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Virus, Confederate Flag, Amy Cooper: Your Monday Evening Briefing Virus, Confederate Flag, Amy Cooper: Your Monday Evening Briefing
(10 days later)
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Good evening. Here’s the latest.Good evening. Here’s the latest.
1. Miami rolled back business openings after a 10-fold increase in the daily number of new coronavirus cases in just a few weeks.1. Miami rolled back business openings after a 10-fold increase in the daily number of new coronavirus cases in just a few weeks.
The mayor of Miami-Dade County banned dining at restaurants, effective Wednesday, and shut down gyms and party venues as part of an effort to crack down on group events. Above, a temperature check at a Miami restaurant last week.The mayor of Miami-Dade County banned dining at restaurants, effective Wednesday, and shut down gyms and party venues as part of an effort to crack down on group events. Above, a temperature check at a Miami restaurant last week.
Florida reported more than 10,000 new cases on Sunday. The state’s contact tracers say some infected people attending private parties refused to divulge whom they went out with or had over to their house, making it hard to track how the virus spread.Florida reported more than 10,000 new cases on Sunday. The state’s contact tracers say some infected people attending private parties refused to divulge whom they went out with or had over to their house, making it hard to track how the virus spread.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious disease expert, warned that the country was still “knee-deep in the first wave.” The more than 50,000 new cases a day recorded several times in the past week were “a serious situation that we have to address immediately,” he said.Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious disease expert, warned that the country was still “knee-deep in the first wave.” The more than 50,000 new cases a day recorded several times in the past week were “a serious situation that we have to address immediately,” he said.
In other coronavirus developments:In other coronavirus developments:
New federal data shows that Black and Latino people have been disproportionately affected by the coronavirus, not just in urban areas, but in a widespread manner throughout the country.New federal data shows that Black and Latino people have been disproportionately affected by the coronavirus, not just in urban areas, but in a widespread manner throughout the country.
Restaurants, medical offices and car dealerships were the top recipients of large loans from the federal government’s $660 billion small business relief program, according to White House data. Here are some of the companies that received funding.Restaurants, medical offices and car dealerships were the top recipients of large loans from the federal government’s $660 billion small business relief program, according to White House data. Here are some of the companies that received funding.
Here’s how to protect yourself from the virus in the air. Mounting evidence suggests the coronavirus can stay aloft for hours in tiny airborne droplets.Here’s how to protect yourself from the virus in the air. Mounting evidence suggests the coronavirus can stay aloft for hours in tiny airborne droplets.
2. President Trump defended the Confederate flag.2. President Trump defended the Confederate flag.
He suggested on Twitter that NASCAR made a mistake in banning the flag from its racing events, and he falsely accused a top Black driver of perpetrating a hoax involving a noose found in his garage.He suggested on Twitter that NASCAR made a mistake in banning the flag from its racing events, and he falsely accused a top Black driver of perpetrating a hoax involving a noose found in his garage.
The noose incident last month at an Alabama raceway came after the driver, Darrell Wallace, above in Indianapolis yesterday, had called for NASCAR to ban the Confederate flag. Officials said a noose discovered hanging in his garage had been tied as early as October 2019, before Mr. Wallace had the stall.The noose incident last month at an Alabama raceway came after the driver, Darrell Wallace, above in Indianapolis yesterday, had called for NASCAR to ban the Confederate flag. Officials said a noose discovered hanging in his garage had been tied as early as October 2019, before Mr. Wallace had the stall.
Another NASCAR driver tweeted in reply to Mr. Trump: “We did what was right and we will do just fine without your support.”Another NASCAR driver tweeted in reply to Mr. Trump: “We did what was right and we will do just fine without your support.”
The president also noted the possibility that the Washington Redskins and the Cleveland Indians would change their names, saying it was an effort to be “politically correct.” Walmart said it would stop selling Redskins merchandise on its website, and Target is dropping the team’s gear from both physical and online stores.The president also noted the possibility that the Washington Redskins and the Cleveland Indians would change their names, saying it was an effort to be “politically correct.” Walmart said it would stop selling Redskins merchandise on its website, and Target is dropping the team’s gear from both physical and online stores.
3. The Supreme Court ruled that states can require Electoral College members to cast their votes for the presidential candidates they had pledged to support.3. The Supreme Court ruled that states can require Electoral College members to cast their votes for the presidential candidates they had pledged to support.
The unanimous opinion curbs the independence of electors and limits one potential source of uncertainty in the 2020 presidential election.The unanimous opinion curbs the independence of electors and limits one potential source of uncertainty in the 2020 presidential election.
In the last election, seven electors cast so-called faithless votes. The justices said that states are entitled to remove or punish electors who change their votes. Above, electors in Colorado casting their votes in 2016.In the last election, seven electors cast so-called faithless votes. The justices said that states are entitled to remove or punish electors who change their votes. Above, electors in Colorado casting their votes in 2016.
Richard Pildes, a law professor at New York University, praised the ruling. “The court’s decision strikes a blow for legal and political stability and sanity,” he said.Richard Pildes, a law professor at New York University, praised the ruling. “The court’s decision strikes a blow for legal and political stability and sanity,” he said.
4. A white woman who accused a Black man of threatening her life in Central Park will be charged with filing a false report, a misdemeanor.4. A white woman who accused a Black man of threatening her life in Central Park will be charged with filing a false report, a misdemeanor.
Amy Cooper, above, is scheduled to be arraigned on Oct. 14. If convicted, she faces up to a year in jail or a conditional discharge. She could also be sentenced to community service.Amy Cooper, above, is scheduled to be arraigned on Oct. 14. If convicted, she faces up to a year in jail or a conditional discharge. She could also be sentenced to community service.
Ms. Cooper encountered Christian Cooper, a bird watcher, while she was walking her dog in Central Park. He asked her to put her dog on a leash, and when she refused, the encounter turned ugly.Ms. Cooper encountered Christian Cooper, a bird watcher, while she was walking her dog in Central Park. He asked her to put her dog on a leash, and when she refused, the encounter turned ugly.
Mr. Cooper, who is not related to her, used his phone to record her as she called the police. In the call she said, “A man, African-American, he has a bicycle helmet and he is recording me and threatening me and my dog.”Mr. Cooper, who is not related to her, used his phone to record her as she called the police. In the call she said, “A man, African-American, he has a bicycle helmet and he is recording me and threatening me and my dog.”
5. Facebook said it won’t turn over user data to Hong Kong while it reviews the new national security law.5. Facebook said it won’t turn over user data to Hong Kong while it reviews the new national security law.
The social network said its assessment of the Chinese law, which has had a chilling effect on political expression in Hong Kong, would include human rights considerations. Above, protesters on Friday.The social network said its assessment of the Chinese law, which has had a chilling effect on political expression in Hong Kong, would include human rights considerations. Above, protesters on Friday.
The rare public questioning of Chinese policy by an American internet giant will likely raise hackles in Beijing as well as put pressure on companies like Apple and Google.The rare public questioning of Chinese policy by an American internet giant will likely raise hackles in Beijing as well as put pressure on companies like Apple and Google.
6. The next target for carbon-free proponents: natural gas.6. The next target for carbon-free proponents: natural gas.
Dominion Energy, which Berkshire Hathaway just snapped up after the utility canceled plans to build the Atlantic Coast Pipeline, is making a big bet on renewable energy.Dominion Energy, which Berkshire Hathaway just snapped up after the utility canceled plans to build the Atlantic Coast Pipeline, is making a big bet on renewable energy.
But Dominion, like other utilities, also plans to build new power plants that burn natural gas, a fossil fuel that emits greenhouse gases. Natural gas is likely to remain a cornerstone of the nation’s electric grid for years.But Dominion, like other utilities, also plans to build new power plants that burn natural gas, a fossil fuel that emits greenhouse gases. Natural gas is likely to remain a cornerstone of the nation’s electric grid for years.
As the use of coal fades, proponents of a carbon-free grid are facing off against those who champion natural gas, an abundant fuel that produces about half the greenhouse gas emissions that burning coal does.As the use of coal fades, proponents of a carbon-free grid are facing off against those who champion natural gas, an abundant fuel that produces about half the greenhouse gas emissions that burning coal does.
7. Charlie Daniels, a force in country and rock music, died at age 83 in Nashville.7. Charlie Daniels, a force in country and rock music, died at age 83 in Nashville.
A singer, songwriter and fiddle player, his greatest acclaim came as the leader of the Charlie Daniels Band, a country-rock ensemble, in the 1970s. He died of a hemorrhagic stroke, his publicist said. Above, Mr. Daniels performing in Nashville in 1992.A singer, songwriter and fiddle player, his greatest acclaim came as the leader of the Charlie Daniels Band, a country-rock ensemble, in the 1970s. He died of a hemorrhagic stroke, his publicist said. Above, Mr. Daniels performing in Nashville in 1992.
And the Broadway actor Nick Cordero, 41, whose battle with the coronavirus was followed closely on social media, has died.And the Broadway actor Nick Cordero, 41, whose battle with the coronavirus was followed closely on social media, has died.
His wife, Amanda Kloots, chronicled his experience, including weeks in a medically induced coma and the amputation of his right leg, on Instagram.His wife, Amanda Kloots, chronicled his experience, including weeks in a medically induced coma and the amputation of his right leg, on Instagram.
Updated July 7, 2020
The coronavirus can stay aloft for hours in tiny droplets in stagnant air, infecting people as they inhale, mounting scientific evidence suggests. This risk is highest in crowded indoor spaces with poor ventilation, and may help explain super-spreading events reported in meatpacking plants, churches and restaurants. It’s unclear how often the virus is spread via these tiny droplets, or aerosols, compared with larger droplets that are expelled when a sick person coughs or sneezes, or transmitted through contact with contaminated surfaces, said Linsey Marr, an aerosol expert at Virginia Tech. Aerosols are released even when a person without symptoms exhales, talks or sings, according to Dr. Marr and more than 200 other experts, who have outlined the evidence in an open letter to the World Health Organization.
Common symptoms include fever, a dry cough, fatigue and difficulty breathing or shortness of breath. Some of these symptoms overlap with those of the flu, making detection difficult, but runny noses and stuffy sinuses are less common. The C.D.C. has also added chills, muscle pain, sore throat, headache and a new loss of the sense of taste or smell as symptoms to look out for. Most people fall ill five to seven days after exposure, but symptoms may appear in as few as two days or as many as 14 days.
Scientists around the country have tried to identify everyday materials that do a good job of filtering microscopic particles. In recent tests, HEPA furnace filters scored high, as did vacuum cleaner bags, fabric similar to flannel pajamas and those of 600-count pillowcases. Other materials tested included layered coffee filters and scarves and bandannas. These scored lower, but still captured a small percentage of particles.
A commentary published this month on the website of the British Journal of Sports Medicine points out that covering your face during exercise “comes with issues of potential breathing restriction and discomfort” and requires “balancing benefits versus possible adverse events.” Masks do alter exercise, says Cedric X. Bryant, the president and chief science officer of the American Council on Exercise, a nonprofit organization that funds exercise research and certifies fitness professionals. “In my personal experience,” he says, “heart rates are higher at the same relative intensity when you wear a mask.” Some people also could experience lightheadedness during familiar workouts while masked, says Len Kravitz, a professor of exercise science at the University of New Mexico.
The steroid, dexamethasone, is the first treatment shown to reduce mortality in severely ill patients, according to scientists in Britain. The drug appears to reduce inflammation caused by the immune system, protecting the tissues. In the study, dexamethasone reduced deaths of patients on ventilators by one-third, and deaths of patients on oxygen by one-fifth.
The coronavirus emergency relief package gives many American workers paid leave if they need to take time off because of the virus. It gives qualified workers two weeks of paid sick leave if they are ill, quarantined or seeking diagnosis or preventive care for coronavirus, or if they are caring for sick family members. It gives 12 weeks of paid leave to people caring for children whose schools are closed or whose child care provider is unavailable because of the coronavirus. It is the first time the United States has had widespread federally mandated paid leave, and includes people who don’t typically get such benefits, like part-time and gig economy workers. But the measure excludes at least half of private-sector workers, including those at the country’s largest employers, and gives small employers significant leeway to deny leave.
So far, the evidence seems to show it does. A widely cited paper published in April suggests that people are most infectious about two days before the onset of coronavirus symptoms and estimated that 44 percent of new infections were a result of transmission from people who were not yet showing symptoms. Recently, a top expert at the World Health Organization stated that transmission of the coronavirus by people who did not have symptoms was “very rare,” but she later walked back that statement.
Touching contaminated objects and then infecting ourselves with the germs is not typically how the virus spreads. But it can happen. A number of studies of flu, rhinovirus, coronavirus and other microbes have shown that respiratory illnesses, including the new coronavirus, can spread by touching contaminated surfaces, particularly in places like day care centers, offices and hospitals. But a long chain of events has to happen for the disease to spread that way. The best way to protect yourself from coronavirus — whether it’s surface transmission or close human contact — is still social distancing, washing your hands, not touching your face and wearing masks.
A study by European scientists is the first to document a strong statistical link between genetic variations and Covid-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus. Having Type A blood was linked to a 50 percent increase in the likelihood that a patient would need to get oxygen or to go on a ventilator, according to the new study.
If air travel is unavoidable, there are some steps you can take to protect yourself. Most important: Wash your hands often, and stop touching your face. If possible, choose a window seat. A study from Emory University found that during flu season, the safest place to sit on a plane is by a window, as people sitting in window seats had less contact with potentially sick people. Disinfect hard surfaces. When you get to your seat and your hands are clean, use disinfecting wipes to clean the hard surfaces at your seat like the head and arm rest, the seatbelt buckle, the remote, screen, seat back pocket and the tray table. If the seat is hard and nonporous or leather or pleather, you can wipe that down, too. (Using wipes on upholstered seats could lead to a wet seat and spreading of germs rather than killing them.)
If you’ve been exposed to the coronavirus or think you have, and have a fever or symptoms like a cough or difficulty breathing, call a doctor. They should give you advice on whether you should be tested, how to get tested, and how to seek medical treatment without potentially infecting or exposing others.
8. Italy’s shadow safety net: the pawnshop.8. Italy’s shadow safety net: the pawnshop.
In the U.S., pawnshops are associated with “Guns, Gold and Cash” signs and reality show spinoffs. But in Italy, they have been part of the banking system for centuries.In the U.S., pawnshops are associated with “Guns, Gold and Cash” signs and reality show spinoffs. But in Italy, they have been part of the banking system for centuries.
Activity in the Italian collateral loan sector — the institutional name for pawnshops — increased by 20 to 30 percent after the lockdown began, and with emergency benefits about to wind down, they expect a new surge. Above, Luigi Milano, a pawnshop owner, in Naples.Activity in the Italian collateral loan sector — the institutional name for pawnshops — increased by 20 to 30 percent after the lockdown began, and with emergency benefits about to wind down, they expect a new surge. Above, Luigi Milano, a pawnshop owner, in Naples.
“They are making bucketloads of money,” the owner of one gold-buying store said. “They are hoping this virus goes on and on.”“They are making bucketloads of money,” the owner of one gold-buying store said. “They are hoping this virus goes on and on.”
9. Gleaning — the tradition of gathering leftover food crops after a harvest — is helping solve rampant hunger.9. Gleaning — the tradition of gathering leftover food crops after a harvest — is helping solve rampant hunger.
Volunteer gleaning groups collect a very small fraction of the nation’s unharvested food and provide far less than donations from supermarkets and distribution hubs. Above, Iola Brown at a Florida farm picking corn to be donated.Volunteer gleaning groups collect a very small fraction of the nation’s unharvested food and provide far less than donations from supermarkets and distribution hubs. Above, Iola Brown at a Florida farm picking corn to be donated.
But the pickers have their place. “What gleaners do really well is work within the spaces missed by more traditional food recovery and hunger programs,” one gleaning pro said.But the pickers have their place. “What gleaners do really well is work within the spaces missed by more traditional food recovery and hunger programs,” one gleaning pro said.
10. And finally, this is not a polar bear.10. And finally, this is not a polar bear.
It’s a rare Spirit bear, found in British Columbia, Canada. During the fur trade of the 1800s, the existence of the ghostly bears was kept secret to keep them safe.It’s a rare Spirit bear, found in British Columbia, Canada. During the fur trade of the 1800s, the existence of the ghostly bears was kept secret to keep them safe.
New research shows that the gene that turns their coat white is even less common than previously estimated, which may give fresh impetus to efforts to protect their habitat.New research shows that the gene that turns their coat white is even less common than previously estimated, which may give fresh impetus to efforts to protect their habitat.
Spirit bears can be born to parents that may or may not have white fur themselves. It’s the same genetic quirk that causes red hair in humans and auburn fur in dogs and mice.Spirit bears can be born to parents that may or may not have white fur themselves. It’s the same genetic quirk that causes red hair in humans and auburn fur in dogs and mice.
Have an uncommon evening.Have an uncommon evening.
Your Evening Briefing is posted at 6 p.m. Eastern.Your Evening Briefing is posted at 6 p.m. Eastern.
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