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| Coronavirus Briefing: What Happened Today | Coronavirus Briefing: What Happened Today |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| This is the Coronavirus Briefing, an informed guide to the global outbreak. Sign up here to get the briefing by email. | This is the Coronavirus Briefing, an informed guide to the global outbreak. Sign up here to get the briefing by email. |
| By Patrick J. Lyons | By Patrick J. Lyons |
| The Senate kept wrangling over a $1.8 trillion economic stabilization package, after Democrats blocked a version that they said did not provide adequate protection for workers. | The Senate kept wrangling over a $1.8 trillion economic stabilization package, after Democrats blocked a version that they said did not provide adequate protection for workers. |
| Prime Minister Boris Johnson put Britain under tight nationwide movement restrictions and ordered most stores to close. | Prime Minister Boris Johnson put Britain under tight nationwide movement restrictions and ordered most stores to close. |
| New York State now has more than 20,000 confirmed cases — about 6 percent of the global tally. | New York State now has more than 20,000 confirmed cases — about 6 percent of the global tally. |
| Get the latest updates here, plus maps and full coverage | Get the latest updates here, plus maps and full coverage |
| The wrangling on Capitol Hill over a $1.8 trillion package of measures to aid the stalling economy continued on Monday, after Democrats again blocked a version of the package that they said offered too little protection for workers and too much potential for abuse by big business. | The wrangling on Capitol Hill over a $1.8 trillion package of measures to aid the stalling economy continued on Monday, after Democrats again blocked a version of the package that they said offered too little protection for workers and too much potential for abuse by big business. |
| Tempers flared in the Senate as the Republican leadership scheduled votes without reaching a deal with Democrats. Each side accused the other of playing partisan games. Talks were set to continue into the evening. | Tempers flared in the Senate as the Republican leadership scheduled votes without reaching a deal with Democrats. Each side accused the other of playing partisan games. Talks were set to continue into the evening. |
| If it passes, the package could provide direct payments of up to $1,200 to many taxpayers, as well as money to expand unemployment benefits and a number of aid provisions for businesses and farmers. | If it passes, the package could provide direct payments of up to $1,200 to many taxpayers, as well as money to expand unemployment benefits and a number of aid provisions for businesses and farmers. |
| The lack of a deal during the day disappointed Wall Street. The S&P 500 index fell about 3 percent, adding to a 15 percent plunge last week. | The lack of a deal during the day disappointed Wall Street. The S&P 500 index fell about 3 percent, adding to a 15 percent plunge last week. |
| The Times is providing free access to much of our coronavirus coverage, and our Coronavirus Briefing newsletter — like all of our newsletters — is free. Please consider supporting our journalism with a subscription. | The Times is providing free access to much of our coronavirus coverage, and our Coronavirus Briefing newsletter — like all of our newsletters — is free. Please consider supporting our journalism with a subscription. |
| China and some of its Asian neighbors have shown that with furious efforts, the contagion can be brought to heel. Our science reporter Donald G. McNeil Jr. spoke to a dozen leading epidemic-fighting experts last week about what it would take for the U.S. and other countries to do the same. | China and some of its Asian neighbors have shown that with furious efforts, the contagion can be brought to heel. Our science reporter Donald G. McNeil Jr. spoke to a dozen leading epidemic-fighting experts last week about what it would take for the U.S. and other countries to do the same. |
| Much of what they recommended was to move faster and on a far larger scale: more testing, more ventilators, more hospital capacity, more limits on travel and gatherings, swifter development of treatments and a vaccine. | Much of what they recommended was to move faster and on a far larger scale: more testing, more ventilators, more hospital capacity, more limits on travel and gatherings, swifter development of treatments and a vaccine. |
| Here are three of the more unexpected takeaways that could slow the pandemic: | Here are three of the more unexpected takeaways that could slow the pandemic: |
| Though a few people catch the virus from random strangers, many more cases are arising within clusters of family members, friends and work colleagues. No one knows yet why this is so, but the experts see it as an opening. | Though a few people catch the virus from random strangers, many more cases are arising within clusters of family members, friends and work colleagues. No one knows yet why this is so, but the experts see it as an opening. |
| “You can contain clusters,” Dr. David L. Heymann said. “You need to identify and stop discrete outbreaks, and then do rigorous contact tracing.” | “You can contain clusters,” Dr. David L. Heymann said. “You need to identify and stop discrete outbreaks, and then do rigorous contact tracing.” |
| Easier said than done, though: “Doing so takes intelligent, rapidly adaptive work by health officials, and near-total cooperation from the populace,” Donald explains. | Easier said than done, though: “Doing so takes intelligent, rapidly adaptive work by health officials, and near-total cooperation from the populace,” Donald explains. |
| Americans must be persuaded to stay home, the experts told Donald. But that’s not enough. | Americans must be persuaded to stay home, the experts told Donald. But that’s not enough. |
| Instead of advising the infected to remain at home, as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention now does, the experts said that people with the virus should be isolated and cared for away from those they were most likely to pass the virus to — their families. | Instead of advising the infected to remain at home, as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention now does, the experts said that people with the virus should be isolated and cared for away from those they were most likely to pass the virus to — their families. |
| For most patients, a cross between a dormitory and a first-aid clinic, supervised by nurses, would do, along the lines of the “temporary hospitals” that Wuhan, China, had set up. | For most patients, a cross between a dormitory and a first-aid clinic, supervised by nurses, would do, along the lines of the “temporary hospitals” that Wuhan, China, had set up. |
| There is little evidence that walking around in a flat surgical mask gives a healthy person much protection — which is why many officials have said not to bother. But the experts Donald spoke to all agreed that it was important for all sick people to wear them to contain their coughs. | There is little evidence that walking around in a flat surgical mask gives a healthy person much protection — which is why many officials have said not to bother. But the experts Donald spoke to all agreed that it was important for all sick people to wear them to contain their coughs. |
| How do you achieve that, if wearing a mask marks you out as infected? The lesson from Asia, the experts told Donald, is to make masks mandatory for everybody. Then the sick automatically have one on, and there is no stigma attached. “The Asian approach is less about data than it is about crowd psychology,” he writes. | How do you achieve that, if wearing a mask marks you out as infected? The lesson from Asia, the experts told Donald, is to make masks mandatory for everybody. Then the sick automatically have one on, and there is no stigma attached. “The Asian approach is less about data than it is about crowd psychology,” he writes. |
| There is growing anecdotal evidence that anosmia — loss of the sense of smell — is an indicator of a Covid-19 infection. | There is growing anecdotal evidence that anosmia — loss of the sense of smell — is an indicator of a Covid-19 infection. |
| The symptom was reported in 30 percent of cases in a large-scale study in South Korea — as well as by patients in Italy, China and Germany. | The symptom was reported in 30 percent of cases in a large-scale study in South Korea — as well as by patients in Italy, China and Germany. |
| Sarah Maslin Nir, a New York Times reporter who covered the outbreak in New Rochelle, N.Y., lost her sense of smell last week, and later tested positive for the coronavirus. She shared her experience with us. Here is a condensed version of our interview. | Sarah Maslin Nir, a New York Times reporter who covered the outbreak in New Rochelle, N.Y., lost her sense of smell last week, and later tested positive for the coronavirus. She shared her experience with us. Here is a condensed version of our interview. |
| When did you notice that you couldn’t smell? | When did you notice that you couldn’t smell? |
| I had a socially distant lunch with a friend on Perry Street, at opposite ends of a stoop, and she passed me some Clorox wipes. And I thought, Unscented Clorox wipes? That’s weird. But then I looked at them, and they said “lemon scent.” | I had a socially distant lunch with a friend on Perry Street, at opposite ends of a stoop, and she passed me some Clorox wipes. And I thought, Unscented Clorox wipes? That’s weird. But then I looked at them, and they said “lemon scent.” |
| I quickly made my exit, because I remembered reading an article about two Chinese health care workers and one sentence stuck out to me, that one of the women lost her sense of taste and smell. I went home, got my godmother on FaceTime, opened my spice cupboard and tried sniffing all the spices. I sliced fresh ginger and practically put it up my nose, and couldn’t smell it. | I quickly made my exit, because I remembered reading an article about two Chinese health care workers and one sentence stuck out to me, that one of the women lost her sense of taste and smell. I went home, got my godmother on FaceTime, opened my spice cupboard and tried sniffing all the spices. I sliced fresh ginger and practically put it up my nose, and couldn’t smell it. |
| Is anosmia your only symptom? | Is anosmia your only symptom? |
| I don’t have a cough or a fever, but I’m exhausted. And because I can’t smell, food is bland. Eggplant Parmesan tastes like a hot wet book. | I don’t have a cough or a fever, but I’m exhausted. And because I can’t smell, food is bland. Eggplant Parmesan tastes like a hot wet book. |
| How would you describe anosmia to others? | How would you describe anosmia to others? |
| It’s deeply unsettling. It’s a constant reminder that something is deeply wrong with your body. You can perk up and have a good moment or two, but then you eat your Cheerios and your heart misses a beat. | It’s deeply unsettling. It’s a constant reminder that something is deeply wrong with your body. You can perk up and have a good moment or two, but then you eat your Cheerios and your heart misses a beat. |
| Advice from medical professionals: If you lose your sense of smell, it could be a sign that you are infected. You should isolate at home for at least seven days, even if you don’t have any other symptoms. | Advice from medical professionals: If you lose your sense of smell, it could be a sign that you are infected. You should isolate at home for at least seven days, even if you don’t have any other symptoms. |
| Updated August 4, 2020 | |
| The Times sent dozens of photographers out to capture images of once-bustling public plazas, train stations and tourist meccas around the world, now virtually abandoned. | The Times sent dozens of photographers out to capture images of once-bustling public plazas, train stations and tourist meccas around the world, now virtually abandoned. |
| “Their present emptiness, a public health necessity, can conjure up dystopia,” writes Michael Kimmelman, our architecture critic. “But, promisingly, it also suggests that, by heeding the experts and staying apart, we have not yet lost the capacity to come together for the common good.” | “Their present emptiness, a public health necessity, can conjure up dystopia,” writes Michael Kimmelman, our architecture critic. “But, promisingly, it also suggests that, by heeding the experts and staying apart, we have not yet lost the capacity to come together for the common good.” |
| And the not-so-empty: Though several major cities were locked down this weekend, people across much of the U.S., from Florida beaches to California mountains, dismissed the growing demands to stop congregating, John Branch reports. | And the not-so-empty: Though several major cities were locked down this weekend, people across much of the U.S., from Florida beaches to California mountains, dismissed the growing demands to stop congregating, John Branch reports. |
| In Italy, where cases have surged to nearly 60,000, with more than 5,400 deaths, doctors have been forced to make life-or-death decisions. | In Italy, where cases have surged to nearly 60,000, with more than 5,400 deaths, doctors have been forced to make life-or-death decisions. |
| Twelve percent of Spain’s more than 33,000 cases are health care workers. | Twelve percent of Spain’s more than 33,000 cases are health care workers. |
| Indiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Wisconsin, West Virginia and Oregon became the latest states to announce broad restrictions to keep people home. | Indiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Wisconsin, West Virginia and Oregon became the latest states to announce broad restrictions to keep people home. |
| Most of India is under stay-at-home restrictions, over concerns that the 500 cases it has so far could rapidly balloon. | Most of India is under stay-at-home restrictions, over concerns that the 500 cases it has so far could rapidly balloon. |
| Can you catch the virus through food? There’s currently no evidence that you can. But J. Kenji López-Alt, a Times columnist, recommends limiting your human contacts when getting the food: Choose delivery over takeout, and small local grocers over big stores if you can, he advises in Serious Eats. | Can you catch the virus through food? There’s currently no evidence that you can. But J. Kenji López-Alt, a Times columnist, recommends limiting your human contacts when getting the food: Choose delivery over takeout, and small local grocers over big stores if you can, he advises in Serious Eats. |
| Skip the supplements: Vitamins, herbs, extracts and cold and flu remedies haven’t been shown to ward off the coronavirus or help you get over it any faster — but large doses could do harm. | Skip the supplements: Vitamins, herbs, extracts and cold and flu remedies haven’t been shown to ward off the coronavirus or help you get over it any faster — but large doses could do harm. |
| Can you go out for a jog? Probably. Most areas under stay-at-home orders allow outdoor exercise, provided you do it alone. But skip the public drinking fountain. | Can you go out for a jog? Probably. Most areas under stay-at-home orders allow outdoor exercise, provided you do it alone. But skip the public drinking fountain. |
| Should you flee to somewhere remote? First, consider whether you would actually be safer there, especially if medical services are limited. If you do go, Jodi Kantor, a Times investigative reporter, writes in our new column, Dilemmas, that you should drive directly there and then immediately self-quarantine: The person who brings the virus may be you. | Should you flee to somewhere remote? First, consider whether you would actually be safer there, especially if medical services are limited. If you do go, Jodi Kantor, a Times investigative reporter, writes in our new column, Dilemmas, that you should drive directly there and then immediately self-quarantine: The person who brings the virus may be you. |
| See how the movements of hundreds of millions of people allowed the virus outbreak to become a pandemic. | See how the movements of hundreds of millions of people allowed the virus outbreak to become a pandemic. |
| Invisible pathogens have been a recurring source of human despair and destruction. We gathered photos chronicling a century of epidemics, from influenza to AIDS to Ebola. | Invisible pathogens have been a recurring source of human despair and destruction. We gathered photos chronicling a century of epidemics, from influenza to AIDS to Ebola. |
| Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada has taken on single parenthood and housekeeping while leading his country, since his wife tested positive for the virus. | Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada has taken on single parenthood and housekeeping while leading his country, since his wife tested positive for the virus. |
| With President Trump calling it the “Chinese virus” and bigots yelling and spitting at them on the street, many Chinese-Americans say they are terrified of what could come next. | With President Trump calling it the “Chinese virus” and bigots yelling and spitting at them on the street, many Chinese-Americans say they are terrified of what could come next. |
| The retired NASA astronaut Scott Kelly, who spent almost a year on the International Space Station, has some tips for isolation: Go outside, get into a routine and keep a journal. | The retired NASA astronaut Scott Kelly, who spent almost a year on the International Space Station, has some tips for isolation: Go outside, get into a routine and keep a journal. |
| Researchers have identified nearly 70 drugs that might be effective in treating the coronavirus. | Researchers have identified nearly 70 drugs that might be effective in treating the coronavirus. |
| DISCO! In complete physical isolation for two weeks, we can’t leave the house for any reason. Dancing is my way of getting some exercise. My playlist always starts with “Stayin’ Alive” (Bee Gees) and ends with “I Will Survive” (Gloria Gaynor). | DISCO! In complete physical isolation for two weeks, we can’t leave the house for any reason. Dancing is my way of getting some exercise. My playlist always starts with “Stayin’ Alive” (Bee Gees) and ends with “I Will Survive” (Gloria Gaynor). |
| — Kathy Cuda, Italy | — Kathy Cuda, Italy |
| Let us know how you’re dealing with the outbreak. Send us a response here, and we may feature it in an upcoming newsletter. | Let us know how you’re dealing with the outbreak. Send us a response here, and we may feature it in an upcoming newsletter. |
| Sign up here to get the briefing by email. | Sign up here to get the briefing by email. |
| Lara Takenaga and Jonathan Wolfe contributed to today’s newsletter. | Lara Takenaga and Jonathan Wolfe contributed to today’s newsletter. |