Monday, April 13th, 2020
Gradual Reopening?, Contact Tracing & Foster Pet Frenzy
All the news you need in less than 10 min:
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Story Summaries
All the news stories mentioned in today's episode are listed with links below, so you can spend as much -- or as little -- time as you want perusing the latest happenings...
Coronavirus Numbers
More than 22,000 people have died from COVID-19 in the U.S., meaning there are now more confirmed deaths here than anywhere else in the world. The New York City metro area is now the global epicenter of the pandemic, but we are seeing signs the area has already hit its peak. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo says even though the daily death tolls are still high, he’s encouraged that fewer people are being admitted to the hospital. New Jerseys is second only to New York in the number of COVID-19 deaths and cases. The state is reactivating medical licenses for recently retired healthcare workers and it’s asking medical professionals from other states to come help. Hundreds answered that call over the weekend.
New Cases & Deaths: Johns Hopkins
NY & NJ: NY Times, Philadelphia Inquirer
Gradual Reopening?
Parts of the U.S. might be back to business by next month, but not all at once. The country’s top infectious disease expert says it’s necessary to have a “rolling reentry” of the economy. Dr. Anthony Fauci says the process will depend on the status of COVID-19 in certain parts of the U.S. It also relies on health authorities having access to widespread testing. President Trump’s social distancing guidelines expire April 30th. At that point, the White House Coronavirus Task Force will evaluate the possibilities.
Also of note: it seems President Trump doesn’t want relief funding to reach the U.S. Postal Service. A senior Trump administration official told the Washington Post the president wouldn’t have signed the $2.2 trillion CARES Act if it directed money to the postal agency. The USPS employs around 600,000 workers. President Trump says his administration is looking into other ways to boost the postal agency’s revenue.“Rolling Reentry” to the Economy: NYT, Politico
Postal Service Bailout Rejected: The Hill, WaPo, Vox
Historic Deal
President Trump says a new deal will save hundreds of thousands of U.S. energy jobs. The United States, Saudi Arabia and Russia led the way for a historic agreement to cut record amounts of oil production. It’s in response to falling demand for oil during lockdowns around the world. Economists say this deal means gas prices will go back up.
Read more: WSJ, CNN
Updates from Europe
Prime Minister Boris Johnson is said to be making huge strides in his recovery from COVID-19. He was discharged from the hospital yesterday. Meanwhile, one of Britain’s top scientific advisors said the UK coronavirus outbreak is likely to become one of the worst in Europe. So far, nearly 11,000 people have died there, and a government official said a second or third wave of COVID-19 is “probably inevitable” for the UK.
Meanwhile, Italy is showing more signs of recovery. The country just recorded its lowest number of new coronavirus cases in three weeks. Also, for the ninth day running, hospitalizations and ICU admissions were down.
On Easter Sunday, the pope’s mass was streamed online. Pope Francis said, “This is not a time for indifference because the whole world is suffering and needs to be united.”
British PM Discharged: Sky News, Twitter
Italy & UK Trends: AP, BBC
Pope Francis Easter Message: NPR, NBC News
Tornado Outbreak
More than a dozen confirmed tornadoes swept through the South, from Texas to Mississippi. The storms peaked in Mississippi, where two EF5 tornadoes were on the ground at the same time, only 35 miles apart from each other. An EF5 is the highest possible rating. It means winds topped 200 miles per hour. At least six people died in Mississippi. Between Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana, hundreds of homes and businesses were destroyed. East of there, the severe weather threat continues today. There’s a chance of tornadoes and dangerously high winds in the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic, from Georgia to North Carolina.
Read More: AP, WaPo, FOX News, NWS
Biden Wins Alaska Primary
Former Vice President Joe Biden has won the Democratic primary in Alaska. That said, Sen. Bernie Sanders scored 45% of the vote, even though he dropped out of the race last week. The state held primaries entirely by mail-in ballots, so that could be why Sanders had such a strong showing. Many Democrats may have voted before he suspended his campaign. Results of last Tuesday’s Wisconsin primaries are supposed to come in later today, so stay tuned.
Read More: AP, ABC News
“Contact Tracing” Tool
Rivals Apple and Google are teaming up in hopes they can contain COVID-19. The two are working on a tool called “contact tracing.” It’s meant to alert people if they’ve been around someone who contracted COVID-19. Sometime next month, “contact tracing,” will be built into the operating systems of billions of iPhones and Androids around the world. Then, those smartphones will be able to keep track of all other devices they come near. That said, you will have to opt-in to allow “contact tracing” to use your bluetooth and keep this log. Then, if you get the new coronavirus, you’ll be responsible for letting a public health app know. Google and Apple say the system won’t identify you or where you’ve been. Still, some critics say it may be possible for hackers to find a way to get that kind of information.
Read More: Google, Apple, TechCrunch, Engadget, Recode
Apple Maps Testing Sites
COVID-19 testing locations are going to start showing up in Apple Maps. The company launched a way for hospitals, healthcare providers and businesses to register as COVID-19 testing locations. Once they get submitted, Apple needs to approve them. Then, they’ll show up on Apple Maps. You’ll be able to see where a site is and whether it’s a lab, hospital, or drive-thru location. You should also be able to see whether an appointment or doctor’s referral is needed.
Read More: Mashable, Engadget, 9to5Mac
Foster Pet Frenzy
Google searches for dogs and cats have reached an all-time high worldwide. Most of the searches have to do with memes, but people are also googling how they can foster a shelter animal. People aren’t just curious; they’re coming through. Some animal rescue organizations say they’ve seen a spike in the number of new foster pet families. Of course, it’s likely because people who are home from school or work now have enough time to care for an animal.
Read More: Google Trends, Mashable, Washington Post
Monday Monday - Tax Deadline
Taxes were supposed to be due this Wednesday, April 15, but not anymore. The federal tax deadline got pushed back to July 15 this year because of the coronavirus pandemic. You don’t need to file an extension. The extra three months will be given as an automatic benefit. Remember, if you’re owed money, it’s best to file sooner to get your refund sooner. The IRS says most tax refunds are issued within three weeks. Filing electronically is the quickest way to get them. As far as state taxes go, the deadlines vary state-by-state, so don’t assume they’re due on the same day as the federal ones. You’ll want to check with your own state’s tax agency.
Read More: CNET, IRS, MarketWatch