August 4, 2020

President Trump tells Axios that the coronavirus death toll, passing 1,000 Americans per day, “is what it is” and insists the pandemic is “under control” in the U.S. The New Yorker calls his attempts to “obscure the reality” of the pandemic by turns absurd and alarming, while the Washington Post says Trump “actually doesn’t appear to understand how bad the pandemic is.” A poll from NPR/Ipsos finds two-thirds of Americans believe the country is handling the pandemic worse than other nations, and an NBC News/SurveyMonkey poll shows only 31% trust what the president says about the virus, while Republicans report distrusting the CDC and Fauci.

Novavax releases early data on its COVID-19 vaccine candidate, showing a promising immune response but also a high rate of mostly mild side effects, adding to the mixed picture of the vaccine race. The NIH launches advanced trials of an antibody treatment for COVID-19 patients. Mississippi’s governor mandates masks statewide and delays in-person school reopening in hard-hit counties, while Ohio and New Jersey order most students to wear masks in public schools. The U.N. secretary-general warns of a “generational catastrophe” from prolonged school closures, pointing to the trade-offs between infection control and long-term educational damage that the debate continues to paper over.

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

August 4, 2020

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