Coronavirus Briefing: What Happened Today

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/22/us/coronavirus-today.html

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This is the Coronavirus Briefing, an informed guide to the global outbreak. Sign up here to get the briefing by email.

A new study found that hydroxychloroquine, the antimalaria drug promoted by President Trump, may actually harm coronavirus patients.

An early-stage trial of a vaccine developed in China and tested on 108 people appears to be safe and may offer protection against the virus.

Mr. Trump declared houses of worship “essential services” and ordered governors to let them reopen.

Get the latest updates here, plus maps and a tracker for U.S. metro areas.

The U.S. is about to kick off its first major holiday weekend since the pandemic began — and it’s going to be unlike any other, with most of the traditional activities off limits or significantly restricted.

But the virus doesn’t have to spoil your holiday plans. With some precautions, it’s still possible to honor the fallen and enjoy the warm weather while lowering your risk of infection. Here are some tips to stay safe:

Though many memorial events have been canceled, some are being adapted, like a “virtual flag garden” in Massachusetts and a streamed service for veterans in Minnesota.

The biggest risk of swimming in pools, lakes or the ocean is your exposure to other people, not the water itself — other coronaviruses have proved to be unstable in water and highly sensitive to chlorine. Being able to avoid others, both in and near the water, is the key to safe swimming.

Ideally, you should socialize only with people in your household. But if you decide to gather with others, it’s best to do so outdoors. Keep the group small, and stay at least six feet apart.

The safest picnic is with your family, but if you invite guests, they should bring their own food, drinks, ice and coolers and sit at their own tables. Wear masks for long conversations, and have hand sanitizer available or set up a hand-washing station.

Be prepared for transformed airports. During security screenings, you’ll be asked to scan your own boarding pass and put any food you’ve brought in a separate bin to prevent cross-contamination. And the 3.4-ounce rule has been relaxed for hand sanitizer: You’re allowed to bring up to 12 ounces on board.

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If you plan to hit the beach this weekend, read up on the local rules and go only if you can avoid crowds. (There may even be a webcam that you can check first.) But be warned: Some states, counties and communities are limiting access to locals only.

Here’s a look at how some states are regulating beaches at the start of the summer:

California: Beaches in 15 counties are open for “active use,” which does not include lounging on beach towels.

New Jersey: The second phase of reopening the Jersey Shore begins this weekend. Sunbathing is allowed, but swimming is not expected to be permitted until July.

Florida: Most beaches are open, but many are restricting activities and large gatherings, and some have reduced hours. Beaches in Miami remain closed but are planning to reopen on June 1.

Massachusetts: Beaches will reopen for swimming on Memorial Day, but volleyball is banned and sunbathers must place their towels 12 feet apart.

New York City: Mayor Bill de Blasio said that, for now, beaches are intended only for those who live near them, and not for swimming. The city is considering opening beaches for bathers in early June.

The corner of Lafayette and East Fourth Streets in Manhattan used to be a busy thoroughfare, with coffee shops, gyms and hurried N.Y.U. students walking between classes. But during the pandemic, the usual sounds of the city have gone quiet. Hear it for yourself here.

Is your bad mood something more? You may want to contemplate whether the coronavirus has simply put you in a funk, or if you have depression that should be evaluated and treated. You can familiarize yourself with depression’s physical and mental markers.

Try a new board game. These travel-themed games will transport you to Renaissance Florence, Barcelona, Istanbul and beyond with just the roll of a die.

Host your own summer camp. Ask your kids what they were most looking forward to about camp — then help them grieve their losses and figure out which parts you can recreate.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and several state health departments have come under fire for mixing antibody and viral tests in their reported results, in a way that experts say could distort the true picture of the pandemic.

Are you more likely to die from the coronavirus or from driving to work, skydiving or being a soldier in a war? A former academic physicist puts the risk into perspective.

See what it was like inside one of the hardest-hit hospitals in New York during the peak of the city’s outbreak.

Hundreds of companies have canceled their summer internship programs, undercutting a steppingstone to employment for young people.

After losing some customers to rivals during the pandemic, Amazon is trying to lure them back with faster shipping times and big sales.

A teenage girl crossed India on a $20 bike to get her father safely home amid the crisis.

My 12-year-old grandson and I are writing a book called “Coronavirus: A Novel.” The idea is to create a keepsake of our experience and to pass it on to his future offspring. The process is pretty much like improv. One of us writes a fictional passage and leaves off midstream. The other continues the story in whatever direction they lead it.

— Barbara Seldin, San Diego

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