s Push To Re-Open Economy – As Georgia’s Governor begins to lift quarantine orders, President Trump comments that he thinks it is ‘just too soon’ to lift some restrictions
- ‘We’re Seeing More Dead Bodies Than We’ve Ever Had To’: First Responders Describe The Guilt, Trauma, And Hopelessness Of Battling The Coronavirus In New York – First responders describe what life has been like for them in New York while battling this virus
- Washington State Builds Coronavirus Contact Tracing ‘Fire Brigade’ – Washington State prepares to significantly scale up its coronavirus contact tracing system
- In New York’s Largest Hospital System, 88 Percent Of Coronavirus Patients On Ventilators Didn’t Make It – New data shows that many of those hospitalized had high blood pressure, obesity or diabetes
- Australia To Keep Borders Shut For At Least Three Months – Border restrictions will likely be the final measure lifted in Australia. It is too risky for them to open borders at the moment due to the international situation of COVID-19
April 22, 2020
The US Senate approves $310 billion in new SBA Payroll Protection Program loan money. President Trump says his immigration order will only apply to green card applicants. The CDC warns that a second outbreak may occur next winter. Several types of vaccines are in development to combat COVID-19. The FDA approves the first at-home test for COVID-19. California is the first state to recommend a test for asymptomatic people. Missouri is suing China over coronavirus economic losses.
- Senate Passes $480 Billion Package To Expand Funding For Small-Business Loans And Testing. The Bill Now Moves To The House – This deal with add $310 billion into the PPP small business loans. Additional funding will be provided to healthcare providers. $25 billion will go to enhance testing capabilities with $11 billion directed at states
- Trump Says He’ll Suspend Immigration For 60 Days Over Coronavirus Fears – This is to protect American workers from the coronavirus economic toll
- U.S. Health Officials Warns Of Dangerous Second Wave – CDC Director Robert Redfield warned of the dangers of this winters flu season coinciding with a second outbreak of coronavirus. It would put an unimaginable strain on the U.S. healthcare system
- Coronavirus Vaccine: Everything You Need To Know – There are several types of vaccines being tested and developed to combat coronavirus. Learn about the vaccine development and possible timeline in this article
- FDA Authorizes First Test For Patient At-Home Sample Collection – The FDA approves first at-home test for COVID-19
- California Says It’s The 1st State To Recommend Coronavirus Testing For Some Asymptomatic People – Public health officials are saying local authorities should test people for COVID-19 in “high risk settings”, even if they don’t have symptoms. High risk settings would be homeless shelters, jails and nursing homes
- In A First, Missouri Sues China Over Coronavirus Economic Losses – They are suing China over its handling of COVID-19 saying that their response to the outbreak brought devastating economic losses to the state of Missouri
April 21, 2020
President Trump will sign an executive order to temporarily suspend immigration into the United States. Air travel in the US has been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. A Los Angeles county study finds that the number of adults with antibodies from coronavirus is higher than the number of cases that have been reported. Several states begin to lift lockdown restrictions. In New York, aggressive coronavirus antibody testing begins. Singapore, once seen as a model for its pandemic response, is now experiencing an uptick in COVID-19 cases. Coronavirus is one of many infectious diseases that has originated in domesticated or wild animals.
- Trump To Suspend All Immigration Into U.S. Over Coronavirus – President Trump says he will sign an order halting all immigration to protect jobs as coronavirus spreads
- How The Coronavirus Is Disrupting U.S. Air Travel, In 2 Charts – The charts show how this pandemic has led to a severe drop in U.S. air travel. TSA screened more than two million people per day in April last year. Now they screen about 100,000 daily
- Hundreds Of Thousands In LA County May Have Been Infected With Coronavirus, Study Finds – LA County has conducted a large-scale study tracking the spread of the virus and found that over 4% of adults have antibodies which means past exposure. This number increases the number of infected which means the fatality rate may be much lower
- In Georgia And Elsewhere In South, Governors Begin Lifting Coronavirus Restrictions – Several states down South are reopening businesses and lifting stay-at-home orders. Health Experts still express concern that it is too early to be reopening
- New York State’s ‘Aggressive’ Coronavirus Antibody Testing In Quest To Reopen Economy – NY starts very aggressive antibody testing to get data on how much of the population has been infected and recovered. This is essential for reopening the economy
- How Singapore Flipped From Virus Hero to Cautionary Tale – Having the highest number of cases in South East Asia, Singapore finds the increase in cases came from migrant laborers who live in disadvantaged communities
- The Pandemic Is Not A Natural Disaster – Coronavirus is one many infectious diseases that has originated from domesticated or wild animals
April 20, 2020
Additional funding for the Paycheck Protection Program may be allocated by Congress. The Shake Shack will return a $10 million government loan so it can be allocated to other small businesses. Clinicians share what they have learned about the path of the coronavirus through the human body. Thought leaders declare that 20 million coronavirus tests per day are needed to fully open the economy. COVID-19 patients are being discharged to nursing homes to open hospital beds for new patients. Pennsylvania sees its largest increase in coronavirus deaths. In Germany, smaller stores are reopening as lockdown restrictions are eased.
- Trump Says Deal On Small Business Package Could Come Monday – Republicans and Democrats continue to negotiate a deal to get loans to small businesses
- Shake Shack Returning $10 Million Government Loan Meant For Small Businesses – As one of the dozen large restaurant chains to get a federal loan, Shake Shack is the only one returning the money for smaller businesses that need it more
- How Does Coronavirus Kill? Clinicians Trace A Ferocious Rampage Through The Body, From Brain To Toes – Multiple efforts are being lead to gather clinical data on COVID-19. They are finding it can attack almost anything in the body with horrible consequences
- ‘Road Map’ To Recovery Report: 20 Million Coronavirus Tests Per Day Needed To Fully Open Economy – Scientists, economists, ethicists and many more all agree that the U.S. needs to ramp up testing to reopen the economy. The U.S. currently only does about 120,000 tests per day
- Discharging COVID-19 Patients To Nursing Homes Called A ‘Recipe For Disaster’ – Nursing Homes are receiving back residents who have tested positive to help make room in the hospitals
- PA. Reports Largest One-Day Uptick In Coronavirus Deaths Sunday; Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine Explains Why – This jump in numbers is due to the fact that electronic and probably-cause deaths are now being factored into the total
- Smaller Stores Reopening In Germany As Country Eases Restrictions – Business with retail spaces smaller than 800 square meters can reopen their doors such as bookstores, bike shops and car dealerships. More popular spaces such as bars, gyms and restaurants will remain closed
April 17, 2020
The White House announces coronavirus guidelines for reopening the country. Johnson and Johnson will have over 600 million Covid-19 vaccines by the beginning of 2021. A study finds that patients who are given remdesivir are recovering quickly. New York and other hot spots in the US are experiencing prolonged peaks of coronavirus cases. The FDA shares information related to food safety and availability during and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic. Infection disease and food safety experts say that take-out food is safe. In Wuhan China, coronavirus deaths jump drastically.
- White House Unveils Coronavirus Guidelines On Path To Reopening The Country – The White House released their phased strategy and shared the full guidelines documents
- Johnson & Johnson Will Have 600-800 Million Coronavirus Vaccines by 2021 – They plan to have half a billion vaccines available by early 2021
- COVID-19 Patients Recovering Quickly After Getting Experimental Drug Remdesivir – Patients who are in this clinical trail have been discharged from the hospital in less than a week after taking the drug remdesivir
- New York And Other Hot Spots Are Getting Longer Coronavirus Peaks Than Expected, Expert Says – Updated projections are showing an overall decrease in cases nationally, but extended peaks in hot spots such as NYC. States that are showing a decrease in numbers begin to prepare to lift restrictions
- FDA’s Perspective On Food Safety And Availability During And Beyond COVID-19 – FDA’s Deputy Commissioner for Food Policy and Response, Frank Yiannas, discusses the state of the U.S. food supply, both now and beyond this pandemic
- How Safe Is It To Eat Takeout? – Current guidance from the FDA says there is no evidence to suggest that food produced in the U.S can transmit the virus. Infectious disease and food safety experts have determined that takeout is safe due to years of research on other coronaviruses
- China Says Sudden Jump In Wuhan Coronavirus Death Toll Is Due To Statistical Verification, Not Cover Up – Officials says that the missed/mistaken reporting of deaths was due to some medical institutions failing to connect with the disease prevention and control system in time while hospitals were overloaded and medics overwhelmed
April 16, 2020
The World Health Organization responds to the US stating it had alerted the world to coronavirus on January 5th. President Trump promises to announce new guidelines for opening the country. New York Governor Cuomo is mandating that masks be worn in public. Hundreds of people protest at the Michigan state capital against stay-at-home orders. The governor of South Dakota, who was opposed to putting a stay-at-home order in place, is now facing a COVID-19 hot spot. More than 600,000 people sign a petition demanding hazard pay for US Postal Service workers. Countries are supporting a world truce during the global pandemic.
- ‘We Alerted The World’ To Coronavirus On Jan. 5, WHO Says In Response To U.S.– After President Trump pulls funding for WHO, they came out reminding everyone that ‘systems around the world, including the U.S, began to activate their incident management systems on January 6’
- Trump Promises New Guidelines For Reopening The Country – Today, President Trump will deliver guidelines to ‘reopen’ America. He mentions some states would even open before May 1
- New Yorkers Must Wear Masks When Unable To Socially Distance, Gov. Cuomo Says – This will be an executive order that requires everyone in the state to wear a mask or mouth/nose covering in public when not social distancing
- ‘Operation Gridlock’: Convoy In Michigan’s Capital Protests Stay-At-Home Orders – Hundreds of people showed up to protest the stay-at-home orders with many of them defying social distancing by standing close together
- South Dakota Gov. Noem, Who Opposed Stay-Home Order, Now Faces Coronavirus Hot Spot – Their governor is under fire for not taking bolder action and insists things are under control. They currently have a huge outbreak at a pork-processing plant in their state with over 500 employees testing positive
- More Than 600,000 People Sign Petition Demanding Hazard Pay For U.S. Postal Service Employees – President Trump has rejected attempts to bail out the U.S. Postal Service resulting in people signing a petition urging the government to assist postal workers during this pandemic
- France’s President Says U.S. And China Back A World Truce – And He Thinks Putin Will ‘Definitely Agree’ – Macron has said he has secured the agreement of several of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council to back a call by the UN Secretary General for a global ceasefire
April 15, 2020
Thousands of coronavirus tests are going unused in US labs due to a lack of national strategy for test processing. Scientists have informed the White House that antibody tests may not be available as quickly as once thought. President Trump has halted funding to the WHO due to its handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. WHO provides advice on how to adapt to a new normal as lockdown measures are slowly lifted. In an effort to help the Postal Service, people are rushing out to buy stamps. Denmark lets young children return to school. In India, migrant workers are protesting against the lockdown extension.
- Thousands Of Coronavirus Tests Are Going Unused In U.S. Labs – Due to a lack of national strategy, thousands of COVID-19 tests are going unused in U.S. labs
- Prominent Scientists Have Bad News For The White House About Coronavirus Antibody Tests – Antibody tests are not as ready as the White House thought. Members of the National Academy of Sciences Standing Committee on Emerging Infectious Diseases said there are issues with the availability and reliability
- Trump Halts World Health Organization Funding Over Handling Of Coronavirus Outbreak – President Trump is halting funding to WHO while a review is conducted due to his beliefs that they severely mismanaged and covered up the spread of COVID-19
- When Should Coronavirus Lockdowns Be Lifted? WHO Offers Advice On Adapting To A ‘New Normal’ – The WHO identifies six criteria for any country looking to lift their lockdowns slowly
- Denmark Lets Young Children Return To School – Children up to the age of 11 are returning to schools. Denmark was among the first countries in Europe to impose a lockdown
- Hoping To Save The Postal Service, People Rush To Buy Stamps – With the U.S. Postal Service in financial trouble during the pandemic, people are buying stamps in an effort to help support them
- India’s Migrant Workers Protest Against Lockdown Extension – People are protesting as they say the lockdown extension that goes into May will leave them without money, food and promised government aid
April 14, 2020
As confirmed cases of coronavirus near 2 million globally, states unite to come up with a plan to ease lockdown restrictions. Antibody tests will be needed before the second wave of the coronavirus says the CDC director. As more workers become infected and are unable to work, the US meat supply may be at risk. In France, President Macron has extended the lockdown until May 11th.
- ‘Worst Is Over,’ Cuomo Says As States Snub Trump On Restarting Economy – Governors create alliance to plan for lifting virus restrictions. This move goes against President Trump’s statements that we will decide when to lift restrictions for every state
- What Are Antibody Tests And What Do They Mean For The Coronavirus Pandemic – Learn what antibody tests are, if they are available, if the test are accurate and could the tests help end social distancing
- Antibody Tests Need To Be In Place For 2nd Coronavirus Wave, CDC Director Says – The question looms of who is immune to the virus and who could potentially return to work has us looking at the promise of antibody tests
- U.S. Meat Supply Is ‘Perilously Close’ To A Shortage, CEO Warns – One of the country’s largest pork-producing plants closed indefinitely after over 300 of it’s employees tested positive
- Macron Extends France’s Lockdown Until May 11 – Due to tense situation in hospitals in Paris and eastern France, Macron has decided to extend country’s lockdown
April 13, 2020
Dr. Anthony Fauci states that earlier efforts to stop the spread of coronavirus would have saved lives. The first batch of IRS stimulus checks have been sent to eligible Americans. For the first time in US history, all 50 states are under a disaster declaration at one time. Food safety experts share their tips for safe grocery shopping. Spain starts to ease restrictions of its coronavirus lockdown. After spending several days in the ICU, Boris Johnson is released from the hospital.
- Fauci: Earlier Social Distancing Measures ‘Obviously’ Would Have Saved More Lives – The nation’s top infectious disease expert said that top health officials faced ‘a lot of push back about shutting things down’
- IRS: First Batch Of Coronavirus Stimulus Checks Have Been Sent – The IRS has deposited the first Economic Impact Payments into taxpayers’ bank accounts on Saturday
- All 50 States Under Disaster Declaration For The First Time In U.S. History – President Trump declared a major emergency in all 50 states and most territories through Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
- No, You Don’t Need To Disinfect Your Groceries. But Here’s How To Shop Safely – Infectious disease, virology and food safety experts share their tips about safe grocery shopping and what you can stop worrying about
- Hard-Hit Spain Tries A Gradual Easing Of Its Coronavirus Lockdown – Some non-essential workers in Spain will return to work this week as part of an easing of restrictions imposed over a month ago in Spain
- Boris Johnson Leaves Hospital, Saying ‘Things Could Have Gone Either Way’ – Johnson was admitted to the hospital a week ago with symptoms but was discharged and continues his recovery
April 10, 2020
Dr. Anthony Fauci cautions that although social distancing efforts appear to be working, the public needs to be ready for a possible return of the virus. CDC Director, Robert Redfield, says the plan to bring America back to normal needs to include “very aggressive” contact tracing. Bill Gates believes schools will be able to open in the fall but says the economy will not recover as quickly. Pfizer reports that its lead drug to treat COVID-19 is showing promise. UK Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, is out of intensive care but remains in the hospital.
- If U.S. Reopens, We Must Prepare For Coronavirus Infections To “Rear Their Heads Again” Dr. Fauci Says – While we are doing a good job social distancing, we cannot loosen restrictions yet and we need to be ready for a possible return of the virus
- CDC Director: ‘Very Aggressive’ Contact Tracing Needed For U.S. To Return To Normal – CDC Director says we need to expand testing for rapid results. Then we need to scale up capacity for tracing the contacts of those who test positive
- Bill Gates: Schools Will Reopen In The Fall, But Economy Won’t Magically Return To The Way It Was – He believes the U.S. could reopen the end of May but that the pandemic has changed how people act. It will take a vaccine to make people confident to go out again and boost the economy
- Pfizer’s Lead Coronavirus Drug Is Showing Promise, Chief Scientific Officer Says – Phizer believes it could enter clinical trials in just a few months for their drug that would treat coronavirus
- Boris Johnson Out Of Intensive Care But Remains In Hospital – He has been moved from intensive care back to the ward where he is receiving close monitoring during the early phase of his recovery
April 9, 2020
Confirmed cases of COVID-19 nears 1.5 million people globally. The number of projected deaths in the United States may be significantly lower than first thought. The number of recorded deaths in New York City are expected to rise as in home cases are reconciled. In America, small-town hospitals are closing as coronavirus cases rise due to financial constraints. A scientific panel warns the White House that warmer weather will not have a significant effect on the spread of coronavirus. A new study provides insights on the possibility of coronavirus pet infection and transmission. In India, residents are able to see the Himalayas for the first time in decades due to decreased air pollution from the lockdown. In the UK, Boris Johnson shows signs of improvement.
- Fauci: ‘Looks Like’ U.S. Deaths Will Be Lower Than Original Projection – Fauci believes the number of U.S. deaths will end up being less than 100,000-200,000 which was the original projection due to social distancing
- At-Home COVID-19 Deaths May Be Significantly Under Counted In New York City – With the daily number of NYC residents who die at home from coronavirus like symptoms exploding, it is suggested that the city may be significantly under counting these deaths
- Small-Town Hospitals Are Closing Just As Coronavirus Arrives In Rural America – These hospitals were already closing prior to the pandemic at an alarming rate. This is leaving many rural Americans without a hospital near by while this pandemic begins to reach them
- Prestigious Scientific Panel Tells White House Coronavirus Won’t Go Away With Warmer Weather – It doesn’t look like coronavirus will go away once the weather warms up. Members of a National Academy of Sciences committee said this due to the data they are seeing
- Can Your Pet Get COVID-19? Study Reveals Risks For Cats And Dogs – Pets are not immune to COVID-19. This new study sheds light on where the risks lie and what pet owners should do to protect their pets and family
- People In India Can See The Himalayas For The First Time In ‘Decades’, As The Lockdown Eases Air Pollution – People in northern India are now able to see the Himalayan mountain range which is over 100 miles away due to the reduction in air pollution. The mountain range has not been visible in over 30 years
- Boris Johnson ‘Improving’ As Intensive Care Treatment Continues – Boris Johnson is said to be improving and engaging positively with the clinical team in London
April 8, 2020
Lockdown restrictions in Wuhan, China are lifted as the city slowly emerges from the coronavirus pandemic. UK Foreign Secretary, Dominic Raab, says he is confident that the UK Prime Minister will recover from COVID-19. In the US, the national hotline for emergency emotional distress sees calls skyrocket over 800%. The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation predicts the peak of COVID-19 deaths for each state. The US Postal Service may see financial impact as business declines due to the pandemic. Nearly 20% of the New York Police Department’s workforce is out sick. Patients who use hydroxychloroquine to treat chronic illnesses are experiencing drug shortages.
- China Lifts 76-Day Lockdown On Wuhan As City Reemerges From Coronavirus Crisis – While some restrictions in the city are still in place, Wuhan reopens their borders after 76 days
- Raab ‘Confident’ Prime Minister Will Recover From Illness -PM Boris Johnson remains in ‘good spirits’ and is breathing without assistance with his condition being ‘stable’
- Calls To U.S. Helpline Jump 891%, As White House Is Warned Of Mental Health Crisis – Federal officials worry that the U.S. is not prepared to meet nation’s needs
- State-By-State Projections: When Will Each State Peak? – See projections of each state’s peak or how all states compare
- You’ve Got Less Mail: The Postal Service Is Suffering Amid The Coronavirus – With significant downturn in business, the Postal Service is concerned with having insufficient liquidity to continue operations
- 12 NYPD Members Have Died From Suspected Cases Of Coronavirus And Nearly 20% Of Its Uniformed Workforce Is Out Sick – Currently 1,935 uniformed members tested positive for coronavirus. The hope is in the next two weeks, more recovered officers will be returning to work
- After Trump’s Statements About Hydroxychloroquine, Lupus And Arthritis Patients Face Drug Shortage – People are hoarding hydroxychloroquine after Trump made statements that it can help with coronavirus even though it is still being tested. This shortage hurts the people who need it the most
April 7, 2020
Inovio, a US-based pharmaceutical, starts phase 1 clinical trials of its COVID-19 vaccine. The use of a malaria drug for treating coronavirus divides the medical community. UK Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, is moved to intensive care as his symptoms worsen. New Zealand takes a hard stance on the elimination of coronavirus. US Congressional leaders debate the next steps to confront the economic effect of the coronavirus.
- INOVIO Initiates Phase 1 Clinical Trial Of Its COVID-19 Vaccine And Plans First Dose Today– Up to 40 healthy volunteers to participate in trial and preclinical animal studies show promising immune responses
- Trump’s Aggressive Advocacy Of Malaria Drug For Treating Coronavirus Divides Medical Community – Anti-malaria medicine has doctors divided due to the fact it has never been tested to be used against coronavirus
- Boris Johnson Moved To Intensive Care As Symptoms Worsen – He has been given oxygen and put in intensive care, but it currently not on a ventilator
- New Zealand Isn’t Just Flattening The Curve. It’s Squashing It – With a strict lockdown imposed, New Zealand is seeing amazing results compared to the U.S. and Europe
- Congressional Leaders Divided On Next Steps To Confront Coronavirus Threat – House Speaker Pelosi is advocating for a second wave of legislation to confront the pandemic, while Senate Majority Leader McConnell, is advocating for a more cautious wait-and-see approach
April 6, 2020
US Surgeon General warns that this week will be the “hardest and saddest week of most Americans’ lives”. Wearing homemade face masks and face coverings in public is encouraged by the CDC.vA Texas city mandates that people wear masks in public or face fines. Projections suggest that “flattening the curve” appears to hold true for states as much as it does for countries. A tiger at the Bronx Zoo tests positive for coronavirus. The UN warns of a surge in domestic violence during global lockdowns. In the UK, 5G cell towers are being burned due to conspiracy theories.
- Surgeon General: ‘This Is Going To Be The Hardest And The Saddest Week Of Most Americans’ Lives’ – U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams warns Americans that this week will be bad but that there is a light at the end of the tunnel
- Homemade Face Masks, CDC And Coronavirus: Everything You Need To Know – Handmade masks and face-coverings are now urged to wear when in public, but they may not be effective at preventing coronavirus
- A Texas City Mandates People Wear Masks In Public Or Face $1,000 Fines – Every person over the age of five must wear ‘some form of covering over their nose and mouth’ when using public transportation, taxis, ride shares, pumping gas or when inside a building open to the public
- How Are States Across The U.S. Projected To ‘Flatten The Curve’? – Researchers at the University of Washington analyzed early trends along with factors of how states are implementing social distancing, hospital capacities and testing capabilities to create a projection of each state’s peak
- Tiger At NYC’S Bronx Zoo Tests Positive For Coronavirus – A tiger has tested positive for COVID-19 in what is believed to be the first known infection in an animal in the U.S. or a tiger anywhere
- Global Lockdowns Resulting In ‘Horrifying Surge’ In Domestic Violence, U.N. Warns – There has been a sharp rise in domestic violence amid global coronavirus lockdowns
- U.K. Cellphone Towers Ablaze As Conspiracy Theories Link 5G Networks To COVID-19 – At least three towers have had reported fires over the past few days as conspiracy theories gain popularity linking 5G networks to COVID-19
April 3, 2020
China fears a second wave of a COVID-19 outbreak is possible, after new cases of infection are reported. A scientific panel has reported to the White House that coronavirus can be spread by talking and possibly just breathing. The reasoning for a 14-day quarantine after possible exposure to COVID-19 is explained. Scientists at University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine have announced a potential vaccine against COVID-19. Dr. Anthony Fauci expresses the need for states to issue stay-at-home orders to help curb the spread of coronavirus.
- China Fears Second Wave of COVID-19 Outbreak – 6,000 Chinese people have been locked down after new infections were reported near Hubei Province
- Experts Tell White House Coronavirus Can Spread Through Talking Or Even Just Breathing – Research shows the virus can spread not just by coughing or sneezing but also by talking or even breathing
- The Science Behind A 14-Day Quarantine After Possible COVID-19 Exposure – Researchers have found that the incubation period for the virus is about five days. About 97% of those infected develop symptoms within 11 to 12 days and 99% within 14 days
- COVID-19 Vaccine Candidate Shows Promise – University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine announced a potential vaccine against COVID-19
- Fauci: ‘I Don’t Understand Why’ Every State Hasn’t Issued Stay-At-Home Orders – There are still a few states that have not issued stay-at-home orders as the coronavirus continues to surge across the U.S.
April 2, 2020
The number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 approaches one million globally. Coronavirus deaths exceed 5,000 in the United States as more states issue stay-at-home orders for residents. Over 40 spring breakers who ignored public health advice test positive for the coronavirus. FEMA is sending 85 refrigerated trucks to New York City to serve as temporary morgues. The New England Patriot’s jet is used to bring over one million N95 masks from China to the US. The governor of California pleads with other states to shut down.
- Coronavirus Deaths Top 5,000 In U.S. As More States Issue Stay-At-Home Orders – Confirmed cases passed 200,000 on Wednesday in the U.S
- More Than 40 Spring Breakers Who Ignored Public Health Advice Test Positive For Coronavirus – Spring breakers came home from Mexico and have tested positive. While most were on a private plane, several took commercial flights home
- FEMA Is Sending 85 Refrigerated Trucks To New York City To Serve As Temporary Morgues – The surge of deaths in NYC have overwhelmed the city’s morgues which has lead to refrigerated trucks to serve as temporary morgues
- New England Patriots’ Jet Will Bring Over A Million N95 Masks From China To U.S. – Patriot’s owner Robert Kraft paid for half of the total cost of the face masks. About 300,000 will be going to NYC hospitals
- ‘What Are You Waiting For?’ California Governor Appeals To 11 States That Haven’t Ordered Residents To Stay Home – California governor pleads with other states to shut down that have not yet
April 1, 2020
The number of new cases of COVID-19 have leveled off to a two-week low in Italy. Testing in Iceland suggests that 50% of COVID-19 positive individuals have no symptoms. Visualizing infection curves is helping to better understand the coronavirus outbreak in countries with the highest number of cases. The Pentagon says it has not sent ventilators and equipment because it has not been told where to send the supplies. Consumer traffic at large retailers falls for the first time in weeks as stockpiling behaviors begins to shift. A cruise ship with four dead and 200 sick passengers will be allowed to dock in Florida.
- Italy’s New Coronavirus Cases Level Off At Two-Week Low – As cases level off, it is a sign that the outbreak in Italy may be coming under control as Italy prepares to extend its lockdown
- Iceland’s Lab Testing Suggests 50% Of Coronavirus Cases Have No Symptoms – Iceland is conducting large-scale testing. This helps create a more accurate picture of how the virus spreads. Article goes over their findings
- U.S., Italy And Spain Have The Most Coronavirus Cases. These Charts Show Their Infectious Curve – Shows curve charts for the top countries that have been infected with COVID-19 and explains how some have handled it
- Pentagon Says It Still Hasn’t Sent Ventilators Because It Hasn’t Been Told Where To Send Them – Despite having committed to transferring 2,000 ventilators, the pentagon has not shipped them out
- Traffic At Walmart, Costco, And Target Falls For The First Time In Weeks As Coronavirus Stockpiling Behavior Shifts – Social distancing and online shopping are keeping consumers out of the stores. Since people stockpiled the past few weeks, they will not need to go to these stores for a while
- Cruise Ship Struggling With COVID-19 Headed To Florida – The Holland America ship has been denied entry by multiple countries and is now docking in Fort Lauderdale with four dead and over 200 sick with fever like symptoms
March 31, 2020
CDC Director, Dr. Robert Redfield, discusses the latest COVID-19 models for the months to come. The CDC is considering recommending that the public wear face coverings when out in public. Dr. Birx, White House coronavirus coordinator, predicts up to 200,000 US deaths as a best case scenario. Pennsylvania and New Jersey are crafting triage policies regarding ventilator access for patients. USNS Comfort arrives in New York City to relieve coronavirus pressure from hospitals. The US unemployment rate may hit 32%, with 47 million job losses estimated by the Federal Reserve.
- CDC Director On Models For The Months To Come: ‘This Virus Is Going To Be With Us’ – The CDC Director, Dr. Robert Redfield, is interviewed and talks about the models on the virus and what the future could look like
- CDC Considering Recommending General Public Wear Face Coverings In Public – The CDC is considering altering the official guidance to encourage people to take measures to cover their faces.
- Dr. Birx Predicts Up To 200,000 U.S. Coronavirus Deaths ‘If We Do Things Almost Perfectly’ – Dr. Birx gives her predictions for the country if everyone follows the 15-day guidelines
- Who Lives, Who Dies: PA., NJ. Facing Tough Priorities As COVID-19 Cases Mount – Pennsylvania and New Jersey are crafting triage policies regarding ventilator access to patients
- Hospital Ship USNS Comfort Arrives In New York To Ease Coronavirus Pressure – This ship will be used to treat patients who do not have the virus but who urgently need other care.
- Coronavirus Job Losses Could Total 47 Million, Unemployment Rate May Hit 32%, Fed Estimates – There are nearly 67 million Americans working in jobs that are at high risk of layoffs and 3.3 million Americans filed jobless claims for the week of March 21.
- Ford To Build 50,000 Ventilators In 100 Days – The company just announced this and said they will continue to produce 30,000 per month afterwards
March 30, 2020
Dr. Fauci, member of the White House coronavirus task force, says the US could see millions of coronavirus cases and more than 100,000 deaths. President Trump has extended the guidelines to slow coronavirus until the end of April. Germany is planning to introduce ‘immunity certificates’ for individuals who have recovered from COVID-19. Russia is using authoritarian technology to control the spread of the virus. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announces that residents who break social distancing rules will be subject to fines. Johnson & Johnson plans to start human testing of their coronavirus vaccine by September. Amazon workers prepare to strike at the Staten Island warehouse in support of demands for coronavirus protections.
- Germany To Introduce Coronavirus ‘Immunity Certificates’ For Recovered Public – It will indicate who has recovered from the virus and is ready to re-enter society. The documents are part of a research project
- U.S. Could See Millions Of Coronavirus Cases And 100,000 or More Deaths, Fauci Says – The nation’s top infectious disease expert gave his opinion based on current models for the U.S.
- How Russia Is Using Authoritarian Tech To Curb Coronavirus – Russia is testing new powers and technology to enforce quarantine such as facial recognition. They caught and fined 200 people who violated self-isolation
- How 15 Days Became 45: Trump Extends Guidelines To Slow Coronavirus – President Trump has extended social distancing until April 30
- Johnson & Johnson Says Human Testing Of Its Coronavirus Vaccine To Begin By September – They have committed more than $1 billion of investment towards this vaccine and say it could be available for emergency use authorization in early 2021
- Amazon Workers Plan Strike At Staten Island Warehouse To Demand Coronavirus Protections – Workers are striking to demand that Amazon close the facility after an associate tested positive last week
- New Yorkers Who Break Social Distancing Rule Will Now Face Fines Up To $500 – New York will begin to enforce social distancing rules by fining subjects who break it
March 29, 2020
New York City confirms cases of coronavirus reach 30,000 with a death every 9.5 minutes. President Trump issues a travel advisory, not a quarantine in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. The US death toll has surpassed 2,000 people, doubling in 2 days. Singapore cancels the passport of a citizen who ignored the isolation order.
- NYC Coronavirus Cases Reach Nearly 30K, With A Death Every 9.5 Minutes – New data shows that in NY, the death rate is accelerating
- Trump Issue Travel Advisory, Not Quarantine, For New York, New Jersey, Connecticut – Travel advisory only, quarantine will not be necessary according to President Trump for NY, NJ and CT
- Singapore Cancels Passport of Citizen Who Ignored Isolation Rule – Singapore cancels passport of citizen who breached the requirement to quarantine himself after returning from overseas
- U.S. Coronavirus Death Toll Doubles In Two Days, Passes 2,000 – The death toll has increased rapidly. It took about a month to hit 1,000 and now only two days to double that
March 28, 2020
The US surpasses 100,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19. Spain reports the highest number of deaths from coronavirus since the start of the outbreak. Abbott launches a 5-minute test for COVID-19. Recovered coronavirus patients in China that once tested negative are now testing positive. Instacart workers are threatening to strike as a result of pandemic working conditions.
- Abbott Launches 5-Minute Covid-19 Test for Use Almost Anywhere – It can tell if someone is infected in as little as 5 minutes and it is small/portable so it can be used in almost any health-care setting
- Spain Reports 832 Coronavirus Deaths in Deadliest Day Yet -Spain has been in a total lockdown for two weeks in an effort to curtail the spread. They now have a total death rate of 5,690
- Mystery In Wuhan: Recovered Coronavirus Patients Test Negative…Then Positive – Second-time infections is calling into question the accuracy of COVID-19 diagnostic tools as China prepares to life quarantine measures
- Instacart Workers Slam Pandemic Working Conditions, Call for Work Stoppage – They are calling for a strike to protest the lack of proper safety precautions
March 27, 2020
The number of confirmed cases in the US has now surpassed the number of cases confirmed in China. The head of WHO warns that millions could die from COVID-19. Canada has a plan to enforce self-isolation of residents. In the UK, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has tested positive for COVID-19. A CDC epidemiologist states that the US could hit its peak of cases in three weeks. In the US, unemployment claims reach a record high, soaring past three million claims.
- Coronavirus: U.S. Overtakes China With Most Cases – The U.S. has more confirmed cases than any other country
- ‘We Are At War’ WHO Head Says, Warning Millions Could Die From COVID-19 – At a virtual summit on the pandemic, they talked about how millions of people could die if governments don’t take aggressive action against the virus
- Coronavirus: How is Canada Planning to Enforce Mandatory Self-Isolation – Canada has deployed the Quarantine Act that imposes mandatory self-isolation rules for any traveler returning with fines and jail time for those who break the rules
- Prime Minister Boris Johnson Tests Positive -Boris Johnson has developed mild symptoms and is self-isolating but will continue to lead the government’s response via video-conference
- Coronavirus Deaths in the U.S. Could Reach Peak in Three Weeks, Epidemiologist Says – U.S Center for Disease Control and Prevention gave estimate of peak in three weeks. Some experts agree, while others do not
- Jobless Claims Soar Past 3 Million to Record High -The number shatters the Great Recession peak of March 2009 and October 1982
March 26, 2020
The number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 approaches 500,000 globally. US Defense Secretary Mark Esper has signed an order that will impose a 60 day freeze on overseas US troops movement due to the pandemic. Dr. Anthony Fauci, infectious disease expert, explains the timeline for reopening the country must be determined by the progression of the virus. Approximately 50,000 Americans are stranded abroad by coronavirus events. Former head of the CDC says US response to COVID-19 crisis is uncoordinated and sorely missing guidance. Experts say people who are not following social distancing guidance during the pandemic are taking unneeded risks.
- U.S. Orders a 60-Day Freeze on Overseas Troop Movement Due to Coronavirus Pandemic – All U.S. service members overseas or currently scheduled to deploy from the U.S. will stay in their current locations for the next 60 days
- Fauci: You Don’t Make the Timeline, the Virus Does – Infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci explains the reality of crafting a timeline to reopen parts of the country amid the pandemic
- 50,000 Americans Stranded Abroad By Coronavirus Events, State Department Says – Over 50,000 Americans are seeking help to return home and countries close borders and flights are canceled
- The U.S. is confronting Coronavirus Without the CDC. It’s ‘Like Fighting With One Hand Tied Behind Your Back,’ Ex-Director Says – Dr. Tom Frieden, former head of the CDC talks about how the U.S.’s response to the pandemic is uncoordinated and sorely missing guidance
- Dear Tampa Bay: Social Distancing Doesn’t Mean Socializing While Staying 6 Feet Apart – Experts say gathering together during this pandemic is “playing with fire”. People are not understanding the meaning of social distancing
March 25, 2020
The US Senate agrees a historic $2 trillion stimulus deal to address the economic impact of COVID-19, that now heads to the House. President Trump wants to open the country by Easter, but it is feared that easing restrictions now would be disastrous. India implements a country-wide lockdown as a result of the coronavirus outbreak. South Korea is seen as a model for tactics to flatten the growth curve of the pandemic. States are finding creative ways to deploy much needed healthcare workers to assist with treating coronavirus.
- White House, Senate Reach Historic $2 Trillion Stimulus Deal Amid Growing Coronavirus Fears – One of the most expensive and far-reaching measures in the history of Congress
- Trump Wants ‘The Country Opened,’ But Easing Coronavirus Restrictions Now Would Be Disastrous, Experts Say – The debate against the health of the U.S. economy against the health of its people
- India’s Prime Minister Orders Lockdown of Country of 1.3 Billion People for 21 Days – There is a total ban on venturing out of your homes as officials have reported 469 active cases and 10 deaths
- How South Korea Flattened the Curve – They showed it is possible to contain the virus without shutting down the economy
- States Get More Creative to Find and Deploy More Health Workers in COVID-19 Fight – There is a shortage of health care providers and to address this they are doing things such as asking retired physicians to volunteer, allowing out-of-state doctors to practice right away and more…
March 24, 2020
China prepares to lift the lockdown in Wuhan City as new cases have slowed significantly. The US Surgeon General warns that the outbreak is going to get worse this week. New York City’s high density of people is its biggest issue contributing to the high number of coronavirus cases. FEMA publishes a website to address misinformation with regard to COVID-19. Several states have delayed primary voting and other states consider expanding absentee voting. The coronavirus is extremely difficult to kill because it is not alive.
- China To Lift Lockdown On Wuhan, The Epicenter Of It’s Coronavirus Outbreak – Travel restrictions will be lifted in two weeks
- Coronavirus Crisis Will ‘Get Bad’ This Week, Surgeon General Warns – He gives a stark warning about the escalating virus pleading with Americans to realize it is going to get worse and to take this seriously
- Density Is New York City’s Big ‘Enemy’ In The Coronavirus Fight – New York is more crowded than any large city in the U.S. which helps explain why it is the epicenter of the outbreak in our country
- FEMA Coronavirus Rumor Control – FEMA distinguishes to the public between rumors and facts regarding COVID-19
- As Coronavirus Delays Primary Season, States Weigh Expanding Absentee Voting – More than a dozen states have already pushed back elections so interest is expanding to vote by mail to keep poll workers and voter safe
- The Coronavirus Is Not Alive. That’s Why It Is So Hard To Kill – Read the science behind what makes this coronavirus so deadly and difficult to defeat
March 23, 2020
New York State has more confirmed cases of COVID-19 than France and South Korea combined. The Governor of New York has identified four sites that may serve as temporary hospitals to treat the increasing number of cases. National parks are seeing an increase in the number of visitors as entry fees are waived. California parks, trails and beaches are crowded despite social distancing recommendations. Canada and Australia announce that they will not send teams to 2020 Olympic games in Japan. The Fed pledges asset purchases with no limit, while the Senate regroups to get vital legislation passed.
- New York State Has More Coronavirus Cases Than France or South Korea as Infections Soar to 15,168 – NY is testing more people than any state in the US
- Governor Cuomo Announces Four Sites Identified by Army Corps of Engineers on Initial List of Temporary Hospitals – Army Corps is expected to immediately begin work to construct the temporary hospitals
- The Federal Reserve Just Pledged Asset Purchases With No Limit to Support Markets – New programs are being launched by the Federal Reserve aimed at helping marketing function more efficiently in the wake of the virus
- Tensions Run High on Capitol Hill as Senate Works to Advance Economic Stimulus – Senate tries to negotiate a deal while one of their own tests positive for COVID-19
- National Parks Are Free, But Some Oppose That Amid The Coronavirus Outbreak – People are flocking to the parks as an escape from being indoors but is it safe?
- Canada and Australia Will Not Send Athletes to Tokyo Olympics – Both countries are calling for the games to be postponed until 2021. International Olympic Committee has said they are not canceling but will consider postponing
- As Crowds Gather Despite Coronavirus Rules, Some Parks, Trails and Beach Parking Lots Are Closed – People in California are not adhering to the Governor and were crowding beaches and parks this past weekend despite them being closed
March 22, 2020
The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases has surpassed 300,000 globally. The FDA has approved a new test that can detect coronavirus in about 45 minutes. An overview of what all 50 states in the United States are doing to respond to the coronavirus pandemic. Five things that happened in technology over the past week and how they affect businesses. A description of how COVID-19 affects the lungs of those who are infected with the virus.
- Here’s the Damage Coronavirus Can Do to Your Lungs – How the coronavirus causes acute respiratory distress syndrome
- All 50 States of the Coronavirus: How Each Has Responded to the Pandemic – See how states across the country are reacting in response to COVID-19
- COVID-19 Business Tech News – Five things in technology that happened this past week and how they affect your business
- FDA Authorizes New Test That Could Detect Coronavirus in About 45 Minutes – New rapid diagnostic test that can detect coronavirus in approximately 45 minutes will be shipping out next week from California
March 21, 2020
President Trump declares New York State as a major disaster unlocking FEMA funding. Google launches a website to provide educational information and resources related to COVID-19. The FDA issues a warning concerning fraudulent at-home tests for coronavirus. The question of whether a person can be infected with COVID-19 more than once, after Japan reports a case of reinfection.
- Google Launches Coronavirus Website – Offers information, resources and help about COVID-19
- FDA Alerts Consumers About Unauthorized Fraudulent COVID-19 Test Kits – FDA has not authorized any test that is available to purchase for testing yourself at home
- Can You Get Coronavirus Twice? – Discussion about whether you can get reinfected with COVID-19
- President Trump Approves New York Disaster Declaration – Major disaster declared in NY which makes Federal funding available for NY for emergency protective measures and Crisis Counseling
March 20, 2020
The number of deaths from COVID-19 has surpassed 10,000 globally. The governor of California requests US Navy hospital ships to be deployed to the state as he predicts over half of the population will be infected by the virus. Additionally, the California governor has announced a stay at home order for the states residents and Pennsylvania governor, Tom Wolf, has ordered all non-life-sustaining businesses to close. The number of unemployment claims spiked over the last week in Pennsylvania as a result of the impact to businesses. The number of cases reported in Japan are lower than expected.
- A Coronavirus Explosion Was Expected in Japan. Where is it? – Why is Japan one of the least-affected among developed nations from COVID-19?
- California Gov. Gavin Newsom Announces Statewide Coronavirus ‘Stay at Home’ Order – This order prohibits gatherings outside and requires nonessential businesses to close in an effort to slow the spread of the virus
- Gov. Tom Wolf Orders All Non-Life-Sustaining Businesses in Pennsylvania to Close Physical Locations to Slow Coronavirus Spread – Wolf will enforce this this order beginning Saturday. It is important to act now before the illness spreads more widely
- California Gov. Writes Open Letter to President Trump – Gov. Gavin Newsom requests help from President Trump while mentioning state projections for infections
- Unemployment Claims in PA. and N.J. Surge in Wake of the Coronavirus – In the past week in Pennsylvania, officials received 120,000 claims for unemployment benefits, more than half of what the state received for the first quarter.
March 19, 2020
In the past day, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases is approaching 10 times the number of recovered cases. For the first time, China reports 0 new cases domestically, but experts warn a second wave of infections is possible. In the US, younger adults account for close to 40 percent of hospitalizations from the coronavirus. US Surgeon General states that 15 days of social distancing may not be adequate to halt virus spread. US Navy Hospital Ships are deployed to New York and the West Coast in preparation for rising number of COVID-19 cases. FDA officials assure citizens that no food shortages exist. Countries are closing their borders as a measure to combat coronavirus spread.
- As China’s Virus Cases Reach Zero, Experts Warn of a Second Wave – China has no new infections of COVID-19 domestically for the first time since this crisis started.
- Younger Adults Make Up Big Portion of Coronavirus Hospitalizations in US – New CDC data shows about 40% of patients sick enough to be hospitalized were 20-54
- Tesla Joins GM in ‘Patriotic’ Offer to Make Ventilators – GM and Tesla are offering to manufacture hospital ventilators in auto factories
- Coronavirus: Travel Restrictions, Border Shutdowns by Country – Map that shows which countries have closed their borders due to COVID-19
- Surgeon General Says 15 Days ‘Not Enough Time’ to Slow Coronavirus – “Fifteen days is likely not going to be enough to get us all the way through”
- Coronavirus: U.S. Navy Hospital Ships to Deploy to New York, West Coast – Navy hospital shops are deployed where medical workers are expecting a major flux in patients
- FDA Officials Reassure Americans No Food Shortages Exist – Food supply will remain safe and uninterrupted during this pandemic.
March 18, 2020
The number of global confirmed cases of COVID-19 has surpassed 200,000. The virus has been confirmed in all 50 states as West Virginia reports its first case. The first 100 deaths from COVID-19 have demonstrated some commonalities. The CDC is recommending live streaming for large funerals. Social distancing may need to last months to help control the virus. The use of ibuprofen is debated for treating fevers for those with coronavirus.
- West Virginia, Last State Without Coronavirus, Sees it’s First Case – COVID-19 is officially now in all 50 states
- Here’s What We Know About the 100 People Who’ve Died in the US from Coronavirus – The majority of the deaths were over 60 years old, lived in nursing homes and had other health problems
- CDC Urges Funeral Directors to Livestream Large Funerals Amid Coronavirus Outbreak – Due to the CDC recommendation to cancel or postpone gatherings of 50 people or more, they now are urging funerals to be live streamed
- New Analysis Suggests Months of Social Distancing May Be Needed to Stop Virus – Analysis done by the Imperial College London shows in order to not overwhelm our healthcare system with severe cases, we will need tight controls in place on transmission through social distancing
- Is Ibuprofen Really Risky for Coronavirus Patients? – With claims being made about Ibuprofen and coronavirus, the New York Times takes a look at facts/data
March 17, 2020
The Canadian border closes to all but Canadian and US citizens and San Francisco shelters in place as the coronavirus continues to spread globally. The number of cases in the United States are similar to Italy’s path from two weeks ago. Social distancing to help control the spread of the virus will likely be in place for some time. Amazon is ramping up its hiring efforts to support people relying on their services.
- Amazon Ramps Hiring, Opening 100,000 New Roles to Support People Relying on Amazon’s Service in This Stressful Time – Amazon will invest over $350 million globally to increase pay to employees while opening jobs in fulfillment centers and delivery to meet the surge in demand
- Canada Closing Borders to Noncitizens Because of Coronavirus – denying entry to people who are not citizens or permanent residents. This does not apply to U.S citizens as of now
- San Francisco and Bay Area Will Shelter in Place to Slow Coronavirus Spread – Six counties in the Bay area, about 6.7 million people are under a ‘shelter in place’ order to slow the spread of COVID-19
- U.S. Surgeon General: U.S Cases Are Where Italy Was 2 Weeks Ago – U.S is at a critical point in the spread of COVID-19. The number of cases in the U.S. have reached the level that Italy recorded two weeks ago.
- How Long Will Social Distancing for Coronavirus Have to Last? Depends on These Factors – It will depend on when U.S cases finally reach their peak, but even after that, we may need drastic actions to keep the virus at bay
March 16, 2020
The European Union reports the highest one-day number of deaths and the total number of COVID-19 cases outside of mainland China have surpassed those reported inside of China. In the US, the CDC is now recommending cancelling gatherings of 50 or more people. Taiwan’s response has been critical in limiting impact of the virus. Airlines are allowing cancellations with reduced or no fees.
- Get Your Mass Gatherings or Large Events Ready – CDC announces all events with 50+ people should be canceled for the next 8 weeks
- Coronavirus: EU States Record the Highest One-Day Death Toll – W.H.O has declared Europe the new ‘Epicenter’ of the pandemic as they record the highest one-day death toll
- More Coronavirus Cases Outside Mainland China Than Inside As Pandemic Accelerates – For the first time since Coronavirus came about, there are more reported cases outside of China than inside
- Coronavirus: Impact on Airline Cancellation and Refund Policy – Learn which major airlines are waiving cancellation and change fees in light of COVID-19
- Taiwan Has Only 50 Coronavirus Cases. It’s Response to the Crisis Shows That Swift Action and Widespread Healthcare Can Prevent an Outbreak – Taiwan’s response has been critical in limiting the impact of the virus
March 15, 2020
The US House passes a coronavirus bill with COVID 19 now present in 142 countries around the world. Google is partnering with the US government to develop a nationwide coronavirus website and New York City teachers are planning to strike as schools remain open. The Washington Post has created a simulator showing the importance of social distancing. Widespread school closings has the potential to impact up to 30 million who depend on schools for their meals.
- U.S. House Passes Coronavirus Bill Funding, Free Tests, Sick Leave – Coronavirus aid package passed on Saturday that will provide free testing and paid sick leave.
- NYC Teachers Planning ‘Mass Sickout’ Over de Blasio’s Refusal to Close Schools – Teachers are calling for everyone to call out sick in response to the Mayors insistence on keeping public schools open
- Google Will Partner With U.S. Government to Develop a Nationwide Coronavirus Website – Website will provide information on COVID-19 symptoms, risk and testing information
- Why Outbreaks Like Coronavirus Spread Exponetially, and Have “Flatten the Curve” – Simulations showing how social distancing can limit the spread of coronavirus
- Widespread School Closures Mean 30 Million Kids Might Go Without Meal – How system wide closures will impact low income communities who rely on the school’s free breakfast/lunch programs
March 14, 2020
Over 11,000 cases have been confirmed in the past day and President Trump declares a national state of emergency in the US. New tests have become available with results that are 10 times faster than previous tests, hospital are bracing for impact, and lessons learned from past outbreaks allowing Singapore, Taiwan and Hong Kong to act quickly and aggressively.
- New Coronavirus Test 10 Times Faster Is FDA Approved – Newly approved test will speed up the ability to test test patients
- Trump Declares National Emergency Over Coronavirus – This declaration frees up $50 billion in financial resources to assist Americans
- Does Closing Schools Slow the Spread of Coronavirus? Past Outbreaks Provides Clues – A social scientist and physician at Yale University thinks closing schools does slow the spread of COVID-19
- U.S Hospitals Brace for ‘Tremendous Strain’ from New Virus – Hospitals are setting up triage like tents, calling doctors out of retirement and guarding face masks as they prepare for more COVID-19 patients
- The New Coronavirus Can Live On Surfaces For 2-3 Days – New study this week shows it can live on hard surfaces for up to 72 hours
- What Can We Learn From Singapore, Taiwan and Hong Kong About Handling Coronavirus – Lessons were learned from the SARS outbreak leading people in Singapore, Taiwan and Hong Kong to respond quickly and aggressively
March 13, 2020
Over the past 24 hours the number of cases increased and deaths have slowed. Additional closures are announced including more US school districts, Walt Disney World and Disneyland. Canadian prime minister’s wife tests positive for COVID-19. COVID-19 test shortages and drive-through testing being introduced.
- Drive-Through COVID-19 Testing Launched by Hospitals in Parking Lots and Garages – Drive-through testing is rolling out to help protect healthcare workers
- Map: Coronavirus and School Closures – Daily updated map that shows school closures within the United States
- Walt Disney World Closes, Paralyzing the Company’s Tourism Empire – Disney Closes its parks in Florida and California
- Sick People Across the U.S. Say They Are Being Denied the Coronavirus Test – There are not enough tests to go around
- Sophie Gregoire Trudeau Tests Positive for COVID-19 – The wife of Canada’s Prime Minister has tested positive for COVID-19 and begins her isolation
March 12, 2020
There were an additional 6,000 cases of COVID-19 confirmed in past day. World Health Organization has declared COVID-19 a pandemic. New actions to contain the spread of the virus are being taken, a new US travel ban, many colleges are going online, and the NBA has suspended its season. Dr. Fauci, NIAID Director, who has advised six presidents on pandemics, addressed the House Oversight Committee on coronavirus: “It is going to get worse”.
- Coronavirus: Trump Suspends Travel From Europe to US – United States bans travel to 26 European countries to combat the spread of COVID-19
- NBA Suspends Season Indefinitely for Coronavirus – Utah Jazz player tested positive for COVID-19 leading to the NBA to indefinitely suspend the season
- Travel Bans Have Barely Slowed the Coronavirus’s Spread – Travel restrictions imposed in China only slowed the spread by a few days within China and a few weeks internationally
- College Closings: More than 100 Colleges Cancel in-person Classes and Move Online – Schools are taking extreme steps as they transition over to online schooling
- WHO Director-General’s Opening Remarks at the Media Breifing on COVID-19 – WHO declares Coronavirus a pandemic
- Dr. Fauci on Coronavirus: Worst is Yet To Come – NIAID Director addresses the House Oversight Committee about COVID-19
March 11, 2020
The number of COVID-19 confirmed cases, deaths and recovered individuals continues to rise globally. The US has now surpassed 1,000 confirmed cases. Although cases continue to rise in the US, the pandemic is following previously seen bell-shaped curve following Farr’s Law as seen with AIDS, SARS and Ebola in China. New York has taken steps to create a containment area around a cluster location.
- U.S Coronavirus Cases Surpasses 1,000 John Hopkins University Data Shows – COVID-19 Cases surpass 1,000 in the U.S
- Coronavirus Going to Hit it’s Peak and Start Falling Sooner Than You Think – COVID-19 compared to the flu
- Coronavirus: New York Creates ‘Containment Area’ Around Cluster In New Rochelle – National Guard called to containment area in New York
March 10, 2020
- Barclays reports coronavirus case on New York trading floor – COVID-19 on Trading Floor
- New Jersey Reports First Coronavirus Death, Raises US Toll to 27 – First Death in New Jersey
- Information from LabCorp about Coronavirus Disease – Labcorp announces they partnered with the White House
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