Wednesday, April 22nd, 2020
COVID-19’s Next Wave, Earth Day Indoors & Gronk’s NFL Comeback
All the news you need in 10 min:
This episode is brought to you by www.NETGEAR.com/bestwifi
Also, check out GoodNewspaper.org/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 about the latest happenings...
COVID-19 Next Wave
Three months ago, COVID-19 was first confirmed in the U.S. Now, more than 825,000 Americans have tested positive and the U.S. death toll has topped 45,000. Still, the CDC director is warning the next wave, this winter, could be even more deadly since it will coincide with the flu season. Dr. Robert Redfield said simultaneous outbreaks would put an incredible strain on the health care system. He’s urging state and federal officials to prepare for that now.
Case Count, Death Toll: Johns Hopkins
CDC Winter Wave Severity: Wapo, Axios, Forbes
Hydroxychloroquine Treatment Study
A new study about the drug President Trump promoted had discouraging results. Researchers looked at the medical records from a few hundred patients at veterans hospitals nationwide. They found there were more deaths among the patients given hydroxychloroquine than those given standard care. Now, the National Institutes of Health is advising against using the drug. Now, more vigorous tests are underway. Other potential treatments are being studied as well.
Read More: CNN, AP
New Relief Package Passed
The U.S. Senate passed the next economic relief bill. It’s worth $484 billion. Most of the money is meant for the small business loan program that ran out of money earlier this month. The rest would go to hospitals and COVID-19 testing kits. House lawmakers are headed back to Washington D.C. to vote on the bill as soon as tomorrow. The measure could reach President Trump’s desk by the end of the week. Trump has suggested he’ll sign it.
Read More: CNN, NPR
WHO on COVID-19 Source
Some of the world’s leading medical experts say it’s most likely the new coronavirus originated in bats. The World Health Organization spoke about the source at a news briefing this week. Just last week, President Trump said his administration was looking into whether the virus was bioengineered in a Chinese lab. Now, the W.H.O. says there’s no evidence to support that. The health agency is now looking into exactly how COVID-19 transferred to humans.
Read More: USA Today, FOX News
2016 Election Interference Report
A bipartisan Senate report confirmed what U.S. intelligence officials already concluded: Russia did interfere with the 2016 presidential election. Even worse, senators say it could happen again this election year. This was the fourth of five reports the Senate Intelligence Committee plans to release. The White House hasn’t yet responded. As always, Russia denies any interference.
Read More: Axios, AP
Biden Strongest Fundraising Month
Former Vice President Joe Biden reported his best fundraising month yet. As the presumptive Democratic nominee to take on President Trump in November, he raised nearly $47 million in March. The Trump campaign raised $13.6 million in March. However, President Trump has more money in the bank than Biden, with $96.5 million total, as compared to Biden’s $26.5 million.
Read More: Reuters, Axios
Earth Day 2020
Today marks the 50th anniversary of Earth Day celebrations, and this year, there are opportunities to celebrate from home. Museums across the country are holding virtual events. Experts plan to teach people things like how to create an indoor garden, maintain a compost bill, or raise butterflies. Meanwhile, there are virtual field trips to show people locations like the Himalayas and the Great Barrier Reef. Some environmental groups are also planning a three-day live stream called “Earth Day Live.”
About Earth Day 2020: USA Today, The Verge,
Earth Day Festivities: CBS News, Earth Day Live
At-Home Testing Kit Approved
The FDA has approved its first at-home coronavirus test. “Pixel” allows people to swab their noses at home, then send the samples to a lab for testing. Each test costs $119. They ship directly to people’s homes, as long as doctors sign off. At first, they’ll reportedly only be available to health care workers and first responders.
Read More: ABC News, CBS News, FDA, Website
Netflix, Snapchat Users Boost
Netflix has seen a huge spike in new subscribers recently. The company reports it added more than 15 million subscribers in the first quarter of the year, which is more than double what was expected. That being said, the company behind Snapchat is doing a lot better than expected. Its revenue is up 44% compared to this time last year. The app now has 229 million daily users, up 20% from last year.
Read More: The Verge, TechCrunch, Quartz, Snap, Netflix
Gronk Joins Tom Brady
Former New England Patriots star Rob Gronkowski is coming out of retirement. Gronk is reportedly headed to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to play alongside his former teammate, quarterback Tom Brady. The Patriots traded him to get a fourth-round draft pick. The tight end is in the last year of his NFL contract. It includes a $9 million base salary and $1 million in bonuses.
Read More: BleacherReport, NBC Sports, ESPN
BET COVID-19 Relief Special
The BET network is holding a coronavirus relief special tonight. It features stars like Alicia Keys, Usher, John Legend and Chance the Rapper. We can expect musical performances and virtual appearances, all meant to raise awareness about COVID-19 and raise money for those most impacted. The two-hour special starts at 8 p.m. ET
Read More: BET, Deadline, AP
Work Wednesday: Work-From-Home Burnout
If you’re someone working from home for the first time, you might end up juggling more responsibilities than usual. So CNN spoke to experts to compile a list of things that could help. Here’s some of it:
1. Create boundaries with deadlines
2. Consider creating physical boundaries, like using different places in your home for breaks
3. Clarify your boss’s expectations for you and communicate often.
Read More: CNN