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Coronavirus Briefing: What Happened Today | Coronavirus Briefing: What Happened Today |
(about 4 hours 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. |
As the pace of the pandemic speeds up, the U.S. continues to play an outsize role, now contributing 20 percent of all new coronavirus cases worldwide — even with just 4 percent of the global population. The surges in states that reopened early show no signs of stopping, despite President Trump’s continued assertions that the virus would “fade away.” | As the pace of the pandemic speeds up, the U.S. continues to play an outsize role, now contributing 20 percent of all new coronavirus cases worldwide — even with just 4 percent of the global population. The surges in states that reopened early show no signs of stopping, despite President Trump’s continued assertions that the virus would “fade away.” |
“I think this is more like a forest fire,” one infectious disease expert said. “I think that wherever there’s wood to burn, this fire is going to burn it.” | “I think this is more like a forest fire,” one infectious disease expert said. “I think that wherever there’s wood to burn, this fire is going to burn it.” |
By that measure, states like Texas, Florida and South Carolina are dealing with infernos, setting caseload records in recent days. Though the U.S. death count has been trending downward, cases are on the rise in nearly half of all states, particularly in the South, West and Midwest. | By that measure, states like Texas, Florida and South Carolina are dealing with infernos, setting caseload records in recent days. Though the U.S. death count has been trending downward, cases are on the rise in nearly half of all states, particularly in the South, West and Midwest. |
Those cases are emerging in places that previously received little attention — fraternity houses, a strip club, churches — and experts say that is likely to continue as people socialize more. | Those cases are emerging in places that previously received little attention — fraternity houses, a strip club, churches — and experts say that is likely to continue as people socialize more. |
At his campaign rally in Tulsa, Okla., on Saturday, Mr. Trump said he wanted to “slow the testing down” because higher case counts stem from more tests. But experts have countered that claim, pointing to increasing rates of positive tests and hospitalizations as evidence that the virus is spreading. | At his campaign rally in Tulsa, Okla., on Saturday, Mr. Trump said he wanted to “slow the testing down” because higher case counts stem from more tests. But experts have countered that claim, pointing to increasing rates of positive tests and hospitalizations as evidence that the virus is spreading. |
On Sunday, Mr. Trump’s trade adviser, Peter Navarro, who has coordinated the U.S. medical supply chain, said the White House had started preparing for a possible second wave of the virus in the fall. But the pattern in the U.S. so far indicates that the first wave has not yet passed: After the number of new cases peaked in April and began to decline slowly, it plateaued in May and has begun to climb steadily again this month. | On Sunday, Mr. Trump’s trade adviser, Peter Navarro, who has coordinated the U.S. medical supply chain, said the White House had started preparing for a possible second wave of the virus in the fall. But the pattern in the U.S. so far indicates that the first wave has not yet passed: After the number of new cases peaked in April and began to decline slowly, it plateaued in May and has begun to climb steadily again this month. |
A global view: Other nations’ gradual reopenings have also been accompanied by upticks in new cases, sometimes prompting a return to tighter restrictions. But Brazil, which has done little to tamp down the virus, continues to stand apart: Over the weekend, it became the second country after the U.S. to record more than 50,000 deaths. | A global view: Other nations’ gradual reopenings have also been accompanied by upticks in new cases, sometimes prompting a return to tighter restrictions. But Brazil, which has done little to tamp down the virus, continues to stand apart: Over the weekend, it became the second country after the U.S. to record more than 50,000 deaths. |
India is now reporting more coronavirus cases than anywhere else in the world except the United States and Brazil — and its fragile health care system is starting to fracture. | India is now reporting more coronavirus cases than anywhere else in the world except the United States and Brazil — and its fragile health care system is starting to fracture. |
Hospitals in New Delhi are overloaded, and some health care workers are afraid to treat those with the virus. Scores of people have died in the streets, in hospital lobbies or in the back of ambulances. | Hospitals in New Delhi are overloaded, and some health care workers are afraid to treat those with the virus. Scores of people have died in the streets, in hospital lobbies or in the back of ambulances. |
One pregnant woman’s journey through eight hospitals in 15 hours serves as a devastating window into the reality of health care during the pandemic. At one hospital, after going into labor, she was told by a doctor that she would be slapped if she took off her mask. At another, her husband called the police, but even they couldn’t convince the doctors to give her care. | One pregnant woman’s journey through eight hospitals in 15 hours serves as a devastating window into the reality of health care during the pandemic. At one hospital, after going into labor, she was told by a doctor that she would be slapped if she took off her mask. At another, her husband called the police, but even they couldn’t convince the doctors to give her care. |
For her husband, Bijendra Singh, it wasn’t simply that the doctors couldn’t help her — it was as if they didn’t want to help her. “They didn’t care if she was dead or alive,” he said. | For her husband, Bijendra Singh, it wasn’t simply that the doctors couldn’t help her — it was as if they didn’t want to help her. “They didn’t care if she was dead or alive,” he said. |
New York City entered its largest reopening phase yet on Monday — one that allows office employees to return to work, outdoor dining at restaurants, some in-person shopping, and the return of hair salons, barber shops and real estate work. | New York City entered its largest reopening phase yet on Monday — one that allows office employees to return to work, outdoor dining at restaurants, some in-person shopping, and the return of hair salons, barber shops and real estate work. |
Offices are still required to limit their capacity and maintain social distancing measures, so only a fraction of the city’s work force — about 300,000 people — are expected to return to workplaces this week. | Offices are still required to limit their capacity and maintain social distancing measures, so only a fraction of the city’s work force — about 300,000 people — are expected to return to workplaces this week. |
Still, for struggling businesses and workers, Phase 2 was a major step toward something resembling a pre-pandemic life. “It feels like it’s the light at the end of a very long tunnel,” said Nancy Bass Wyden, the owner of the well-known Strand bookstore in Manhattan. “Almost like we’re Rip Van Winkle.” | Still, for struggling businesses and workers, Phase 2 was a major step toward something resembling a pre-pandemic life. “It feels like it’s the light at the end of a very long tunnel,” said Nancy Bass Wyden, the owner of the well-known Strand bookstore in Manhattan. “Almost like we’re Rip Van Winkle.” |
A potential setback. New York City’s contact tracing program, which is crucial to its ability to safely move into the new phase of reopening, is off to a rough start. The program has been hamstrung by a low response rate, scant use of technology and privacy concerns. | A potential setback. New York City’s contact tracing program, which is crucial to its ability to safely move into the new phase of reopening, is off to a rough start. The program has been hamstrung by a low response rate, scant use of technology and privacy concerns. |
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