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Coronavirus Briefing: What Happened Today Coronavirus Briefing: What Happened Today
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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.This is the Coronavirus Briefing, an informed guide to the global outbreak. Sign up here to get the briefing by email.
The number of cases worldwide has passed 22 million, and more than 780,000 people have died.
Venezuela is treating the infected like criminals in its virus crackdown.
A U.S. report found that officials in Wuhan and Hubei Province tried to hide information about the outbreak from China’s central leadership.
Get the latest updates here, as well as maps and trackers for U.S. metro areas and vaccines in development.
An accidental experiment on a fishing boat is offering the best evidence yet that antibodies — at even moderate levels — offer protection from the coronavirus.An accidental experiment on a fishing boat is offering the best evidence yet that antibodies — at even moderate levels — offer protection from the coronavirus.
The vessel, American Dynasty, set sail from Seattle in May with 122 crew members who were all tested for both the virus and antibodies. But the ship returned to port after 18 days at sea when one crew member became ill enough to need hospitalization. More than 100 sailors eventually tested positive — but not the three sailors who were the only ones to show antibodies at the start, according to a new report. And two of them had only moderate levels.The vessel, American Dynasty, set sail from Seattle in May with 122 crew members who were all tested for both the virus and antibodies. But the ship returned to port after 18 days at sea when one crew member became ill enough to need hospitalization. More than 100 sailors eventually tested positive — but not the three sailors who were the only ones to show antibodies at the start, according to a new report. And two of them had only moderate levels.
The study addressed one of the most important unanswered questions of the pandemic: whether an immune response from contracting the virus protects against reinfection.The study addressed one of the most important unanswered questions of the pandemic: whether an immune response from contracting the virus protects against reinfection.
Although the study was small, the chance that the crew members with antibodies would, by chance, not have been infected is incredibly small (0.002 percent). The findings are reassuring to scientists, who have been relying on studies of monkeys for evidence of antibodies’ potency.Although the study was small, the chance that the crew members with antibodies would, by chance, not have been infected is incredibly small (0.002 percent). The findings are reassuring to scientists, who have been relying on studies of monkeys for evidence of antibodies’ potency.
The researchers don’t know how the virus got on board, according to Apoorva Mandavilli, who reported on the study. “It could have been one of two people whose tests they couldn’t assess,” she said, “or could have been someone newly infected, so too early to test positive yet.”The researchers don’t know how the virus got on board, according to Apoorva Mandavilli, who reported on the study. “It could have been one of two people whose tests they couldn’t assess,” she said, “or could have been someone newly infected, so too early to test positive yet.”
Treatment on hold. Antibody-rich blood plasma, donated by those who have survived Covid-19, is being tested in clinical trials as a treatment for the disease. But an emergency authorization for its use in the U.S. is on hold, after top federal health officials, including Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, warned that the data on the treatment is still too weak.Treatment on hold. Antibody-rich blood plasma, donated by those who have survived Covid-19, is being tested in clinical trials as a treatment for the disease. But an emergency authorization for its use in the U.S. is on hold, after top federal health officials, including Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, warned that the data on the treatment is still too weak.
Iran, a country hit early and hard by the virus, is in the midst of a second wave.Iran, a country hit early and hard by the virus, is in the midst of a second wave.
The country’s health ministry announced today that it had reached 20,000 deaths from the virus, but health experts inside and outside Iran, and even members of the Iranian Parliament, suggest that the number may be many times higher.The country’s health ministry announced today that it had reached 20,000 deaths from the virus, but health experts inside and outside Iran, and even members of the Iranian Parliament, suggest that the number may be many times higher.
To understand what’s going on, we spoke to our colleague Farnaz Fassihi, who covers Iran for The Times. She painted a picture of an outbreak still out of control.To understand what’s going on, we spoke to our colleague Farnaz Fassihi, who covers Iran for The Times. She painted a picture of an outbreak still out of control.
What’s the situation in the country?What’s the situation in the country?
It’s very bad. It’s in the thick of a second surge worse than the first one in March. The majority of provinces, including the capital, Tehran, are “red zones.” Doctors are saying hospitals and I.C.U. beds are full. At the same time, there are some restrictions for public gatherings but, generally, it’s open for business.It’s very bad. It’s in the thick of a second surge worse than the first one in March. The majority of provinces, including the capital, Tehran, are “red zones.” Doctors are saying hospitals and I.C.U. beds are full. At the same time, there are some restrictions for public gatherings but, generally, it’s open for business.
Even by the government’s own numbers, cases are on the rise. What happened?Even by the government’s own numbers, cases are on the rise. What happened?
They opened too soon. When the virus first arrived in the country, they closed down for just two weeks during the New Year holiday in mid-March. They didn’t meet any of the benchmarks when they reopened. There’s no contact tracing. There’s no quarantine.They opened too soon. When the virus first arrived in the country, they closed down for just two weeks during the New Year holiday in mid-March. They didn’t meet any of the benchmarks when they reopened. There’s no contact tracing. There’s no quarantine.
What are Iranians feeling?What are Iranians feeling?
In the early months, people were very scared. They were self-isolating and staying home and not sending their kids to school, even when the schools were still open. But I think as time has passed, like a lot of places, we see that people are becoming more reckless.In the early months, people were very scared. They were self-isolating and staying home and not sending their kids to school, even when the schools were still open. But I think as time has passed, like a lot of places, we see that people are becoming more reckless.
There’s also a nuanced dynamic here. This is a government that for 40 years has told people what to do, how to dress, how to behave — and many people’s mind-set is to always defy what the government says. So now, when there’s a pandemic, and the government tells them, “Stay home, wear a mask,” they’re like: “No. We don’t trust you. And you don’t tell us what to do.”There’s also a nuanced dynamic here. This is a government that for 40 years has told people what to do, how to dress, how to behave — and many people’s mind-set is to always defy what the government says. So now, when there’s a pandemic, and the government tells them, “Stay home, wear a mask,” they’re like: “No. We don’t trust you. And you don’t tell us what to do.”
And so for Iran, I think the challenge to contain a pandemic may be greater than it is for other countries because the government is dealing with 70 million people whose default mode is to defy it.And so for Iran, I think the challenge to contain a pandemic may be greater than it is for other countries because the government is dealing with 70 million people whose default mode is to defy it.
The Mariinsky Ballet, one of the most renowned companies in Russia, returned to the stage last month but was abruptly ordered to quarantine last week after about 30 members contracted the virus.
Finland, which has some of the most severe travel restrictions in Europe, announced that it would tighten restrictions on incoming travelers starting on Monday.
Nepal plans to reimpose a strict lockdown and curfew in the Kathmandu Valley for a week, when all movement except essential services will be restricted.
Here’s a roundup of restrictions in all 50 states.Here’s a roundup of restrictions in all 50 states.
Senate Republicans are circulating text of a narrow virus relief package that would spend less money, in fewer areas, than earlier offers..
Pope Francis said that a vaccine should be made universally available, especially to the poor.
Officials in Iowa are correcting a major error in the state’s Covid-19 test results database found after a nurse-practitioner in Iowa City noticed discrepancies. Nearly 80 percent of counties will see a net decrease in their current 14-day positivity rate.
A New York Times survey found that just one in five U.S. families will have any sort of in-person help at home this school year.
New York City released more than 1.46 million coronavirus antibody test results, providing more evidence of how deeply the virus penetrated into some lower-income communities while passing more lightly across affluent parts of the city.
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.