Friday, April 17th, 2020
Road Map to Reopen, Second-Biggest Risk Factor? & Lady Gaga’s ‘One World’
All the news you need in less than 10 min:
This episode is brought to you by www.Rothys.com/newsworthy and www.MagicSpoon.com/newsworthy
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 reading the latest happenings...
Federal Reopening Guidelines
President Trump revealed federal guidelines that suggest states follow a three-phase process to reopen the country. In phase one: churches, movie theaters, gyms, and sports venues would be able to open if they can support social distancing. Phase two would allow schools and bars to reopen and nonessential travel to resume. During phase three, employees would be able to fully staff workplaces, and people would be able to visit hospitals and nursing homes again. Each phase would last at least two weeks to make sure they aren’t causing spikes in COVID-19 infections. Two considerations before reopening the country are testing and contact tracing. The Trump administration reportedly is working on plans now that address both concerns.
Trump’s Plan to Reopen: ABC News, FOX News
Widespread Testing: NBC News
CDC Contact Tracing: NY Times
Unemployment + Relief Runs Dry
The latest government report shows another 5.2 million Americans filed unemployment claims last week. It means as many as 22 million people have lost their jobs in the past month. Meanwhile, many small businesses are still waiting for help from the government. In the last economic relief package, Congress designated $350 billion for the Paycheck Protection Program. Now, the program is reportedly out of money. Lawmakers are working on a comprise to add to it, but they haven’t reached a deal yet.
Latest Unemployment Numbers: CNBC, AP
Small Businesses Program Out of Money: WSJ, NY Times, CBS News
Unfortunate Milestone & Promising Drug Trial
The daily COVID-19 death toll is still going up in the U.S. It hit an all-time high, nearly doubling the last record, with nearly 4,600 deaths recorded in 24 hours. A new NYU study says COVID-19 could be more dangerous in obese people. It found patients who were younger than 60 were much more likely to be admitted to the hospital if they were obese. That said, more progress has been reported in the search for COVID-19 treatments. In one clinical trial, most of the patients who came in were severely ill but were discharged from the hospital within a week. They were given an anti-viral called remdesivir. Still, this is just based on a partial study. More concrete data is expected in a month or two.
Case Count & Death Toll: Johns Hopkins, WSJ
Risk Factors: LA Times, Newsweek USA Today, W.H.O., Oxford Academic
Clinical Trial Early Reports: STAT, Forbes, Reuters
Global Warming Reports
2020 could end up being the warmest year on record. Scientists with NOAA say there’s more proof of a long-term warming trend. Earth just logged its second-highest February and March ever and the warmest January in recorded history. Meanwhile, a new study found the Western U.S. is facing one of the deepest megadroughts in 1,200 years. That’s a dry spell that lasts at least 28 years. So far, this one has lasted two decades.
Second-Hottest March: NBC News, NOAA
West Coast Megadrought: AP, LA Times
Facebook Misinformation Alerts
Facebook is taking fact-checking to a new level. Soon, anyone who has liked or commented on a post with false information about the new coronavirus will get a message in their feed. It will direct them to the World Health Organization site, where the agency has debunked myths about the virus. Also, the social network recently launched a new section called “Get the Facts,” which provides people with articles that have been vetted.
Read More: Axios, ABC News, NBC News, Press Release
Apps for Pills, Shopping & Kids
Instacart is expanding Costco pharmacy pickups to more than 200 locations in the U.S. Costco members can now have qualifying medications dropped off at their doors in sealed, tamper-proof bags.
If you’d rather shop small, you can do so via Instagram. The social media platform is supporting small businesses with new stickers for Instagram stories. They make it easy for people to order food or buy gift cards, as well as donate to fundraisers.
Instacart Prescription Delivery: TechCrunch, Engadget
Instagram New Features: CNBC, The Verge, Press Release
Celebrities Give Back
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have been making food deliveries in Los Angeles. They’re working with the nonprofit, Project Angel Food, dropping off food at chronically ill people’s homes. Other celebrities are also helping out during this pandemic. Singer Pink is making homemade soups for her local food bank, and SNL star Michael Che is paying one month’s rent for 160 families in public housing.
There’s also a star-studded special happening tomorrow night. It’s called “One World: Together at Home.” It will include performances by musicians like Elton John, Billie Eilish, Stevie Wonder and more. There's also a pre-show livestream slated to go on for six hours.
Harry & Meghan Delivering Meals: CNN, ET
Pink Making Soup for Food Bank: ABC News, Instagram
SNL Star Pays Rent for Residents: NY Daily News, UPI, Instagram
One World Together at Home: Variety, E! Online
Feel Good Friday- Laps of Love
A British WWII veteran is raising money to help doctors and nurses fighting the new coronavirus. The 99-year-old came up with a fundraiser. He decided to walk 10 laps a day in his garden until he hit 100 laps in total. He asked people to follow his progress and donate. By the time he finished his 100th lap, he had reportedly raised $16 million for healthcare workers, surpassing his goal of just $1,200.
Read More: Time, Fox News, CBS News