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The COVID-19 History Project

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This Day in COVID: September 4, 2020

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Why Maori are 50% more likely to die from Covid-19 than white New Zealanders
Why Maori are 50% more likely ...
Inequality and underlying health conditions combine to make potentially devastating impact on community, study shows
The Guardian
Trooper arrested after video shows him ripping off protester’s mask in Tennessee
Trooper arrested after video s...
Charlotte Observer
DeSantis wants a closer look at local mask orders. Counties and cities shrug.
DeSantis wants a closer look a...
The governor’s request Friday came after St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman put DeSantis on blast over not wearing a mask in his city.
Tampa Bay Times
Trump Made Fun Of Politicians Wearing Masks During A Crowded Rally Where Many Didn’t Wear Masks
Trump Made Fun Of Politicians ...
At a Pennsylvania rally, Trump made light of wearing masks to prevent the spread of COVID-19 to a crowd of many maskless people.
Buzzfeed News
It takes more than shame to make people put on a mask
It takes more than shame to ma...
A University of Washington philosopher weighs in on the art of reasoning with public health skeptics.
Crosscut
2 people who refused to wear masks on flights face $1,000 fines from Transport Canada
2 people who refused to wear m...
Transport Canada says two unnamed people have been fined $1,000 each for refusing to follow directions from air crews to wear their face coverings.
Global News
Masks offer only partial protection from the virus that causes COVID-19, but their effectiveness can be enhanced with other measures like physical distancing
Masks offer only partial prote...
It is an oversimplification to claim that “either masks work or they don’t”, because the underlying assumption is that face masks must work perfectly, and if they do not, then they don’t work at all. On the contrary, the risks of disease exposure and the degree of protection one can achieve from different safety measures lie on a continuum. Even though face masks do not confer 100% protection to the wearer or to others, scientific evidence has demonstrated that face masks reduce the transmission...
Health Feedback
Painted hearts encourage social distancing at SF parks
Painted hearts encourage socia...
SF Gate
Scottish mountain paths damaged by social distancing erosion
Scottish mountain paths damage...
Mountain trails across Scotland have been significantly eroded as a result of social distancing between hillwalkers, according to the National Trust for
Press and Journal
What Beaches Are Open on Labor Day? Here's What to Know Before You Go
What Beaches Are Open on Labor...
Newsweek
Fauci warns Illinois emerging as potential COVID-19 problem area
Fauci warns Illinois emerging ...
Top doctor says Illinois needs to be on high alert for the Labor Day weekend.
WIFR
Tiffany Haddish Discusses Her Positive Coronavirus Test With Dr. Anthony Fauci
Tiffany Haddish Discusses Her ...
In a YouTube video discussing the pandemic.
Vulture
Is Sending Sick College Kids Home The Right Move? Dr. Anthony Fauci Doesn't Think So
Is Sending Sick College Kids H...
IU officials are urging some people living in Greek houses to move out and find another place to live in Bloomington or return home, if possible.
Indiana Public Media
Coronavirus: Health workers dying at ‘horrific rates’; More universities send students home
Coronavirus: Health workers dy...
The coronavirus has infected more than 26 million people around the world so far, killing at least 869,290 people.
CNBC
Trump contradicts health officials, says ‘probably’ a Covid-19 vaccine in October
Trump contradicts health offic...
While three vaccine developers have entered the final stages of trials, phase III, the studies take months and enroll tens of thousands of people.
Politico
Illinois, Iowa among 7 Midwest states urged to 'remain vigilant' about COVID-19 over Labor Day weekend
Illinois, Iowa among 7 Midwest...
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious disease expert, said this week that several Midwestern states that have seen jumps in coronavirus caseloads.
WQAD
FBI, state authorities raid Pennsylvania nursing homes amid COVID-19 probe
FBI, state authorities raid Pe...
FBI agents and state authorities raided a pair of Pennsylvania nursing homes — including one where at least 82 residents died of COVID-19 — amid allegations of criminal neglect, accordi…
New York Post
President Trump's New COVID-19 Adviser Is Making Public Health Experts Nervous
President Trump's New COVID-19...
Dr. Scott Atlas is a radiologist from Stanford with some unorthodox ideas about managing the pandemic. The White House says his thinking is just what's needed, but scientists aren't so sure.
NPR
COVID-19 vaccine by Nov. 1: Scientists call for full release of data before distribution
COVID-19 vaccine by Nov. 1: Sc...
Vaccine manufacturers have a goal of enrolling tens of thousands of volunteers. But only 150 infections are needed to show whether it works.
NBC
Fewer Labor Day barbecues expected this year, Bank of America says
Fewer Labor Day barbecues expe...
The coronavirus pandemic is expected to take a toll on the number of Labor Day barbecues this year, according to a Bank of America study.
CNBC
Russia’s Covid-19 vaccine generated an immune response, study says
Russia’s Covid-19 vaccine gene...
CNN
Bad Optics' Or Something More? Moderna Executives' Stock Sales Raise Concerns
Bad Optics' Or Something More?...
Moderna is currently developing a promising, yet still unproven, vaccine against the coronavirus. But Moderna executives have already sold tens of millions of dollars worth of stock in the company.
NPR
U.S. coronavirus deaths projected to more than double to 410,000 by January
U.S. coronavirus deaths projec...
Reuters
Coronavirus: Commission proposes more clarity and predictability of any measures restricting free movement in the European Union
Coronavirus: Commission propos...
Highlights, press releases and speeches
European Commission
Congress faces coronavirus, government funding battles as summer recess ends
Congress faces coronavirus, go...
Reuters
Most people likely won’t get a coronavirus vaccine until the middle of 2021
Most people likely won’t get a...
Whichever vaccine wins regulatory authorization, it will likely be in short supply once it's cleared for public distribution, officials and experts warn.
CNBC
Vaccines often degrade in the heat: here’s how our new chemical ‘casing’ could save lives
Vaccines often degrade in the ...
The Conversation
Ensuring an ethical path to a ‘warp speed’ vaccine
Ensuring an ethical path to a ...
Penn scholars consider the ethical implications of the development and allocation of a COVID-19 vaccine.
University of Pennsylvania

Our Mission

The COVID-19 History Project is a curated archive of the events and policy decisions surrounding the emergence of COVID-19.

The pandemic era of 2020-2022 saw massive increases in restrictions on daily life—enforced by the government and by social stigma—accompanied social protests that roiled cities worldwide

In the United States alone, trillions of dollars were spent by the federal government to offset the forced closure of businesses and the devastation of normal life.

The impacts of these policy decisions are still being felt today.

Some would like us to forget the actions and people that played a significant role during the pandemic.

But we of the COVID-19 History Project don't want to forget. Through our work, we hope there will always be an archive to learn from and interpret this fascinating, disturbing, time in world history.

The Timeline

In order to learn from the mistakes of the past, and give COVID-19 decision makers the credit—both good and bad—they deserve, we have compiled a media timeline from every day of the pandemic.

We have endeavored to make the timeline comprehensive without being duplicative, following the major trends as they unfolded.

We provided analyses for each month highlighting major events, but encourage readers to make their own conclusions about these events as well.

This Day in COVID: September 4, 2021

Details
Florida Chiropractor Signs Over 500 Face Mask Exemptions For Students, Despite Covid-19 Surge
Florida Chiropractor Signs Ove...
The chiropractor reportedly signed about a third of all the exemption forms after the Sarasota County, Florida, school district instituted a face mask requirement for students.
Forbes
Michigan Attorney General Posts Photo Of Herself Violating CDC Face Mask Guidelines
Michigan Attorney General Post...
Dana Nessel and Congresswoman Haley Stevens both appear maskless
Michigan Capitol Confidential
Poison Control Centers Are Fielding A Surge Of Ivermectin Overdose Calls
Poison Control Centers Are Fie...
The nation's poison control centers saw a 245% jump in reported exposure cases from July to August as more people take the anti-parasite drug that some falsely claim treats COVID-19.
NPR
How Putting on a Mask Raised Naomi Osaka’s Voice (Published 2020)
How Putting on a Mask Raised N...
The New York Times
Joe Rogan, a podcasting giant who has been dismissive of vaccination, has Covid. (Published 2021)
Joe Rogan, a podcasting giant ...
The New York Times
Lane Kiffin, football coach at Ole Miss, will miss Monday’s game after a positive test. (Published 2021)
Lane Kiffin, football coach at...
The New York Times
Everything we know about the mu variant, the latest coronavirus mutation
Everything we know about the m...
The W.H.O. labeled mu as a "variant of interest" on Monday, noting it may be able to evade vaccines and antibodies
Salon.com
How US cash funded Wuhan lab dealing in deadly viruses
How US cash funded Wuhan lab d...
It’s late March 2018 and the US career diplomat Rick Switzer has just flown home to Beijing after a trip to Wuhan. Along with his colleague Jamie Fouss, the US
The Times
As coronavirus fears spike, Biden’s ratings sag and workers split on vaccine mandates, Post-ABC poll finds
As coronavirus fears spike, Bi...
The Washington Post
Ivermectin misuse adding to Covid pressures at Oklahoma hospitals, doctor says
Ivermectin misuse adding to Co...
Jason McElyea says people overdosing on anti-parasitic drug that some people believe without evidence can cure or treat Covid
The Guardian