This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/13/us/coronavirus-briefing-what-happened-today.html
The article has changed 17 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 14 | Version 15 |
---|---|
Coronavirus Briefing: What Happened Today | Coronavirus Briefing: What Happened Today |
(6 days 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. |
Los Angeles and San Diego Counties said schools would be online-only in the fall, citing a surge in infections that pose too much risk for students and teachers. The unified school districts, with around 825,000 students, are the largest so far in the U.S. to abandon plans for even a partial physical return. | Los Angeles and San Diego Counties said schools would be online-only in the fall, citing a surge in infections that pose too much risk for students and teachers. The unified school districts, with around 825,000 students, are the largest so far in the U.S. to abandon plans for even a partial physical return. |
“Those countries that have managed to safely reopen schools have done so with declining infection rates and on-demand testing available,” the counties said in a joint statement. “California has neither.” | “Those countries that have managed to safely reopen schools have done so with declining infection rates and on-demand testing available,” the counties said in a joint statement. “California has neither.” |
The move is at odds with Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, who spent the weekend pushing for the Trump administration’s case to quickly reopen public schools. She downplayed the guidelines issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that called in-person classes the “highest risk” scenario for schools. Last week, President Trump threatened to cut off federal funding to schools that did not reopen fully. | The move is at odds with Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, who spent the weekend pushing for the Trump administration’s case to quickly reopen public schools. She downplayed the guidelines issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that called in-person classes the “highest risk” scenario for schools. Last week, President Trump threatened to cut off federal funding to schools that did not reopen fully. |
The recommendations from the president and Ms. DeVos have been disputed by doctors and educators. Data from around the world suggests that children are far less likely to become seriously ill from the coronavirus than adults. But there are big unanswered questions, including how often children become infected and what role they play in transmitting the virus. | The recommendations from the president and Ms. DeVos have been disputed by doctors and educators. Data from around the world suggests that children are far less likely to become seriously ill from the coronavirus than adults. But there are big unanswered questions, including how often children become infected and what role they play in transmitting the virus. |
Many factors have contributed to the dire state of testing in the U.S., including surging case counts, overwhelmed labs and inadequate supplies. But there’s one bottleneck that is severely hampering the country’s response to the pandemic: an antiquated data collection system that relies on the humble fax machine. | Many factors have contributed to the dire state of testing in the U.S., including surging case counts, overwhelmed labs and inadequate supplies. But there’s one bottleneck that is severely hampering the country’s response to the pandemic: an antiquated data collection system that relies on the humble fax machine. |
Before the pandemic, nearly 90 percent of test results for diseases tracked by public health departments were sent digitally. But the high demand for coronavirus testing has brought many new clinics and companies into the world of public health — and not all of them have invested in the software that is required for secure electronic communication. Instead, they often turn to faxes, which are cheap and meet digital privacy standards. | Before the pandemic, nearly 90 percent of test results for diseases tracked by public health departments were sent digitally. But the high demand for coronavirus testing has brought many new clinics and companies into the world of public health — and not all of them have invested in the software that is required for secure electronic communication. Instead, they often turn to faxes, which are cheap and meet digital privacy standards. |
But the blurry printouts have set back case reporting and contact tracing throughout the country. Results are often sent in duplicates, lack critical information like patients’ phone numbers and require manual data entry, which increases the risk of errors. “The data is moving slower than the disease,” one doctor in Houston said. | But the blurry printouts have set back case reporting and contact tracing throughout the country. Results are often sent in duplicates, lack critical information like patients’ phone numbers and require manual data entry, which increases the risk of errors. “The data is moving slower than the disease,” one doctor in Houston said. |
By the numbers. An average of 667,000 people per day were tested for the virus over the past week in the U.S. — far below the 1.9 million daily tests considered necessary to tamp down the nation’s outbreak. Only 12 states currently meet their testing targets — see whether yours is doing enough. | By the numbers. An average of 667,000 people per day were tested for the virus over the past week in the U.S. — far below the 1.9 million daily tests considered necessary to tamp down the nation’s outbreak. Only 12 states currently meet their testing targets — see whether yours is doing enough. |
Here’s a roundup of restrictions in all 50 states. | Here’s a roundup of restrictions in all 50 states. |
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. |