The COVID-19 History Project

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This Day in COVID: August 4, 2020

Some Members Of Congress And Staffers Aren’t Wearing Masks. That’s Worrying To Their Capitol Hill Neighbors

Face coverings are required in House committee hearings and mask-wearing is a requirement on the House floor, but that doesn’t account for what happens in individual congressional offices.

DCist

Trump’s Attempt to Obscure the Reality of the Coronavirus Pandemic Is Getting Comical

The President, having restarted his regular coronavirus briefings, is again the Administration’s primary spokesperson on the pandemic. The consequences are, by turns, absurd and alarming.

New Yorker

Trump actually doesn’t appear to understand how bad the pandemic is

Washington Post

What are the rules of a pandemic wedding? It depends on whom you ask

“As a wedding photographer, I was like ‘let's encourage people to have weddings’ because I wanted to go back to work. And now, after actually going to a wedding, I am in a different head space ... things are not normal now, so why have a normal wedding?”

PBS

Rep. Judy Chu: How to talk about China's role in pandemic in racially sensitive way

You can condemn China without putting Asian Americans in danger, 'and that is what is so infuriating about Republicans' insistence on using racist slurs,' said Rep. Judy Chu.

NBC

Black-owned businesses hit harder during pandemic and need more aid, Fed paper says

Researchers at the central bank's New York district further found that Covid-19 cases are concentrated in areas that are more predominantly populated by Blacks, causing a further hit to those businesses.

CNBC

How authoritarianism has spread since the coronavirus pandemic began

According to pro-democracy institutions, authoritarianism was on the rise globally even before the coronavirus pandemic hit. But experts say the distraction of the crisis has allowed some leaders to indulge their dictatorial impulses without attracting much attention from the people they govern. Nick Schifrin reports and talks to The Atlantic’s Anne Applebaum about this dangerous global dynamic.

PBS

Canadian parents are setting up ‘pandemic pods’ during coronavirus: what are they?

With just a few weeks left of summer, Canadian parents are having to decide whether to send their kids back to school during the coronavirus pandemic or attempt to homeschool.

Global News

Trump says coronavirus death toll ‘is what it is’ as he insists pandemic is ‘under control’ in U.S.

'They are dying. That's true, and -- it is what it is,' Trump said when asked how he could claim his administration has a handle on the virus as it kills 1,000 Americans a day.

CNBC

Hospitals saw fewer heart attacks and strokes as the coronavirus pandemic struck — and nobody knows why

Did patients have fewer heart attacks and strokes in this period due to lifestyle changes stemming from the pandemic? Or did rates stay constant with more people suffering at home instead of coming into the emergency room?

CNBC

U.N. chief warns world faces 'generational catastrophe' because of COVID-19 school closures

The U.S. is closing in on 5 million confirmed COVID-19 cases, and the stands will be empty for the Indianapolis 500.

NBC

Educators face new cases and shifting guidance as they try to reopen schools safely

CNN

Not sure if you should send your kids back to school? Here’s what the CDC says.

The Hill

Novavax’s Covid-19 vaccine shows promising immune response, early data show

A potential Covid-19 vaccine from the biotech company Novavax showed a promising immune response in a small, early trial, but not without a high rate of mostly mild side effects.

Statnews

The eerie similarities between the anti-mask and the anti-vax

CNN

Countries are strengthening their face mask rules. Soon you might have to wear one outdoors, too

CNN

As Cases Rise Fast, Mississippi Governor Mandates Masks And Delays Start Of School

Gov. Tate Reeves announced on Tuesday that masks will be mandatory statewide for two weeks, and school districts in eight hard-hit counties must delay their in-person reopening until August 17.

NPR

Eighth Brazilian Cabinet minister tests positive for coronavirus

Reuters

Ohio joins New Jersey in ordering most students to wear masks at public schools

Reuters

Coronavirus Economic Downturn Has Hit Latinos Especially Hard

As the nation’s economy contracted at a record rate in recent months, the group’s unemployment rate rose sharply, particularly among Hispanic women, and remains higher among Hispanic workers than U.S. workers overall.

Pew Research

Jails can spread coronavirus to nearby communities, study finds

CNN

Credit card issuers continue to offer financial assistance programs during coronavirus—here’s what you need to know

In March, major credit card issuers began offering support, including flexible bill payments and waived late fees, in response to the coronavirus pandemic — some continue to do so.

CNBC

Disaster psychiatry and homelessness: creating a mental health COVID-19 response

The Lancet

Effect of COVID-19 lockdown on alcohol consumption in patients with pre-existing alcohol use disorder

The Lancet

Did Trump and Kushner ignore blue state COVID-19 testing as deaths spiked?

It's easy to get numbed by this presidency's cascade of awfulness, but, even by Trumpian standards, the amorality of such a suggestion is breathtaking.

NBC

CEO Derek Jeter blames Marlins' COVID-19 outbreak on players letting 'their guard down'

'There was no salacious activity,' Jeter added

CBS

Special Report: Local governments 'overwhelmed' in race to trace U.S. COVID contacts

Reuters

US launches advanced trials of antibody treatment for Covid-19 patients

CNN

It is what it is': Trump in interview on COVID-19 death toll in U.S.

The president told Axios in a recent interview that the 'horrible plague' is 'under control.'

NBC

Dr. Fauci outlines 5 ways to blunt COVID-19 pandemic’s resurgence

Still stuck in pandemic’s first wave, it’s critical to cut U.S. caseloads before flu season hits. The nation’s leading infectious disease expert details how.

AMA

Poll: Most Americans don't trust Trump on coronavirus. Republicans don't trust CDC or Fauci.

Just 31 percent say they trust what the president says about the virus, while 51 percent trust Dr. Anthony Fauci in the NBC News|SurveyMonkey weekly tracking poll.

NBC

Dr. Fauci tells MarketWatch: I would not get on a plane or eat inside a restaurant

The veteran immunologist reveals his one big lesson from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Market Watch

Schools: Dr. Fauci gives cautious OK for fall sports plan

The Norwich Bulletin

A woman allegedly smashed a police officer's head into concrete after being told to wear a mask

A woman in Australia allegedly smashed a police officer's head into concrete after being told to wear a mask. The officer was left concussed.

Business Insider

Actor Tom Hanks: Shame on you for not wearing a mask

When it comes to wearing a mask: “Don’t be a*****,” the actor said.

Fox8Live

Student wearing 'Black Lives Matter' mask in graduation procession told to remove it

Dean Holmes, 18, was allowed to march in the ceremony with the rest of his classmates after removing the mask.

NBC

Despite Mask Wars, Americans Support Aggressive Measures To Stop COVID-19, Poll Finds

Two-thirds of Americans believe the U.S. is handling the pandemic worse than other nations, an NPR/Ipsos poll finds. Majorities support more aggressive measures to stop the spread of the coronavirus.

NPR

Face masks are on everyone’s back-to-school supplies list

Tampa Bay Times

Masks for 7 hours a day? How we can start prepping kids now

Tips on getting kids to wear masks at school.

ABC

A Majority of Gen Z and Millennials Wear Face Masks in Public Settings; Black People Wear Face Masks More Frequently Than White People, Says ‘Facing the Truth Survey’

Gen Z and Millennials may get a bad rap for what people perceive as apathy toward Covid-19 and lack of social distancing, but more than half of 18 to

Business Wire

No one will be arrested for not wearing a mask, Houston police union says

Officers will however issue $250 citations to those who are repeatedly told to wear a mask, but don't.

ABC13

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: August 4, 2021

Details

Full-dose blood thinners reduce the need for organ support in moderately ill COVID-19 patients, but not in critically ill patients

The final analysis of trial data included 1,098 critically ill and 2,219 moderately ill hospitalized patients who received either a low or full dose of heparin for up to 14 days after enrollment.

National Institutes of Health (NIH) (.gov)

Therapeutic Anticoagulation with Heparin in Noncritically Ill Patients with Covid-19

The New England Journal of Medicine

Dysregulated hematopoiesis in bone marrow marks severe COVID-19 - Cell Discovery

Nature

WHO calls for moratorium on COVID-19 booster jabs

The head of the UN health organization called on Wednesday for a moratorium on COVID-19 vaccine boosters until “at least the end of September” to enable the world’s most vulnerable people to be inoculated.

UN News

UCF Researchers Validate Simple Method to Minimize COVID Spread in Single-Family Home

The researchers found that a basic isolation zone for a contagious person could be created with little cost and effort.

University of Central Florida

As COVID cases surge again, here's how vaccinations are rising

With the more transmissible delta variant fueling steep spikes in places where vaccination rates are low, experts insist more must be done.

PBS

WHO calls for halting COVID-19 vaccine boosters in favor of unvaccinated

Reuters

COVID-19 restrictions and age-specific mental health—U.S. probability-based panel evidence - Translational Psychiatry

Nature

Latest COVID-19 data confirms infections have risen globally for four consecutive weeks

COVID-19 infections have continued to rise globally for more than a month now, with over four million cases reported in the past week alone, the UN health agency said on Wednesday.

UN News

Subcutaneous REGEN-COV Antibody Combination to Prevent Covid-19

New England Journal of Medicine

Natural protection against COVID in pregnancy

The natural suppression of immune responses in pregnant women can protect them from COVID-19’s damaging cytokine storm.

Nature

Mucormycosis after COVID-19 in a patient with diabetes

The Lancet

What We Know About Cuomo’s Nursing Home Scandal

The New York Times

Top Military Medical Doctor Predicts Coronavirus Longevity

COVID-19 and other such coronaviruses likely will stay in the environment and continue to mutate, Army Lt. Gen. Ronald J. Place, director of Defense Health Agency, said.

U.S. Department of Defense (.gov)

The delta variant is 'ripping through the unvaccinated' and crowding hospitals in Florida, Texas

COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths were up in nearly all 50 states last week, fronted by Florida and Texas, according to CDC data.

USA Today

In full: The 2005 coronavirus plan that predicted outbreak response from ‘super-spreader’ events to travel

The Coronavirus Files: Samuel Lovett looks at what the uncovered Sars blueprint recommended – and what the UK government did at the same point in the pandemic

The Independent

Gamma-irradiated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine candidate, OZG-38.61.3, confers protection from SARS-CoV-2 challenge in human ACEII-transgenic mice - Scientific Reports

Nature

Los Angeles County will require masks to be worn indoors as Delta variant spreads. (Published 2021)

The New York Times

Lack of drivers, NYC workers leads to yellow cab shortage during COVID pandemic

A sea of yellow cabs that was once a staple of Midtown Manhattan is now at a standstill amid the coronavirus pandemic, with those vehicles sitting idle.

ABC7 New York

Opinion | The ‘Cuomosexual’ phenomenon was disgraceful. We’re politicians’ bosses, not their fans.

The Washington Post

Up to 40% of wild deer population in US exposed to coronavirus, study finds

In Michigan as many as two-thirds of free-roaming deer showed evidence of antibodies for the virus

The Independent

DeSantis Loses Ground With Democratic Challengers After Mask Mandate Ban

Newsweek

Opinion | The C.D.C. Needs to Stop Confusing the Public (Published 2021)

The New York Times

Metro Nashville Public Schools director calls for mask mandate in schools

Metro Nashville Public Schools Director Adrienne Battle recommends all students, staff wear masks for upcoming school year as delta variant surges.

The Tennessean

Women Leaders Have Shone During The Pandemic: Men, Take Note

Women are perceived to have done a better job than men in the Covid crisis. However, to make your company fit for the 2020s needs a more relational style from from both sexes.

Forbes

AstraZeneca co-creator and other pandemic heroes honored with Barbie dolls

Mattel is honoring six women who made an impact in their communities during the COVID-19 pandemic.

ABC News - Breaking News, Latest News and Videos

The Pandemic Safety Net Is Coming Apart. Now What? (Published 2021)

The New York Times

As pandemic restrictions ease, we need to consider ethical travel in our return

As global travel resumes, now is the perfect time to establish new conversations for what ethical travel might look like.

The Conversation

Barbie debuts one-of-a-kind dolls in likeness of six women who are 'heroes of the pandemic'

The six women are 'experts in their fields who have shown unprecedented courage during a challenging time,' according to a Mattel statement.

USA Today

Spurred by pandemic, Barcelona backs greener, car-free future

Reuters

SARS-CoV-2 Variants in Patients with Immunosuppression

The New England Journal of Medicine

WHO calls for moratorium on booster vaccine shots through September, citing global disparity

The Washington Post

Mass. Confirms 962 New COVID Cases, 5 More Deaths

Massachusetts health officials reported another 962 confirmed coronavirus cases — the most in a single day since early May — and five new deaths on Wednesday. The report pushed the state’s confirmed COVID-19 caseload to 676,387 since the start of the pandemic and its death toll to 17,723. The last time more than 962 COVID cases were reported in one…

NBC Boston

What does the Delta variant have in store for the United States? We asked coronavirus experts

Science | AAAS

Cuomo’s Family Is Said to Have Received Special Access to Virus Tests (Published 2021)

The New York Times

Which countries are vaccinating minors against Covid?

UK recommending vaccinations for those aged 16-17 brings it more in line with US and other nations

The Guardian

Obama scales back plans for 60th birthday party amid coronavirus concerns

The guest list reportedly included Oprah Winfrey and George Clooney.

FOX 26 Houston

‘Locked up like animals’ — immigrant detention centers in the time of the coronavirus

The pandemic’s toll: inhumane conditions, overcrowding and longer stays.

POLITICO.eu

2021 New York Auto Show canceled over coronavirus fears

The 2021 New York International Automobile Show that was rescheduled to be held at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center later this month has been canceled. Organizers blame Covid-19 Delta variant cases and new coronavirus rules in New York City.

FOX 5 New York

Americans Deserve the Truth about Gain-of-Function Research and the Wuhan Lab

National Review

The street in Sydney's south-west that's a 'coronavirus bomb'

One street in Sydney's south-west is a coronavirus bombsite with almost every business along its length on the NSW Health Covid hotspot list of exposure sites.

Daily Mail

COVID-19: What you need to know about the coronavirus pandemic on 4 August

The World Economic Forum

Indonesia surpasses 100,000 deaths amid new virus wave

It took 14 months for Indonesia to exceed the 50,000 death mark at the end of May, and just over nine weeks to double it. The Health Ministry recorded 1,747 new deaths of COVID-19 in the last 24 hours.

PBS

Arkansas Governor Wants To Reverse A Law That Forbids Schools To Require Masks

Gov. Asa Hutchinson signed the bill in April banning state and local mask mandates, but now he says cases are up and children under 12 are vulnerable because they can't get vaccinated.

NPR

Opinion | As bad as covid-19 has been, a future pandemic could be even worse — unless we act now

The Washington Post

How technology is helping in the fight against the pandemic - Microsoft Industry Blogs

The global pandemic is far from over, we want to take this opportunity to recognize and applaud the continued heroic efforts by front-line workers—healthcare workers, first responders, service workers, and others—around the world. They put their lives at risk every day to save patients and keep critical operations running. While much of the recent news

Microsoft

Covid Forces Families to Rethink Nursing Home Care (Published 2021)

The New York Times

Coronavirus Briefing: What Happened Today (Published 2021)

The New York Times